Category: Catholic

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab; Matthew 19:23-30

Summary

There are two axioms I want to pin to this reflection as a sort of translation of the story.

(1) I am a self-made man (in its extreme: I am a God).
(2) The Rich man is anyone who has more than me.

In our first reading today, the prince of Tyre is the self-made man. At least in his eyes. Ezekiel has none of it. The NABRE commentary on this reading says:

Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1).

In our responsorial, taken from the Song of Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses recalls despite all the riches, provisions, and divine care the people received they turned away from the Lord and sought their ‘no god’. The effects caused chaos and ruin. They didn’t realize how rich they really were. Nevertheless, the Lord comes to their aid again:

Surely, the LORD will do justice for his people; on his servants he will have pity. When he sees their strength is gone, and neither bond nor free is left (Dt 32:36).

Reflection

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich So that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Rich, how?

In direct reversal of the two axioms:
(1) I am not a self-made man but a beloved child of God who showers me with blessings.
(2) My riches are ultimately not of cattle and money but love and relationship.

The First Disciples
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us? (Mt 19:27). For Peter and the disciples who gave much, much was given.

For All of Us
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life (Mt 19:29).

Personal Reflection

Rich in what?

The Lord blesses us constantly. We run into trouble when we ascribe our success to our efforts alone. We run into trouble when the Rich is always someone else who has more (as if we are exempt from charity).

Be rich in Jesus.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 24:15-23; Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21; Matthew 19:16-22

Summary

How many of you have been a part of the Strategic Planning for your company? Or sat through the annual All Employee meeting to find out the goals for the next fiscal year?

• The goals are laid out – near term, mid-year and End of Year metrics.
• The implementation is set forth – close business lines, open business lines and introduce new products.
• The policy and procedures follow – the rules in which we engage in the implementation of the goals.

In our first reading today, Ezekiel reminds us that life doesn’t go according to our plans. Plan all you want and life will surprise you every time.

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes (Ez 24:15-16).

The warning was not arbitrary. Ezekiel’s personal loss becomes a sign of the consequences of a disobedience already baked into the life of the people. The kind of disobedience that is like a Strategic Plan gone wrong.

Reflection

In our gospel portion today, The Rich Young Man, he was working on his Strategic Plan. His plan already covered good behavior toward his fellow man. But he knew, it was missing something. You have forgotten God who gave you birth. (Deut 32:18a). God wasn’t in the plans but he didn’t realize it.

Of the two instructions Jesus gave him, (1) “go, sell what you have and give to the poor“; and (2) “Then come, follow me” were given in sequence not by necessity but by frame of reference. He was stuck in planning mode and Jesus answered him in planning mode. Following is the key goal. Timing of the dispossession of other things is an implementation.

Borrowing from the gospel of Mark: Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing (Mk 10:21). In the end, that one thing is ME.

Our canticle gives us the deeper meaning of Jesus’ response.

You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you. You forgot the God who gave you birth (Deut 32:18).

Personal Reflection

Before we start the day today, let us not forget who made us. Let us not lack the one thing we need to be ‘perfect’. Jesus, who is. God has the right Strategic Plan.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081726.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

Summary

At the Vigil Mass yesterday, Fr. Tom gave a wonderful homily “What would you do for love?” on The Canaanite Woman’s Faith. I attached it here. After, or instead of, reading my reflection you can watch his homily. His homily starts at 16:52.

Still here? It was a great homily, yes?

Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” (Mt 15:23)

• We can think of a million reasons to reject another person. The Lord needs only one reason to accept a person: His own Divine Love.
• How many have we shut out of the sanctuary of the Church, from Holy Communion, and the Sanctuary of the Holy Altar?

Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.” (Mt 15:28)

Reflection

In our first and second readings today, sacred scripture outlines openness to the Gentiles and the excluded into the life of faith.

The Foreigner (Canaanite Woman)

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer (Isa 56:6-7a).

The Eunuch (transgender persons are not outside God’s invitation)

For thus says the LORD:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me,
and who hold fast to my covenant.
I will give them, in my house
and within my walls, a monument and a name*
Better than sons and daughters;
an eternal name, which shall not be cut off, will I give them. (Isa 56:4-5).

In our second reading, Paul supplies the reason: “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” Our first instinct may be to send someone away. God’s movement is toward mercy.

Personal Reflection

With compassion and generosity, and with hope for the continuing conversion required of us all, we shall welcome everyone.
Send her away? NO!

Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed. (Isa 56:1).

For my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isa 56:7c).

The promise and hope of the psalmist should keep our horizon heavenly.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
(Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8)

The caution is this observation: God widens the circle while religious people are tempted to narrow it.
The reality is exclusion has sometimes been driven by something other than the mind of Christ.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Psalm 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57; Luke 11:27-28

Summary

They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent
which David had pitched for it.
Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord (1 Chr 16:1-2).

Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness (Ps 132:8).

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
(1 Cor 15:54c-55)

Ark of the New Covenant (Mary)

While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied,
“Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:27-28)

Reflection

Jesus does not diminish his mother’s blessedness; he reveals its deepest source: she heard the Word of God and observed it.

The Assumption of the Blessed Mother was widely held from antiquity and formally defined as dogma on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII. We should take comfort that the Lord is with us in life, in transitus, and with Him in glory.

In a particular way his Mother. Wouldn’t you be surprised if it were not so? Even so, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Jesus has overcome death in his own person, for the whole of humanity, and we see that victory already realized in a particular way in his mother.

Personal Reflection

In NYC there is a joke that says all Italian men talk about two things: their Mom and baseball.
I can attest.

When it came to the graveside service for Mom, I used my own hands to set down her cremated remains into the grave to rest with her beloved Uncle Tony. So, yeah, if I could have, the same as Jesus, the same.

Have no fear of death in its ultimate power. It is but a transitus to the Father.

Franciscan: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081526-Vigil

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Readings: Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Matthew 19:3-12

Summary

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever? (Mt 19:3b).

This ‘test’ or dialog with the Lord sits at the very top of the list of questions for the Lord and for the leadership. It extends well beyond the question of marriage proper but grounds all future questions of accommodation, leniency, restitution and reconciliation. I propose it is a question just below the importance of the question: Are you the Christ? It is, to reframe it: What is marital love? And, What does marital justice look like? Jesus answers with the characteristics of love.

Let’s look at the direct answer.

He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning
the Creator made them male and female and said,
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate." (Mt 19:4-6)

It’s straightforward but not the final answer. It is the basis by which we judge for particular and necessary consideration for the life of the people (unless the marriage is unlawful (Mt 19:9). The broader dispute over what grounds could justify divorce stood at the center of the disagreement between the schools of Hillel and Shammai. The question reflects the larger Jewish dispute over how broadly Moses’ divorce provision should be interpreted. Jesus answers by moving behind the dispute itself to the purpose of creation.

Reflection

Our first reading today considers our pride (the language is NOT gender specific – men and women both), our greed and our failure to protect the children. These are unlawful in the deeper moral sense: violations of covenant, dignity, and love.

But you trusted in your own beauty and used your renown to serve as a prostitute. You poured out your prostitution on every passerby—let it be his. You took the splendid gold and silver ornaments that I had given you and made for yourself male images and served as a prostitute with them. The sons and daughters you bore for me you took and offered as sacrifices for them to devour! Was it not enough that you had become a prostitute? (Ez 16:15,17,20).

Before we cast the stone of divorce, we are expected to come to terms with our own shortcomings. What is unlawful is how we treat each other.

For I will re-establish my covenant with you, that you may know that I am the LORD, that you may remember and be ashamed, and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, when I pardon you for all you have done—oracle of the Lord GOD (Ez 16:62-63).

Our responsorial (taken from Isaiah) brings us to a higher perspective. In all our relationships, relying upon and imitating the divine expression of relationship.

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)

Personal Reflection

I wish for each of you a happy life, married, single or divorced. “What God has joined together, no human being must separate” cannot be used to demand that someone remain physically exposed to violence, coercion, or danger.

The unlawful begins with our actions in contradiction to the promises of becoming one, acting like one and being one human family.

A marriage may be lawful in bond while becoming unlawful in behavior; the Church’s challenge is to honor both truths without confusing either one for the whole truth.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081426.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12; Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62; Matthew 18:21–19:1

Summary

Forgiveness can only be understood in the context of the promise. The promise of divine forgiveness experienced in this life and fulfilled in eternal life.

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’ (Mt 18:32-33).

If God doesn’t deliver, why should I?

That is the problem Ezekiel is addressing, our inability to see the Lord in action.

So many focus instead as does this proverb: “The days drag on, and every vision fails” (Ez 12:22). Say to them therefore: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to that proverb; they shall never use it again in Israel. Say to them instead: “The days are at hand and every vision fulfilled.” (Ez 12:23).

Reflection

Jesus calls out the false notion that life is a drudgery and the word of the Lord is without efficacy.

He points out that divine forgiveness given us in measure we cannot fathom is the yardstick we are to measure our own forgiving practices. The psalmist helps us recall the many rescues the Lord has performed for us.

Personal Reflection

May our forgiveness be as Jesus describes be with the same abundance as in our blessings!

Psalm 78 is an historical psalm which recounts all the wonders the Lord has performed for the people. The portion selected for today is fraction of the recurring theme: they accept my blessings but not my law and the cycle of obedience and disobedience results in experience of favor and consequence. Or said more directly: the consequences of disobedience -and unforgiveness- are not sidestepped, but experienced in its own woes.

