Tag: Catholic

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13; Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24; Luke 6:27-38

Summary

Brothers and sisters: Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. But if one loves God, one is known by him. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (1 Cor 8:1b, 3; 1 Jn 4:12; Lk 6:27-28).

YET

Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ (1 Cor 8:10-12).

Reflection

Quite the collision between the Letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Luke in today’s sacred readings. YET, not really.

St Paul is calling out the reality that some actions and conditions are not sin at all because objectively the premise of sin is faulty even as the action or condition does have the appearance of sin but, in fact, is not a sin (the idol itself is nothing). Eating meat that happens to be offered to idols (by others, and remote to the end-user) is not a cause for sin. Paul does say, if someone trips because of it, then try to avoid it — and avoid your own sin of being morally culpable for their distress.

This is an area of faith called: Adiaphora (Matters of Indifference, a Protestant term, but I like it).

Some truths and moral obligations are more significant and must be maintained even when they are difficult to hear or live.

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

This is an area of faith called: Immutable Truth (Dogma & related – Essential Ethics)

Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good (Rm 12:9-10, 21).

Whether an enemy or a weak brother, love them according to the Cross of Jesus.

Now, it is really easy to make Dogma & Essential Ethics out of Matters of Indifference.

Just use the lived experience of an old guy to help you see that maybe, just maybe, we fuss about things in an unhelpful way. I call it… the “I remember” list.

Do you hear me?
Wait, translated into common language of today…. DO you FEEL me?

Personal Reflection

• I remember when desecration of the American flag included any type of apparel made from the pattern of the flag… now we have bikinis of the Stars and Stripes.
• I remember when suit and tie was mandatory business attire for every work day… now we went beyond Dress Down Fridays in summer only.
• I remember when being Long Haired Hippie was a bad thing… now short haircuts are suspicious.
• I remember Bell Bottoms… ok, these are still bad… only good for shipboard wear for swabbing decks LOL.

But seriously folks… the first step in loving the enemy and supporting the weak may be discarding the ridiculous standards we set that have no spiritual value at all. Am I defending something Christ actually requires—or something my generation merely taught me to regard as important?

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091026.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
[In the Dioceses of the United States]
Readings: 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17; Luke 6:20-26

Summary

From now on, I should like you to be free of anxieties. (1 Cor 7:29b, 32a).

Reflection

St Paul’s letter portion today deals witht he ordinary difficulties of married life and the juxtaposition of eschatological urgency. He is writing about a form of detachment a Christian must have and could have depending on circumstances.

I tell you, brothers [and sisters], the time is running out (1 Cor 7:29a).

The Sermon on the Plain gives us the four blessings of life that make your decision (to be married or not to be married) equally helpful in the building of the Kingdom.

• Blessed are you who are poor – share what you have.
• Blessed are you who are now hungry – hunger for justice.
• Blessed are you who are now weeping – be concerned for those without or offer your weeping as gift for the human family.
• Blessed are you when people hate you – be a faithful witness that reveals divine love even as others reject that love.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

Personal Reflection

Paul had big ideas regarding the Christian life (married and single). Just to be clear, none of us would be here if there wasn’t mothers and fathers, so there is that! LOL.

Be blessed in what you do and what you hope for.
Then love as your heart moves you (to marriage or to celibacy).

From now on, live your actual life—married or single, joyful or grieving, accepted or rejected—as someone whose heart is already being oriented toward the Kingdom.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090926.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 13:6ab, 6c; Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Summary

Nine months ago we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today (nine months later, hint, hint) we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, Then the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel (Mi 5:2).

We celebrate the conception and birth of John the Baptist and of course of Jesus as well. From conception, we celebrate!

Let me sing of the LORD, “He has been good to me.” (Ps 13:6c).

Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God (traditional liturgical acclamation).

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus (which means Yahweh saves), because he will save his people from their sins.” Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” (Mt 1:21, 23).

Reflection

Because of Mary’s “Yes”, God is with us and saves us. Don’t get all theologically upset here. Mary is a critical part of the salvific plan but not the initiator (efficient cause) nor the effective agent (her acting agency is the Yes, the Incarnation is the Lord’s) of the plan. In her humility and trust, she was entrusted above all women to be Mother, to be all a Mother.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home (Jn 19:26-27).

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Personal Reflection

I’ve got two Moms and I’m perfectly happy about that.
My gift to you is to love you and your Son without reservation.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Psalm 5:5-6, 7, 12; Luke 6:6-11

Summary

Your boasting is not appropriate.

Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?

Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:6-8).

Reflection

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Lk 6:9)

For the cooks among us, you already know this. A tiny amount of yeast can take as much as 12-24 hours to rise before you can bake the bread. A long and slow rise.

In our first reading today, Paul warns us about what yeast we choose to leaven our bread. Is it the old yeast of malice and wickedness? In our gospel portion today, even this tiny amount of old yeast is capable of denying aid to the afflicted on the Sabbath even as we know better.

Yeast in this context is the influence, not the sin. A sign of growth and fermenting conditions for pride, sin, and corruption. The ‘new yeast’ of the Good News – is no yeast at all (unleavened) – has the effect of nurturing, caring and right relation.

Paul takes us on that sharp right-hand turn, if you will, from describing old and new as yeast-needing and no yeast at all.

Personal Reflection

So, to turn a new phrase, what you do to the yeast among us, you do to me.
The danger of the old yeast is not merely that one person sins; it is that sin begins to shape what the whole community considers normal. Throw out the old yeast.

Discarding the malice we imitate Jesus, who restores the person to the center.

Cook with no yeast at all.

And Rise!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090726.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20)

Summary

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

The gospel portion today, A Brother Who Sins, sits between two related teachings:

1. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost).
2. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Jesus answers that forgiveness is to be given without limit).

Today’s gospel portion cannot be isolated without these two parables bringing a specific type of clarity.

When I say to the wicked, “You wicked, you must die,” and you do not speak up to warn the wicked about their ways, they shall die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their blood. If, however, you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, but they do not, then they shall die in their sins, but you shall save your life (Ez 33:8-9).

Today, Jesus describes a type of juridical process for dealing with disagreements. It is a documented process in practice by the Qumran community at that time. The NABRE says further: This three-step process of correction corresponds, though not exactly, to the procedure of the Qumran community; see 1QS 5:25–6:1; 6:24–7:25; CD 9:2–8 (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?20=#48018020).

Whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Rom 13:9b).

Reflection

OK. So if you are thoroughly confused by now – great!

If we string it all together, one may fall into a sort of despair. Like this: If your brother sins, you better tell him because if he dies in the sin and you do not warn him you are responsible. But everyone is a lost sheep in some degree and therefore we are to forgive 77 times (always). Applying the practical process used by the Qumran community and endorsed by Jesus, we arrive at a way of proceeding when we must speak.

Except, you forgot the ending piece…

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).

Before we gather, ask the four questions of oneself:

1. Am I focused on the right thing for the right reason? (the ideal).
2. Am I focused on the right thing for the wrong reason? (the trap – a projection).
3. Am I focused on the wrong thing for the right reason? (the misstep – wrong weight of offense).
4. Am I focused on the wrong thing for the wrong reason? (the hazard – other motives override all sensibilities).

Personal Reflection

Our psalmist comes to the rescue again!! Psalm 95 is prayed every day in the Liturgy of the Hours and for a good reason. If we insist on our justice and on correction, when we gather we start with:

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

And then we beg that all of us:

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
(Ps 95: 6-7, 8-9)

And most of all: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

A person wishing to correct another should first approach with the humility of one who also needs mercy. Then speak. There aren’t two species of people in Matthew 18. There are two sinners having a conversation.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 4:6b-15; Psalm 145:17-18, 19-20, 21; Luke 6:1-5

Summary

We have been reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians since last Wednesday, slowly working our way through his observations and instructions as men and women who had accepted the good news of Christ and were now trying to realize in their lives the implications of their baptism (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/0). This continuous reading will conclude middle of next week.

There has been the consistent theme of revealing how some have become inflated with pride (1 Cor 4:18):

1. What we think of ourselves and how we act regarding our own interests.
2. What we think of others and how we act regarding their interests (or well-being).

The gospel portions that are paired with the letter of Paul (properly said, the Gospel portions can be read alongside Paul’s continuing instruction):

1. Stay awake! (using real life) example of obedience in work.
2. Stay awake! (using a parable) example of obedience in faith.
3. Humility and sacrifice of John the Baptist.
4. Fulfillment rejected by superiority complex.
5. Keep quiet (to demons) as example of believing in the words of Jesus.
6. Keep quiet (to demons) as example of sticking with acting rightly not empty proclamations.
7. Start fishing for men (as your focus).
8. Fasting and Rejoicing (knowing when to do either).
9. Sabbath rest and sustenance(Today).

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those [who were] with him were hungry? [How] he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” (Lk 6:3-5).

[Do] not to go beyond what is written, so that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over against another. I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children (1 Cor 4:6b, 14).

Reflection

Those challenging Jesus that day thought with pride.
David, in his day, thought with the needs of those with him.

And in the thread of Paul’s letter we see the difference between being inflated with pride and living as receptive, beloved children.

Personal Reflection

The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
(Ps 145:17-18)

Call upon him in truth, my beloved children.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090526.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Father,

I wanted to update you regarding the elbow injury I sustained on the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, the MRI and subsequent orthopedic evaluation revealed considerably more damage than originally understood, including bone damage, infection and significant tendon injuries.

My orthopedic surgeon has now instructed me not to use my right arm. I am facing a series of surgeries over the coming months to treat the infection, repair the damaged bone and ultimately reattach the tendon.The restrictions correlate to serving the Altar at Mass.

1. No procession with the elevated Book of the Gospels to Altar.
2. No elevated Book of the Gospels to the Ambo.
3. No elevation of Chalice.
4. No holding and administering Holy Communion.

I will keep you posted.

For a while, circumstances force the question from what a deacon does back to what a deacon is when he cannot do very much at all.

Best regards,

Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Luke 5:1-11

Summary

The earth is the LORD’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it (Ps 24:1). Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him (Lk 5:10b-11).

Reflection

Saint Pope Gregory I was a peacemaker and a unifier. He cared for the poor, the diaspora Jew, and the conversion of England. He is somewhat credited with the ‘merger’ of Gallican and Roman Chant into what we know today as Gregorian chant. Whoever should get the actual credit, we can say it allowed for a unity and clarity of worship by music.

Personal Reflection

Ever hear a jumbled mass of voices? You know what I mean. People praying together, but not together, and voices competing for primacy and leadership. It sounds awful and is in fact a serious symptom of disunity. Let’s leave everything else behind and concentrate on the catching of men, that is, the salvation of souls. Then our music will be heavenly.

When every voice tries to lead, prayer becomes noise. When every voice follows Christ, prayer becomes song.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090326.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Psalm 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21; Luke 4:38-44

Summary

I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 COR 3:6-9).

Reflection

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. (Lk 4:18, 40).

Personal Reflection

How do I walk? Walking according to the manner of man or walking according to the manner of God?

Candidly, I would say… depends on the day. I wish that were not true but there it is.

Nevertheless, when we do the right thing, it is the Lord who causes the growth. An important thing to remember when:

1. You feel as though you have done nothing or so very little.
2. You think the good you have done failed.
3. You start thinking as men (with jealousy, rivalry — fleshly people not spiritual people).

At sunset tonight, pray for the cure of the sick and pray for the freedom of those oppressed by evil.
In this way you are walking according to the manner of God.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090226.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry