1 June 2022 – Wednesday of 7th week of Easter – Acts 20:28-38

      Today, we hear Paul’s farewell speech to the elders in Ephesus.  What strikes me in the end of this discourse today is how Paul warns them against those who try to divide and tear apart their community, to be on guard to those who will attack them.  We need to ask ourselves: Are our words and actions building up the Kingdom of God, or are they tearing others down and creating hurts? From Paul’s words and example, we know that building up God’s kingdom is not for the faint of heart; it takes courage, strength and persistence.  But let us never think that, if the task is too difficult, we can relax and let others take the lead.  Pope Francis has stated that no matter what our vocation in life, whether it be to the priesthood, consecrated life, the single life as a lay person, or marriage, it is a call to center one's life on Christ and build up his kingdom.  Pope Francis explains: "The more we unite ourselves to Jesus through prayer, sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, (and) the sacraments celebrated and lived in the church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating with God in the service of the kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace.”  

      I would be remiss if I did not mention the remarkable saint we celebrate today on his feast day.  St Justin Martyr, the saint whom we celebrate today, must have been recognized in a special way for his dying for the faith, since the term “martyr” is officially attached to his name. Justin was born into a pagan family in the year 100 AD.  Even though he was initially attracted to Plato and the Greek philosophers, these philosophers led him to Christ and to conversion to Christianity. Justin is primarily remembered for his Christian apologetics in defending the faith against other religions and other philosophies.  In a letter Justin Martyr wrote in 155, he gives us a detailed description of a liturgy in the Early Church, one of the earliest descriptions of such a liturgy.  Justin’s description is similar to the flow and elements that we have in mass today.  In particular, what strikes me is his description of the Eucharist:  “This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation.”  Justin Martyr was beheaded in Rome in 165 as a martyr for the faith.  St Justin Martyr, pray for us. 

Pentecost 2022 - REFLECTION - 5 JUNE 2022

We have now completed our journey through the Easter season this year as we celebrate Pentecost this weekend.  The Holy Spirit has been alive in our Church and in our parish in many unique ways during the Easter season this year.  We had the ordination to the priesthood of parishioner Andrew Bowden just a few weeks ago.  Just this Saturday, we had the ordination to the transitional diaconate of Carlyle Beggerly at his home parish in West Point.  This past week, we had the Holy Spirit touch the lives of some of our youth in a special way in the sacrament of confirmation, probably one of the largest confirmation groups we have ever had at St Jude.  This Sunday evening, we celebrate the Holy Spirit and Pentecost in a special way at our Pentecost dinner in our food and our fellowship.  Although we have not been able to have our Pentecost celebration here at St Jude in the same traditional way these past three years due to the pandemic, we are thankful to be able to gather this Sunday evening in food and fellowship as a parish family.

In one of our readings today for Pentecost from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he states that it is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to say that Jesus is Lord.  The Spirit unites all of us in the Body of Christ, no matter what our background, no matter from where we come.  Our parish of St Jude reflects this spirit in some different ways in our activities, in our diversity, in our warm welcome, and in the way we very joyful live out our Catholic faith as individuals and as a community guided by the Holy Spirit.

Blessings to all of you this Pentecost weekend.  Father Lincoln.  

1 June 2022 - prayers of the faithful - Seventh week of the Easter season

 Lord Jesus - you are ascended into heaven. 

Christ Jesus - you are seated at the right hand of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor and the suffering.

As the season of Easter soon comes to a close, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For wisdom: that God will inspire us in recognizing and using our gifts to enrich the faith community and cooperate with God in bringing forth the kingdom of God in our time and place

2. For all who spread the Good News, particularly missionaries and preachers: that God will inspire them to announce God’s saving love and healing presence boldly and dynamically. 

3. For the healing of racism: that all nations and peoples may recognize the value and dignity that God has given to each person and work together to bring forth the kingdom of God in the world. 

4. For government leaders: that God will inspire them with courage and new understanding in the challenging decisions they have to make.  

5. For all victims of violence: that God will heal their pain, ease their fear, and give them the courage to engage with life fully. 

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

As we celebrate the coming of the holy spirit in a special in the last week of the Easter season, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - June 3, 2022 - seventh week of the season of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are ascended into heaven. 

Christ Jesus - you are seated at the right hand of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you hear the cry of the poor and the suffering. 

As the end of the holy season of Easter draws near, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may continue the mission of our Savior and bring forth the reign of God through our worship, our work, and our relationships each day. 

2. For a renewed spirit of evangelization: that the Holy Spirit will guide us in witnessing to Jesus and all that God has done in showing compassion and forgiveness to all the world. 

3. For the coming of Christ’s kingdom: that we may strive with great dedication to bring hatred, injustice, and the evils of society under the saving and redeeming love of Christ. 

4. For all gathered here for Mass: that we may encounter Christ in our Eucharistic assembly, in our families and communities, and in those who need our assistance. 

5. For the Christian community in the Diocese of Jackson: that through our celebration of the Paschal Mystery and the Easter season, we may be renewed in spirit to live for Christ each day and place our talents and gifts in the service Christ’s kingdom. 

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

With Easter joy in our hearts, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - feast of the visitation - 31 MAY 2022

Lord Jesus - you came to earth as a humble servant - Lord have mercy.

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

Lord Jesus - you meet us in the reality of our lives - Lord have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful:

Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary as we celebrate the feast of the visitation today.  Let us pray for our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world.

1. For our governmental leaders and our Church leaders - that they may be faithful disciples like Mary, our Blessed Mother.  

2. That all the nations of the world and their leaders may work for true economic justice and lead the people in unity and solidarity. We pray that we all might work toward an end to war, terrorism, and violence. 

3. For the poor, the stranger, and the oppressed: that they may be welcomed by all Christians and our community.

4. That all youth, like Mary, may be open to God’s call in their lives, that they may say “yes” to serving others.  

5. That all of us may trust in Mary’s intercessions and imitate her faith and her virtues.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins, for healing for all of us in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

Gracious God, you called Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth in her time of need.  Hear the prayers of your children and grant them in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.

Reflection - prison ministry

 Recently, at the Knights of Columbus meeting, I was talking about the prison ministry I am involved in at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility here in Pearl. One of the Knights asked me if this was the Kairos ministry, which is an ecumenical Christian retreat program modeled after the Catholic Cursillo movement. I explained to them that Kairos is a Christian program that has is largely run by the Protestants right now. I told them, no, this is our Catholic prison ministry at the state prison here at Pearl. I got me to thinking that perhaps many in our parish might not know much about our Catholic prison ministry.

Since the state prison opened here in Pearl and Father Ruan started going out there to minister to the Catholic inmates, there has been a Catholic prison ministry out there in one form or another. Sometimes we have difficulty getting in to see the inmates. Over the years, sometimes it has been hard finding a priest who has the time and the interest to get involved in that ministry. But there have always been priests and/or lay people from the Jackson area who have been involved in prison ministry at CMCF over the years. Some of the lay men now volunteering in prison ministry have been involved for more than 20 years. I have been involved in prison ministry for 14 years now, as long as I have been a priest. The lay people in the prison ministry come from the different parishes in the Jackson area.

Right now we go out to visit the men and the women in the general prison population on Tuesday afternoons. We visit the men who are trustees on Saturday mornings. If any St Jude parishioners are interested in coming out to help us in this ministry, let me know and we will arrange for you to attend orientation. We can use more volunteers. Volunteers only come out when they are available and when it fits into their schedule. Right now, Basil Demerest is the only St Jude parishioner helping with this ministry.

I always tell people that when I first received a letter from an inmate who was in the Hinds County Detention Center to come visit him in the first year of my priesthood, I thought it was not a ministry to which God was calling me. To be honest, I did not think it was a ministry I was capable of doing. As a missionary I did many things, but I never imagined myself involved in prison ministry. However, it has been a very rewarding ministry for me and one to which I feel a call. There are many men and women in the prison system who want to return to the Catholic faith in which they were raised. There are many non-Catholics in the prison system who are intrigued by the Catholic faith. Perhaps this is ministry to which God is calling you. Remember that visiting the prisoner is a work of mercy to which we are called. These are men and women who are inmates and who live within our parish's boundaries in the city of Pearl who want our ministry. St Jude parish has been very supportive of this ministry, for which I am thankful.

Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln.

Ninth Day: The Lord & Giver of Life, the Paraclete (Saturday June 4th)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of Holy Spirit Parish, that we might do the will of God. Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: In the Trinitarian plan of salvation, the Father draws us to the Son, whom the Holy Spirit reveals and disposes us to welcome. As “the Lord and Giver of Life,” the Holy Spirit brings about our rebirth in baptism as the Father’s adopted children in Christ, and as sharers in divine life. Jesus calls the indwelling Holy Spirit our “Paraclete,” which means “one who stands besides us” as a counselor, consoler, advocate and friend. The Holy Spirit leads the Church into “all the truth,” and is the source and dynamic force of the Church’s unity and mission. In every age, the fruitfulness of the Church depends on the renewal of the mystery of Pentecost in the minds and hearts of believers. We seek this type of renewal in our novena that we have been praying. May the Holy Spirit rekindle the grace of sacraments of baptism and confirmation in all Catholics, so that we may live the Christian life with new fervor and zeal. 


Leader: Let us pray.  Holy Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Spirit of Love: enlighten us, strengthen us, guide us, and comfort us. You who pray and act in us, make us know the Father by contemplating the face of the Son who reveals him, so that we may proclaim the divine love of the Most Holy Trinity. Make our life a sign of love. Make the church a living word, an uplifting presence, a consecration of the world to the Trinitarian love that creates, redeems and sanctifies, now and forever. Amen. 


Leader: Mary, Star of Evangelization, 


Response: Pray for us.

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Eighth Day: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Friday June 3rd)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of our families and of St Jude Catholic Church, that we might do the will of God. 

Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as a pledge of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. These fruits mark the lives of those who live by the Spirit, as St. Paul tells the Galatians: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desire. Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s lead” (5:16-17). The fruits of the Holy Spirit produce spiritual delight, and fill with joy the hearts of those who belong to Christ. May the Holy Spirit fill us with “the joy of living the Gospel,” so that many others may be drawn to Christ and his Church, as the fruit of a new Pentecost in our time. 


Leader: Let us pray.  Holy Spirit, eternal love of the Father and the Son, kindly bestow upon us the fruit of charity, that we may be united to you by divine love; the fruit of joy, that we may be filled with holy consolation; the fruit of peace, that we may enjoy tranquility of soul; and the fruit of goodness, that we may live the gospel without wavering. Divine Spirit, be pleased to infuse in us the fruit of generosity, that we may willingly meet our neighbors’ needs; the fruit of kindness, that we may be benevolent toward all; the fruit of patience, that we may not be discouraged by delay, but may persevere in prayer and charity; and the fruit of gentleness, that we may subdue every rising of ill temper, stifle every murmur, and overcome the sinful tendencies of our nature in all our dealings with our neighbor. Creator Spirit, graciously impart to us the fruit of faithfulness, that we may rely with assured confidence on the Word of God; the fruit of modesty, that we may order our demeanor properly; and the fruits of self-control and chastity, that we may keep our bodies in such holiness as befits your temple, so that having by your assistance preserved our hearts pure on earth, we may merit in Jesus Christ, according to the words of the Gospel, to see God eternally in the glory of his kingdom. Amen. 


Leader: Mary, Model of Life in the Spirit, 


Response: Pray for us. 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Seventh Day: The Gift of Wisdom (Thursday June 2nd)


Intention: For the unity and well-being of our families and of St Jude Catholic Church, that we might do the will of God. 

Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: The gift of wisdom is nothing less than loving, contemplative union with God, which makes it possible for us to see all things from a divine perspective. When it is understood in its full breadth, wisdom can rightly be called “communion,” since it is a share in divine life, a union made perfect in the truth of love. Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. It strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. May the Holy Spirit raise up our hearts and minds to rest in God alone, so that we, his people, may be living signs of a new Pentecost in our time. 


Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations. May the Spirit permeate our thoughts, words and actions, so that bearing witness to the gift of salvation, your church may lead all people to Christ the way, the truth and the life, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 


Leader: Mary, Seat of Wisdom, 


Response: Pray for us. 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - the Sixth Day: The Gift of Counsel (Wednesday June 1st)

Sixth Day: The Gift of Counsel (Wednesday June 1st)


Intention: For the unity and well-being of St Jude Catholic Church and all our families, that we might do the will of God. 

Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: The gift of counsel applies our knowledge and our understanding to the many real situations of everyday life. Counsel elevates the virtue of prudence, so that we will choose the wisest course of action in a given situation, especially when we are perplexed as to the right choice to be made. Counsel endows us with a desire to act always in a way that promotes our sanctification and our salvation, in accordance with God’s holy will. We pray that the Holy Spirit will richly endow us with the ability to judge rightly the situations that challenge our faith, so that we may not waver along the path to holiness.

Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, send the Spirit of Counsel upon us for the accomplishment of your holy will in our lives, in the Church, and in the world. Incline our hearts to your will, our minds to right judgment, and our actions to what is good, so that living by the Holy Spirit, we may truly be “salt and light” for others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 


Leader: Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, 


Response: Pray for us. 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Fifth Day: The Gift of Understanding (Tuesday May 31st)


Intention: For the unity and well-being of St Jude Catholic Church and our parish families, that we might do the will of God. 

Please pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 

Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.  


Leader: Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, perfects our faith by enabling us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths in a way that transcends human reason. Our natural way of knowing is elevated by a graced intuition and insight into the things of God. By faith we know them, but by the gift of understanding, we learn to appreciate and relish them. This appreciation radiates outward to others, because our faith is no longer just a matter of information from a book, but a way of living rooted in intimacy with the mysteries of Christ. May the Holy Spirit attune our hearts and minds to a deeper spiritual understanding of the mysteries of our faith, so that as missionary disciples of a new Pentecost in our time, we may draw others to Christ and to his church. 


Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, send the Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts, giving us a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. May the Spirit teach and instruct us, as we are the people you have made your own, May we never waver in our faith, but by the gift of understanding, may we be ready to give an answer to all who ask the reason for the hope that is within us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen 


Leader: Mary, Seat of Understanding, 


Response: Pray for us. 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Fourth Day: The Gift of Knowledge (Monday May 30th)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of St Jude Catholic Church and all our families, that we might do the will of God. 

Please pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: According to the Scriptures, true knowledge can only be acquired by recognizing the loving call of God, and by responding with love to his divine plan. The Gospel of John tells us: “This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” Knowledge is centered entirely on the mystery of Christ, on Christ's dying and rising, which unlock the meaning of every human life and of all human history. As a gift of the Holy Spirit, knowledge gives us certainty that all things are ordered to God in Christ. This knowledge is revealed on every page of Scripture, is deepened by the Church’s living tradition, and is celebrated in the liturgy. By a new Pentecost in our time, may the Holy Spirit confirm in us a sure knowledge of the truths of faith. 


Leader: Let us pray.
 Father, we ask you to send the Holy Spirit upon our minds and hearts so that the gift of knowledge which is ours through the sacraments of baptism and confirmation may be purified and deepened. May the darkness of our sins be overcome by the splendor of knowing you, the only true God, and the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ. Filled with the knowledge imparted by the Holy Spirit, may we radiate light for the salvation of the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 


Leader: Mary, blessed with Knowledge, 


Response: Pray for us.

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - Third Day: The Gift of Fortitude (Sunday May 29th)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of St Jude parish and all our families, that we might do the will of God. 

Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: Fortitude is steadfastness in doing what is right and good in the face of obstacles, sufferings, and trials. The gift of fortitude overcomes unreasonable fears, on the one hand, and keeps us from being reckless and irresponsible, on the other. It is the special virtue of those who are pioneers in any endeavor. Fortitude makes it possible for us to undertake difficult tasks, to face risks and dangers, and to endure whatever comes without undue anxiety, discouragement or complaint. Without fortitude, we cannot hope to persevere in our Christian calling and in doing the will of God. Nor can we fulfill the mission that is ours by the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, to bear witness to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit renew in us the gift of fortitude amid all the challenges presented by today’s society and culture. 


Leader: Let us pray.  Almighty Father, be gracious and bless us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we may persevere with fortitude in doing what we know to be right and good. Strengthen us in our weaknesses, so that when we are weary, discouraged, frustrated, or are put to the test, we may overcome every obstacle and be refreshed on the path to holiness and virtue. May no trial, difficulty or struggle keep us from bearing witness to the splendor of truth which radiates from the face of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, now and forever, Amen. 


Leader: Mary, Tower of Fortitude, 


Response: Pray for us. 

Novena to the Holy Spirit - Second Day: The Gift of Piety (Saturday May 28th)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of our parish, that we might do the will of God. 

Please  pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: Piety is the honor and reverence given to someone who is in any way responsible for our existence and our well-being. The gift of piety moves our hearts, first of all, to filial honor and reverence for God because he is our creator and redeemer. The devotional life of the Church is an expression of our honor and reverence for God and for all that belongs to heaven. Piety also extends to our earthly parents, and to  our spiritual and material good. May the Holy Spirit renew the gift of piety within our hearts and homes, our parishes and communities, so that by our example of honor and reverence we may be a model to others of a life lived in and for God. 


Leader: Let us pray. Gracious Lord, you have fashioned everything out of nothing, giving life and breath to all that exists. You order everything according to your loving providence, and establish the relationships by which our lives are nurtured and ordered. Confirm in us the gift of piety, so that by our honor and reverence for you and for those you have given to us, we may bear witness to the working of the Holy Spirit, and become instruments of a new Pentecost in our time. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. 
AMEN.  

Leader: Mary, Model of Piety, 


Response: Pray for us. 
 


Novena to the Holy Spirit - First Day: The Gift of Fear of the Lord (Friday May 27th)

Intention: For the unity and well-being of our parish family here at St Jude, that we might do the will of God. 

Please pause now to add your own intention.


Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, 


Response: And kindle in them the fire of your love. 


Leader: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, 


Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth. 


Leader: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.” Whenever Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord, we notice that it never mentions it on its own, as if fear could, by itself, bring our faith to perfection. But of the true fear of the Lord we read: “Come, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” The fear of God, then, is something to be learned, because it is taught. Its origins are found by way of teaching, and not in fright. We find it in obeying the commandments, in doing the good deeds of a blameless life, in coming to know the truth, and not in moments of human terror.

In fear, we mean that we respect God for who he is, we are in wonder of him, we are in awe in his presence.  All our fear of God and respect for him are inspired and perfected by love. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, may we be overwhelmed by the greatness and goodness of God, and avoid all sin and attachment to created things, so that each of us may be a living sign of the Gospel for all people to see. 


Leader: Let us pray. 
 
All: Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time you have prepared the way of salvation for the human race wounded by sin and death. Through your inspired word, you have taught that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” By the gift of the Holy Spirit may we walk always along the path you have revealed, following your counsels, conforming ourselves to your commands, and trusting your promises as heralds of a new Pentecost. 

We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.  AMEN. 


Leader: Mary, Temple of the Holy Spirit, 


Response: Pray for us.

29 de mayo de 2022 - la Solemnidad de la Ascensión del Señor - Los Hechos de los Apóstoles 1:1-11

      Al igual que la creencia en la resurrección de nuestro Señor, la ascensión de Cristo al cielo es un misterio de fe arraigado.  La Ascensión se presenta al final del Evangelio de Mateo y al comienzo de los Hechos de los Apóstoles.  La Ascensión es la culminación de los misterios pascuales de la vida, pasión, muerte y resurrección de Cristo. Es el paso final antes de la venida del Espíritu Santo en Pentecostés.

      Una de las cosas que he disfrutado durante mis cinco años aquí en St Jude es mi participación en la Asociación Ministerial de Pearl, en la que todos los párrocos de las iglesias de Pearl se reúnen para colaborar en maneras diferentes.  Este mes, los párrocos iniciaron un estudio bíblico con el alcalde Jake Windham de Pearl.  En la primera reunión, leímos el primer capítulo de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, del cual escuchamos en nuestra primera lectura este domingo, de Jesucristo ascendiendo al cielo mientras los apóstoles miraban, de Jesús siendo levantado en una nube, fuera de su vista. En nuestra discusión sobre la lectura, uno de los párrocos  bautistas les preguntó a los demás si alguna vez predicaban sobre la Ascensión en sus servicios religiosos dominicales.  La mayoría de ellos dijo que no. La Ascensión era una realidad importante, pero las iglesias protestantes no habla mucho sobre este misterio de la fe. 

     Así que hoy podríamos preguntarnos: ¿Qué celebramos en realidad en la Ascensión? En el fondo, la Ascensión significa una transición del Cristo resucitado al Cristo exaltado, en la que hay una diferencia verdadera. En los 40 días posteriores a la resurrección de Jesús, pasó tiempo con sus discípulos en su cuerpo resucitado. Si bien el Cristo resucitado estaba en un estado glorificado hasta cierto punto, ya que podía desafiar las limitaciones humanas físicas normales, como aparecer en una habitación cerrada con las puertas cerradas, la gloria de Jesús aún no se cumplió por completo. Solo cuando Jesús ocupa su lugar a la diestra del Padre en el cielo después de su ascensión, es cuando verdaderamente llega a ser exaltado, un honor que los profetas habían anunciado en el Antiguo Testamento. Jesús hace una alusión a la diferencia entre su estado resucitado y su estado ascendido en el Evangelio de San Juan, cuando se encuentra con María Magdalena fuera de la tumba vacía, diciendo: “Dejen de aferrarse a mí, porque aún no he subido al Padre.” De hecho, el misterio pascual que incluye la pasión, muerte y resurrección de Cristo, no está completo sin la ascensión.

     Podríamos preguntarnos hoy: ¿está hecha la obra de Cristo ahora que ha ascendido a los cielos? Cristo nuestro Señor está en los cielos en presencia de Dios Padre. Todavía, tiene las marcas de su crucifixión en él.  Su sacrificio redentor se presenta eternamente.  Sus heridas continúan suplicando por la salvación de todos. D. En el cielo, Jesús se presenta, una vez inmolado, a Dios Padre para nuestra redención. Cuando celebramos la Misa, a través de la presencia del sacerdote de la Iglesia, Cristo se ofrece a sí mismo, una vez inmolado, verdaderamente presente en el altar. Él se presenta al Padre para nuestra redención. Nosotros, los miembros del Cuerpo de Cristo, participamos con él en la Misa. La Ascensión nos da a Jesús como nuestro Intercesor permanente. Él nos da la esperanza de que un día también nosotros podamos ir al Padre.  Mientras el sacerdote ofrece el santo sacrificio de la Misa aquí en la tierra, intercediendo por nosotros para que podamos recibir el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo, Jesús es nuestro Sumo Sacerdote que intercede por nosotros en el cielo.

       Una enseñanza importante que podemos sacar de la celebración de la Ascensión es que definitivamente tenemos trabajo que hacer como discípulos antes de dejar esta tierra. Cuando Cristo nos dejó, dejó que quería que continuáramos el ministerio que él comenzó. Los ángeles preguntan a los apóstoles mientras ven a Jesús ascender a los cielos: Varones galileos, ¿por qué estáis allí mirando al cielo? Antes de ascender, Jesús les dijo que por medio del Espíritu Santo, sus discípulos podrán ser sus testigos no solo en Jerusalén, sino también hasta lo último de la tierra.  Justo antes de la ascensión de Cristo, los discípulos le preguntan si él en este momento va a restaurar el reino de Israel. E. Todavía tienen muchas preguntas sobre el reino de Dios. Todavía tienen mucho que resolver.  Pero pronto, el Espíritu Santo estará con ellos de manera especial para conducirlos y guiarlos, para dinamizar su trabajo misionero en la difusión del Evangelio y con el establecimiento de la Iglesia Primitiva.  A través de todas esas experiencias, los apóstoles aprenderán de qué se trata su reino de Dios. Mientras vemos vislumbres de su reino aquí en la tierra, mientras su reino aún no ha logrado su cumplimiento, el prefacio a la Misa de Cristo Rey al final del año litúrgico nos dice de qué se trata su reino: Un reino eterno y universal, un reino de verdad y de vida, un reino de santidad y de gracia, un reino de justicia, de amor y de paz. Ese es el reino por el que debemos trabajar en todo lo que hacemos. En todo lo que sucede en nuestra parroquia, tenemos en mente estos atributos del reino de Dios.  En todo lo que hacemos, ¿cómo proclamamos los atributos del reino de Dios, cómo continuamos con el ministerio de nuestro Señor ascendido?  Estas son preguntas importantes para que nos hagamos mientras celebramos la Ascensión de nuestro Señor este domingo.

Prayers of the faithful - 5th week of EASTER - 27 MAY 2022

Lord Jesus - You grant us peace.

Christ Jesus - You forgive the sins of the contrite.

Lord Jesus - You bring healing and reconciliation into our lives.

Let us now present our prayers to our heavenly Father with hope and love:

1. For all who follow Christ, that their faith in the resurrection of Jesus may deepen during the Easter season.

2. For those who renewed their baptismal promises at Easter, that they feel new hope and courage in their lives of faith.

3. For missionaries and all who spread the Good News about Jesus, that the joy of Easter may fill them with fresh zeal and energy.

4. For all who are searching for meaning in their lives, for those who are estranged from the Church, that God will bring them back to the faith.

5. For people who suffer, in mind, body or spirit, that they may experience divine healing and new strength. We pray especially those who at battling addictions and mental illness.

6. For those who have died recently, that God’s light may shine on them perpetually and may they be led into eternal life. We pray especially for the souls in purgatory.

For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.

God of salvation, your glory shines throughout the world to bring joy to your people. Hear our prayers and grant us your all-powerful grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

25 May 2022 - Prayers of the faithful - 6th week of Easter

Lord Jesus - you call us to discipleship

Christ Jesus - you call us to stand up for our faith. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and our Redeemer. 

With Easter joy, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may all live as a Eucharistic people, giving and sharing of ourselves, as Christ continually does for us, so that all may have life. 

2.  For all missionaries, for the sacrifices they make to spread that Gospel message, and for those throughout the world who are persecuted for their faith.  

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

4. For our children and youth: as they start they summer vacation time, may they be safe and may they feel God accompanying them throughout all their summer activities.  

5. For the Gospel of Life: may all profess the dignity of human life in their words and actions, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. 

6.  For those who feel separated from God and for those who have left their church community: May they feel a welcome home back in their parish and in the Church. 

7. For the sick and shut-ins and for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

We present these prayers, heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

3 June 2022 - Friday of the 7th week of EASTER – John 21:15-19

     Jesus tells Peter that if he loves him, he will feed his sheep.  We use the word love in so many different ways in our modern world. It is interesting that two different Greeks words are used for love in this Gospel passage.  Agape is a love that seeks the highest good of others, not coming out of our emotions, but rather out of our mind, our intellect, and our entire being.  Agape love is a caring love that is intimately involved in the needs of the other person, a love that does not depend upon being reciprocated or being earned.  Peter responds to Jesus with philia love, a brotherly love that is born out of a close friendship. Peter replies to Jesus that his loves him through the bond of a special friendship.  Jesus calls us to a bond of love beyond the special closeness of friendship.  As Jesus asks Peter to grow in his love, perhaps we should also grow in this love: in the way we love God and love others. Just like he told Peter, Jesus asks us to feed his lambs, tend his sheep, feed his sheep. There is always that one sheep out there who is lost or hurt or confused or lonely. May we on the behalf of the Lord look out for that Lord sheep.

       Let us pray: Dear God—you love everyone you created. Help us to trust that your love is big enough for all people. Help us to remember that at different times you have rescued us too. Help us to rejoice when those who are lost find your love. Help us to find our identity in your life. Show us how to live and share your love with others. Amen.

29 May 2022 - The feast of the Ascension of the Lord - Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:46-53

     Just like our belief in the resurrection of our Lord, Christ’s ascension into heaven is a mystery of faith rooted in history and spoken of in Scripture. The Ascension is presented both at the end of Matthew’s Gospel and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. The Ascension is the completion of the Easter mysteries of Jesus’ life, passion, death and resurrection, the final step before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which we will celebrate next weekend. 

       One of things I have enjoyed during my five years here at St Jude is my participation in the Pearl Ministerial Association, in which all the pastors of the churches in Pearl get together for fellowship and collaboration in different ways.  A couple of weeks ago, the Ministerial Association started a Bible study with Mayor Jake Windham of Pearl.  At that first meeting we read the first chapter of Acts, of which we hear in our first reading today, of Jesus ascending into heaven as the apostles look on, of Jesus being lifted up in a cloud, taken out of their sight.  In our discussion about that reading, one of the Baptist pastors in  the group asked the others if they ever preach about the Ascension at their Sunday church services.  Most of them said that they did not preach about the Ascension very often.  He noted that the Ascension was an important reality of our faith that perhaps is not discussed very much in Protestant churches.  Since we Catholics celebrate the Ascension as a major feast day in the season of Easter each year, I found that comment quite curious.

      So we might ask ourselves today: In actuality, what are we celebrating on the feast of the Ascension?  At its core, the Ascension signifies a transition of the risen Christ to the exalted Christ, in which there is a real difference. In the 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, he spent time with his disciples in his resurrected body.  While the risen Christ was in a glorified state to an extent, as he could defy normal physical human limitations such as appearing in a locked room and going through walls and locked doors, Jesus’ glory was not yet completely fulfilled.  It is only when Jesus takes his place at the right hand of the Father in heaven after his ascension that he truly becomes exalted, an honor that had long been foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament.  Jesus makes an allusion to the difference between his risen state and his ascended state in John’s Gospel, as he encounters Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb, stating: “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Indeed, the paschal mystery which includes Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, is not complete without the ascension. 

     We might ask ourselves today: is Christ’s work done now that he has ascended to the heavens? Christ our Lord is in the heavens in the presence of God the Father. He has the marks of his crucifixion still on him. His redemptive sacrifice is presented everlastingly.  His wounds continue to plead for the salvation of all.  In heaven, Jesus presents himself, once slain, as now Lord over death, to God the Father for our redemption.  When we celebrate Mass, though the presence of the priest of the Church, Christ offers his same self, once slain, truly present on the altar. He presents himself to the Father for our redemption. We the members of the Body of Christ participate with him in the Mass. The Ascension gives us Jesus as our permanent Intercessor. He gives us hope that one day we too may go to the Father.  As the priest offers the holy sacrifice of the Mass here on earth, interceding for us so that we might receive Christ’s body and blood, Jesus is our High Priest who intercedes for us in heaven.

      An important lesson we can also take away from the feast of the Ascension is that we definitely have work to do as Christ’s disciples before we leave this earth.  When Christ left us, he made it clear that he wanted us to continue the work that he began. The Angels ask the apostles as they watch Jesus ascend into the heavens: Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”  Before ascending, Jesus told them that through the Holy Spirit, his disciples will be able to be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but to the end of the earth as well.  Right before Jesus’ ascension, the disciples ask him if he at this time is going to restore the kingdom to Israel.  They still have a lot of questions about what the kingdom of God is about.  They still have a lot to figure out.  But soon, the Holy Spirit will be with them in a special way to lead them and guide them, to energize and guide their missionary work in spreading the Gospel, and with the establishment of the Early Church. Through all those experiences, the apostles will definitely learn what his kingdom of God is all about.  While we see glimpses of his kingdom here on earth, while his kingdom still has not achieved its fulfillment, the preface to the Mass of Christ the King at the end of the liturgical year tells us what his kingdom is all about: An eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.  That is the kingdom we are to work toward in all that we do.  In all that we have going on in our parish, we are keep these attributes of God’s kingdom in mind: in our parish artisan guild and the Carmelite secular group that met in our parish this weekend, in the Knights of Columbus that met last week, in our prison ministry at the state prison in Pearl, in the deacon aspirants and candidates who meet here monthly at St Jude, in the children getting ready for Vacation Bible School, in the youth getting ready for their trip to St Meinrad in Indiana, in the faith formation and evangelization programs we are planning for the fall.  In all that we do, how are we proclaiming the attributes of God’s kingdom, how are we continuing with the work of our ascended Lord?  These are good questions for us to ask as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension of our Lord today.  

31 May 2022 - Homily for the Feast of Visitation of the Virgin Mary – Luke 1:39-56

      This year, in between the two joyful Easter season celebrations of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, which both involve the sending of the Holy Spirit, we celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth today.   In today’s celebration, we look at the way the Angel Gabriel and the Spirit of the Lord were at work in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth.  But, the Visitation is an important event not only in the lives of these two women, but also in the history of salvation.  The Angel Gabriel telling the Virgin Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was with child was a prophetic sign validating all that the Angel communicated to Mary in the annunciation, which we celebrate on March 25 in our liturgical calendar.  In the Visitation, Mary takes off in haste to the mountainous countryside around Jerusalem to visit her Elizabeth, a journey of several days.

     As John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb in the presence of Mary, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, announces Mary to be blessed among all women.  Mary responds in a radical song of joy, the Magnificat.  She does not speak out of pride or power or arrogance, but rather out of humility and poverty.  She sees herself as a servant who has been looked upon favorably by God in her humility and lowliness.  Mary’s song of joy foreshadows Jesus’ life and ministry, of Jesus’ love and compassion for the poor, the outcasts, and the marginalized of the world.  The Magnificat show as a way in which we can approach the world and approach our faith. The Magnificat that Mary proclaims reflects the joy that both Mary and Elizabeth felt in their visit.  At its heart, the Visitation is a visit between two women, one young & the other older in years, who both received a treasure from God in a life-altering, miraculous way. By sharing this treasured moment from God with each other, perhaps Mary and Elizabeth are able to break through any feelings of fear or isolation that may have been lingering in their minds. This moment they share together influenced the history of salvation, and in many ways, their act of sharing and their act of community, helps God’s graces work in their lives and in the lives of so many to follow. 

     I would like to close by saying that the feast of the Visitation this year marks the 14th year of my ordination to the priesthood.  This feast brings back a lot of memories. I am thankful for Bishop Latino and Bishop Kopacz for giving the opportunity to serve in the Diocese of Jackson, sharing in their ministry.  I try to do so each day with humility and joy.  

The Ascension - bulletin reflection - St Jude Parish - 25 May 2022

      Back on April 17, we celebrated Easter Sunday and the beginning of the holy season of Easter.  The Easter season concludes next weekend with the celebration of Pentecost.  The Ascension takes place 40 days after Easter, which would have been last Sunday, but in most Dioceses in the United States, the Ascension of the Lord is moved to a Sunday, since most of the faithful do not come to Mass on a weekday compared to Sunday.  But as we celebrate Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, and then in the coming weeks the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity; and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, perhaps the Ascension of the Lord and the significance of the Ascension does not receive the voice in the Church that it deserves.  

      I think of the Ascension most of all in its context in the Easter season as a part of the Paschal mystery, which includes Jesus’ suffering and death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his sending forth the Holy Spirit to us, his disciples. These parts of the Paschal Mystery, as a whole, comprise one reality. In the resurrection, we understand that Jesus still lives as our Savior and our Redeemer.  In the Ascension, we better understand Christ’s relationship with the Father: that the living Christ has entered into glory, a glory that he shares with the Father.

       With great joy, we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord here at St Jude this weekend.  With great joy, we celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with Bishop Kopacz with a group of our high school students this upcoming week. With great joy, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday next weekend.  We hope you will join us for our Pentecost pasta supper next Sunday at 5:00 pm.  Blessings to all of you in this wonderful celebration of the Ascension of the Lord this weekend.  Father Lincoln.

27 May 2022 - Friday of the 6th week of EASTER - John 16:20-23

      Earlier in the week, we commemorated the feast day of the Venerable Bede, an English historian from the 8th century who is a doctor of the Church.  Also, this week, we celebrate the feast day of a saint from 17th century South America who perhaps is not very well known outside of her native country of Ecuador.   Mariana de Jesus de Paredes was born in the city Quito, Ecuador of a noble Spanish family, but she was orphaned as a child.  She then was raised by her older sister and her sister’s husband.  She was drawn to the Catholic faith as a child.  Under the guidance of a Jesuit priest confessor, she lived a consecrated life as a lay woman, practicing austerity and simplicity of life and devoting her life to prayer and prophecy with little sleep and little food.   A terrible earthquake and epidemic struck the city of Quito in 1645.  Mariana felt herself being called by God to offer herself as a sacrifice for the sins of the people of Quito.  When the epidemic began to subside, Mariana was stricken with illness and died on May 26th. She is known by the faithful as Mariana de Jesus or Mariana of Quito.  Canonized in 1950, she is the patron saint of the Quito of Ecuador.   I remember arriving in Ecuador in May 1996 as a lay missionary with the Comboni Missionary religious order. On the first Sunday we were in the country of Ecuador, we went to Mass in the old town center of Quito on the feast day of St Mariana de Jesus.  I remember seeing many different male and female religious in their habits attending Mass.  It is a beautiful memory I have from my time in Ecuador, as experiences as a lay missionary in South America greatly influenced my vocation to the priesthood here in the Diocese of Jackson.  I love the story of St Mariana de Jesus.  In her faith and in her humility, she brought the mercy of God to the people of her hometown of Quito, Ecuador.  

         In the Gospel today, Jesus declares to his disciples:  “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”  We can find joy in our faith in different ways.  Mariana de Jesus found joy in her faith in her simplicity of life, in her austerity, in her uniting her sufferings in atonement for her sins and the sins of the world.  St Mariana de Jesus, we unite our prayers with yours today, asking that you help us in our suffering and the burdens we bear in life.  

25 May 2022 - Wednesday of the 6th week of Easter – John 16:12-15

      During our Gospel readings these next two weeks as we journey toward Pentecost and the end of the Easter season, a major theme we hear is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives of faith to lead us and guide us on our journey.  This upcoming weekend, we will celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit with us in a special way.   Then, next week, on June 1, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our high school students.  The Spirit will enter the lives of our youth in a very special way during this Sacrament. On May 14, we celebrated the ordination to the priesthood for Andrew Bowden, in which the Holy Spirit will be present in a special way in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  In our Gospel today, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth who will guide us to all truth. 

       With St Irenaeus of Lyons being named Doctor of the Church this year, there are now 37 Doctors of the Church, a very select group of saints who have impacted our Catholic faith and the teachings of our faith in a profound way.  The Doctors of the Church have contributed to our faith in very different ways. Today, we celebrate one of my favorite Doctors of the Church, the Venerable Bede, who was born in the late 7th century.  Bede was an English Benedictine monk from Northumbria, a medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom located in present-day northern England and southeastern Scotland.  As a young child, Bede survived a terrible plague that struck that region, killing the majority of the population.  Even though he spent the majority of his life at his monastery, he was a well-known author, teacher, and scholar.  His work entitled The Ecclesiastical History of the English People has brought him claim as being consider the father of English history.  I remember reading that book in college in a course on Western Civilization. It is considered the principal source of information on Angelo Saxon England.  Pope Leo XIII declared the Venerable Bede a Doctor of the Church in 1899.  Bede is the only native of Great Britain to achieve this designation of Doctor of the Church.  St Anselm of Canterbury is also a Doctor of the Church, but he was born in Italy.  Bede was also a great linguist in Latin and Greek; he translated the works of the Early Church Fathers into the language of the Anglo-Saxons, which contributed greatly to the spread of Christianity in England.  The Venerable Bede is the patron saint of scholars as well as English writers and historians.  We unite our prayers with the prayer of the Venerable Bede today.  

Reflection - a prayer by Thomas Merton - "I have no idea..."

Last week in the Flocknote reflection, I shared a prayer from Thomas Merton that centered upon the theme of mercy.  Today, I would like to share one of his most famous prayers which comes from his 1958 book Thoughts in Solitude.  Even though Merton died in 1968, which is more than 50 years ago, his influence on American Catholicism still continues today.  When Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, he mentioned four Americans in his address to Congress.  He stated that these four Americans, through their hard work and sacrifice, were able to help build a better future for our country and to shape our fundamental American values.  In addition to President Abraham Lincoln, Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., and founder of the Catholic Worker movement Dorothy Day, the Pope also mentioned Trappist Monk Thomas Merton.  In addition to the text of the prayer below, I have included a video of the prayer by one of the monks from the Abbey in Kentucky where Merton lived.  Have a blessed week everyone.  We look forward to seeing you this weekend when we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord.  Father Lincoln.   

My Lord God,
 I have no idea where I am going.
 I do not see the road ahead of me. 
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
 and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
 But I believe that the desire to please you 
does in fact please you. 
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
 I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
 Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFTniXn0ZCM

22 May 2022 – Sixth Sunday of Easter – Acts 15:1-2; 22-29, John 14:23-29

       We usually hear readings from the Old Testaments in our Sunday masses, but during the Easter season, we hear the story of the Early Church in our first readings from Acts of the Apostles. We hear about the missionary journeys of Paul, Barnabas, and their companions, of the miracles they performed in the proclamation of God’s kingdom, of the way they were criticized by the Pharisees and even thrown out of certain towns and targeted for death, of the way they encouraged the coverts to the Way of Jesus that they brought into the faith. Today, we hear about the Council of Jerusalem, the first council of the Early Church, addressing what it meant to be a disciple of Christ, addressing whether Gentiles needed to first obey the Jewish laws and customs prior to their conversion.  Just as conflict and tension arose in the Early Church when they were confronted with a new problem or new reality, we see this mirrored in some of the realities we face in the Catholic Church in our current day as well.  Indeed, being a disciple of Christ is never an easy task, no matter where and what time in history. 

     As you can see, I’m wearing a colorful stole today that was hand woven by the indigenous people of the rain forest where I served as a missionary in Ecuador.  I wear this stole today, remembering that in this last week in May in 1996, I started my three year assignment as a Comboni lay missionary in Ecuador.  Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and those early disciples went on an external, physical journey to the far regions of the ancient world to bring them the Good News of Christ. However, besides their physical journey, they also went on a spiritual journey.  Being a missionary means stepping out into the unknown. When I arrived in Ecuador, I did not know how to speak Spanish. I had never been to Latin America before.  Yet, I brought along a lot of hopes and dreams for my missionary work.  After studying Spanish for several months in the capital city of Quito, high in the Andes mountains, I went to the village of Borbón in the jungle province of Esmeraldas, very close to the border of Columbia, an area where there was a lot drug trafficking and gang and cartel activity.  Just as the communities that Paul visited had their own culture and traditions, where I served as a missionary had its own unique flavor and culture.  It was populated with descendants of escaped slaves from nearby Columbia who found freedom and refuge in this isolated jungle in the 18th century.  These escaped slaves and their descendants practiced their African tribal religions and traditions in virtual isolation from the rest of the country until after World War II, when the Comboni Missionaries were invited by the government of Ecuador to help integrate this area with the rest of the country.  I worked with a team of priests, nuns, a brother, and another lay missionary.  We were from different countries throughout the world – Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uganda, Spain, and the US.  We came together as missionaries, united by the Gospel, despite our different cultures and personalities.

      All of you have been thrust into this correctional institution on your journey through life, with a lot diversity and differences present.  I know it is a challenge for all of you to navigate those differences each day.  You might think about how you could not find two people much different than Peter and Paul in the stories told in the Acts of the Apostles.  They both had very different visions for the Church. These apostles in the Early Church had to respond to a rapidly changing reality. Through their patience and persistence, God spoke to the apostles in the midst of their challenging missionary work. Yes, the answers that God reveals to us can seem difficult to discern. We look at the discussions and arguments that came out of the Council of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit led them in the Council of Jerusalem to a plan of action for their complex situation.  Through their discussions and disagreements, they finally found where the Spirit was leading them. The same Spirit that Jesus sent to those first disciples is present to us in the world today as well.  That Spirit helps us respond to the reality of the world. We are going to celebrate the Holy Spirit in a special way in the next couple of weeks in our celebration of the Ascension of the Lord and in our celebration of Pentecost.  

      As the Spirit was sent to the Early Church to lead them and guide them, the same Spirit is present to each one of you individually.  The Spirit is present in your community as well.   I look back sometimes and think if I would have chosen to go out as a missionary had I known the challenges and difficulties that awaited me.  I would have to say “yes."  Indeed, the Spirit speaks to us both as individuals and as a community.  God called me to be a missionary, which included facing a lot of hardships as well.  All of us need to be willing to be open to the Spirit, for the different ways the Lord can come into our lives.  If we spend time with the Lord each day, if we open to his will and not only our own will and desires, then we will hear the voice of God and will be able to discern his will for us. 

Bulletin reflection - 6th Sunday of Easter

     Today’s Gospel from John is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse that he shares with his apostles as they gathered for the Last Supper. Jesus is getting them ready for the time when he will no longer be with them. Yet, he tells them that they will not be alone on the road of discipleship. Jesus tells them that he and the Father will dwell with them, that the Holy Spirit will be with them as their Advocate, that Jesus’ peace will be with them.

     As we hear today’s reading from the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel, we might think back to the very beginning of that same Gospel, a reading we hear each year on Christmas Day. John’s Gospel starts not with the birth of the baby Jesus in a manger or with the genealogy of Jesus’ family tree like two of the other Gospels, but rather back to the beginning of creation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” We are called to be bearers of Christ’s peace to the world, the same peace that Jesus brought to his Apostles in the Upper Room at the Last Supper in today's Gospel. In many ways, today’s reading is getting us ready for our celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, which we celebrate in our Diocese next Sunday, and our celebration of Pentecost, which is the Sunday after that.

  As I mentioned at the Masses last weekend, we are having our Pentecost potluck celebration on Sunday, June 6 at 5:00 pm in the parish hall. We hope to see you all there. Blessings - Father Lincoln.

reflection - a prayer on mercy by Thomas Merton

   In my homily last weekend, I mentioned Thomas Merton (1915-1968) as a man who had a profound conversion experience as an adult after living his early life away from any type of faith. Merton, who lived as a member of the Trappist monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky, near the town of Bardstown, was a writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and a bridge builder between different religions. Entering the monastery in 1941 as a monk, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1949. He wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality and social justice. Many of his books became best sellers. He died in a tragic accident in his room at a retreat center in Thailand in 1968 while attending a conference. I really like this poem by Thomas Merton that centers upon the theme of mercy. If you have not read any books by Merton, a good place to start is his autobiography, The Seven Story Mountain, written in 1948.

Have a good week everyone. Father Lincoln.

Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on my darkness,

my weakness,

my confusion.

Have mercy on my infidelity,

my cowardice,

my turning about in circles,

my wandering,

my evasions.

I do not ask for anything but such mercy,

always,

in everything,

mercy.

My life here – a little solidity and very much ashes.

Almost everything is ashes. What I have prized most is ashes.

What I have attended to least is, perhaps…

a little solid.

Lord, have mercy.

Guide me,

make me want again to be holy,

to be a man of God,

even though in desperateness and confusion.

I do not necessarily ask for clarity, a plain way,

but only to go according to your love,

to follow your mercy, to trust your mercy.

I want to seek nothing at all, if this is possible.

But only to be led without looking and without seeking.

For thus to seek is to find.

A prayer by Thomas Merton, Journals, August 2, 1960, IV.28

Prayers of the faithful - Fifth week of Easter - 16 May 2022

Prayers of the faithful - fifth week of Easter - 16 May 2022

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us the love of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith.  

With humble hearts, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For all the faithful of the Diocese of Jackson: that God will strengthen our spirits, help us form supportive relationships, and guide them in their ministries and outreach to the poor and marginalized. 

2. For all married couples: that husbands and wives may appreciate the gift that they are to one another and help strengthen their partnership of life that they have formed together.   

3. For peace in communities experiencing terrorism, violence, conflict, or war.  They we may work to mend brokenness and practice justice.  

4. For all who are unemployed or looking for a new job, that the Lord will help them find their vocation and a work situation where they will be able to prosper and contribute to society.  

5. For all of our students: that they may feel God’s presence with them during the upcoming months of summer vacation. 

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts. 

We present our prayers through the risen Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  

16 May 2022 - Monday of the 5th week of Easter - Acts 14:5-18, Psalm 115

      In the first reading today from Acts, we hear a story of faith.  Faith that has the power to heal.  Faith that helps us meet our challenges.  Faith that helps us reach out to the our fellow man in love.  Faith that allows us to rejoice in our relationship with God.  

      Paul is truly present in faith with the man who has been lame since birth.  Paul looks at the man and sees that his faith allows him to be healed. Even though this lame man is healed, many in the crowd do not understand what was happening.  Some in the crowd want to give Paul the credit for what he has done, not giving credit to God or to the faith of the man who was healed. But, in the psalm today, it is proclaimed: “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.”  However, so often, we, in our human nature want to be given the credit and the glory.

       Faith is a gift from God. It is only through God’s grace that we have faith.  In an Angelus message in St Peter’s square in 2013, Pope Francis asked the crowd present: “How do we obtain this power (of faith)?” Pope Francis answer this question by stating: “We obtain (faith) from God in prayer. Prayer is the breath of faith: in a relationship of faith, of love, one can’t omit dialogue, and prayer is the dialogue of the soul with God.” May the Lord help us in our prayers.  May the Lord help us in our faith. 

15 de mayo de 2022 - quinto domingo de la temporada de pascua - Actos 14:21b-27 - Juan 13:31-35 - Apocalipsis 21:1-5A

      La temporada de Pascua es un momento donde recordamos la vida, el ministerio y la resurrección de Cristo, un momento donde celebramos la nueva vida que nos llega a través del Señor resucitado.  Hablamos mucho de la nueva vida que recibimos a través de Cristo en nuestra fe, pero ¿qué entendemos por nueva vida?  ¿Podemos mirar dentro del corazon y honestamente decir que hemos experimentado esta nueva vida en Cristo durante la temporada de Pascua? ¿Podemos mirar hacia atrás en nuestra vida y decir que hemos experimentado esta nueva vida, renovación y conversión a lo largo de los años? La palabra “nuevo” aparece varias veces en la lecturas este domingo.  En la primera lectura del Apocalipsis, San Juan habla de una visión de un cielo nuevo y una tierra nueva, de la ciudad santa, la nueva Jerusalén, de una voz del trono que dice que todo será hecho nuevo. F. En el Evangelio, Jesús nos dice que nos ha dado un mandamiento nuevo, que nos amemos unos a otros como Cristo nos ha amado.

      La nueva vida en nuestro Señor Jesucristo puede llegar en diferentes momentos de nuestra vida, en formas diferentes.  Algunos de nuestros más grandes ejemplos de fe, como San Francisco de Asís, San Ignacio de Loyola, San Agustín de Hipona y Tomás Merton, recibieron una nueva vida como adultos después de vivir lejos de Dios en vidas que no seguían el valores del evangelio antes de sus conversiones en fe.  Para Teresa de los Andes y Teresa de Lisieux, recibieron nueva vida en Cristo cuando eran niñas, lo que las llevó a optar por ingresar a los monasterios como monjas carmelitas y dejar atrás los caminos del mundo que les había sido llamado. Para la mayoría de nosotros, esta nueva vida en Cristo puede llegar a nosotros en etapas diferentes de la vida, no en una experiencia única, sino una renovación y una nueva vida que nos llega en momentos diferentes de la vida, llevándonos cada vez a una experiencia más profunda, o con comprensión, con un compromiso renovado en el camino de fe y en nuestra relación con Cristo.

      Esta nueva vida de la que se habla en momentos diferentes en las Sagradas Escrituras como conversión, o transformación, o la palabra griega “metanoia.”  “Metanoia” significa un cambio radical en nuestra visión y en las prioridades en la vida. Metanoia significa nuevas actitudes, nuevos valores, nuevos estándares en relación con Dios, con las personas y con todo nuestro medioambiente de la vida.  En el proceso de metanoia, no importa dónde estemos en el camino de fe, estamos invitados a una conversión más profunda. Afirma que la metanoia no es un evento de una sola vez; más bien, es un proceso continuo de apartarse de las cosas del mundo, de las mentiras y el pecado, y luego descubrir una unión más profunda con Cristo.

     En el Evangelio este domingo, Jesucristo habla del fundamento de su enseñanza y mensaje. Son sus palabras de despedida a los discípulos antes de ir a su pasión y muerte.  Su mensaje va más allá de nuestra fidelidad en guardar los Diez Mandamientos y llevar una vida moral. Va más allá de amar a Dios y participar en la Misa y participar de los Sacramentos de la Iglesia regularmente. Debemos amar a los demás, amarlos como él mismo Cristo nos ha amado.  Este, dice, es un “nuevo” mandamiento, volviendo a la palabra “nuevo” de la que hemos estado hablando.  El mensaje del Antiguo Testamento nos dice que amemos a Dios con todo el corazón y alma y que amemos a nuestro prójimo como a nosotros mismos.  Jesús ha añadido un nuevo elemento al decirnos que la verdadera prueba del discipulado es amar a los demás de la misma manera que él nos ha amado.  Recordemos que estas palabras abren el camino hacia el “mayor amor posible” que una persona puede mostrar, es decir, al dejar la propia vida por los demás.  Jesús encarnó esto de manera muy dramática en el sufrimiento y la degradación a los que se someterá por amor a nosotros.

      En la Primera Lectura de los Hechos, vemos este mandamiento del amor y la nueva vida que tenemos en Cristo trabajando en la vida de dos primeros misioneros en la Iglesia Primitiva, Pablo y Bernabé. Ellos soportaron dificultades, tribulaciones y malentendidos para poder comunicar el mensaje y la visión de Jesús a tantas personas como pudieran.  A los que ya eran cristianos, Pablo y Bernabé les dieron apoyo y aliento para perseverar en sus convicciones cristianas. Pablo y Bernabé vieron la gracia de Dios en su vida en todos los aspectos de su realidad. En lugar de ver sus sufrimientos como un castigo de Dios, dieron honor y gloria a Dios, agradeciendo a Dios por permitirles abrir la puerta de la fe a los demás y servir a Dios en todo momento.  El poder de amar según el mandamiento de Jesús no parecerá tan imposible ni tan abrumador si vemos el poder y la gracia de Dios con nosotros para ayudarnos a amarnos unos a otros.

     No existe una fórmula mágica que nos permita renovarnos y transformarnos en la fe, que nos permita amar a los demás según el mandamiento nuevo de Cristo.  Se necesita mucho trabajo duro y dedicación. Todo es parte de un proceso. Todo es parte de nuestro camino de fe. Es una parte de la metanoia. Al igual que Pablo y Bernabé, que podamos ver la gracia de Dios obrando aquí y ahora. Amémonos unos a otros como Cristo nos amó.

15 May 2022 - homily for the 5th Sunday in the Easter Season - CYCLE C - Acts 14:21b-27 - Revelation 21:1-5A - John 13:31-35

      The Easter season is a time when we remember Christ’s life, ministry, and resurrection, a time when we celebrate the new life which comes to us through the risen Lord. We talk about the new life we receive through Christ a lot in our faith, but what do we mean by new life? Can all of us look into our hearts and honestly say that we have experienced this new life in Christ during the Easter season? Can we look back on our lives and say that we have experienced this new life, renewal and conversion over the years? The word “new” appears several times in our readings today.  In the first reading from Revelation, John speaks of a vision of a new heaven and a new earth, of the holy city, the new Jerusalem, of a voice from the throne stating that all things will be made new. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that he has given us a new commandment, that we love one another just as Jesus has loved us.  

     Our new life in our Lord Jesus Christ can come at different times in our lives, in different shapes and different forms.  Some of our greatest examples of faith, such as St Francis of Assisi, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Merton had new life come to them as adults after living away from God in lives that were not following the values of the Gospel before their conversions. For Teresa of the Andes and Therese of Lisieux, they received new life from Christ when they were young girls, leading them to choose to enter monasteries as Carmelite nuns and to leave behind the ways of the world that had been calling out to them. For most of us, this new life in Christ can come to us in different stages in life, not a one time experience, but renewal and new life that comes to us at different times in life, each time bringing us to a deeper understanding, or greater insight, or renewed commitment on our journey of faith and in our relationship with Christ.   

      This new life that is spoken about at different times in Scripture can be seen as conversion, or transformation, or the Greek word “metanoia.”  Metanoia signifies a radical change in our vision and in our priorities in life. Metanoia means new attitudes, new values, new standards of relating with God, with people, and with our entire living environment. Recently, our Sunday morning adult faith formation group watched a video series from the FORMED website called Metanoia: A Journey with Christ into conversion, hosted by the president of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, Father Dave Pivanka.  According to Father Dave, in the process of metanoia, no matter where we are we our faith journey, we are invited to a deeper conversion. He states that metanoia is not a one-time event; rather, it is a continual process of turning away from the things of the world, from lies and sin, and then discovering a deeper union with Christ.

      In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of the foundation and heart of his teaching and message. These are his parting words to his disciples before he goes to his passion and death.  His message goes beyond our faithfulness in keeping the Ten Commandments and leading a moral life.  It goes beyond loving God and engaging in the Mass and partaking of the Sacraments of the Church on a regular basis.  We are to love others, to love them as he himself has loved us. This, he says, is a “new” commandment, back to the word “new” we have been talking about.  The message of the Old Testament tells us to love God with our whole heart and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus adds a new element in telling us that the true test of discipleship is to love others in the same way that he has loved us, building upon the message of God's love in the Old Testament. We might remember that these words lead the way to the “greatest possible love” that a person can show, that is, by letting go of one’s very life for others.  Jesus embodied this in a very dramatic way in the suffering and degradation which he will submit to out of love for us.  

       In the First Reading, from the Acts, we see this commandment of love and the new life we have in Christ at work in the lives two early missionaries in the Early Church, Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas endured hardships, tribulations, and misunderstandings so that they could communicate the message and vision of Jesus to as many people as they could reach. To those who were already Christians, Paul and Barnabas gave support and encouragement to persevere in their Christian convictions. Paul and Barnabas saw God’s grace at work in their lives in every aspect of their reality. Rather than seeing their sufferings as a punishment from God, they gave honor and glory to God, thanking God for allowing them to open the door of faith for others and to serve God at all times.  The power to love according to Jesus’ commandment will not seem so impossible or so overwhelming if we see God’s power and grace working within us to help us to love one another. 

      There is no magic formula that allows us to be renewed and transformed in the faith, that allows us to love others according Christ’s new commandment.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  It is all part of a process.  It is all part of our faith journey.  It is a part of metanoia.  Just like Paul and Barnabas, may we see God’s grace at work in the here and now.  Let us love one another as Christ loved us.