Blog

Greetings on this the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Readings: Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5; Luke 6:12-16

Summary

Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
(Eph 2:19-20).

How can it be that we do not know each other?
Read the franciscan reflection for today:

Reflection

As in the case of all the apostles except for Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. He chose some unlikely people: a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two “sons of thunder,” and a man named Judas Iscariot.

It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort, or achievement. It is entirely God’s creation and gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us.
(https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-simon-and-jude/)

Personal Reflection

Catching a flight out for a few days.
Grandson’s 1st birthday.
Doing a slow crawl in the mountains of Tennessee.
The extra bonus? Not listening to election news for a few days!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 5:21-33; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Luke 13:18-21

Summary

“For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” What is it like? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.’ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed [in] with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened (Eph 5:31; Lk 13:19,21).

When I teach OCIA I refer to marriage as the “primordial sacrament“.

1. It pre-dates the Church.
2. It is the original archetype of divine love.
3. It is the Architects blueprint of the Cosmos.
4. It is conferred between the bride and groom. In the Latin Church, the Church doesn’t marry you, you marry each other and are both the minister and receiver of this sacrament.
5. It ranks the highest in the order of human relationships and all vocations begin within its garden.

Reflection

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? (Lk 13:18)

A good marriage.
That is what you compare it to.

• From this marriage garden comes the shelter for the people.
• From this marriage kitchen comes the bread for the people.

And you thought it was only about you two?

Personal Reflection

We are entering the season of remembrance in a few days. Remembering All Saints and All Souls.
They planted marriage gardens, and so you came to be.
You remember them in love, and so you have become that love.

Do not be afraid.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102726.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 4:32–5:8; Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6; Luke 13:10-17

Summary

Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate,forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Behave like God as his very dear children. This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage? When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity. (Eph 4:32, 5:1; Lk 13:16, 12).

Reflection

In our gospel portion today, Jesus heals a woman who was in infirmity for 18 years. We don’t know the back story so we cannot conclude anything other than… on the day of our highest obligation to worship the Lord, Jesus makes clear freeing others from bondage on the Sabbath is exactly a right part of our worship.

• Charity comes from God and is returned to God.
• Resistance to holiness is the deeper point in today’s gospel portion.

Personal Reflection

There is a difference between capacity and legalism at the superficial layer and acedia (a/k/a sloth) at the deeper level, that is, Sorrow over spiritual good. And then:

1. Legalism as a defence against holiness.
2. Busyness as a distraction from deeper issues or commitments.

Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
(Ps 1:1-2).

Sometimes you just can’t. You really are tired. You really are ‘spent’.
This is not about those times.

What time is it?

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 4:7-16; Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; Luke 13:1-9

Summary

Twice Jesus Asked – Do you think?

• Do you think that because these (insert national origin) suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other? (Lk 13:2)
• Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else in (insert any city)? (Lk 13:4)

Twice Jesus Answered – A Call to Repentance

• By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! (Lk 13:3)
• By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! (Lk 13:5)

Reflection – The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none (LK 13:6bc). Rather than cut it down, they took care of it, “cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it” (Lk 13:8bc).

What needs cultivating in our lives? (cultivate means to improve the surroundings)
In our gospel portion today, unrighteous judgement seems to be the core issue. That weed grow too close to the base of our roots and prevents good fruit from growing.

That is to say: Judging those who suffer misfortune as unlucky, unworthy and greater sinners. We need, by the grace of God, to cultivate a new beginning. Do not interpret another person’s suffering as evidence of superior sinfulness; instead, let their mortality awaken your own repentance. Get rid of the weeds.

What fertilizing do we need in our lives? (fertilize means to add essential elements to promote health and growth). That is to say: allowing the divine to enter our lives more fully. Come closer to the Church in Christ.

Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love (Eph 4:15-16)

Personal Reflection

A homeowner asked an Arborist, “When is a good time to plant a tree?”
The arborist replied, “Ten years ago…. or today.”

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2d).

Tomorrow, the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we preapre to meet the test of the greatest commandment.
For Catholics, go to Reconciliation today. So that we can say with approaching confidence:

You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102426.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 3:14-21; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Luke 12:49-53

Summary

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! (Lk 12:49-50)

Reflection

Saint Paul PRAYED it well for you.

Sit at his feet as you hear him invoke this blessing upon you:

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

Personal Reflection

So draw them with thee to God, because it is by His Spirit that thou speakest thus unto them, if thou speakest burning with the fire of love (Saint Augustine of Hippo, Confessions). And in some analogous way—and only you know how—we are each given our own costly passage through which Christ’s love may blaze more brightly in the world.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102226.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 3:2-12; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Luke 12:39-48

Summary

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation (See Isa 12:3).

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
(Isa 12:2-3)

Reflection

And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute [the] food allowance at the proper time? (Lk 12:42).
Yesterday, Jesus remarked how blessed are those who are found working in the 2nd or 3rd watch – the most inconvenient times of night. So, yesterday, I used it literally and suggested things to do if you are in fact alert in the middle of the night.

The continuation of Jesus’ reply suggests things that are done during the normal working hours. These are the times of routine and habit to distribute [the] food allowance at the proper time.

Personal Reflection

Have confidence in God’s grace and in yourself that you will, day and night, answer the call. In small ways and in structured organized ways. Our strength and courage comes from the Lord. Whether you evangelize by word, by service and/or by prayer (hopefully all three), you proclaim the salvation that is the Lord. God indeed is our savior.

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him (Eph 3:11-12).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102126.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ephesians 2:12-22; Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14; Luke 12:35-38

Summary – Synchronize Our Watches

And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants (Lk 12:38).

Reflection

• Second Watch is from (Midnight watch) 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
• Third Watch is from (Cockcrowing watch): 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM

Why watch?

Look at what is being built:

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:19-22).

Look how the psalmist expresses it:

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
(Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14)

Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of such a Kingdom.

Personal Reflection

My first introduction to the second and third watch was in the US Air Force. I worked in the computer room and was responsible for printing, sorting, decollating, etc, the computer outputs that came out all night long. The officers needed their reports by 7:00 AM every day. Period. End.

So learning to be alert through the night watches was an effort. Ugh! I mean, UGH X 2!

Some nighttime watches could be:

1. Doing an examination of conscience when you go to bed.
2. If you wake up at night, say a short prayer.
3. If you must be out during the night, say a prayer for all those in need.

But, if Lord needs us in the 2nd or 3rd watch, let’s do it.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102026.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
[In the Dioceses of the United States]
Readings: Ephesians 2:1-10; Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4ab, 4c-5; Luke 12:13-21

Franciscan Summary (Quote)

Faith and heroism planted belief in Christ’s cross deep in our land. The Church in North America sprang from the blood of martyrs, as has been true in so many places. The ministry and sacrifices of these saints challenges each of us, causing us to ask just how deep is our faith and how strong our desire to serve even in the face of death.

Reference: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-isaac-jogues-jean-de-brebeuf-and-companions/

The short story of their sacrifice is a worthy read if you have the time to follow that link.

Reflection

Many years ago, a friend of mine (Registered Dietitian) was on the planning committee for the annual conference of Dietitians. Since they were struggling to come up with a title for the conference, she asked me my input. I said, yes. The perfect title is:

Eat, drink, and be merry!
For tomorrow we Dietary.

I am told it was received with great laughter but, alas, rejected as a good conference title.
Go figure! It should not have surprised me as they dedicate their profession to healthy patient living day by day, every single day.

• All good comes from the depths of sacrificial giving.
• Sometimes through consistent practices of prayer, penance and service.
• Sometimes through heroic gifts of one’s own life as witnessed by our martyred Saints today.
• And always through the inspiration and strength of the One who gave all for all and for all time.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:4-7).

Personal Reflection

Know that the LORD is God,
he made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the flock he shepherds (Ps 100:3).

We are a people.
We are a flock, together.
We are the riches of the Lord, a choice possession.

Let us be rich in what matters to God (Lk 12:21b).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101926.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry