Prayers of the faithful - first week of ADVENT - 1 December 2021

LORD JESUS - You lead us to the light. 

CHRIST JESUS - You are the truth. 

LORD JESUS - you will come again in glory. 

PRIEST:  Because we believe God that will come to our help, we present our prayers to our merciful Father:

1. For believers everywhere who wait for the Lord’s coming, that this Advent may help them in their preparations. 

2. For all the people who look forward to the celebration of Christmas, that Christ’s words and values may find a place in their hearts. 

3. For the nations where there is war, poverty, human suffering, social unrest, and violence, that we may all work together toward unity, healing, and reconciliation.  

4. For those who suffer from anxiety, for all who are sick in mind or body or spirit, that they may know the Lord’s healing power. 

5. For people trying to rebuild their lives after an experience of abuse or trauma or violence, that they may know the intimate love of God and that they may build trust and confidence in their lives. 

6. For all the members of this community who have died, especially our family members and loved ones, that God’s light may shine on them and on all we have lost. 

PRIEST: God of hosts, your hand protects your chosen people, listen to our prayers, we ask you, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Reflection for the first week of ADVENT - 1 December 2021

 With joyful hearts, we journey through this first week of the holy season of Advent.  As i write this reflection on Tuesday evening, we are winding down on Tuesday evening of the #IGiveCatholic campaign, the end of the on-line giving.  With less than one hour left, we here at St Jude have raised more funds than any other parish in the Diocese by far.  We are thankful for the generosity of our parishioners.  Advent is an inward journey, where we journey in prayers and in faith, where we participate in devotions and liturgies that will help us in our preparations for the birth of our Savior at Christmas.  We also are to go out ourselves, journeying through these days in Advent through our actions and through our outreach to our brothers and sisters.  Here are some wonderful quotes from Pope Francis, Mother Teresa, and Sister Joan Chittister to inspire us on our Advent journey.  Have a blessed week everyone.  Father Lincoln.  

"Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.”  (Pope Francis)  

"Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God’s own love and concern." (St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

"Jesus came to us as a child so that we might come to understand not only that nothing we do is insignificant, but that every small thing we do has within it the power to change the world." (Joan Chittister, OSB)

prayers of the faithful - first week of Advent - 30 November 2021

1. Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom: Lord, have mercy.

2. Christ Jesus, you come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness: Christ, have mercy.

3. Lord Jesus, you will come in glory with salvation: Lord, have mercy.

Prayer intentions:

Presider: As we begin our Advent journey this week, knowing that God is listening, let us offer our prayers.

1. That we in the United States and in all the countries of the world may reach out to those who are struggling and suffering in life.  

2. As we honor St Andrew today, we pray for all missionaries and those who bring the faith to others.  

3. For all places in the world experiencing war, terrorism, violence, or unrest, for peace, healing and reconciliation.  

4. For those who are suffering from depression or mental health issues this holiday season, that they receive the help they need and feel love and support from God and the community of the faithful.  

5. That Christians may be ready to meet Christ when he comes.

6. For the sick and the shut-in, the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, and those prayers we hold in our hearts.

Presider; Loving God, you want what is best for your people, hear our prayers and help us in our needs.  We make these prayers through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

7 December 2021 - memorial of St Ambrose Doctor of the Church - homily for Wednesday of the 2nd week in Advent - Isaiah 40:1-11

     “Comfort, give comfort to my people,” says the Lord.  Isaiah tells us that a voice cries out to us, calling us to prepare the way for the Lord in the wilderness, to make straight a way for the Lord in the desert.  The prophecy of a voice crying out in the desert is fulfilled in the time of Jesus by his cousin John the Baptist, who literally comes out of the desert to proclaim Jesus’ presence to the world. 

       Perhaps we feel like we are traveling through the desert in our lives at this very moment, especially with all the issues we have had to deal with in the pandemic, how we have had to adapt to a new reality and to people around us reacting in different ways to this new reality.  Perhaps we are struggling with things such as our faith in this new reality or all the personal issues that face us.  Perhaps we are struggling to incorporate God into our daily lives, wondering where God is in this midst of the violence and social unrest and division we see around us.  Yet, this voice is indeed crying out to us, telling us to take a moment out of our busy lives to recognize that God’s presence indeed with us regardless of whatever else is going on.  Isaiah was called to bring comfort to the people of Israel when many were still in exile in Babylon.  This message is relevant to us today.  

      The saint we celebrate today is St Ambrose.  He was bishop of Milan, Italy in the 4th century, an important theologian and Church leader in that era of the early Church.  His influential in the Church is shown by his selection as one of the original four Doctors of the Church in 1298, which also included Gregory the Great, Jerome, and the man he mentored when he entered the Church, Augustine of Hippo.  Ambrose was born into an aristocratic Roman family and was educated in the classical tradition.  His father was the governor of Gaul, present-day France.  He was an administrator of two provinces in northern Italy as a young man.  He was a believer in the faith, but at this time, was not formerly baptized.  When the Bishop of Milan died, he was chosen as Bishop.  He did not want that position, but finally accepted and was baptized and ordained Bishop.  This was a critical time for the Church.  Christianity had been formally recognized by Rome, but there were many Bishops and believers who adhered to the Arian heresy.  Ambrose was strong enough and connected enough to stand up to this heresy.  When need, he also stood up to the emperors of Rome, reminded them that they were not above the Church in matters of faith.  When different Christian communities and dioceses had different feast days, Ambrose was asked what feast days a believe should follow.  This is his famous response: “When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the church where you are.” This sage advice seems to be the source of the saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”  The Holy Spirit calls forth the leaders the Church needs at different times in history.  Ambrose was certainly needed to give the Church authority and direction.  

Bendición Católica de la Corona de Adviento

     El comienzo de la temporada de Adviento nos llama a la vigilancia, a mirar más allá de nosotros mismos, a expandir nuestra mente y nuestro corazón, a mirar las necesidades de nuestros hermanos, a desear el cumplimiento del Reino de Dios. Dios Padre, te alabamos por tu hijo Jesucristo. Él es Emmanuel, la esperanza de todas las personas. Él es la sabiduría que nos enseña y nos guía. Él es el Salvador de todas las naciones. Señor Dios, deja que tu bendición venga sobre nosotros al bendecir nuestra corona de Adviento el primer domingo de Adviento y al encender la primera vela. Que esta corona y su luz sean un signo de la promesa de Cristo de traer la salvación. Te lo pedimos por Cristo nuestro Señor. Amén.

2 December 2021 - homily for Thursday of the first week of Advent - Isaiah 26:1-6

      I have been mentioning at the daily Masses this week that our first readings come from the prophet Isaiah.  I always associate Isaiah with the coming of Jesus as we prepare for his birth during this holy season Advent, this season of preparation and waiting.   The message of Isaiah foreshadows and foretells the coming of the Lord into the world and the Gospel message that Jesus brings through his words and ministry.  In today’s reading from Isaiah, we hear about a lofty arrogant city that is brought down by the Lord, a city that ignores justice and shuts out the cries of the poor.  The city is turned into dust.  The dust, in turn, is trampled down by the footsteps of the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden. 