The Lord answers. In a similar way to the question: “Must I forgive my brother 7 times” and Jesus responded seventy-seven times! So too blessing. Not 7 times… seventy-seven times a blessing!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081326.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Matthew 18:15-20

Summary

Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them." (Mt 18:19-20)

This verse is better understood by the writing of a second century Rabbi: “When two sit and there are between them the words of the Torah, the divine presence (Shekinah) rests upon them” (Pirqê ’Abôt 3, 3).

Reflection

It is a jolting awakening to realize how many who profess Christ are unable to agree as to what to pray for. The conclusion might be that the Torah (the Word of God) is not the centering reality of their prayer. Thoughts not centered on the meaning and intent of the Word of God are easily drawn into conflict and division. In the rabbinic saying, the Shekinah—the divine presence—rests among those gathered around Torah; in Matthew, Jesus places himself in the midst of those gathered in his name.

What, then, is undivided in the Word? Reconciliation—with the Father, in Christ, and with one another. The agreement Jesus speaks of is not merely consensus; it is communion ordered toward reconciliation.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Personal Reflection

Let us agree: may our prayers – the center of our prayers – be for the reconciliation of people.

Note – this link will change to its proper name with the Date as the cycle of readings change every year.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/wednesday-nineteenth-week-ordinary-time

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Readings: Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Summary

He said to me: Son of man, eat what you find here: eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” (Ez 3:1-2,3b, X-Ref Rev 10:9).

How sweet to my taste is your promise! (Ps 119:103a)

Reflection

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. (Mt 11:29, 18:4-5).

Sacred scripture is sweet to read and sour to execute!

Just being honest here! I mean, really now, do you receive everyone as a child of God? Or in moments of temptation do you want to take the scroll and bash them over the head?

So then we must adjust our thinking. If divine mercy is sweet when given to us, it cannot become sour merely because it is given to someone else.

What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost (Mt 18:12-14).

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).

Personal Reflection

So our contradiction is sweet for me and sour for you?
or
The Lord will come to find me and not you?

No, this is not the way. In a sense the sour part is the need for a change of heart. Each human person is loved by God and, by his will, is meant to receive the sweetness of divine love.

Just saying.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081126.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9; John 12:24-26

Summary

Today is a big day for me.

• As an outdoorsman.
• As a deacon.

Evening Mass

#1. The fall I took on the Appalachian Trail has turned out to be extensive structural damage. It is likely to be months of surgery and rehab.

Update: 14 Day intravenous antibiotics starting soonest.

• Broken elbow
• 2 tendons severely torn – One going up to elbow, one going to wrist.
• Ruptured bursa
• Two infected fluid collections.
• Bone infection.

#2 Feast of Saint Lawrence at the cathedral. I’ll post pictures.

Reflection

A holy priest friend sent me a video (non-public). From the news report back then: On Thursday, May 16, 2019, the funeral of Jean Vanier, who died during the night of May 6-7, will be held in Trosly-Breuil (Oise). He founded the first L’Arche community in this village.

2:27 p.m.: Reading of the Gospel, first in French by André Haurine, a visually impaired deacon: the text of the washing of the feet. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

The point of the video is the deacon proclaiming John’s Gospel and the theology of service, not Vanier himself. I watched him then as an able-bodied deacon admiring another man’s perseverance. I watch him differently now.

I quoted this to my pastor. I told him I saw the video given me by a priest. At the time I was healthy, thought it an odd gift. Not so distant now.

Personal Reflection

In the end, one must remember: The Father will honor whoever serves me (Jn 12:26b).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081026.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

Summary

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” (Mt 14:33).
Later in Matthew, Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16).

Reflection

• The Walking on the Water has been our gospel reading this past Monday and Tuesday and again today.
• On Monday we considered doubt: Why did you doubt?
• On Tuesday we considered the response: Put Your hand in The Hand

Today we arrive at recognition: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

We can glean the context with the first reading from First Kings: At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. The Lord revealed himself in an amazingly gentle and simple way.

Not in the strong winds.
Not in the earthquake.
Not in the raging fire.

But in a tiny whispering sound. The “silent sound,” is mysterious and ultimately ungraspable.

In that silent whisper, volumes of presence.

The story of the Walking on the Water brings the full meaning forward, the Lord doesn’t overpower but helps us overcome our doubts and enlivens our Ask. Jesus, like in the story of Elijah, is the gentle whisper. He is the Son of the God of Whispers with the full weight of the power, victory and majesty.

Our psalmist brings in verse the poetic meaning of his divine presence.

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 prepare the way of his steps.
(Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14)

Personal Reflection

Lord, the Walking on Water brings us clarity on who you are, how you are, and what you desire for us.
Truly, you are the Son of God.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080926.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry