Ordinary Time Cycle A

Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle C

July 3, 2022

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It is always interesting to see how God often works. Have you ever noticed that many times He waits until there are difficulties and problems before He goes into action, and how often He works through others, even others who seem weak?

That, for each of us, can be most frustrating because we don't like to have difficulties or situations that we are not comfortable with;  yet that seems to be the place that God often works.

In the first reading we find the exiles have returned to Jerusalem, and seeing the great devastation of the city, they are very depressed and downcast. They find that their beloved city in total ruins; even the sacred Temple has been destroyed.

Yet the prophet tells them to rejoice because God does have a plan. Jerusalem will be whole once again.  All of their  difficulties will be overcome.  Rejoice!

Obviously they are encouraged to have faith and to begin to rebuild Jerusalem.

As we are able to look back in history, we can see this fulfilled today. We know that  there is a new Jerusalem fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  There is a way for all to have that new Jerusalem, today and forever through Jesus Christ.

Yet, when we are faced with our own personal difficulties and told to Rejoice...well, we know how difficult that can be.  Yet there is a truth here for us today, as there was for those in the first reading.  Often, we come to discover that, at times, we do not trust God.  We may think He takes too long; or He works the wrong way, etc.  That is a time to pray for our own conversion and grace.  

 

In the Gospel reading, Jesus is sending 72 followers on the mission to preach the gospel in towns and villages of Galilee.

Why didn't Jesus himself go?  He for sure would have had great success.

Yet Jesus knows clearly, that it is through weakness, difficult situations, that He will work.

We can only imagine the doubts and fears those that are sent must have had.  And on top of that they are told to take nothing with them.

 

That can also be a truth for us when we are on our personal journey in personal situations that are difficult.  The Lord might be saying not to take anything with us; not our solutions, our ideas etc. 

When we have been sent on a journey in situations that are difficult, we need to pray for the courage to wait for the Lord, and how He wants us to work.  Perhaps it will not be as we thought.  Are we willing to take this journey taking nothing with us?

We all know of the many difficult situations and sufferings that St. Paul endured on his many journeys.  He clearly understood the great gift that he had been given in his Christianity, that God worked in all the difficulties he encountered.

Do we appreciate the gift that God has given each of us?

We, like Saint Paul, like all Christians. are called to make God present today in the world.  That means through us His mercy, His compassion, His understanding, His patience, etc. will make Him present in the world today.

Be ready to be sent everyday on a new journey,

in all the situations that will happen.  

Take nothing with you!

Courage

Pray for the grace to take the daily journey!

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The Body & Blood of Jesus...Corpus Christi Cycle C

June 19, 2019

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This Sunday we reflect in a very special way on the Eucharist...

The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ... Corpus Christi.

 

 

 

 

 

In the first reading we reflect on the fact that Abraham was returning victoriously from a battle against the invading kings from the east who had attacked and destroyed.

As Abraham returns home he is met by the high priest and king of Salem, Melchizedek who meets and congratulates Abraham and makes an offering of bread and wine to God to show their thanks for the victory in the struggle.

 

 

Paul writes about the blessed Eucharist.  We hear of an account to the early church of the Body and Blood of Christ given to them and to us today.

 

 

 

 
It was in the celebration at the Last Supper when the Lord instituted for all of us, throughout time, the Holy Eucharist as a way of feeding and caring for us.

 

 

 

 

 Here we are given an account of Jesus feeding the 5000 people who were out in the middle of nowhere.

As evening approached the apostles encourage Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go home for food and shelter since they were in a very desolate place.

We can see that Jesus had great concern for the people by making sure that they had sustenance for their journey home.

When we find ourselves in that desolate place in our lives, there is always the Lord who is always present in the Holy Eucharist.

It is so easy in times of desperation, in times of feeling abandoned, in times of not dealing well with the cross-the struggles and the difficulties in our lives, not to turn to the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist where he awaits to strengthen us. 

 

 

What are we waiting for?

 

 

 

 

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Trinity Sunday Cycle C

June 12, 2022

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 We then are caught up in the eternal cycle of love

between the members of the Holy Trinity.

We are brought into heaven by the three persons of the Trinity-

-one who reveals the truth and the two who love us unto salvation.

=Pope Francis

 

 

I remember that as a kid I was always trying to figure out how to be three in one.
How could there be only one God, but three persons.
I'm sure we've all dealt with that in one way or another until we just grew to accept it.

Yet as time goes on and our spirituality develops we can begin to understand the concept of the Trinity in different ways, not totally but little by little.  We can begin to see the concept of unconditional love in the three Persons of the Trinity that somehow is reflected in one love.

  The first reading from the Old Testament hints that wisdom seems to be something separate from and yet a part of God.

We might also see it as a foreshadowing of what would be fully revealed later, when wisdom was made present in  the person of Jesus Christ, who became a human being.

 

 The presence of  unconditional love, to accept the will of the Father, and to become fully human and fully God, and to suffer for imperfect humanity, filled with mistakes, goof ups, and sins, so that they (including us) could become adopted by God and brought to His eternal life.

 

 

It is interesting to remember that those Jews converted to Christianity were able to accept the doctrine of the Trinity, the Father,  the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three persons in one God, relatively easy.

And yet they had come from a tradition of strict monotheism, one God, no idols.  After all, they were living among all kinds of peoples with many different idols and gods. Yet the converted Jews were able  accepted the concept of the Trinity. 

It's also interesting that the Gentiles, the pagans, were also able to accept the doctrine of the Trinity as they entered the church and became Christian.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul hints strongly  that God is dwelling with in each of us as Father, Son, and Spirit.

It is those persons, giving unconditional love, that we meet three persons in one God.

For each person, this love is completely unconditional and entirely without self interest. Each loves us with infinite love.

The Trinity certainly gives us an example of unconditional love from each of the persons of the Trinity.
That unconditional love of the Father was shown to us as He created us and the universe and the Father in love is willing to give  His Son, who willingly enter into becoming human and offering his life so that we can have eternal life. The Son shows unconditional love, and is willing to give everything including his suffering and death, so that we can have eternal life.
The Holy Spirit shows unconditional love and is continually  with us and the Church,  influencing us and supporting us, always with unconditional love.

 

Each of us in our own baptism, are also called by God to continue to pray for that gift of giving unconditional love to all, even to our enemies.

Once again we hear Jesus speaking at the Last Supper. He promises the disciples that he would send them the Holy Spirit. Again as we reflect on this Gospel reading, it can lead us to consider God's unconditional love that calls us to be His adopted children.

 

  Again, we can see that unconditional love of God, especially in those moments that He forgives us, again and again, which continually makes His unconditional love present in the world.

God never gives up on us.

Recognize His Unconditional love reflected in

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

Yet One God!

 

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Pentecost Sunday Cycle A B & C

June 5, 2022

Mass Readings Sunday

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For some fifty days we have been daily celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord, Easter.  In spite of our times of spiritual failure, the Lord has shone us that death, sin, has been overcome.  There is always a way to find forgiveness and to once again move toward the gift given freely to us, eternal life.  So, why wouldn't we celebrate for some fifty days? 

Alleluia, Christ is Risen.  

Pentecost will end this season of Easter as the Paschal candle, the sign of the Resurrected Christ, is removed from its place in the sanctuary, and on Monday we begin the season of Ordinary Time.

  

 

 

 

The first reading tells of the Holy Spirit coming in a mighty wind from heaven and then tongues of fire that  would change the lives of those in the room when it happened.

 

The Apostles did not really understanding what had happened to Jesus. In spite of all they heard, experienced or been told, they were filled with doubt and fear.

 

The rough times in our lives that cause doubt and fear can seem like a strong wind,  and often it is only in retrospect that we recognize God, the Holy Spirit was working in our lives.

 

The psalm that we sing on this Sunday reminds us to always ask for the Holy Spirit, especially in those times when we doubt what God is allowing in our lives

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit

The words of this chant can be prayed over and over as a way asking for the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

In the second reading, Paul writes to the Corinthian community and tells them that they all have received gifts from the Holy Spirit and they are to use them to make God present in the world.  

Each and everyone of us has been given gifts to use to make God present, but how hard it seems at times to see our gifts.  They can be the most simple things like patience, forgiveness, compassion, a willingness to listen, a word of support, a smile and a "hello" even to a stranger, going out of our way for the other, even when it is not convenient, etc.

But we often think to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit is something spectacular.

Rarely, does God let us see the gifts we possess. And sometimes we even don't believe we have any of the gifts of the Spirit. What a lie.

Recognize that Jesus comes to us often, saying, " Peace be with you."

We hear this in the Gospel, and also that we are being sent into the world everyday and in every situation to make the mercy of God present to all we encounter.  Even in the most trying time and situation, we can pray that we will recognize Jesus is with us, giving us peace and the promise of the Holy Spirit, but like those in the the readings, we must wait. 

 

Let's hope this Pentecost will be, for each of us, a time to see the Holy Spirit inspiring us in all the events in our lives.

The Spirit is there even showing us our sins and giving us courage, time after time, to seek God's mercy and forgiveness, which will always be there.

Here are the words to the Sequence we will hear before the reading of the Gospel.  They can be another source of courage for each of us.

Sequence – Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your seven fold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.

 

 

Pentecost will end this season of Easter as the Paschal candle, the sign of the Resurrected Christ, is removed from its place in the sanctuary, and on Monday we begin the season of Ordinary Time.

 

 

 

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