     I often turn to the US Bishops’ website (www.ussccb.org) when I prepare for my homilies.  In fact, it is probably the website that I visit most throughout the day for different things.  I guess that is a good thing for a priest!  On the Bishops’ website page on the season of Advent, it states this: “The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas.”  It also prominently displays a quote from Pope Francis: "Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.”  I see that quote as an echo of the message of the prophet Isaiah today.  As I go to downtown Jackson every weekday to work in the chancery office, as I drive to south Jackson a good number of times to celebrate Mass with the Carmelite nuns at their monastery, I see and hear the cry of the poor echoed in the desperate conditions that I see in these parts of the city of Jackson.  I cry for our city, for the crime, violence, desperation, & decay that I see there each day.  These are reflected in the way I am zigzagging down the streets trying to avoid the numerous potholes, & the way I have to check to see if there is a boil water notice preventing me from getting water from the tap at the chancery office.  We certainly need to work together to make our community and this world a better place.   

First week of Advent - schedule of Masses and Devotions at St Jude Catholic Church - Pearl, Mississippi

(Saturday) Nov 27 to (Friday) Dec 3 - 

Dear St Jude Parishioners and friends of St Jude: 

Our joyful season of Advent is here, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.  I want to point out in particular our reconciliation service on Monday, November 29 - I hope you will start the Advent season with this wonderful sacrament.  Also, note that on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday we have different opportunities for adoration of the blessed sacrament.  We lift these times up for the Gospel of Life, particularly to pray in response for the execution we just had here in Mississippi and for the Mississippi case addressing abortion that is being presented to the Supreme court on Wednesday, December 1.  I hope to see you at some of the Masses and devotions we are having this first week of Advent.  Father Lincoln.  

Saturday - 11/27 - vigil Mass at 6:00 pm 

Sunday - 11/28 - Mass at 8:00 am, 11:00 am and 4:00 pm; Spanish Mass at 1:00 pm.  

Monday - 11/29 - Advent reconciliation service at 6:00 pm with Father Lincoln, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and Monsignor Michael Flannery.  

Tuesday - 11/30 - Mass at 6:00 pm 

Wednesday - 12/1 - Mass at 6:00 pm; Father Lincoln will hold adoration of the blessed sacrament in the chapel located next to the parish hall from 6:00 am - 7:00 am and from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm to pray for the Gospel of Life as the Mississippi case is presented this day to the US Supreme Court. 

Thursday - 12/2 - adoration of the blessed sacrament from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Mass at 6:00 pm. 

Friday - 12/3 - Mass dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the first Friday of the month at 10:00 am.  Also, from Friday at 5:00 am until Saturday morning at 5:00 am we will have adoration of the blessed sacrament in the chapel in honor of the First Friday of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

3 December 2021 - Memorial of St Francis Xavier - Friday of the first week of Advent - Isaiah 29:17-24

     This first week of Advent, we’ve been hearing readings from the Old Testament, from that great Advent prophet Isaiah. We heard earlier in the week from Isaiah about how eternal life will be like a great banquet that God has prepared for us.  Today, we hear a continuation of that theme from Isaiah, of a vision of what life will be like when God triumphs.   At that time, the deaf will be able to the profound words read out of a book.  The blind, who had previously been in darkness, will now gain their sight. The lowly and the poor shall rejoice in the Lord.  However, the arrogant and tyrannical will be banished.  We hear from Isaiah frequent during Advent because the Advent message is that Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesies.  In our Gospel today, two blind men regain their sight after they ask Jesus to have pity on them.  Because of their great faith, Jesus heals them.  The men not only regain their physical sight, but, more importantly, they gain their spiritual sight, as they desire to spread the word of Jesus throughout the land due to this miracle of healing in their lives.  We are to see through that same lens of faith as well, to witness to the wonders of Jesus throughout our own land.  

    Our saint today St. Francis Xavier, was a man who became a friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola and a member of the Jesuits after he finished his studies for the priesthood in Paris in the early 16th century.  He was from the town of Javier in the Basque country of Spain.  I had the wonderful opportunity to visit that town and to visit his family’s huge castle when I was in the Basque country in the summer of 2019.  Visiting his ancestral home was an amazing experience.  Francis Xavier lived in a world when the Protestant Reformation was taking place.  Many in the Catholic Church experienced turmoil and confusion rather than hope and peace.  Yet, these young Jesuits dreamed of being loyal to the Pope and to the Church, of spreading this message to the ends of the earth.  Wherever Francis Xavier went as a missionary to spread God's word, he lived with the poor, he shared their food, and lived in their simple accommodations. He spent his ministry devoted to the sick and the poor, including lepers.  He always found great joy in truly living out the values and ideals of the Gospel.  After spending many years preaching in India and Japan, he died on his journey to China, where he dreamed of spreading the Word to the people there.  Francis Xavier lived the values of justice and peace that Isaiah foretells, values that are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus.  Let the life of Francis Xavier continue to speak to us today. 

1 December 2021 - Wednesday of the first week of Advent - Isaiah 25:6-10A

     When I was in the Peace Corps in our formation period in Thies, Senegal in 1989, preparing to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in the county of Guinea in West Africa, we celebrated Thanksgiving when that day came around.  At the time, I was a vegetarian.  While everyone one else there at the formation center got chicken with different side dishes to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, which was a huge luxury in Africa, we vegetarians got canned peas.  That was our main dish - canned peas - nothing else. B. A friend of mine from the Peace Corps days still reminds me very humorously about the peas.  Although, with many families in Africa being very vulnerable in regards to food, having regular meals there at the formation center and not worrying about going without food actually was a great luxury.   This past Thanksgiving, as I celebrated with an amazing feast with the Carmelites nuns and some members our St Jude parish, I remarked that this abundance of delicious food reminded me of the feast described in Isaiah in today’s first reading.   The readings from the prophet Isaiah are interpreted in our Christian faith as foreshadowing and preparing a path for the Lord. Thus, Isaiah is a prophet whom we will hear from very frequently during this holy season of Advent.  I find it interesting that today’s reading from Isaiah proclaims that this banquet will provide for “all peoples,” not just for the people of Israel, his chosen people.  God calls all of us to experience his love and his divine presence, no matter what our culture or age or status in society.  I think of all the calamities that we read about in sacred scripture: droughts, floods, exiles, plagues, poverty, war, and diseases such as leprosy. We battle some of the same things in our modern world.  Thus, it makes sense that an abundant banquet would speak to us in a very real way about the abundance of eternal life.  In biblical times, only the very rich would be able to experience such an opulent banquet.  In our own era, in the midst of poverty and hunger, such a banquet has profound meaning for us as well.  What are some take-aways of today’s reading?  Perhaps we can look at how our works of charity can provide a glimpse of God’s banquet to others. Also, it is a good reminder that during the season of Advent, we reflect upon not only Jesus’ upcoming birth at Christmas time, but also upon his second coming in the end times.  May we never lose focus of these multi-faceted characteristics of our faith. 

    

30 November 2021 - homily for the feast of St Andrew the Apostle – weekday during the first week of Advent – Matthew 4:18-22 - Romans 10:9-18

       The feast days of all the apostles are celebrated in our Church’s liturgical calendar.  As we journey through these first days of the holy season of Advent, today we celebrate the feast of St Andrew.  Like many of the apostles, the Gospel does not go into a great detail about him.  Today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew tells us that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, that he was called to be a disciple out of the everyday reality of his life while he and his brother were casting a net into the sea.  Jesus called them to follow him; they were amongst his first followers.  Andrew & Simon Peter immediately put down their nets and followed him. The Gospel states that right after Peter and Andrew were called, two other fishermen, the brothers John and James, the sons of Zebedee, were called as well.  Tradition has it that Andrew brought the Gospel to the people of Turkey and Greece after Jesus’ death and resurrection when all the disciples were sent out as missionaries.  Andrew gave his life as a martyr in order that Christ’s message would be proclaimed to all the world.

         In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us how important it is for us to share our faith with others, to continue the work of Christ here on earth by preaching the Gospel.  Paul tells us it does not matter if we are Jew or Greek; it does not matter who we are and what our status in life is: Christ’s Gospel is open to all.

         As we journey through this first week in Advent and as we hear of the witness of Andrew the Apostle, may we see the responsibility and opportunity we ourselves have in helping to proclaim the Gospel to the world.  As part of our Advent practices, may we find new and different ways to continue Christ’s mission to the end of the earth.  

28 de noviembre de 2021 - el primer domingo del adviento - ciclo C - Lucas 21:21-28 y 34-36

     Este domingo, los cristianos de todo el mundo comienzan la temporada santa de Adviento, un tiempo de preparación y purificación, mientras la Iglesia se prepara para la celebración anual del nacimiento de Cristo en Belén hace más de 2,000 años. Sin embargo, además de prepararnos para la venida del niño Jesús al mundo en el pesebre, esta temporada también es un tiempo en el que nos preparamos para otra venida de Jesús: cuando Jesús regresará en los últimos tiempos. Jesús habla sobre los últimos tiempos en el Evangelio este domingo, diciéndonos que el Hijo del Hombre vendrá en una nube con poder y gloria. Jesús nos advierte que, como discípulos suyos, debemos estar preparados para su segunda venida. El Papa Emérito Benedicto XVI aclara este aspecto del Primer Domingo de Adviento: “Mientras nuestro corazón espera la celebración anual del Nacimiento de Cristo, la Liturgia de la Iglesia dirige nuestra mirada hacia el objetivo final: nuestro encuentro con el Señor que vendrá en el esplendor de gloria."

     Pero, ¿cómo podemos equilibrar esta realidad diversa del Adviento: la llegada de Jesucristo a nuestras vidas en Navidad y la vuelta de Cristo al final de los tiempos en gloria? ¿Cómo nos preparamos para estas dos venidas en la realidad muy complicada de nuestras vidas, porque todos sabemos que es una temporada muy ocupada del año con mucho que hacer.   Recordamos un hecho histórico en nuestros preparaciones y nos preparamos para un evento en el futuro, en el que el espacio y el tiempo tal como los conocemos llegará a su fin.  Podemos mirar la Eucaristía como la fundación de nuestras preparaciones en adviento. Es bueno saber esto en el comienzo de nuestra celebración del Año de la Eucaristía en nuestra Diócesis de Jackson. La presencia de la Eucaristía en nuestra vida de fe nos ayuda a recordar lo que Jesús les dijo a sus seguidores: “No los dejaré huérfanos”. Al reflexionar sobre la Eucaristía, también recordamos cómo dos de los discípulos en el camino a Emaús vieron y encontraron a Jesús resucitado en la fracción del pan. Fue en el acto de la fracción del pan que pudieron reconocer a Cristo resucitado a quien encontró en el camino.  La expresión, "la fracción del pan", fue una expresión en la Iglesia Primitiva de lo que ahora llamamos la Eucaristía o la Misa. Otra palabra en la Iglesia Primativa  para la Eucaristía fue "la parusía". En la teología de hoy, la palabra parusía se refiere a la Segunda Venida de Cristo. Sin embargo, en la Iglesia Primitiva, la parusía era un título para la Eucaristía, ya que se consideraba que la presencia del Señor en la Eucaristía estaba relacionada con su presencia en su segunda venida. Entonces, en la Eucaristía, vemos la intersección entre la continuación de la primera venida del Señor, de la encarnación de Cristo en su nacimiento en el pesebre en Belén, y nuestra preparación para su segunda venida.

      Las oraciones en la Misa demuestran tantos aspectos diferentes de la fe. Podemos mirar la oración de la embolia, que sigue inmediatamente después del Padre Nuestro en el Rito de Comunión. En la historia de la Misa, la oración de la embolia comenzó como una oración del Adviento en la Misa. Esta oración en la Misa dice: “Líbranos de todos los males, Señor, y concédenos la paz en nuestros días, para que, ayudados de tu misericordia, vivamos siempre libres del pecado y protegidos de toda perturbación, mientras esperamos la gloriosa venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.  Esta oración pide la presencia continua del Señor para mantenernos seguros, pero también expresa la esperanza del regreso del Señor. Podemos ver cómo esta oración es apropiada para el Rito de la Comunión en la Misa, pero también como fue apropiada como una oración específicamente en la temporada del adviento.

     La celebración de la Eucaristía en la Misa tiene lugar entre la primera venida de Cristo y su segunda venida, una realidad que nos ayuda a comprender mejor la realidad de nuestra camino de fe. La Misa nos enseña la gratitud y la expectativa, así como a esperar en santidad y paciencia la segunda venida del Señor.  En nuestra conciencia de que la Misa existe entre el tiempo y la eternidad, y mientras oramos en la Misa durante este tiempo sagrado de preparación, que ambos sintamos y reconozcamos la presencia, el poder y la providencia de Dios.  No puede haber mayor preparación para el adviento que un amor y aprecio más profundos por la fracción del Pan, la parusía, la Eucaristía, la Misa hermosa que celebramos juntos como comunidad de fe.

Oremos juntos esta Oración por el primer domingo del adviento: 

Señor Dios, te adoramos porque aún en el presente tú vienes a nosotros. Vienes a nosotros a través de otras personas y tu amor y tu preocupación por nosotros. Tú llegas a nosotros a través de hombres y mujeres que necesitan nuestra ayuda. Vienes a nosotros mientras te adoramos con tu pueblo. Vienes a nosotros en el cuerpo y la sangre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo en la Eucaristía.

Señor Dios, te adoramos porque vendrás a nosotros en los últimos días.  Estarás con nosotros en la hora de nuestra muerte. Seguirás reinando supremo cuando todas las instituciones humanas fallan. Seguirás siendo Dios cuando nuestra historia haya seguido su curso.

Te damos la bienvenida, el Dios que viene en el niño Jesús en el pesebre de Belén y el Dios que volverá en gloria. Ven a nosotros ahora en el poder de Jesucristo nuestro Señor. AMÉN.

28 November 2021 - HOMILY FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - CYCLE C - LUKE 21:25-28 and 34-36

      This weekend, Christians all over the world begin the holy season of Advent, a time of preparation and purification, as our Church prepares for the annual celebration of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.  However, besides preparing for the coming of baby Jesus into the world in that humble manger, this season is also a time when we prepare for another coming of Jesus: when Jesus will come again in the end times.  Jesus addresses this in our Gospel today, telling us that the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory.  Jesus advises us that as his disciples, we must be prepared for this second coming. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI clarifies this aspect of the First Sunday of Advent: “While our hearts look forward to the annual celebration of Christ’s Birth, the Church’s Liturgy directs our gaze to the final goal: our encounter with the Lord who will come in the splendor of glory.”

     But how do we balance this diverse reality of Advent: Jesus coming into our lives at Christmas and Jesus coming again at the end times in glory?  How do we prepare for these two comings in the busy reality of our lives, because we all know that is a very busy season of the year with so much to do.  We recall a historical event in our preparations and we prepare for a future event, in which space and time as we know them will come to an end. Perhaps the Eucharist provides the key to how we are to prepare. This is good to know as we start our celebration of the Year of the Eucharist in our Diocese.  The presence of the Eucharist in our lives of faith helps us recall what Jesus told his followers: “I will not leave you orphans.”  As we reflect upon the Eucharist, we also recall how two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus saw and encountered the risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread. It was in the act of the breaking of the bread that they were able to recognize the risen Christ whom that he met on the road.  In fact, the expression, “the breaking of the bread,” was an early expression for what we now call the Eucharist or the Mass.  Another early word for the Eucharist was “the parousia.” In theology today, the word parousia refers to the Second Coming. However, in the early Church, parousia was a title for the Eucharist since the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist was seen as intimately connected with his presence at his second coming. So, in the Eucharist, we see the intersection between the continuation of the Lord’s first coming, of Jesus’ incarnation in his birth in a manger in Bethlehem, and our important preparation for his second coming.

      Our prayers in our Mass demonstrate so many different aspects of our faith.  We can look at the embolism prayer, which follows right after the Lord’s Prayer in the Communion Rite.  In fact, historians of the liturgy point out that the embolism prayer started as an early Advent prayer in the Christian liturgy.  This prayer in our Mass states: "Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This prayer asks for the continued presence of the Lord in keeping us safe, but it also expresses the hope of the Lord’s return.  We can see how this prayer is both fitting for the Communion Rite of the liturgy, but also how it was appropriate as a prayer specifically for the Advent season.

       Our celebration of the Eucharist in the Mass takes place in between Christ’s first coming and his return, a reality that help us better understand the reality of our liturgies.  Our Mass teaches us gratitude and expectation, as well as to wait in holiness and patience for the second coming of the Lord.  In our awareness that the Mass exists between time and eternity, and as we pray at Mass during this holy season of preparation, may we both feel and acknowledge the presence, power, and providence of God.  There can be no greater Advent preparation, than a deeper love and appreciation for the Breaking of the Bread, the parousia, the Eucharist, the beautiful and amazing Mass that we celebrate together as a community of faith.

       I also want to connect our reflections on stewardship these past few weeks to the beginning of the Advent season.  Like the way we are called to prepare for the coming of Christ during Advent, the stewardship of our life of faith begins with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  As seeing all of creation and all that we have as gifts from God, we are to see ourselves as good stewards of those gifts.  God calls us to give and to share what we have with joyful hearts, to find peace and happiness in the way we are stewards of our gifts, of God’s creation, and of our life of faith.  Out of our life of stewardship, God calls us to have an intentional plan of how we give back to God and to our brothers and sisters a portion of our time, our gifts, and our possessions, to do so consistently, and to do so in a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving.  I hope that you have enjoyed reflecting on stewardship these past several weekend.  I have enjoyed doing so with all of you.  Let us close with a prayer for Advent: 

Lord God, we adore you because you have come to us in the past. You have spoken to us in the Law of Israel. You have challenged us in the words of the prophets. You have shown us in Jesus what you are really like.

Lord God, we adore you because you still come to us today. You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us. You come to us through men and women who need our help. You come to us as we worship you with your people. You come to us in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  

Lord God, we adore you because you will come to us in the end times. You will be with us at the hour of our death. You will still reign supreme when all human institutions fail. You will still be God when our history has run its course.

We welcome you, the God who comes in the baby Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem and the God who will come again in glory. Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.  

Blessing of the Advent Wreath - First Sunday of Advent - 28 NOVEMBER 2021

The beginning of the Advent seasons calls us to vigilance, to look beyond ourselves, to expand our minds and our hearts, to look to the needs of our brothers and sisters, to desire the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. God our Father, we praise you for your son, Jesus Christ.  He is Emmanuel, the hope of all people. He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us. He is the Savior of every nation.  Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we bless our Advent wreath on the First Sunday of Advent and as we light the first candle on our wreath.  May this wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring salvation.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

prayers of the faithful - 34th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you will come again in the ends time. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to repent. 

Lord Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

With humility and simplicity, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. That we may all seek the Gospel of love in our lives, being a servant the way Jesus was a servant.  

2. For people who face prejudice, isolation and hatred in our world. That we may live the message of Christ the King would bring us healing and reconciliation.  

3. For the leaders of our Church, that they may continue to proclaim the Gospel of life and justice to all.  

4. For those who have been affected by natural disasters, from wild fire, hurricanes, drought, and winter storms.  For help and recovery.  

5. For all who are traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday.  For our children and youth on their break from school.  We pray for safe travels and joyful gatherings.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed whom we pray for in a special way in the month of November.  For our deceased family members and loved ones. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.  

We present our prayers thru your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - 24 November 2021 - 34th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to repent. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite.  

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father with humble hearts: 

1.  For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders - may they lead us away from division and violence to unity and reconciliation.  

2. For those making new commitments: that God will fill with hope those getting married, becoming new parents, making religious profession, or entering new careers, and guide them through all the joys and sorrows of life’s journey

3. For all who are in transition: that God will give them courage in facing the unknown, help them to recognize the gifts God has given them, and open them to new opportunities for growth and life

4. For all who have little hope: that God will open new opportunities for those who lack education, employment, healthcare, or safe housing and help them to move forth in faith

5. For displaced persons: that God will guide those who have fled violence, famine, or natural disasters, keep them safe from harm, and lead them to places of safety. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever.  

prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 34th week in ORDINARY TIME - 23 November 2021

Lord Jesus - you speak to us in God's holy word. 

Christ Jesus - you will come again in the end times. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Priest: Let us present our prayers to God, the shepherd who cares for all the flock:

1. For those in leadership roles in the Church, that they may show the kindness and sensitivity of the Good Shepherd. 

2. For leaders of governments and nations, that they may work for justice and truth. 

3. For our brothers and sisters in prison, that we may not forget our duty to care for them and their families.

4. For those who have passed beyond this world, that they may dwell in the Lord’s house for ever. 

5. For the sick and shut-ins, for those who need healing in their lives - body, mind, or spirit. 

6. For all those traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.  For our children and youth who are on Thanksgiving break.  May the Lord keep us safe and bless our gatherings and our travel.  

7. For the people we love — particularly those in need of support at this time, whom we remember in the silence of our hearts.  

Priest: Loving God, caring shepherd, you look after your people at every moment of their lives: Hear the prayers we make, in trust and faith, through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen

prayers of the faithful - Thanksgiving day - 25 November 2021

Penitential Rite: 

Lord Jesus - you call us to have joyful heart - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you join us in giving thanks to our Heavenly Father - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus -  you bring us new life - Lord have mercy.  

Priest:  With grateful hearts and with confidence in God’s care and mercy, we place our prayers before him this Thanksgiving morning:

1. In gratitude for God’s loving care, we pray that he that he will guide our Church leaders, including our Holy Father Pope Francis and our Bishop Joseph Kopacz. 

2. In gratitude for our nation and our state of Mississippi, we pray God’s help for our president, our governor, and all our national, state and local elected officials. 

3. In gratitude for our family and friends, we pray for God’s blessings for them today – especially those most in need of God’s assistance at this moment. 

4. In gratitude for the gifts of health and material blessings, we pray for those who do not have these gifts, that God may aid them and that we might mutually support one another. 

5. In gratitude for the faithful departed and for our loved ones and family members who have gone before us, that God may grant them entrance to eternal life. 

6. In gratitude for those who keep us safe: our first responders, the men and women in the military, and our medical professionals,  especially those who are not able to spend Thanksgiving with their families. May the Lord lead them and guide them in their service.  

7. In thanksgiving for the missionaries who bring God’s word both near and far, may the Lord inspire them in their ministry.  

8. For all those who have been negatively affected by the pandemic.  For help and healing for those in need.  

9. In the silence of our hearts, we present our personal prayer petitions this morning. 

Priest: Hear our prayers, loving Father, on this Thanksgiving Day. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  Amen. 

Catholic Reflection for the beginning of the Advent season - 28 November 2021

      As I am writing this reflection a few days before our celebration of Thanksgiving, I was reading an article about how busy the travel season will be this year, with many people traveling over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, a big change from this time last year when we were at a surge in the pandemic.  With prices increasing on food, gas, and just about everything else, with many of the shelves at the stores being empty of things we want to buy, it is easy to focus on our busy lives, the stress the pandemic, and the current reality. Yes, there are so many things to do this time of the year.  But it is important that we focus on what is truly important this time of the year.  Advent is an important time of preparation for us.  While we already see Christmas decorations put up everywhere, while we are busy sending out Christmas cards and buying presents for our friends and loved ones, while we are already attending holiday gatherings at school, at work, and with our friends, are we making time to focus on the presence of God in our lives?

      There are actually three comings of Jesus that we can reflect upon during the season of Advent.  We prepare for the coming of Jesus as a tiny baby in the manger in Bethlehem, which we celebrate on Christmas at the conclusion of our Advent season.  We also ask Jesus to come into our lives and into our hearts in a special way during Advent, asking him to be our Lord and Savior.  Finally, we prepare each day on our journey of faith for Jesus’ return in the end times, when Jesus will come again.  

        At the Masses this weekend, we are handing out the Little Blue Book of reflections which we can use in this season of preparation.  We will have Masses each day during the Advent season, which you can attend in-person or streaming on our Facebook page. Reflecting on the daily Mass readings is also a wonderful Advent devotion.  In addition, this Monday, November 29 at 6:00 pm, we will have our Advent reconciliation with Bishop Kopacz and Monsignor Michael Flannery.  The sacrament of reconciliation is a wonderful part of our Advent preparations.  If you are unable to attend Monday evening, you can come on Saturday evenings when we offer that sacrament or you can make an appointment.  My prayer is that Advent be a fruitful time of preparation for all of us, as we preparing for the coming of the Lord.

       Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln.  

26 November 2021 - homily for Friday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Daniel 7:2-14

     This week, our first readings at daily Mass have come from the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.  We hear a very fanciful vision in our reading from the book of Daniel today, with Daniel having a vision of four strange beasts.  Yet, these beasts are stripped of all their heavenly authority.  The son of man comes down on the clouds of heaven, being given all heavenly authority, all power and sovereignty.  In this vision, all nations and peoples worship the son of man.  We may not all have a fanciful vision like Daniel, God may not appear to us in a vision or a dream in such a dramatic way, but we all know in our hearts that Jesus, the Son of Man, is to be given all of our praise and glory, for the power and authority that has been given over to him by the Father.  Although we do not see the Son in such a vision, we see his face in many different manifestations as he is present to us in our world.  Yesterday, we celebrated Thanksgiving, the day when we as families, as a nation, and as a community of faith give thanks to the Lord for all of the blessings he has given us in our lives.  And this weekend, we will enter into the holy season of Advent, a time of preparation and conversion, when we prepare for the coming of the Lord into our world at his birth at Christmas.  May we give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ today, giving him authority and dominion over our will and over our lives. 

Catholic reflection for Thanksgiving - 25 November 2021

It is a blessing that we have a national holiday of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving Day is a big part of our national American identity and a big part of our Catholic faith.  It is important for us to give thanks for our blessings in life, more so because of the lack of thanksgiving and gratitude in our modern secular world.  In the following prayer, let us give thanks for the blessings we have in our lives and let us remember those who are struggling with those same things:

Prayer for Thanksgiving Day

Help me, O Lord, to give thanks for this day, to give thanks for the many blessings I have in my life.  

When I have food, O Lord, help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer;

When I am calm and restful, help me to remember those who are struggling and without peace;

When I have a friend to talk to, help me to remember those who are lonely;

When I feel fulfilled, help me to remember those who are searching for meaning in their lives;

When I am in prayer, help me to remember those who struggle to have faith.  

And remembering, help me to break out of any complacency;

Stir up compassion and mercy in my heart, and help me be concerned enough to help;

By word and by deed, help me to reach out to those in need and let me give thanks, not taking the blessings in my life for granted.  Amen.

Blessings to all of you this Thanksgiving Day.  I give thanks for each one of you here at our parish of St Jude.  Father Lincoln. 

Homily - Thanksgiving day - 25 November 2021 - Luke 17:11-19

      Meister Eckhart was a Dominican priest who was born in the 13th century in what is present-day Germany, but at the time it was a part of the Holy Roman Empire.  He is most well-known in our modern world for this quote:  “If the only prayer we ever say in our entire lives is ‘thank you’ that will be enough.”  I love this quote, because if we don’t have thanksgiving in our hearts, how can we even begin to pray to God?  Thanksgiving is an important part of who we are as Christians, isn’t it?  This is evident today as our nation celebrates Thanksgiving, as we celebrate this national holiday at Mass today, giving thanks to the Lord out of the depths of our faith.  Our Catholic faith calls us to have a joyful heart, to see the blessings we have in life, and to have a heart full of gratitude.  

     Unfortunately, it seem that our secular world mirrors the reality of our Gospel today.  Nine of the lepers did not return to Jesus to give thanksgiving for having been healed.  Only one leper, an outsider, returned to give thanks.  In our modern world, it seems that many also do not give thanks for the blessings that they have in life.  

      Every day, I give thanks when I wake up in the morning as a part of my daily prayers.  I thank God for those whom I serve in my parish here at St Jude and for all of the faithful Catholics here in our Diocese. I thank him for calling me to serve him and his people as a priest. I thank him for all of my blessings.  Is this allows easy?  No, it is not always easy.  Even though I am a priest, the reality of my life is not always peaches and cream, as one of my parishes pointed out to me one day.  That was a kind way of putting it.  

      No, giving thanks is not always easy for us. Sometimes giving thanks takes a lot of effort. Sometime it requires us to focus and pay close attention to the tiny little details of what is going on around us. Sometimes it requires us to open our eyes and to snap ourselves out of our complacency.  Sometimes it requires us to move out of our own perspective and our own point of view. Sometimes it requires us to get past our hurts, our pain, and our anger.  Sometimes it requires us to make space in our lives and to let go.

      God is good.  His love endures forever. His mercy endures forever. For God, for his creation, for so many things, let us give thanks today.

24 November 2021 - homily for Wednesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 21:12-19

    Today's Gospel talks about the end times, a continuation of this 21st chapter of Luke’s Gospel, in which Jesus talks about some dark images in the days to come in the end times.  We heard a similar message from Mark’s Gospel a couple of weeks ago on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  We need to remember the context in which these Gospels were written, as it was a time of great persecution in the Early Church.  

     These images of the end times can be very disturbing.  Some of the apocalyptic messages we have been hearing in the book of Daniel this past week can also be dark and disturbing as well.  We know that living as disciples of Christ does not promise us the easiest journey through life here on earth. We are all to take up our cross and to follow Jesus.  We can be disturbed by these messages in the context of the Bible Belt in which we live, in the way some of their Evangelical Christian friends interpret them. I don’t think that these message is meant to provide us with all the answers as to when the end times are coming. Instead, we are called to pray for and to reach out to those fellow believers who are persecuted or discriminated against for their faith. We are to think about what it really means to live out a life of discipleship, to be willing to speak out from the perspective of faith in an increasingly secular world that can be particularly hostile to the message we bring. From today’s Gospel, may we feel encouragement from the message Jesus give to us, empowering us to live out our faith and to bring our message to the world. 

23 November 2021 - homily for Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Daniel 3:57-61

     Today, our first reading comes from the book of Daniel, and the psalm actually does not come from the book of Psalms, but comes from the book of Daniel as well.  The book of Daniel in the Old Testament does not take its name from its author, who is actually unknown, but rather from its hero, who was allegedly among the first Jews deported to Babylon in the 6th century BC.  Even though Daniel is classified with the prophets in the Old Testament, strictly speaking, it does not belong to the prophetic writings but rather to a distinctive type of literature known as apocalyptic literature.   Apocalyptic literature has its roots in the older teaching of the prophets, who often pointed ahead to the day of the Lord, the consummation of history in the end times.  The verses from the book of the Daniel in the psalm today come from a song that is sung by the men who are thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  God protects them when they are thrown in the fiery furnace, as they are not eaten up by the hot flames, but rather they are able to praise God for saving them when they refuse to honor a pagan God instead of the one true God.  And what about us: Are we able to stand up for the faith and praise the Lord in difficult circumstances?  Are we able to stand up for the faith under peer pressure and in the midst of the values of the world that call out to us?   In many ways, with the secular world around us, the pressure we are under sometimes can be as strong as the pressure that confronted the Jews who were in exile in Babylon.  In a couple of days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation that is very divided in many ways.  May we praise the Lord this day and every day, even in the midst of tension, division, and the values of the secular world around us.  

City of Pearl Thanksgiving service - 17 November 2021 - Psalm 100 - reflection

Psalm 100 - A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

2 serve the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful song.

3  Know that the LORD is God,

he made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the flock he shepherds.a

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name;b

5 good indeed is the LORD,

His mercy endures forever,

his faithfulness lasts through every generation.

Reflection - Psalm 100 - City of Pearl Thanksgiving service - 17 November 2021 

Meister Eckhart was a priest in the 13th century in what is present-day Germany.  He is most well-known in our modern world for this quote:  “If the only prayer we ever say in our entire lives is ‘thank you’ that will be enough.”

Thanksgiving is an important part of who we are as Christians.  God calls us to have a joyful heart.  To see the blessings we have in life.  To have a heart full of thanksgiving and gratitude.  

Before I became a Catholic priests here in Mississippi, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a missionary in different places.  I served up in Canada at a soup kitchen and at a food bank in the inner city in the city of Winnipeg.  I served at a healing center for indigenous people up in northern Canada.  I served at a mission site located in the rain forest jungle in the country of Ecuador in South America.  In the midst of the poverty and suffering that I saw, I also saw people who were thankful for the blessings that they had, who were thankful for their faith, even though by our American standards, their lives had a lot of hardship and struggle.  When I returned to the United States after serving in those places for more than six years, I did not see a lot of thanksgiving in comparison.  Whether we are young or old, rich or poor, we can have a prayer of thanksgiving in our hearts.  

Our psalmist today tells us: to shout joyfully to the Lord,  to serve him with gladness, to recognize him as God,  and to recognize ourselves as a member of his flock.  

Everyday I wake up and I give thanks to the Lord.  I thank him for the people of God whom I serve in my parish and here in the state of Mississippi.  I thank him for allowing me to serve as a priest. I thank him for all of our blessings.  Is that always easy?  I wish I could say yes, but it is not always easy to give thanks. 

Sometimes giving thanks takes a lot of effort. 

Sometimes giving thanks requires us to focus and pay attention. 

Sometimes giving thanks requires us to take a good look at the reality around us. 

Sometimes giving thanks requires us to break out of our own perspective and point of view. 

Sometimes giving thanks requires us to get past our hurts, our pain, and our anger. 

Sometimes giving thanks means that we need to make space in our lives to let go and lift up our prayers and our burdens to the Lord.  

St Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish priest from the 16th century, calls us to see God in all things.  To see the blessings in all things.  To give thanks in all things.  

God is good.  His love endures forever. His mercy endures forever.  For God, for his creation, for so many things, let us give thanks.  

21 de noviembre de 2021 – Homilía de la Solemnidad de Jesucristo, Rey del Universo – Ciclo B – Juan 18,33b-37

       Estamos en el último domingo del año litúrgico en la Iglesia Católica.  Es una fecha muy importante en la vida de fe.  El Papa Pio undécimo, en el 11 de diciembre de 1925, proclamó la solemnidad de Jesucristo, Rey del Universo, para cerrar el tiempo ordinario de nuestro año litúrgico en la Iglesia ante de empezar el tiempo de preparación en adviento.  El Evangelio que escuchamos hoy es interesante sobre Cristo como el rey del universo – es una conversación entre Cristo y Poncio Pilato. Tal vez la proclamación más significada viene al fin del Evangelio, cuando  Jesús declara: “Tú lo has dicho: soy rey. Yo nací y vine al mundo para decir lo que es la verdad. Y todos los que pertenecen a la verdad, me escuchan.”  Entonces, si Cristo es nuestro rey, ¿Qué vamos a hacer para proclamar el reino de nuestro rey Jesucristo en nuestra comunidad? ¿Cómo buscaremos la verdad de Cristo y de su reino en nuestra vida diaria?

        Cuando escuchamos las palabras sobre los reinos y los reyes en el Evangelio este domingo, tal vez pensamos en los reinos que los seres humanos construyen aquí en la tierra.  Hay muchos reyes y reinas en la historia del mundo – mucho reinos también.  En el siglo diez y seis, el Rey Felipe Segundo construyó un palacio en España  con las riquezas de oro y plata que consiguió de América Latina.  Los planes de este palacio tenían su inspiración en el Templo de Salomón en Jerusalén.  El concepto de los reinos y los países en la tierra es para construir un reino aquí de riquezas, abundancia, y prosperidad como un reflejo de la grandeza del reino eterno de Dios y de su poder divino.  Irónicamente, los planes del Rey Felipe Segundo para construir este palacio arruinó su país y ahora es un museo que los turistas visitan.  No es un sitio de poder y influencia. 

      Somos bautizados, somos católicos, vamos a la misa – pero todo de eso no significa que Cristo es nuestro Rey en nuestra vida diaria. La verdad en el Reino de Dios y en el reino de Cristo como nuestro Rey representan la proclamación de la vida y las enseñanzas de Cristo en el pasado, la proclamación del presente del testigo de nuestra Iglesia y la manera que los católicos viven fielmente su fe, y la proclamación en el futuro en la plenitud del Reino de Dios.  Cuando trabajaba como párroco de la parroquia de Santa María en Yazoo City, una viejita de la parroquia trabajaba con los niños chiquitos en la guardaría durante las clases de la doctrina.  Esta señora leía un libro con un muchacho de cinco años.  En una pagina de este libro, había una corona chiquita.  La viejita preguntó al muchacho: “Que significa esta corona.”  El muchacho respondió: “Esta corona es la corona de Jesucristo – el rey de los reyes.”  En su inocencia y en su honestad, un niño muy joven puede reconocer la identidad de Cristo como el rey del universo. 

      Hoy es la solemnidad de Cristo Rey, pero también este domingo conmemoramos dos otras cosas en la Iglesia Católica.  Este domingo, nuestra Diócesis de Jackson también comienza el proceso sinódico que el Papa Francisco ha convocado en el mundo.  Las parroquias de nuestra Diócesis llevarán a cabo sesiones de escucha sinódica.  Vamos a empezar con estas sesiones en el año nuevo. Estas sesiones de escucha brindarán “una oportunidad para que el pueblo de Dios ore juntos y se pregunte a nosotros mismos como individuos y dentro de nuestra comunidad de la Iglesia a dónde estamos llamados en nuestro camino juntos. Proporciona un momento para que la Iglesia universal observe los problemas más importantes que enfrenta el pueblo santo de Dios y se pregunte cómo debemos responder al encarnar el Evangelio.”  Ustedes van a escuchar más sobre estas sesiones en el año nuevo. 

      Además, este fin de semana también comienza el Año de la Eucaristía en nuestra Diócesis de Jackson, en el que celebramos el don de la Eucaristía en nuestra fe católica. Siendo el tema del sínodo un tiempo de comunión, participación y misión, esto complementa el tema del Año de la Eucaristía de una manera muy real. Muchos católicos no pudieron recibir la Eucaristía y no pudieron asistir a Misa en persona por muchos meses durante la pandemia, tal vez esto nos haya dado una mejor apreciación de lo que la Eucaristía realmente significa para nosotros en nuestro camino de fe.  La eucaristía es el centro de la fe católica, pero, cada discípulo de Cristo puede aprender mas y entender mas sobre este misterio de fe, porque la eucaristía, un don de Dios, siempre tiene un sentido de misterio.  

      En el camino de fe, somos miembros del Reino de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.  Entonces, necesitamos caminar con Cristo cada día.  Al fin de mes de noviembre y en el mes de diciembre, hay muchas celebraciones en nuestra iglesia.  Vamos a celebrar el mes de preparación del adviento.  El tiempo de adviento empieza en ocho días, el 28 de noviembre.  Tenemos la celebración de nuestra Señora de Guadalupe el 12 de diciembre con nuestra misa dominical este día y la solemnidad de la Inmaculada Concepción el 8 de diciembre.  Después del tiempo de adviento, tenemos la celebración de navidad y el año nuevo.  Vamos a caminar juntos con nuestros hermanos en Cristo y con Cristo, nuestro rey. 

prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - 18 November 2021

Lord Jesus - you have great love for your people. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to faithfulness. 

Lord Jesus - you are the fulfillment of God’s laws and commandments.  

In the humility of our faith, we present our prayers to our loving God: 

1. For the Church: that we may be a light in times of confusion and turmoil through the witness of our lives and our care for others. 

2. For the grace of discernment: that we may understand the signs of the times and recognize God’s presence, action, and invitation each day

3. For the gift of hope: that no matter what challenges we face, we may remain confident that with God, all things are possible

4. For all who are facing crisis, loss, or grief: that the Spirit of God will guide them, comfort them, and help them to face the future

5. For the grace of forgiveness: that we may be open to God’s unending forgiveness and share it with those who have offended us. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed whom we remember in a special way during November, the month of remembrance, especially for our deceased family members and friends and the souls in purgatory.  

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts.  

With hope and love, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Reflection for the solemnity of Christ the King - 21 November 2021

     This weekend, we celebrate the end of our liturgical year with the solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  In December 1925, almost 100 years ago, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Quas Primas, establishing the feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the liturgical year.  The Pope explained in that document that a majority of human beings in his day had thrust Christ and God’s law out of their lives, that Jesus and the values of his life and ministry no longer held supremacy in either in private affairs or in politics.  In the aftermath of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the spread of Marxist and secular ideologies, Pope Pius XI established the feast of Christ the King in order to communicate to the world that it needed to look, in his words, for “the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.” 

     Our Diocese is also in the midst of beginning the synodal process that Pope Francis has called all the faithful around the world to follow in the coming months. You have probably seen information about this in the Mississippi Catholic newspaper recently.  The parishes of our Diocese will soon hold synodal listening sessions, which will provide “an opportunity for the people of God to pray together and ask of ourselves as individuals and within our Church community where we are being called in our journey together. It provides a moment in time for the universal Church to look at the greatest issues facing God’s holy people and asking how are we to respond as we embody the Gospel.”

       In addition, this weekend kicks off the Year of the Eucharist in our Diocese as well, in which we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist in our Catholic faith.  With the theme of the synod being a time of communion, participation, and mission, this complements the theme of the Year of the Eucharist in a very real way.  With many Catholics not being able to receive the Eucharist and attend Mass in-person for periods of time during the pandemic, perhaps this has given us a better appreciation for what the Eucharist really means for us.  

      Blessings to all of you this weekend as we celebrate Christ the King and Christ’s presence in the Eucharist in a very intentional way.  Father Lincoln.  

prayers of the faithful - solemnity of Christ the King - 21 November 2021

Lord Jesus, we will follow you, for you are our king - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, we believe in you, for you are the truth and the way - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, we receive you, for you bring us new life.  Lord have mercy. 

Celebrant: With all our heart and all our mind, let us pray to the Lord. Petitions 

1. That God will send his Holy Spirit upon the Church, as we listen to one another, and that the worldwide Synod will bear fruit. Let us pray to the Lord. 

2. That he will bless our President, Vice-President, all our other elected officials and their families, that they may administer their high offices with wisdom and justice. Let us pray to the Lord. 

3. That he will strengthen and uphold all prisoners, captives, refugees, all who suffer persecution, and all who are unable to practice their faith in true freedom. Let us pray to the Lord. 

4. That, by God’s grace, the families and people of our Diocese will make Our Eucharistic Lord as King of their lives and their homes. Let us pray to the Lord. 

5. We commend ourselves and all God’s people, living and dead, to the intercession of Mary our Mother and the community of saints. Let us pray to the Lord. 

Celebrant: Merciful God, by whose will our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself that he might exalt the whole human race, grant that we, your people, may cling to you, and that we, whom you have redeemed by your grace, may ever please you by their devoted service. through Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

prayers of the faithful - 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to trust. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to hope. 

Priest: The Lord is at our side to support us.  Let us present our needs to God with confidence.

1. For all Christians, that they may be found ready, when the Savior comes in glory. 

2. For those who share the priesthood of Jesus, that they may be faithful ministers of God’s forgiveness. 

3. For people who live in fear or anxiety, that God’s consoling word may be their support.

4. For the bereaved, whether their loss was recent or many years ago, that in this month of remembrance they may find healing and peace. 

5. For those who suffer, in body, mind or spirit, that God’s powerful presence may help them to stand firm. 

6. For the faithful departed, that they may awake to everlasting life. 

Priest: O Lord, you are our portion and our cup, you support us all our days: hear the prayers we make for all your Church, though Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

14 de novembre de 2021 - homilía del XXIII domingo del tiempo ordinario - Marcos 13:24-32

      Este es el último domingo que tenemos el color verde por este temporada litúrgica, ya que el próximo domingo celebramos la fiesta de Cristo Rey con el final de nuestro año litúrgico, y luego entramos en las temporadas de Adviento y Navidad.  A medida que nos acercamos al final del año, las lecturas dominicales son sobre el fin de los tiempos, lo que parece apropiado.  Escuchamos sobre un tiempo de tribulación y juicio, de imágenes oscuras como el oscurecimiento del sol, las estrellas que caen del cielo y el temblor de los poderes del cielo.  Esta lectura del Evangelio de San Marcos viene después de el discurso de Cristo sobre la destrucción del Templo en Jerusalén, de un tiempo de prueba y persecución.  Como la lectura del Evangelio ocurre en un momento oscuro de la vida de Jesucristo, antes de la cena pascual con sus discípulos y el comienzo de su pasión, las comunidades de la Iglesia primitiva escucharon por primera vez este Evangelio en medio de su propia oscuridad en un tiempo de miedo y persecución.  Cuando Jesús, el Alfa y la Omega, la fuente y el fin de todo, regrese en los últimos tiempos, muchos lo elegirán a él, pero otros elegirán la oscuridad. 

      Sin embargo, la oscuridad es parte de la vida.  Todos experimentamos la oscuridad en diferentes formas en su camino.  La mayoría de nosotros tememos a la oscuridad y vemos la oscuridad como algo malo.  La oscuridad puede traer mucho dolor y sufrimiento a nuestra vida.  En la oscuridad, podemos sentirnos solos y abandonados.  La oscuridad puede afectar negativamente nuestra fe y nuestra esperanza.  A menudo, gastamos mucho de nuestro tiempo y energía temiendo la oscuridad o luchando contra la oscuridad.  Pero, a menudo, estamos tan atrapados en el dolor y el sufrimiento de la oscuridad que no vemos los dones, las bendiciones y la transformación que también puede provenir de la oscuridad.  La autora Sue Monk Kidd afirma: “A muchos de nosotros nos entra el pánico en la oscuridad. No entendemos que es una oscuridad santa y que la idea es rendirse a ella y viajar a través de la luz real." Podemos reflexionar en el tiempo de Jesucristo en la tumba entre su muerte en la cruz y su resurrección; la semilla que va en el suelo y que surge del suelo a una nueva vida; la oruga que gira en un capullo antes de emerger como mariposa; el oso que hiberna en su cueva en el frío y oscuro invierno para emerger en la primavera.  La transformación es esencial para una nueva vida o un nuevo nacimiento.  Sí, el miedo es una respuesta natural a la oscuridad dentro de nosotros mismos y en la oscuridad que vemos a nuestro alrededor. Necesitamos dejar los miedos, que ellos no pueden tener poder sobre nosotros; en la fe, estamos llamados a creer que la oscuridad es una parte esencial de la vida y esencial para nuestro crecimiento como seres humanos. Tal vez, necesitamos ver la oscuridad de una manera nueva.  Debemos estar abiertos a las bendiciones, las transformaciones y la luz que son presentes en la oscuridad.  Entones, podemos estar listos para Jesús cuando vendrá  por nosotros en las tinieblas y las pruebas del fin de los tiempos. Cuando atravesamos un momento de oscuridad, Dios nos llama a confiar, a orar y a estar conectados con él de cualquier manera que podamos. El monje trapense Thomas Merton escribe: "El verdadero amor y la oración se aprenden realmente en la hora en que la oración se vuelve imposible y tu corazón se convierte en piedra”.

     Entonces, ¿cómo se conecta la oscuridad con el tema de la mayordomía, de la administración de nuestra vida de fe?  Discutimos el tema de mayordomía estas últimas semanas en las misas dominicales.   En verdad, Hemos visto mucha oscuridad de la pandemia, enfrentado a la oscuridad en nuestra vida interior. Y ciertamente hemos visto la oscuridad manifestarse en el mundo que nos rodea de diferentes maneras durante el pánico. Mucha oscuridad.  Por supuesto, este es el momento, en la oscuridad de la pandemia,  en que realmente necesitamos el valor de la mayordomía en nuestra vida, ya que nos ayudará a superar estos tiempos oscuros.  Cualquier bendición o luz que recibamos de Dios en medio de la oscuridad de la pandemia, no debemos guardar esa luz o esas bendiciones para nosotros mismos. Como discípulos de Cristo, estamos llamados a ser distribuidores de las bendiciones de Dios, la bondad de Dios, y la luz de Dios. Al poder distribuir esa luz y esas bendiciones a los demás, podremos sentir que la luz de Dios se vuelve aún más brillante en nuestras propias vidas.  Al pensar en cómo ser buenos administradores de la vida de fe en medio de las tinieblas, podemos pensar en las viudas de las lecturas de. domingo pasada: en la viuda pobre que pasaba hambre en medio de una hambruna, que le da al profeta Elías la última porción de su comida; de la viuda pobre del Evangelio que entregó sus últimas monedas al templo.  En medio de la oscuridad, estas dos viudas encontraron confianza y esperanza. En medio de la oscuridad, reconocieron la luz y las bendiciones en sus vidas. Distribuyeron esa luz y esas bendiciones a otros. Estamos llamados a llevar la luz de Cristo a otros a través de nuestros dones, nuestro tiempo, nuestros talentos, nuestros tesoros, nuestro ministerio y nuestras contribuciones a nuestra parroquia. No importa qué oscuridad tengamos en nuestras vidas, todavía podemos ser un distribuidor de luz. 

19 November 2021 - homily for Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59

      After the people of Israel were exiled to Babylon, they were eventually allowed to return to the holy city of Jerusalem in the year 538 BC.  They went about the task of rebuilding their city and their Temple.  However, they eventually were conquered by another occupying foreign power, the Greeks, becoming a part of their empire.  During the reign of King Antiochus IV in the 2nd century before Christ’s birth, Judas Maccabeus was called by God to lead his people to overthrow the Greek domination.  He took back control of the Temple and restored the rituals of worship there.  

      We have been hearing from the books of 1st and 2nd Maccabees in our daily Masses this week.  In today’s reading from 1st Maccabees, we hear about the cleansing of the Temple, which our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate in the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.  In the Gospel, Jesus quotes the prophet Jeremiah, stating that the Lord’s house is to be a place of prayer and worship.  The Mass we celebrate each Sunday in our parish is supposed to be something very sacred.  We gather around the altar of the Lord as a community of faith.  We are to see our church as more than just a regular building: it is God’s house, a very holy place.  Each time we gather for Mass, may we recall the faith that has been passed down to us throughout the generations.  

       Today, in addition to hearing God’s holy word and celebrating the sacrament of the Eucharist, we will also celebrate the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.  We need healing in different ways in our lives: in body, mind, and spirit.  May we feel God’s healing presence with us at Mass today.