Category: Catholic

Take the Meeting!

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Close-up of ripe black grapes hanging from a vine in a vineyard, with lush green leaves and an out-of-focus row of grapevines in the background.
Photo by Grape Things on Pexels.com

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 15:1-6; Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; John 15:1-8

Summary

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you (Jn 15:1-4a).

The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. [Then] Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord (Jn 15:6; PS 122:1).

Reflection

Differences of opinion will always occur. Nuances of meaning, local cultural standards and specific circumstances all play into the discernment of right action.

But you have to meet to make your way through the problem or opportunity.

In our gospel portion today Jesus describes us, himself and the Father in the allegory of The Vine and the Branches. The Father is the Vine Grower, Jesus is the Vine and we are his Branches. It is important to understand the relational characteristics of this metaphor describing the relations and actions that are the result of these consultations.

Think of the vine grower in ‘conversation’ with you as a branch and with Jesus as the vine. Pruning is spiritual health care (allow me, yes?) for the state of a soul.

He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” (Lk 13:8-9).

Since scripture is filled with double meanings the drying and burning of the branches can be encountered in both ways:

  1. The restorative effort to reclaim the branch. If you struggle with this understanding go back to Ezekiel chapter 15 (The Useless Vine) and Ps 80:15, 19b – Turn back again, God of hosts; look down from heaven and see; Visit this vine revive us, and we will call on your name.
  2. The final end if the branch never comes back to life.

Personal Reflection

The Father and the Son are always talking about you — how to help you — and trying to engage with you in conversation. Take the meeting! [Meet] together to see about this matter. [Then] Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Supposing that he was dead

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
An illuminated stone archway leading into a rocky cave, with warm light spilling in from the entrance, illuminating the textured stone walls and sandy floor.
Empty Tomb; NOT empty of Love.

Greetings on this the Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 14:19-28; Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21; John 14:27-31a

Summary

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [Yet] Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory. [He told us] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. [We respond as friends] Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Acts 14:19b; See Luke 24:46, 26; Jn 14:27; PS 145:12).

Reflection

The resistance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered and rooted in a belief system supposing that he was and remains dead. So from the readings today I chose these four sacred scripture passages to illustrate and bring courage.

  1. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. They also supposed Jesus was dead and not resurrected.
  2. Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead. This is well attested in the Old Testament as a requirement for the Christ.
  3. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Both before and after the Resurrection Jesus offers divine peace to us.
  4. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Regardless of the unbelief of others, we persist in proclaiming Jesus, Risen.

Personal Reflection

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him (1 Jn 4:16).

This is the core of our trust in the Lord. God is Love in person and in action. God’s not dead. Everything flows from this core tenet and allows the resurrection and the witness of the life of Jesus to make sense to us.

Go in peace.

Sacred Reading full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050526.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

He will teach you everything and remind you

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
A man standing in front of Bulls Bridge, a covered bridge surrounded by greenery, with a car approaching in the background.
A new way of knowing

Greetings on this the Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 14:5-18; Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16; John 14:21-26

Summary

The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you (Jn 14:26).

Reflection

The Holy Spirit leads us into understanding life in a whole new way.

This is a vision according to which every person is recognized in their uniqueness: “no one is confused with another, no one is lost. Faith of this kind, Pope Leo XIV explained, “frees our hearts from the anxiety of having and achieving, from the illusion of chasing a prestigious place in order to have value.” Human dignity does not depend on social recognition: “each person already has infinite worth in the mystery of God, which is the only true reality.” – Pope Leo XIV

Personal Reflection

Material things give a false sense of meaning, purpose and belonging – all fundamental human needs. Today let us see ourselves and others within the infinite love.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050426.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Like living stones

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Baptism, Catholic
A man in traditional attire praying by pressing his forehead against a stone wall, captured in black and white.
firm, enduring, dependable

Greetings on this the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

Summary

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father (PS 33:22; 1 Ptr 2:5; Jn 14:12).

Reflection

Personal note: Travel is over for now. Back home. Now preparing for the Appalachian Trail final push in June.

Each of you, Baptised in Christ, are living stones as St Peter describes.

A woman in a gray sweater holds a baby while a man in a white robe and collar reads from a book. They are in a cozy living room setting with wooden floors and a table between them.

The phrase “Living Stones” merges the attributes of stone (firm, enduring, dependable) with the living attributes of loving, caring and proclaiming, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Ptr 2:9b).

Personal Reflection

Each baptized person has the strength and the humanity to be proclaimers of the divine love that is in Jesus Christ. Let’s do that today.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050326.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

When does charity end?

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Easter
or else, believe because of the works themselves [charity in love]

[Jesus said], Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Where or when does charity end?

Saint Paul did put limitations on charity in classic Pauline Theology.

The highest of these standards is charity with love.

All of the works of Jesus are rooted, usually explicitly by tears, groans, and sighs, as outward indicators of expressions of divine love.

Many of his works include other Trinitarian characteristics with ‘looking to heaven‘ or revealing the Father’s presence (I know you hear me).

When we Ask in his name, we ask for the aid of the fullness of God. And, somehow/someway, a divine and perfect response.

Where does charity end? A the feet of the Father.

When does charity end? It is eternal.

Our charity begins in and from the divine life of God. So give with silence, in prayer, and with your heart open your treasury and the Lord’s.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

A Place for you

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Justice
Open Land

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.

The Church places a high priority on helping people find a home. A place of your own.

You have a place with Jesus. Both now and forever.  We also wish to help you work toward a personal home here and now.

May we always be effective agents to “prepare a place for you.”

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

I know those whom I have chosen

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Easter
Watauga Lake
Dam

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

I am not speaking of all of you.

I know those whom I have chosen.

But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.

There are more posers of christianity today than ever before. You can tell as they claim superiority to Jesus. They take advantage of Chirst via Christian Nationalism and raise the heal against the Church.

I know those who have chosen love.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Light

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Easter
Dad receives the Light of the Easter Candle. To be kept burning brightly.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.

(Jesus said) I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

In all we do, we must do in the name of Charity, that is, the Name of Jesus. The Light is the gift. The charity is an expression of the gift.

They returned to Jerusalem,  that is, to the source of their relief charity.

This is the beginning of divine charity.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Testimony

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Easter
Satellite Hill, Doe Mountain, TN revisited

If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.

Jesus then adds the works (signs) as additional witness to his being the Christ.

Works speak for themselves.

Testifying to self is an expression of self-awareness and identity. It should be enough.  But works leave no room for doubt, at least not reasonable doubt.

Today’s workout was along the riverbed, then do drills up and down the roadside embankment. Work matters.

My favorite saying (original) The Mountain Doesn’t Care.

You prepared well or not. Worked or not. Tested equipment or not. Tested yourself by different metrics or not.

When you encounter the mountain, it doesn’t care. The work tells the story.

Those who deliberately doubted Jesus never met the test of the mountain. And work.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry