Category: Catholic

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75; Luke 11:5-13

Summary

Justification by Faith

Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. (Gal 3:5; Lk 11:13; Acts 16:14b).

Reflection

Lived Out in Persistent Friendship

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him.’ (Lk 11:5-6).

A friend helps a friend be a friend. It’s a team effort. Relationship begins as gift, not achievement. The same gifts St Paul speaks about.

The Answer to Prayer

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Lk 11:9-10).

Personal Reflection

Ask to receive the Friendship of the Lord and of Man.
Seek to enliven Friendship as to be like the Lord gives.
Knock on your own spiritual door persistently – in opposition to our natural self – that the door of friendship be opened. To our own house. Unto the house of the Lord.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Readings: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14; Psalm 117:1bc, 2; Luke 11:1-4

Summary

Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.”

Reflection

Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father! (Rom 8:15bc)

The best news of the day is the Our Father. You, yes you, have direct and unambiguous access to God, the Father. Jesus, the Christ, is our hope. That is very good news!

Jesus reveals the Father. The depths of that revelation are often called the Mysteries.

Personal Reflection

Today we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary. Which is both thanksgiving for the Blessed Mother and her intercessory role in Heaven, and her constant orientation toward the Father revealed by her Son. We encounter the Good News as Mystery. Not because it is unintelligible (it is super-intelligible). But because it is infinitely contemplative, yielding ever warmer and loving insights each time we contemplate them and can never be exhausted.

The Rosary contains 20 mysteries (contemplations, insights, prayerful encounter): Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. The Rosary serves as a “compendium of the Gospel” that keeps that exact same Good News accessible to all of us today.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mary.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100726.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Galatians 1:13-24; Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15; Luke 10:38-42

Summary

Martha and Mary

She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak (Lk 10:39).

Reflection

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus in the position reserved for disciples.
Mary wasn’t dodging her responsibilities. She was immersed in the primacy of discipleship.

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit (Mary) and when I stand (Martha);
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
(Ps 139:1b-3)

And Jesus wasn’t scolding Martha.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Lk 10:40, 41-42).

• I dare NOT wander into the practical suggestions and options Martha had in that moment.
• Nor shall I wander (and wonder) into the other worries and anxieties Martha had beyond the immediate needs of the situation itself.
• And, finally, for those who can see it, the story of Martha and Mary is similar to the story of the Prodigal Son in respect to the Elder Son jealous of the love given the Younger Son.

But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ (Lk 15:32).

In our first reading, Saint Paul, proposes the same case.

Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life… how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it (Gal 1:13).

In a similar way to the Father addressing the Elder Son and Paul’s confession:

Jesus is asking Martha to fix her gaze on him. Gaze not on competition, comparison, or past mistakes.
When you can sit at the Master’s feet, ex. at Mass or Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, you are like Mary.
When you gaze on the sweetness of the Lord’s love in your heart wherever you are and whatever you are doing, you are what Martha is being invited toward.

Personal Reflection

Today, especially women who feel alienated, sit at the feet of Jesus. In the prime place. We will be with you in spirit as we do the dishes.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Summary

The Parable of the Tenants

Within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. He waited for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry! Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. O LORD, God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
(Isa 5:2b; 7c; Mt 21:43; Ps 80:20; Phil 4:8-9).

Reflection

In the allegory of the Parable of the Tenants, we find the recurring theme in the Old Testament repeated in the New Testament.

A Repeating Pattern

1. God provides covenantal love.
2. Man disobeys and suffers from his own missteps.
3. Man cries out.
4. God saves.

Repeat steps 1-4.
Throughout divine history, nations, kingdoms, families, self.

The key to all of this: They will respect my son (or not).

A thief steals what doesn’t belong to them. Positions of authority are stewardships not ownership.
Things go wrong when the Owner is not respected.

Paul nails what respect looks like. Whatever is: true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious. And, of course, the opposite in its extreme: murder and injustice. Our piety depends on our acting out being pious.

The parable leads directly into the rejected-stone image of Psalm 118, part of the wider biblical cornerstone tradition also found in Isaiah. The capstone, keystone, the person of Jesus and the responses.

Personal Reflection

Do we respect Jesus?

In our sacred readings today, we take the perspective of respect meaning the Pauline list of piety.
Where are we on the Repeating Reality? Recognizing where we are is crucial to moving forward.
Paul also provides comfort.

In Christ, covenant, prayer, and rescue are no longer merely sequential. They can become the continuing pattern of Christian life.

Joy and Peace.

Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:4-7).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100426.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17; Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130; Luke 10:17-24

Summary

Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Lord, let your face shine on me. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. (Lk 10:20b; Ps 119:135; Matthew 11:25).

Reflection

All things are ordered to the good of Creation.
The highest good is unity with the Creator.

Personal Reflection

It’s Saturday morning. I hope you have a restful day.

Rejoice – you are headed to heaven (hope with doing the will of the Father).
Rejoice – the Lord’s face shines upon you.
Rejoice – you are blessed to know these things.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100326.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Readings: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5; Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab; Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Summary

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father (Mt 18:10).

Anybody here not a child?

Reflection

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
(Ps 139:1-3)

Angel of God

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here,
Ever this night [or day] be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100226.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Readings: Job 19:21-27; Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14; Luke 10:1-12

Summary

This is the 4th time I am reflecting on Luke 10:1-12, The Mission of the Seventy-two. If you omit Return of the Seventy-two, then only the second time. Previously, the Prophet Nehemiah and Isaiah were the first readings. Today, the lament of Job.

So the register is set to the depths of difficulty in contrast to the supreme nature of faith.

Pity me, pity me, you my friends, for the hand of God has struck me! Why do you pursue me like God, and prey insatiably upon me? This will happen when my skin has been stripped off, and from my flesh I will see God: I will see for myself, my own eyes, not another’s, will behold him: my inmost being is consumed with longing (Jb 19:21-22, 26-27).

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps 27:13).

Reflection

How do we know we are loved by God?

Appointed Ones Reflection

You. You are appointed to heal me [of abandonment].
You. You are set apart to bring peace.

The Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ Cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you (Lk 10:1, 5, 9).

The appeal to you…

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.” Amen. (St. Teresa of Ávila).

Those Still Waiting Reflection

Before you say the prayer below, take the time to reflect on the person or persons who reminded you of the loving God. Nobody? You sure?

Then the alternate prayer for you is, from your inmost being: May it be so, Lord, that I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. And now I wait for the LORD. Amen.

Prayer for All

Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

(Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14)

Amen.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100126.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Readings: Job 9:1-12, 14-16; Psalm 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15; Luke 9:57-62

Summary

Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him (Lk 9:62; Phil 3:8-9).

Reflection

We could unpack so much from this short dialog but I will keep it brief.

Looking back at the natural good is ignoring the spiritual wonder of your life in The Way.

Even this, for Paul, is rubbish – by way of comparison.

Also, looking back on our mistakes with fondness is a tragedy.

Gaudium de ipso malo peracto peccatum est!
Memento te mortalem esse!

Jesus warns us not to look back: Remember the wife of Lot (Lk 17:32).

Personal Reflection

Keep your horizon the Kingdom, here, now, forever.

Prayer

Daily I call upon you, O LORD; to you I stretch out my hands.
But I, O LORD, cry out to you; with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Amen.
(Ps 88:10bc, 14, 3)

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/093026.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry