Prayers of the faithful - fourth week of LENT - 1 APRIL 2022

Lord Jesus - you call us to reconciliation 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion

In the midst of our Lenten journey, we present our prayer to our heavenly Father: 

1. For government leaders: that God will give them the wisdom to understand the needs of those they serve and inspire within them fresh ideas to advance the common good.  

2. For peace and an end to warfare: that God will change hearts of those advancing violence, help them to recognize the value and dignity of each person, and open new opportunities for dialogue. We pray for peace in Europe.   

3. For the Church: that we may give witness to the dying and rising of Christ by our lives and be instruments of hope to all who are experiencing loss or limitation. 

4. For the gift of new beginnings: that God will transform our fears into hope, our selfishness into love, and our deaths into new life. 

5. For growth as disciples: that like Mary, we may place ourselves at the feet of Jesus to learn and accept the gift of life that Jesus alone offers. 

6. For all those preparing for first communion, confirmation, and entry in the Church through the RCIA process: may the Lord continue to bless them and guide them on their journey of faith. 

7. For the prayers we hold in our hearts this morning. 

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

reflection for the fourth week of Lent - Knights of Columbus and Father Karl Rahner

      This week, my attention was drawn to the reflections in the Little Black Book for March 29 and March 30 that we have been using here at our parish this season of Lent.  On March 29, 1882, 140 years ago, the Connecticut state legislature officially chartered the Knights of Columbus. This made the Knights of Columbus an official organization according to the laws of the land.  Several months earlier, in October of 1881, Father Michael Joseph McGivney and male parishioners of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church in New Haven, Connecticut had founded the organization as a fraternal mutual benefit society. In addition to focusing on charitable works, the Knights of Columbus established a life insurance program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased members. Little did those members know that the Knight of Columbus would become such an influential organization worldwide.  

      At the time of the founding of the Knights of Columbus, an influx of new immigrants to the US had intensified a prejudicial attitude toward outsiders. Since many of the early immigrants to the US were Protestant, many viewed Catholicism as a foreign, unwelcome influence. With this in mind, Father McGivney proposed that the new society be called the Sons of Columbus. By taking the name of Christopher Columbus, who was celebrated as one the first European explorers of the “New World,” the Knights would demonstrate that Catholics, too, embraced American values. Ultimately, the group chose Knights of Columbus rather than Sons of Columbus for the sense of dignity and purpose that it conferred.

       As a priest, I have always had a close connection to the Knights of Columbus and am a big supporter of that organization.  I think of the joy the Knights of Columbus bring to our parish each Friday evening during Lent at our fish fries.  I think of all the help the Knights of Columbus of the Jackson metro area have given to the Carmelite nuns.  We are very thankful for our Knights of Columbus here at St Jude.

       For the reflection for March 30, the Little Black Book reflection upon Father Karl Rahner, a German Jesuit theologian and priest who was one of the most influential Catholic theologians of the 20th century.  Rahner was born in 1904 in the Grand Duchy of Baden in the German empire and died in Innsbruck, Austria on March 30, 1984.  Many of the documents of the Second Vatican Council were influenced by his theology and his understanding of the Catholic faith, particularly in the documents Lumen Gentium, Dei Verbum, and Gaudium et Spes.  Karl Rahner once said this: “In the midst of our lives, of our freedom and our struggles, we have to make a radical, absolute decision. And we never know when lightening will strike us out of the blue. It may be when we least expect to be asked whether we have the absolute faith and trust to say yes.” He also said this about the work of the theologian: “The task of the theologian is to explain everything through God, and to explain God as unexplainable.”

      As we continue our journey during Lent, may we give thanks for all those Catholic organizations and individuals who have had a positive influence on our journey of faith.  

Prayers of the faithful - 30 March 2022 - 4th week of Lent

Lord Jesus - you call us to reconciliation. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion. 

In faith and trust, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For freedom from our resentments: that we may surrender our resentments to God who frees us from hurts and teaches us to love our neighbor. 

2. For all who have left or become alienated from their community of faith: that God will touch their hearts and help us to reach out and welcome them into our faith community here at St Jude.  

3. For healing within families: that God will heal the wounds of words and actions so that families may work together and support one another. 

4. For our sick and shut-in: that God's renewing love will strengthen and comfort all who are facing surgery or who have been hospitalized or who are confined to their homes or the nursing home.  

5. For Refugees: that God will guide them safely to find new homes and help them enrich their new communities with their gifts and talents. 

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

With humble hearts, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 29 March 2022 - 4th week of Lent

Lord Jesus - you call us to reconciliation 

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion

As we continue our journey during this 4th week of Lent, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For the Church: that we may all be ambassadors of Christ, bringing God’s message of compassion, mercy, and salvation to the world, especially to those who are wounded or alienated. 

2. For the grace of freedom: that we may be bound by neither our sins nor our self-righteousness, but be free to receive and celebrate God’s goodness each day. 

3. For a spirit of conversion: that the Spirit will guide us in surrendering our weaknesses to God, help us to turn more fully toward God, and to follow the path of the Gospel every day. 

4. For new understanding: that we may recognize God’s love for us, a love not based on our deeds or achievements, but on God’s free and generous choice. 

5. For patience: that God will sustain us as we await the fulfillment of his promises to lead us to life and bring us to wholeness. 

6. For peace in those places in the world experiencing violence, oppression, or war.  We pray for peace in Ukraine.  

7. For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

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

2 April 2022 - Saturday of the 4th week of Lent - Jeremiah 11:18-20

     The prophet Jeremiah served God in the 6th and 7th centuries before Christ’s birth during the reigns of 5 different kings.  There were many times that Jeremiah received great opposition and criticism, including for his support of the religious reforms of King Josiah, which included the king’s suppression of local religious shrines.  Today, we hear Jeremiah compare himself to a “trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse.”  Later, a similar comparison will be made with Jesus as he is led to his death on the cross.  So many of the prophets of Ancient Israel had the people plotting against them as they did not want to hear the truth as to how they strayed from the faith and how they turned away from God.  Since Jeremiah did not have any children, the people thought that killing him would like cutting down a tree, that he would not be remembered since he did not have children as a legacy.  However, like many martyrs for the faith, Jeremiah is remembered through the annals of history, while those who plotted against him are the ones who are not remembered. God is ultimately Jeremiah’s protection against his enemies.  It is God who will have the final judgment.  It is God who will ensure that the truth be proclaimed, that justice and peace will prevail.  In the same, Jesus is remembered as the stone that was rejected that now becomes the cornerstone.  We may feel opposition and obstacles in the world today to the faith that we profess and proclaim.  May we remember the perseverance and faith that Jeremiah embodies.  May we take courage on our Lenten journey.  

29 March 2022 - Tuesday of the fourth week of LENT – John 5:1-16

     The pool at Bethesda is located outside the city walls of Jerusalem. It was originally built to supply water for the Temple. However, at the time Jesus visits the pool at Bethesda, it no longer served this function of supplying Jerusalem with water. but was a pool where the sick came to be healed.  Jesus singles out one man from the many people who are gathered there in order to be healed in these healing waters.  This man acknowledges that he has no one to put him in the pool, that he has no family or friends to help him. It is difficult for us to imagine how he would survive there without anyone to help him.  The man did not know that it was Jesus talking to him, so he obviously did not anticipate being healed by Jesus.  Although he expects to be cured by the healing waters of the pool, Jesus bypasses the pool altogether and cures him directly, telling him to pick up his mat and to walk. It is interesting that, unlike some other healing miracles Jesus performs in the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t link the cured person with his faith.   Jesus cures the man because he needs healing. The man is cured because he merely wanted to be well.

      So often we take our faith for granted, don’t we?  In the Spanish classes I have been teaching here at St Jude on Thursdays and Fridays, I was telling one of the classes about my missionary work in the jungles of Ecuador.  In describing my weekly visits to the small villages located deep in the jungle, of which there were more than 100 villages served by our mission center, a parishioner asked me if they people there went to Mass each week.  I explained to them with only a couple of priests serving all those village and with their only transportation being wooden canoes, mostly without motors, they did not have access to Mass most of the time.  Some of those villages had chapels that did not even has Mass once a year.  Compare that to Hinds county which has 10 locations that have both daily Masses and weekend Masses.  We often take for granted the many opportunities we have to practice our faith.  

         The season of Lent is always an annual opportunity for us to grow closer to Jesus and to contemplate the great love God shows us through his beloved Son.  This year our Lenten journey takes on particular significance with the pandemic which has affected our commemoration of Lent for three years in a row.  May our Lenten prayer today be that we may be able to recognize the ways Christ is calling out to us in our reality.  

30 March 2022 - Wednesday of the 4th week of LENT - Psalm 145, Isaiah 49:8-15

      The prophets were sent to Ancient Israel to not only relay a message God was sending them, but also to bring them back and to to reconcile them to the Lord.  Israel may think that God had forsaken them for their transgressions and sins, but Isaiah reaffirms the message of the covenant that God made with his people, of his steadfastness in maintaining that relationship. The psalmist echoes this same message, telling us that the Lord is gracious and merciful.

      It is interesting, the saints that we celebrate in the Church, how they reveal different aspects of the faith.  There was a movement in the early Church called the Desert Fathers and Mothers that arose several hundred years after Christ’s death and resurrection, when men and women left their earthly possessions and the comforts of society to live in isolation as hermits in the desert.  Antony of Egypt is one such desert father.  He gave away to poor the inheritance he received from his family, living in solitude in an abandoned fort in the desert.  Mary of Egypt is another such saint whose feast day we commemorate this upcoming weekend.  Tradition passes down that Mary of Egypt had been a well-known singer and actress in Alexandria, Egypt in the middle of the 4th century. She realized her evil ways while praying in front of an icon of the Blessed Mother, having moved to the desert of Egypt to live in solitude for 47 years.  Her fame spread after her dead body was found in the desert and a strong devotion to her developed in medieval Europe. There has been a great interest in the Desert Fathers and Mothers in recent years, probably because many in our modern world are looking to the wisdom of these desert fathers and mothers and to their witness against the excessive attachment to material possessions in our modern world.  God calls us to recognize the ways we can turn back to him, to change our lives in order to truly live out the true faith. May we trust in God’s mercy and in his faithfulness to us as we continue our journey during Lent. 

1 April 2022 - Friday of the 4th week of Lent - Psalm 34

     “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” – this is the refrain we hear in today’s psalm.  The psalmist goes on to say that the Lord hears the just when they cry out.  There are times in our lives when we are brokenhearted, when illness or death or divorce or crisis or failure leaves a void in our lives that seems to ache forever. When something like that happens, it seems like life will never be the same again, and maybe it won’t.  But, one day the pain and suffering give way to new life and to hope.  

       When I thought of the broken heartened, I thought of two groups of women that I met when I studied in Argentina and Chile in the summer of 2002 when I was a teacher at Greenville High School.  It is hard to believe that this was twenty years ago.  The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of mothers and grandmothers in Buenos Aires, Argentina that witnessed the disappearance of their children, husbands, and grandchildren who were kidnapped by the military government and were killed.  The Committee of Solidarity was a similar group of women in Santiago, Chile whose children and grandchildren were arrested and killed by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.  These two groups of women did not stand idle in their anger, frustration, and brokenheartedness.  The women in Argentina demonstrated in the main plaza in front of the governmental buildings.  They asked the military government about what happened to their loved ones.  The group of women in Chile developed an art form of embroidery and appliqué that depicted images of what was going on in their country.  Eventually, the military governments lost public approval in both of those countries as they transitioned back to democracies.  These groups still exist today, working for justice and peace in their own countries and around the world.  

         When we are brokenhearted, we are told to have confidence in the Lord.  The Lord wants us to reach out to him in the midst of our pain and sadness, to unite our sufferings with the sufferings that Jesus went through. Our prayer of the stations of the cross each Friday calls to mind the way we should do that.  The Lord reaches out to the bbrokenhearted in a very special way.  May we never forget that. 

27 de marzo de 2022 - el cuarto domingo de cuaresma - Lucas 15:1-3; 11-32

      Los Evangelios del tercer y cuarto domingo de Cuaresma son complementarios. El domingo pasado, Jesús llamó al arrepentimiento para el perdón de los pecados en la parábola de la higuera. Hoy, en la parábola del hijo pródigo, Jesús también habla del arrepentimiento y del perdón. Este cuarto domingo de Cuaresma también se llama Domingo Laetare, de la palabra latina alegrarse. La celebración de la Misa este domingo nos inspira a escuchar este Evangelio del hijo pródigo a la luz de la alegría que da el arrepentimiento y el perdón.

       Se cuenta la historia de un joven llamado Paco que se escapó de su casa de un pueblo pequeño de España en 1920. Se escapó a la ciudad de Madrid, trabajando en un restaurante en un hotel donde vivían los toreros. Paco tenía el sueño de trabajar como torero algún día. Nadie sabía por qué Paco se fue de casa. ¿Fue expulsado de la casa por su padre? ¿Tuvieron Paco y su padre un argumento?  La familia de Paco sabía que estaba en Madrid, pero no sabía dónde. El padre de Paco estaba muy preocupado por su hijo, preocupado de que le pasara algo terrible, preocupado de que se metiera en problemas. El padre quería reconciliar con su hijo, pero no tenía idea de por dónde empezar a buscarlo. El padre sacó un anuncio en el periódico local de Madrid. El anuncio decía: “Paco, encuéntrame en el Hotel Montana el martes al mediodía. ¡Todo está perdonado! Con amor, papá.”  Paco era un nombre común en España. Cuando el padre fue al Hotel Montana al mediodía, había cientos de jóvenes llamados Paco esperando a sus padres, esperando el perdón que nunca creyeron posible. Hay tantas personas en este mundo que necesitan perdón y reconciliación.  

       El padre de Paco se preocupó por el bienestar de su hijo, de querer unirse con él, de no querer desenterrar sus pecados pasados ​​y castigarlo por su pasado. El padre quiere que Paco tome la decisión de querer una relación con él. El padre de Paco es similar al padre de la parábola del hijo pródigo. El Padre no quiere obligar a su hijo a volver. No envía a la policía a buscarlo. Los sirvientes no tienen instrucciones de llevarlo de vuelta. No, el padre espera. Depende del propio hijo tomar la decisión crucial: ¿quiere estar con su padre o no?

       Nosotros, como discípulos de Cristo, somos juzgados por nuestra relación con Dios aquí y ahora, ya que Dios quiere perdonarnos por nuestros pecados pasados. ¿Queremos una relación con Dios ahora mismo en nuestro camino? Fue sobre esa base que se le dijo al ladrón que estaba siendo crucificado con Jesús: “Hoy estarás conmigo en el Paraíso”. B. Al ladrón se le promete la vida eterna “hoy mismo”. Lo que debería preocuparnos ahora mismo en nuestro camino de fe es si estamos o no en una relación amorosa con Dios, si estamos reconciliados con él.

       A través de las lecturas de hoy, estamos llamados a pensar en cómo practicamos el perdón a los demás, a los que nos han ofendido. Al querer experimentar el perdón de Dios, también debemos aprender a perdonar a los demás. Sin embargo, con demasiada frecuencia, queremos poner límites a nuestro perdón. Para reconciliarnos con Dios, estamos llamados a aprender a reconciliarnos con todos aquellos que son fuente de conflicto o dolor en nuestra vida.

      Damos gracias a Dios que tenemos un Señor que está tan dispuesto a perdonarnos y darnos la bienvenida una y otra vez. Pero no podemos quedarnos ahí. Le pedimos a Dios que “perdone nuestros pecados como nosotros perdonamos a los que pecan contra nosotros.”  Es demasiado fácil para nosotros aferrarnos a nuestras heridas, resentimientos, ira y odio del pasado. Al imitar más a Jesús, encontramos que nuestras relaciones mejoran. Martin Luther King Jr afirmó que “el perdón no es un acto ocasional; es una actitud constante”. Sí, como discípulos de Cristo, el perdón es una forma de vida.

     La autora Sarah Ban Breathnach afirma: “El perdón es una forma de gratitud. Cuando perdonamos a otros, les mostramos la misericordia que a menudo hemos recibido y por la que estamos agradecidos.” El perdón y la misericordia que hemos recibido de Dios, así como el perdón y la misericordia que hemos recibido de los demás.

Reflection for the fifth Sunday of Lent - 3 APRIL 2022

      We have had a very meaningful Lenten season this year at St Jude.  It has been wonderful having good attendance at our weekend Masses and daily Masses.  We have had three stations of the cross each week on Fridays in English and on Sunday in Spanish, with great attendance as well.  We had a great turnout at Friday evening fish fries.  We are very thankful for the Knights of Columbus and their dedication to serving our parish at the Lenten fish fries.  

    The readings this weekend address God’s grace in different ways.  We have been hearing about repentance, forgiveness, conversion, and new life in our readings at the Sunday Masses this season of Lent.  However, without God’s grace, these things are not possible on our journey of faith.  In our Gospel today, we see God’s grace at work in Jesus' encounter with the woman whom the Pharisees and the scribes accuse of adultery.  We see God’s grace at work in the life of St Paul in our second reading, of the testimony of faith that he gives, how he was a member of the crowd that stoned Stephen, to become one of the main evangelizers in the Early Church after his conversion to the Way of Jesus.  

      We see God’s grace at work in the synodal process that has been taking place in our Diocese and throughout the world.  Early in the week, Bishop Kopeck came to St Jude to listen to members of the Hispanic community in the Jackson area, to hear their voices and their perspective.  We had different synodal sessions in the month of February here at St Jude in which some of our parishioners participated.  Bishop Kopacz will be having ten different regional listening sessions in our Diocese over several weeks, listening to the voices of the people.  As we continue our Lenten journey, may we be open to God’s grace working in our lives.  

27 March 2022 - homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent - CYCLE C - The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Gospels for the third and fourth Sundays of Lent are complementary.  Last Sunday, Jesus called for repentance for the forgiveness of sins in the parable of the fig tree and in his discussion of the Galileans Pilate had put to death. Today, in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus also addresses repentance and forgiveness.  This fourth Sunday of Lent is also called Laetare Sunday, from the Latin word to rejoice.  Today’s celebration inspires us to hear this Gospel of the prodigal son in the light of the joy that comes from repentance and forgiveness.  

There is a story told of a young man named Paco who ran away from his home in rural Spain in the 1920s. He ran away to the capital city of Madrid, working in a restaurant at a hotel where struggling bull fighters lived.  Paco had the dream of becoming a bull fighter one day himself.  No one knew why Paco left home.  Was he kicked out of the house by his father?  Did Paco and his father have an argument that caused Paco to run away? Paco’s family knew he was in Madrid, but had no idea where. Paco’s father was very worried about his son, worried that something terrible would happen to him, worried that he would get into trouble.  The father wanted to reach out to his son, but had no idea where to start to look for him.  The father took out an advertisement in the local newspaper in Madrid, El Liberal.  The advertisement read,“Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven! Love, Papa.” Paco was a very common nickname in Spain.  When the father went to the Hotel Montana at noon, there were hundreds of young men named Paco waiting for their fathers, waiting for the forgiveness they never thought was possible. There are so many in this world who are in need of forgiveness and reconciliation, aren’t there?  

Paco’s father cared about the welfare of his son, of wanting to unite with him, not wanting to dredge up his past sins and to punish him for his past.  The father wants Paco to make the choice of wanting a relationship with him.  Paco’s father is similar to the father in the parable of the prodigal son.  The Father does not want to force his son to come back. He does not send out the police to get him. Servants are not instructed to haul him back. No, the father waits. It is up to the son himself to make the crucial decision: does he want to be with his father or not?

We as disciples of Christ are judged by our relationship with God  in the here and now, as God wants to forgive us for our past sins. Do we want a relationship with God right now on our journey?  It was on that basis that the thief who was being crucified with Jesus was told, “This day you will be with me in Paradise.” The thief is promised eternal life “this very day.” What should concern us right now on our journey of faith is whether or not we are currently in a loving relationship with God, if we are reconciled with him.  

Through today’s readings, we are called to think of how we practice forgiveness to others, to those who have offended us. In wanting to experience God’s forgiveness, we also need to learn how to be forgiving to others. However, all too often, we want to place limits on our forgiveness.  To be reconciled with God, we are called to learn how to be reconciled with all those who are sources of conflict or pain in our lives.

We thank God that we have a Lord who is so ready to forgive and welcome us back again and again. But we cannot stop there. We ask God to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” It is too easy for us to cling to our past hurts, resentments, anger, and hatred. By imitating Jesus more, we find that our relationships improve.  Martin Luther King Jr stated that “forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”  Yes, as disciples of Christ, forgiveness is a way of life.  

Author Sarah Ban Breathnach states: “Forgiveness is a form of gratitude. When we forgive others, we show them the mercy that we have often received and been thankful for.”  The forgiveness and mercy we have received from God, as well as the forgiveness and mercy we have received from others.  

Perhaps there is a resentment or ruptured relationship with God or with one of our brothers and sisters that is weighing heavily on our hearts.  May our God of love and mercy reach out to our hearts today in the message of the parable of the prodigal son.  May we see this as a call to action. 

prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the third week of Lent - 24 March 2022

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Lord Jesus - you encourage us on our journey. 

We now bring our prayers to the Lord for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the Needs of the world. 

1. We pray that as we continue our Lenten journey, that Christ breathe life into his church and his church leaders.  

2. That our eyes, minds, and hearts be open to the holiness of creation and to the ways we can reach out to our brothers and sisters. 

3.  That you guide our governmental leaders in strength and wisdom as they lead us in justice and peace.  We pray for peace in those places torn apart by war and violence, especially in Ukraine.  

4. That all of the sick receive the assistance that they need.  In gratitude for our medical professionals and first responders.  

5. For strength and courage to bear our crosses and sufferings. 

6. For all who are still recovering in Mississippi, Louisiana, and other states for damage done by the tornadoes and the storms this past week.  

7. For those prayers we hold in our hearts. 

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings you give us in life and we thank you for your grace that helps us meet our challenges.  We present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent - 27 March 2022

      Today, our liturgical color changes from purple to rose as we commemorate Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent, as we are only two weeks away from Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Laetare Sunday comes from the Latin word to rejoice.  We rejoice today as we are closer to the commemoration of Holy Week and to the resurrection of our Lord on Easter, as we get closer to the end of our Lenten journey. I know that a lot of us Catholics are so happy to be back in the full swing of Lent this year, as so many of our in-person Lenten devotions and liturgies had to be scaled back these past two years due to the pandemic.  I have really enjoyed praying the stations of the cross with different groups and at different times this year during Lent: after the 10:00 am Friday Mass, the 6:00 Friday outdoor stations of the cross, the Sunday evening youth group, and after the Sunday afternoon Spanish Mass.  I love the stations of the cross as a way to accompany Jesus on his journey to the cross, to his death and resurrection.  I encourage all of you to join us for the stations of the cross during the remaining weeks of Lent.

        As last weekend’s readings on the 3rd Sunday of Lent addressed the themes of repentance and mercy, this weekend’s Gospel of the prodigal son tackles the themes of forgiveness and repentance.  I think all of us can honestly say that true forgiveness is one of the most difficult things a human being can practice in his life.  It is difficult to give forgiveness. It is difficult to ask for forgiveness. Yet, how can we repent and ask for forgiveness from God if we do not practice forgiveness in our own lives?

         With joy in our hearts on Laetare Sunday, let us pray: Loving Father, we feel the pace quicken and the time draw near. We are filled with joy as we move toward Easter and the promised reconciliation with you. Teach us to follow the example of your Son, to be worthy of being called one his people, a true disciple of Christ. Help us to live each day as he did: turning hatred into love and conflict into peace. We await new life in our Savior with eagerness, faith, and gratitude. AMEN.  

Reflection for the 4th Sunday in Lent

       Today, our liturgical color changes from purple to rose as we commemorate Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent, as we are only two weeks away from Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Laetare Sunday comes from the Latin word to rejoice. We rejoice today as we are closer to the commemoration of Holy Week and to the resurrection of our Lord on Easter, as we get closer to the end of our Lenten journey. I know that a lot of us Catholics are so happy to be back in the full swing of Lent this year, as so many of our in-person Lenten devotions and liturgies had to be scaled back these past two years due to the pandemic. I have really enjoyed praying the stations of the cross with different groups and at different times this year during Lent: after the 10:00 am Friday Mass, the 6:00 Friday outdoor stations of the cross, the Sunday evening youth group, and after the Sunday afternoon Spanish Mass. I love the stations of the cross as a way to accompany Jesus on his journey to the cross, to his death and resurrection. I encourage all of you to join us for the stations of the cross during the remaining weeks of Lent.

     As last weekend’s readings on the 3rd Sunday of Lent addressed the themes of repentance and mercy, this weekend’s Gospel of the prodigal son tackles the themes of forgiveness and repentance. I think all of us can honestly say that true forgiveness is one of the most difficult things a human being can practice in his life. It is difficult to give forgiveness. It is difficult to ask for forgiveness. Yet, how can we repent and ask for forgiveness from God if we do not practice forgiveness in our own lives?

      With joy in our hearts on Laetare Sunday, let us pray: Loving Father, we feel the pace quicken and the time draw near. We are filled with joy as we move toward Easter and the promised reconciliation with you. Teach us to follow the example of your Son, to be worthy of being called one his people, a true disciple of Christ. Help us to live each day as he did: turning hatred into love and conflict into peace. We await new life in our Savior with eagerness, faith, and gratitude. AMEN.

prayers of the faithful - 22 March 2022 - third week of LENT

Lord Jesus, you are the light that dispels the darkness, Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, you are the Savior of the world: Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the way that leads to everlasting life: Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the Faithful 

Priest: The Lord looks upon us as we approach him in awe and respect. Let us pray for our needs and the needs of others.

1. That the Church throughout the world might listen to God’s beloved Son and trust in his promises, especially during this holy season of LENT.  

2. That our world may be transformed by peace and harmony. We pray for an end to war, violence, and terrorism.  We pray especially for peace in Ukraine. 

3. For our governmental leaders, that they may they put aside differences and work together in unity and solidarity - 

4. For those children preparing for first communion, for the youth preparing for confirmation, and for those adults in our RCIA program.  May their Lenten journey help them deepen their faith and trust in the Son of God.  Let us pray to the Lord.

5. That all of us may follow the Gospel of life in our words and in our actions, respecting human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

6. For all those affected by the storms and bad weather here in Mississippi today.  For safety for all.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  

Priest:  Our soul waits for you, O Lord, for you are our help and our protection. Hear these our prayers and graciously grant them through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN. 

20 marzo 2022 - Tercer Domingo de Cuaresma - Lucas 13:1-9 - Éxodo 3:1-8a;13-15

       Iniciamos el primer domingo de Cuaresma con Jesucristo en el desierto durante 40 días.  Luego, el segundo domingo de Cuaresma, el Evangelio habla de la transfiguración de Jesús en la cima de la montaña.  Podemos entender fácilmente estos dos Evangelios en el contexto del camino de Cuaresma.  Sin embargo, en la superficie, es difícil para entender la parábola de la higuera de en el contexto de Cuaresma este domingo.  Pero, cuando estudiamos las lecturas de este domingo, podemos descubrir los temas del arrepentimiento y la misericordia en estas lecturas. 

      Comencemos mirando nuestra primera lectura, el encuentro de Moisés con Dios en la zarza ardiente.  Se encuentra Moisés ocupado en sus actividades cotidianas, de cuidar las ovejas de su suegro, cuando ocurre este milagroso encuentro entre Moisés y Dios. Moisés se siente atraído por una vista notable, a una zarza que se está quemando, pero la zarza no es consumida por el fuego.  En este encuentro, Dios le habla a Moisés, diciéndole que se quite las sandalias, que está caminando en tierra santa. Los niños que participan en el programa de Catequesis del Buen Pastor en las clases de doctrina, a quienes se les enseña a quitarse los zapatos antes de entrar la aula, sabiendo que están entrando en un lugar santo donde ellos aprenden acerca de Dios.  Cuando entramos a nuestra Iglesia para la Misa, también entramos en un lugar santo, que reverenciamos haciendo una genuflexión y haciendo la señal de la cruz.  Reconocer y respetar la presencia de Dios, reconocer que estamos caminando en tierra santa en nuestro encuentro con Dios: estos son primeros pasos importantes para reconocer la necesidad del arrepentimiento en la vida.  Todos tenemos nuestras propias faltas, debilidades y pecados al igual que Moisés. Cuando Moisés recibió su llamada de Dios, estaba escondido después de haber matado con ira a un capataz egipcio. Moisés admite ante Dios que no habla bien, que no tiene muchos de los dones de un buen líder. Pero Dios ve algo en Moisés que le hace llamarlo para esta misión especial.  Dios invita a Moisés a reconocer no solo la santidad a su alrededor, sino también la santidad dentro de él, la llamada y la vocación dentro de él.  Dios conecta a Moisés con el pasado, diciéndole que él es el Dios de sus antepasados, de Abraham y Sara.  Dios conecta a Moisés con el presente, decirle a Moisés que reconoce la miseria del pueblo, que se propone librarlos de su dolor y sufrimiento.  Finalmente, Dios conecta a Moisés con el futuro, hablándole de sus promesas de sacarlos de la esclavitud a una nueva tierra que tiene abundancia. Nosotros también estamos conectados con Dios en el pasado, presente y futuro. Dios nos llama al arrepentimiento en este tiempo santo de Cuaresma, a arrepentirnos de nuestros pecados, a renovar nuestra vida de fe, a mirar hacia el futuro.

      En el Evangelio de hoy, la multitud y Jesús hablan de los galileos que fueron asesinados por Pilato y de los hombres que fueron asesinados por la caída de la torre en Siloé.  Cuando la muchedumbre le pregunta quién de ellos es el más culpable y quién ha cometido el mayor pecado, Jesús afirma que el punto es que todos necesitamos redención y arrepentimiento, sin importar quiénes seamos. Todos necesitamos renovar nuestra fe, crecer en nuestra relación con Dios. Al igual que la muchedumbre, podemos preguntarnos cuánto se preocupa Dios por nosotros y cuánto nos ama si somos culpables de nuestros pecados. La parábola de la higuera que explica Jesús, del jardinero que es paciente y cuida de la higuera, nos revela que Dios quiere darnos tiempo para crecer y ser fructíferos en el camino de fe.

     Hay un tipo especifico de bambú chino; cuando se planta en su primer año, siendo regada y fertilizada adecuadamente, no da señales de crecimiento. Lo mismo sucede durante el segundo, tercer y cuarto año. Parece que nunca crecerá y se desarrollará. Luego, en el quinto año, en el espacio de seis semanas, el bambú crece hasta aproximadamente noventa pies. El bambú chino es una verdadera lección de paciencia para todos nosotros.  Así como Dios es paciente con nosotros, nosotros también debemos ser pacientes y trabajar diligentemente en nuestra vida de fe y trabajar para vencer nuestros pecados y nuestras tentaciones. No podemos renunciar a nosotros mismos cuando parece inútil, cuando parece que no vamos a crecer. Día tras día, estamos llamados a trabajar con diligencia y paciencia en nuestra vida de fe, en el arrepentimiento y la conversión.

     Con este tema del arrepentimiento, quiero animarlos a todos a venir a nuestro servicio de penitencia de Cuaresma este lunes a las 6:00 pm aquí en St Jude. Tendremos cinco sacerdotes aquí por las confesiones.  Es una gran oportunidad para todos nosotros en medio del de Cuaresma, una invitación de la Iglesia a arrepentirnos de todo corazón en el sacramento de reconciliación. 

prayers of the faithful - the solemnity of the Annunciation of our Lord - 25 March 2022

Lord Jesus - you were born of the Virgin Mary - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you are the son of the Father - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you declare the Good News of the Gospel - Lord have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:

Through the faithful obedience of the holy Virgin Mary, God takes flesh among us. The mystery of the Incarnation calls us to pray through the incarnate Son to our loving Father.

1. That the Church may be seen as extending the Incarnation as the working body of Jesus Christ here on earth.

2. That all people of goodwill may learn that Christ has united himself to every person in taking our human nature.

3. That we may all follow the Gospel of Life through our words and actions.  For the conversion of hearts, that all may honor the sanctity of human life.  

4. That Christians suffering persecution throughout the world may feel the presence of their guardian angels and of the Holy Spirit with them. We pray for peace in the world, especially in Ukraine.  

5. That mothers carrying children in the womb will welcome the new life as Mary welcomed her Son.

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

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

Father of the Incarnate Word, we bring our intentions before you, the fabric of our daily lives, made holy by your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

prayers of the faithful - 23 March 2022 - third week of LENT

Lord Jesus - you are humble of heart - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to be missionary in spirit - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you are the Son of the Father - Lord have mercy. 

As we continue our Lenten journey today, let us bring our prayers to God: 

1. That, by prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the holy people of God will accompany Jesus on his journey during these holy days of Lent.  

2. That all Christians and all people of goodwill may listen to the Word of God and obey his commandments in their daily lives. 

3. That we will find time each day for God, seek him in the silence of our hearts and learn to love him more and more. 

4. That God will lead us to the path of justice and peace.  We pray for those who are being harmed in the world by war, terrorism, and violence.  We pray especially for the people of Ukraine.  

5. That our religious and governmental leaders will work together, especially keeping in mind the marginalized and the vulnerable.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins, for those who need healing mind, body, and spirit.  

God of mercy, keep us in your love.  We ask these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

20 March 2022 - 3rd Sunday of Lent - CYCLE C - Luke 13:1-9 - Exodus 3:1-8a;13-15

 We started the first Sunday of Lent with Jesus in the desert for 40 days.  Then, the second Sunday in Lent, the Gospel spoke of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop.  We can easily understand how these two Gospels fit into our Lenten journey.  However, on the surface, we might wonder how Jesus’ parable of the fig tree fits into our Lenten journey this third Sunday of Lent. But, as we immerse ourselves in today’s readings, the themes of repentance and mercy came to the surface, fitting well into our Lenten journey.  

     Let us start by looking at our first reading, Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush.  Moses is engaging in his everyday activities, of taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep, when this miraculous encounter happens between Moses and God. Moses is drawn to a remarkable sight, to a bush that is burning, but the bush is not consumed by the fire.  In this encounter, God speaks to Moses, telling him to remove his sandals, that he is walking on holy ground.  I think of our children who participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program in religious education here at St Jude who are taught to remove their shoes before they enter the atrium, knowing that they are entering a holy place as they learn about God. When we enter our Church for Mass, we enter a holy place as well, which we reverence by genuflecting and making the sign of the cross.  Recognizing and respecting the presence of God, recognizing that we are walking on holy ground in our encounter with God: these are important first steps in recognizing the need for repentance in our lives, no matter where we are on our journey.  We all have our own faults, weaknesses, and sins just like Moses.  When Moses received his calling from God, he was in hiding after having killed an Egyptian overseer in anger.  Moses admits to God that he is not well-spoken and lacks many of the gifts of a good leader.  But God sees something in Moses that makes he call him for this special mission.  God invites Moses to recognize not only the holiness around him, but also the holiness within him, the call and vocation within him.  God connects Moses with the past, telling him that he is the God of his ancestors, of Abraham and Sarah. God connects Moses with the present, tell Moses that he recognizes the misery of the people, that he intends to deliver them from their pain and suffering.  Finally, God connects Moses with the future, telling him of his promises to lead them out of slavery to a new homeland flowing with abundance, that God will be with them always.  We, too, are connected to God in the past, present, and future.  God calls us to repentance this holy season of Lent, to repent for our sins, to renew our life of faith, to look to the future.  

     In today’s Gospel, the crowd and Jesus talk about the Galileans who were put to death by Pilate and the men who were killed by a falling tower at Siloam.  When asked by the people who of these are the most guilty and who had committed the greatest sin, Jesus states that the point is that we all are in need of redemption and repentance, no matter who we are.  We all need to renew our faith, to grow in our relationship with God. Like those crowds, we may wonder how much God cares for us and love us if we are guilty of our sins. The parable of the fig tree that Jesus explains, of the gardener who is patient and nurturing of the fig tree, reveals to us that God wants to give us time to grow and to become fruitful on our journey of faith. 

     I read where there is a type Chinese bamboo; when it is planted in its first year, being adequately watered and fertilized, there is no sign of growth. The same thing happens during the second, third, and fourth year. It looks like it will never grow and develop. Then, in the fifth year, In the space of six weeks, the bamboo grows to roughly ninety feet. The Chinese bamboo is a real lesson in patience for us all.  Just as God is patient with us, we too need to be patient and to diligently work on our life of faith and work on overcoming our sins and our temptations.  We cannot give up on ourselves when it seems futile, when it seems like we will not grow.  Day by day, we are called to diligently and patiently work on our life of faith, on repentance and conversion. 

     We have been reflecting upon the theme of gratitude this holy season of Lent.  Gratitude is an essential part of our faith.  Gratitude is essential for us to confront our sins as well.  An anonymous quote states: “Be grateful for small things, big things, and everything in-between.  If you count your blessings, they will help you face your challenges.”  I would add, that if we count our blessing and give gratitude to God, it will help us immensely on our work of repentance and renewing our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

     With this theme of repentance, I want to encourage all of you to come to our Lenten penance service this Monday at 6:00 pm here at St Jude.  Joining me will be Father Matthew Simmons, Father Nick Adam, Father Gerry Hurley, and Monsignor Michael Flannery.  After the prayer service, all of us priests will be available to hear your confession.  This is a great opportunity for all of us in the midst of our Lenten journey.  Let us rejoice and renew our faith as the Catholic Church invites us to repent with all our hearts on this 3rd Sunday of Lent.  

23 March 2022 - Wednesday of the third week of Lent - Deuteronomy 4:1; 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19

      Moses is one of the main figures from the Old Testament. He is a key figure in the Jewish faith. In fact, when we heard of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop in our Gospel reading for the second Sunday of Lent, Moses and Elijah the prophet were the two figures who appeared with Jesus.  

      Moses gives the people God’s laws and commandments and he tells them that they must be careful to observe these laws because they come directly from God.  Our reading from Deuteronomy today reminds us of the importance that God and his law are to have in our daily lives. God's law is central to the Gospel message today as well. Jesus states that he came to complete and fulfill the laws given to us by Moses and that these laws are to be obeyed. There were probably some in Ancient Israel who hoped that Jesus had come to abolish these laws. Jesus places importance in living in the spirit of the law, not just the mere letter of the law.  While this is very challenging to do, it is infinitely pleasing to God.

        We don’t hear people talking about God’s laws very much in today’s modern secular world, do we?  We hear a lot about secular justice, about what is the politically expedient or politically correct, about not wanting to offend anyone, about not limiting someone’s freedom to do what he wants to do in life.  We want to do what feels good or what is convenient.  But we don’t hear a lot about the content of God’s law, of what he is demanding that we do. 

        We have seen a lot of people come back to the Catholic Church in the past few weeks during the season of Lent, beginning with our Ash Wednesday liturgies.  We have had good attendance for the stations of the cross.  We have had people ask about the sacrament of reconciliation.  Especially with the challenges we have faced these past two years with the pandemic, perhaps there is a renewed interest in the faith and in God’s laws and commandments.  I certainly hope so.  

22 March 2022 - Tuesday of the third week of Lent - Nicholas Owen - Daniel 3:25; 34-43

In England, during the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholics were forbidden to practice their religion. Starting in the year 1585, it was considered treason, punishable by death, if a man in England had been ordained a priest abroad. Thus, priests needed places to hide.  Nicholas Owen was originally from the city of Oxford in England.  He was a stone mason and carpenter by trade. He became one of the first English Jesuit lay brothers. From 1588-1605, Owen travelled all over England constructing hiding places in safe houses in England where priests could hide. During the evening and night he worked on his own, carving concealed rooms out of the stone walls or ground. The location of the secret room was known only to himself and the owner of the house. During the daytime he would work as a carpenter in the house in order to keep this secret from others. 

He was arrested in 1594 with a Jesuit priest; despite torture, he would not give the names of any other Catholic priests.  He was released when a wealthy Catholic paid a fine for him. He is believed to have engineered the escape of Father jJohn Gerard from the Tower of London in 1597.  He was arrested again in 1606, at which time he died of torture.  He was canonized a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Catholic Martyrs from England and Wales.  

The bravery and courage of Nicholas Owen reminds me of the faith of one of the young men whom we hear about in the first reading in the book of Daniel. These young men are thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar for an unwillingness to worship foreign idols.  Yet, rather than curse the king, or being mad at the Lord, they sing a song of praise to express his unwavering faith in the Lord.  The martyrs, the saints, and many of the characters from Sacred Scripture are great examples of faith for all of us.  May they give us encouragement and inspiration on our Lenten journey of faith.  

24 March 2022 - Thursday of the third week of Lent - Psalm 95; Jeremiah 7:23-28

      “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.”  We hear this challenging refrain in our psalm today, because we all know it is easy for our hearts to become hardened in different ways.  As believers of Christ, we certainly do not want hard hearts, but in the busy world we live in, in the cynicism, criticisms, frustrations, and anger that seem to be everywhere, we may easily develop hearts that get hard and jaded. The grace of God calls out to us today in the holy season of Lent, challenging us to renew our hearts and to return to the Lord.  

      But what characterizes our modern world is nothing new.  In our first reading, it says that Jeremiah proclaimed God’s message to a stiff necked people, to a people who had definitely hardened their hearts to God and to life in general.   God reminds his people through Jeremiah that he had already sent them prophets and servants, but that often they had been rejected.  We also can reject God’s message in our minds, in our hearts, and in our actions.  We do so as we get mad in traffic, as we lash out in an email or a text in anger, as we fail to show compassion and mercy to our brothers and sisters, in the way we do not make our faith a priority in life.  

      English author Charles Dickens wrote: “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”  That is good advice.  Let us not turn our hearts away from him, not matter how much of a temptation that may be.  Let our hearts not become hardened. 

25 March 2022 - The Annunciation - Luke 1:26-38; Psalm 40

      The feast of the Annunciation is a solemnity which we celebrate in the midst of our Lenten journey.  This liturgical feast day was first celebrated in the Church back in the 4th or 5th century.  The focus of this feast day is the incarnation of the Lord, of God being with us in human flesh.  

      Mary has an important role in God’s plan of salvation.  God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus.  Mary’s is God’s instrument in the incarnation, participating in God’s plan of redemption for humanity in a special way.  Yet, it is God’s grace operating in her life that allows Mary to fulfill this role and to accept God’s will for her.  Mary’s role is a special link between God’s plan and our earthly existence.  In Mary, we see in a very special way the possibilities God has in store for us as human beings, the possibilities we have in living out our lives as disciples of Christ.  In her graciousness, in her service, and in her humility, Mary exemplifies what the Church can be and what we human beings can become.  What Mary exemplifies is not some unattainable ideal.  May we follow in Mary’s footsteps as we discern God’s will for us and follow that will in our lives.  

     As we reflect upon the way Mary unconditionally said “yes” to God in the Annunciation in the visit of the Angel Gabriel to her, let us pray that we, too, would be able to say “yes” to God and to his will for us in our lives.  Let us be able to respond in the same way the psalmist responds today: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” 

Prayers of the faithful - 18 March 2022 - 2nd week of Lent

Lord Jesus - you call us to faithfulness. 

Christ Jesus - you journey with us during the holy weeks of Lent. 

Lord Jesus - you call us hope. 

We present our prayers to our God of love and mercy: 

1.  We pray for the grace to have a greater love for our families, our church and our community.

2. We pray for our church that it be like a fruitful vineyard, nurturing all who seek the  wonder and peace of God’s love.

3. We pray for peace in our world and at this time, particularly in Ukraine.

4. We pray for all those in our Church in our Diocese and throughout the world dedicating time, prayer and reflection on the future of our Church as we engage on the Synodal pathway.

5. We pray for the sick and shut-ins and for those we are in the hospital, hospice, or nursing home.  

6. For all our children and youth on spring break this week.  For all families who are traveling this week.  May God accompany them on their journey.  

We ask, Lord, that you hear the prayers we offer in your name and show us the way to live our lives as you desire with love and kindness in our hearts. We make these prayers through Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the faithful - 16 March 2022 - Wednesday of the second week of Lent

Lord Jesus - you call us to holiness. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to repentance. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion.

As we continue our journey through these holy days of Lent, we present our prayers to God: 

1. For our physical and spiritual journeys: that we may know God’s presence each step along the way and rely upon God’s light and truth to guide our steps. 

2. For all of our children and youth on spring break this week: May God bless their time of rest and activity.  

3. For members of Congress and for all the leaders of our government: that God will give them insight and courage to explore new ways to work together to effectively address the needs of all people. 

4. For all who are searching for meaning, particularly young adults: that God will lead them  to a new awareness of their gifts and of the needs that exist around them. 

5. For all the Candidates for Full Communion with the Church and for all those in the RICA program: that they may experience the transforming power of God’s love and experience God’s mercy in the time of preparation.  

6. For peace in the world, especially in Ukraine.  

With humble and gracious hearts, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 15 March 2022 - Tuesday of the second week of LENT

Lord Jesus - you call us to holiness. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to repentance. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to conversion. 

As we journey through the days of the holy season of Lent, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For the Church: that we may listen with both our minds and hearts to God’s beloved Son and be transformed by his words. 

2. For a spirit of gratitude: that we may look beyond our daily routines and see God’s blessings in our lives. 

3. For a deeper understanding of our baptismal call: that we may grow in our covenant relationship with God and our understanding of our identity as sons and daughters of God. 

4. For courage on our journey of faith: that we may join Jesus in journeying toward Jerusalem as we live out our vocation and use our resources to continue the mission of Jesus. 

5. For a deepening of hope: that even though negative and doubting messages abound in our society, we may be confident that God will never abandon us. 

6. For peace in the world.  We pray especially for a peaceful resolution in the war in Ukraine.  

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  

We present these prayers in humility and gratitude through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Reflection - third Sunday.of Lent - 20 March 2022

     At this weekend's Mass readings, we hear of the themes of repentance and mercy. The parable of the fig tree from the Gospel of Luke does not have a clear ending, reflecting the way God gives us a choice. God wants us to repent, convert, repent, and renew. Jesus is telling us that our lives of faith, too, may have times where everything seem slow and unproductive. At different points on our journey, we may not feel like our faith is bearing fruit or that God is near to us. Jesus reminds us that those times are never the end. In those times, God nourishes us with mercy and waits for us patiently, just as the gardener in the Gospel tends to the fig tree with care and love, waiting for the tree to be ready to bear fruit.

     This Monday, March 21 at 6:00 pm, we will have our Lenten reconciliation prayer service. Four other priests will join me in being available for the sacrament of reconciliation that evening: Monsignor Michael Flannery, vocation director for the Diocese Father Nick Adam, Father Matthew Simmons from the Cathedral of St Peter, and Father Gerry Hurley of St Paul. We invite you to partake of this wonderful sacrament of healing and repentance as a part of your Lenten journey this year.   Blessings to all of you as we continue our Lenten journey - Father Lincoln.

Reflection on a prayer of St Anselm of Canterbury

    As seminarians preparing for the priesthood, we study a great deal of philosophy.  I remember taking a two semester course on medieval philosophy using the textbook written by Frederick Copleston, a renowned Jesuit priest from England and professor of philosophy.  Much of medieval philosophy was center around philosophical proofs written to argue for the existence of God.  St Anselm of Canterbury (1033 - 1109) wrote some of these famous proofs. In a book of devotions written for the holy season of Lent, there is a prayer adapted from the Proslogion, a discourse written by St Anselm on the existence of God.  I found this prayer very helpful as a part of my Lenten journey.  Many of us Christians spend a lot of time searching for God and wanting to find him.  Yet, sometimes, we are not sure how we should seek him.  This prayer very much reflects that reality.  I have also included a short video on the life of St Anselm.  Blessings to all of you this week.  Father Lincoln 

O Lord my God,

teach my heart this day where and how to see you,

where and how to find you.

You have made me and remade me.

You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess.

Still, I do not know you.

I have not yet done that for which I was made.

Teach me to seek you,

for I cannot seek you unless you teach me,

or find you unless you show yourself to me.

Let me seek you in my desire.

Let me desire you in my seeking.

Let me find you by loving you.

Let me love you when I find you.  AMEN. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qxFeDrdA84

13 MARZO 2022 - Segundo Domingo de Cuaresma - CICLO C - Lucas 9:28b-36

     A veces tenemos una experiencia maravillosa y mágica en la vida que puede durar solo un momento que queremos capturar para siempre. Puede ser algo tan simple como una conexión con un buen amigo o un momento de tranquilidad en la misa después de recibir la comunión o ver un hermoso amanecer.  Ese momento puede darnos una sensación de paz interior o puede hacernos sentir unidad con Dios y su creación.  Entonces, tan repentinamente como sucede esa experiencia mágica, desaparece.  Nunca podremos recrear la magia de ese momento. No podemos poseerlo o hacer que dure para siempre. Antes de que nos demos cuenta, ese momento mágico en el tiempo termina.

     En cierto modo, momentos como ese son transfiguraciones, como la transfiguración de Jesucristo que escuchamos en el Evangelio este domingo.  Una transfiguración puede traer luz a la vida.  Puede sacarnos de la complacencia.  Puede darnos un vistazo de la gloria y majestad de Dios.  En la vida demasiada ocupada, estos momentos a menudo parecen pocos y distantes entre sí, pero en cierto modo, eso es lo que los hace especiales.  Estamos tan preocupados por las listas de cosas por hacer y las tareas diarias, que un momento de transfiguración puede no captar nuestra atención. Tal momento un don del Espíritu Santo. Dado que el sentido de asombro no se aprecia mucho en el mundo moderno, debemos recordar buscar la gloria de Dios en medio de la vida diaria ordinaria.

     Hay otras trampas en las que también podemos caer.  Podemos ser como un abeja que va de flor en flor, buscando una experiencia en la cima de una montaña donde creemos que encontraremos a Dios, sin poder ver a Dios donde ya está presente en la vida diaria.  Luego tenemos a Pedro que intenta aferrarse a este momento de gozo que encuentra en la cima de la montaña en el Evangelio.  Pedro quiere construir una tienda de campaña y acampar allí. Pedro quiere prolongar esta experiencia en la cima de la montaña y controlarla para que dure el mayor tiempo posible.

     Sí, ahí está la gloria de la transfiguración de Cristo.  Pero también Jesús habló con Moisés y Elías en la cima de la montaña sobre lo que iba a realizar en Jerusalén, que incluye su pasión, su sufrimiento, y su muerte.  Al igual que Pedro, tal vez a nosotros también nos cueste entender el verdadero significado de lo que sucedió allí. Cristo se transfigura con la luz de su gloria, pero su pasión y sufrimiento no están desligados de su gloria.  A los apóstoles les cuesta aceptar eso, ya que después de la transfiguración en la cima de la montaña, Pedro niega a Cristo tres veces y él y los otros apóstoles no están junto a Jesús en su camino a la cruz. 

      Jesús no estaba en la cima de la montaña con David el Rey o Aarón el sacerdote.  Presentes con él en la transfiguración estaban Moisés, a quien Dios empleó para liberar a los israelitas de la esclavitud y Elías, el gran profeta que llamó al pueblo de Israel a volver a su fe.  En el camino de fe, necesitamos ser liberados de las cosas que nos mantienen encadenados, de ser verdaderamente capaces de vivir la fe. Necesitamos ser desafiados proféticamente para ver la necesidad de renovación y arrepentimiento.  Jesús de la transfiguración nos llama en este segundo domingo de Cuaresma a la conciencia, la autenticidad y la transformación.

      Podríamos preguntarnos por qué Jesús eligió llevar a Pedro, Santiago y Juan con él a la cima de la montaña ese día.  Quizás Jesús sabía que estos apóstoles podrían comenzar a comprender su destino de obedecer la voluntad del Padre hasta la muerte si pudieran tener un sentido de la gloria de la resurrección que le esperaba, la gloria que le prometió el Padre a Jesucristo. A través de la iluminación de la transfiguración, los apóstoles vislumbraron esa gloria, incluso si aún no estaban listos para aceptar la realidad de la cruz de Jesucristo.   Cristo sabía que eventualmente verían que la realidad de su gloria y la realidad de su cruz no se oponían entre sí, sino que la cruz y la resurrección eran dos expresiones del amor de Jesús por nosotros, dos aspectos de la victoria de Jesús sobre el pecado y la muerte. 

     Durante la temporada de cuaresma, estamos llamados a subir a la cima de la montaña con el Señor, para abrazar la totalidad de la vida, incluido nuestro sufrimiento, mientras nos asombramos de su gloria. En verdad, ningún sufrimiento, ninguna prueba, ninguna dificultad, ningún pecado, ninguna fragilidad, ninguna debilidad puede separarnos del amor de Cristo. Esta Cuaresma, estamos invitados a subir al monte con Jesús. Nos invita a ser transformados e iluminados a través de nuestra relación con él.

13 MARCH 2022 - Second Sunday of Lent - CYCLE C - Luke 9:28b-36

      Sometimes we have a wonderful, magical experience in our lives that can last only a moment or two that we want to capture forever.  It can be something as simple as a connection with a good friend or a quiet moment at Mass after receiving communion or watching a beautiful sunrise.  Such a moment can give us a sense of inner peace or it can make us feel one with God and his creation.  Then, as suddenly as that magical experience happens, it is gone.  I bet a lot of you have had experiences like that.  We can never recreate the magic of that moment. We cannot possess it or make it last forever.  Before we know it, that magical moment in time ends.

     In a way, moments like that are transfigurations, just like Jesus’ transfiguration that we hear in today’s Gospel.  A transfiguration can bring light into our lives.  It can lift us out of our complacency and our busyness.  It can give us a glimpse of God’s glory and majesty. In our over-full, too-busy lives, these moments often seem few and far between, but in a way, that is what makes them special.  We get so preoccupied by our concerns and our to-do lists and our daily chores, that a transfiguration moment may not grab our attention.  Such a moment is certain a gift of the Holy Spirit.  With the sense of awe and wonder not appreciated very much in our modern world, we need to remember to look for the glory of God in the midst of our ordinary daily lives. 

     There are other traps we can fall into as well.  We can be like a bumble bee going from flower to flower, searching for a mountaintop experience where we think we will find God, failing to see God where he is already present in our daily lives.  Then we have Peter who tries to cling to this moment of escape that he finds on the mountaintop in today’s Gospel.  He wants to build a tent and camp out there. Peter wants to prolong this mountaintop experience and to control it, making it last as long as possible.  

     Yes, there is the glory of Christ’s transfiguration.  But also Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop about what he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem, which includes his passion, his suffering, and his death.  Like Peter, perhaps we too struggle to understand the true meaning of what took place there.  Christ is transfigured with the light of his glory, but his passion and suffering are not detached from his glory.  The apostles have a hard time accepting that, since after the mountaintop transfiguration Peter denies Christ three times and he and others do not stand by Jesus on his way to the cross.  

     Notice that Jesus was not up on the top of the mountain with David the King or Aaron the priest.  Present with him at the transfiguration were Moses, whom God employed to librate the Israelites from slavery and Elijah, the great prophet who called the Jewish people back to their faith.  On our journey of faith, we need to be set free from the things that are keeping us in chains, from truly being able to practice our faith.  We need to be prophetically challenged to see the need for renewal and repentance.  Jesus of the transfiguration calls out to us on this Second Sunday of Lent to awareness, authenticity, and transformation.  

      We might wonder why Jesus chose to bring Peter, James, and John with him on the mountaintop that day.  Perhaps Jesus sensed that these apostles could begin to understand his destiny to obey the will of the Father even unto death if they could have a sense of the glory of the resurrection that awaited him, the glory promised to him by the Father.  Through the illumination of the transfiguration, they caught a glimpse of that glory, even if they were not yet ready to accept the reality of Jesus’ cross.  Jesus knew that they would eventually see that the reality of his glory and the reality of his cross were not opposed to one another, but that the cross and resurrection were two expressions of Jesus' love for us, two aspects of Jesus' victory over sin and death. 

     This ties into the theme of gratitude that we have been reflecting upon during this holy season of Lent.  Gratitude does not mean being thankful for only our joys and our blessings.  Gratitude is deeper than that.  According to author Troy Amdahl, we are to be thankful for the difficult times that help us grow, to be thankful for our limitations that give us opportunities to improve and transform.  We are to be thankful of new challenges that greet us in life, as those challenges help us build our strength and character.  We are to be thankful for the mistakes and wrong turns we make, for the valuable lessons we learn from them.  

       During Lent, we are called to go to the mountaintop with the Lord, to embrace the totality of our lives, including our suffering, as we stand in awe of his glory.   Indeed: no suffering, no trial, no hardship, no sin, no frailty, no weakness can separate us from the love of Christ.  This Lent, we are invited to  climb up the mountain with Jesus. He invites us to be transformed and enlightened through our relationship with him.  

15 March 2022 – Tuesday of the second week of Lent – Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

        Isaiah addresses the people of Sodom and Gomorrah today, telling them to wash themselves clean of their sins, that they can put aside sins that are a brilliant scarlet red, making them as white as snow.  Sodom and Gomorrah are infamous in our day as cities that have turned their backs to God and that have embraced their sins, making a mockery of God and of faith.  Here in the South, we have one of the highest rates of Church attendance in the nation, of people who claim to be Christians and who claim to live out the values of the Christian faith.  Yet, at the same time, the city of Jackson has a murder rate that is the highest per capita in the nation, more than double the rate of places like New Orleans, Memphis, and Chicago.  I get nervous going to downtown Jackson at night to pick up something at the chancery office, afraid of the violence and crime down there.  What would Isaiah say about us?  We talk about repentance as individuals, but what about repentance as a community and as a nation?  I know that there are no easy answers to the problems we have as a society, solutions to the crime and violence that we have, but are we to just ignore such things? I wonder if God would be proud of us, or if he would give our community a warning like he did to Sodom and Gomorrah. 

         “Repent, and believe in the Gospel!”  We heard this in our Gospel reading on the first Sunday of Lent.  That seems to be the theme that Isaiah is bringing to us today as well.  We need to search our hearts to see where God is asking us to change, both as individuals and as a community. 

16 March 2022 - Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent - Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28

       We hear from different prophets and different books of the Old Testament in the daily masses during Lent. Yesterday, we heard from the prophet Isaiah.  Today and tomorrow, we hear from the prophet Jeremiah. Today, Jeremiah laments how the people have turned against him. He prays to God out of fear for his own safety.  The people plot against Jeremiah.  

         Perhaps our reading from Jeremiah today brings to mind those who plot against Jesus on his journey to the cross.  Today, in the Gospel, Jesus points out the importance of serving others rather than wanting to be served ourselves.  If we do not have this attitude of service, we are missing the message of Christ’s Good News.  

      Maybe we get discouraged because we do not see our acts of service making much of a difference.  But St Teresa of Calcutta stated: "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”  We are to see our service as integral to our life of faith, as organically coming out of our prayers and our relationship with God, as Jesuit priest Michael Graham states: “Service is what prayer looks like when it gets up off its knees and walks around in the world.”  May we hear Jesus today calling us to a life of service.  

18 March 2022 - Friday of the third week of Lent - Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13, 17-28

    God’s grace is at work in our lives in our joys and our successes, but also in our sufferings and challenging as well.  In the story of Joseph today in the Old Testament, we hear how the greed and jealousy of his brothers lead to his exile from his family, to his brothers selling Joseph for pieces of silver, foreshadowing how Judas would later betray Jesus for his own monetary gain as well.  When Joseph is brought to Egypt, circumstance are set up for the story of the people of Israel, for the story of God’s chosen people who are led by the Lord to the promised land.  God’s grace is at work in the life of Joseph, in the life of his family, in the journey of the people of Israel that go back to this story of jealousy and greed and the betrayal of a brother.  

       We see God’s grace at work in the life of Cyril of Jerusalem, the saint we celebrate today.  We know Cyril as a revered Doctor of the Church and Early Church Father.  His true story is more complicated than that.  Born in the early 4th century in Jerusalem, Cyril was well-educated.  He was ordained a priest in the Early Church and was responsible for those catechumens preparing for baptism and entry into the Church.  He later received the honor of becoming Bishop of Jerusalem. He was caught up in the Arian heresy of the day, since some of the Bishops of his province who consecrated him as Bishop adhered to that heresy and expected him to follow them in that teaching that denied Christ’s divinity.  Cyril was accused of things, driving from Jerusalem, but later received vindication.  He returned to Jerusalem from exile to find that city torn apart by heresy and strife.  Yet, Cyril’s writings on the instructions he gave catechumens and the order of the liturgy of his day remain important documents from the Early Church.  Life can be very messy and complicated at time, but we can see God’s grace at work leading us to the truth.  As we face a complicated and fractured reality in our own Church today, let us pray for our Church and our Church leaders, uniting our prayers with the prayer of Cyril of Jerusalem.  

Reflection for the second Sunday of LENT

      We are now getting further into our Lenten journey as we commemorate the second Sunday of Lent.  A lot of our families are starting their spring break this weekend.  With the pandemic easing up, I know a lot of you are looking forward to some free time for some fun activities and to perhaps go out of town for a short while.  We need those breaks to breathe new life into us.  

    By taking time off from our daily routine, we can become invigorated and renewed.  It can give us a fresh perspective. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is transformed and transfigured right in front of his disciples.   How they respond to the transformation they see in Jesus is up to them.   We see Peter’s response, of how he wants to go inside himself rather than go out into the world, how he desires to set up some tents for Jesus and the prophets Moses and Elijah who appeared with him on that mountaintop.  

     This might make us think about how we want to respond to the transformation that is available to us during this holy Lenten season. The Church invites us to enter into this Lenten season of renewal, conversion, preparation, and transformation, but it is up to us to respond and to engage in this holy season.   

      Here at St Jude, we have been talking about the importance of gratitude during Lent.  The Winnie the Pooh books were some of my favorite books to read as a small child.  There is a lot of simple wisdom contain in those books.  I kept the Winnie the Pooh books that I had as a child and reread them during the pandemic.  One quote from Winnie the Pooh states: “Sometimes, the smallest things can take up the most room in your heart,” which can be both good or bad, depending upon what that small thing is.  A warm memory from our childhood can transform us in a good way, but small resentment or anger can be very detrimental.  May we ask God’s blessing upon us during this holy season, that we be transformed in good, positive ways.  Father Lincoln.

prayers of the faithful - 9 March 2022 - first week of Lent

PENITENTIAL RITE: 

Lord Jesus - you call us to trust in you - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to faith - Christ have mercy.  

Lord Jesus - you give us hope and inspiration - Lord have mercy. 

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

Priest: With hope and trust, let us present our prayers to God:

1. For our church leaders, may they lead us and guide us in putting our trust and hope in the Lord.  

2. May our world leaders put aside conflict and difference to work toward the common good.  We pray for a peaceful resolution for the war and suffering that is going on in Ukraine.  

3. For our first responders, the men and women in the military, and our medical professionals.    

4. For our children and youth, especially as they get ready for their spring break next week.  May they see God accompanying them on their journey.  

5. For the sick and shut-ins. For healing for those who need it mind, body, and spirit.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For our deceased loved ones and family members.  For the souls in purgatory. 

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, we place our trust in you.  We present these prayers to you through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.