Advent Bulletin Reflection - Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent - 4 December 2022

     Below is an Advent prayer by Father Henri Nouwen, which so beautifully captures the spirit of this holy season of Advent. We hear in our Gospel this Sunday the last of the prophets of Ancient Israel, John the Baptist. John did not seek fame and fortune for himself, but he came out of the wilderness with a message that called the people to repentance and that prepared a way for Jesus’ message and ministry. In the modern world today, John’s message is to reach our busy lives to help us prepare a path for Jesus in the reality of life. In this time of preparation and waiting, may this message touch our hearts today. May we use this time of Advent as we as we are still dealing with such a challenging reality in our world today, where there is so much anger, division, violence, and discord everywhere we turn. May we use this Advent season to renew ourselves on our journey of faith and to bring the conversion and transformation that we need right now in our lives.

Advent prayer by Father Henri Nouwen: Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” AMEN.

8 December 2022 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Luke 1:26-38

      In the middle of our Advent journey, two and a half weeks before we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we celebrate and honor our Mother, Mary, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This feast day calls out to us to reflect upon what Mary has to say to us as men and women of faith. Think about the images we have of Mary beyond the beautiful statues, holy cards, and images of her in Sacred Scripture. Mary is not up there on a pedestal. She is not our Blessed Mother who is at a distance from up in the heavens. Mary has always been there on the ground level with us, the faithful, encouraging us on our journey through the ups and downs of life. We can see Mary in our world today in many walks of life: in the teachers who dedicate themselves to educating their students, in the mothers and grandmothers who dream of a better life for their children and grandchildren, in those who work for justice and peace in their community, in the Sunday school teachers, catechists, and Eucharistic ministers who teach our children and youth about God, and in those who reach out to the poor, the elderly, and the sick in our community. We Catholics are called to recognize Mary and to honor her in the many ways we see her presence in the modern world today and to invite Mary into our lives. 

      Mary calls out to us today out of her reality as a poor Jewish woman of faith from Ancient Israel. She calls out to us as one who cooperated with God’s will in her life, who reveals the constant and compassionate love of God to those around her. Mary calls out to us as a bearer of God’s mercy and justice as the first disciple. She calls out to us amidst the sufferings and struggles that she endured on her journey, amidst the things that she did not understand right away, that she pondered and reflected upon in her heart. As we hear the Gospel story of the Annunciation today, we know that this was no ordinary pronouncement, no routine summons. The annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary was earth-shattering, life-changing, and revolutionary. We honor Mary today as our Blessed Mother; as the Theotokos, the God-bearer; as the handmaid of the Lord conceived without original sin. As always, Mary receives the honor accorded her with a humble heart, leading us always ever-closer to her son. Mary, Blessed Mother, we unite our prayers to yours in the words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Ave Stella Maris  -  Hail, Star of the Sea - 

Hail, bright star of ocean,

God’s own Mother blest,

Ever sinless Virgin,

Gate of heavenly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave

Which from Gabriel came,

Peace confirm within us,

Changing Eva’s name.

Break the captives’ fetters,

Light on blindness pour,

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;

May the Word Divine,

Born for us thy Infant,

Hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,

Mildest of the mild,

Freed from guilt, preserve us,

Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,

Make our way secure,

Till we find in Jesus,

Joy forevermore.

Through the highest heaven

To the Almighty Three,

Father, Son and Spirit,

One same glory be. Amen.

FRIDAY of the first week of ADVENT - 2 December 2022 - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus, you bring us love & peace: Lord, have mercy.

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

Lord Jesus,You will come again in glory: Lord, have mercy.

Prayer intentions: 

Priest: As we continue our journey during this first week of Advent, knowing that God is listening, let us offer our prayers.

1. That we may reach out to our brothers and sisters who are in pain and who are suffering during this holy season.  

2. For all of our bishops, especially Bishop Kopacz, that they lead all the people of the world in justice and peace. 

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

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

5. That Christians may be ready to meet Christ when he comes, both at Christmas and in the end times. 

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

7. On this first Friday of the month, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

7. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, and those prayers we hold in our hearts. 

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

prayers of the faithful - THURSDAY of the first week of Advent - 1 December 2022

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

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

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

Prayer intentions:

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

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

2. We pray for all missionaries and those who bring the faith to others.  May all of us be missionary in spirit. 

3. For all the places in the world experiencing war, terrorism, violence, or unrest. May we all work toward peace, healing, and reconciliation.  

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

5. That Christians may be ready to meet Christ when he comes, both at Christmas and in the end times. 

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

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

30 November - St Andrew Apostle - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you call all of us to a life of discipleship.

Christ Jesus - you draw us beyond our human limitations.

Lord Jesus - you call us to be missionary spirit. 

As we celebrate St Andrew today on his feast day, let us bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For missionaries and evangelizers, that all of us may proclaim Christ’s Gospel to the world in our words and actions.

2. For our youth and our children, that the Lord will continue to accompany them and bless them and their families on their journey of faith in the midst of this busy Advent season. 

3. For teachers and educators, that the Lord may bless them in their teaching in all the challenges they face. 

4. For our first responders, for our medical professionals, for the men and women in the military, for all who keep us safe in society, for their safety and protection.

5. For the sick, the shut-in, for those in the hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes, for healing in body, mind, and spirit.

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into enteral life.  

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

Generous God, you sent St Andrew and the other apostles out into the world to bring your Gospel message. Let us follow his example of faith. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Advent prayers of the faithful - 29 November 2022 - Tuesday of the first week of ADVENT

Lord Jesus - you call us to justice.

Christ Jesus - you bring us light.

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope.

As we journey through these first days of the Advent season, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father in confidence and hope:

1. We pray for the Church: That all followers of Jesus might welcome one another as brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s coming as our Prince of Peace.

2. We pray for the world: That all of God’s children might choose peaceful ways to solve their disagreements and differences, wherever they may be.

3. We pray for all people who suffer without hope in our world today: That they might find hearts and hands reaching out to them with love and encouragement in their struggles.

4. We pray for all who are hungry for food, friendship or a home in our world: That God might provide for their needs through the generosity of all his children.

5. We pray for our Catholic community: That we might grow together in faith, hope and in Christ’s love during this season of holy waiting.

6. For our children and youth: That God will take care of their needs and fill their hearts with Christ’s gentleness, kindness and mercy in this Advent season.

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

With hearts full of Advent joy, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.

blessing of the Advent wreath - first Sunday of ADVENT - 27 NOVEMBER 2022

The beginning of the Advent seasons calls us to vigilance, to look beyond ourselves, to expand our minds and our hearts, to look to the needs of our brothers and sisters, to desire the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. 

God our Father, we praise you for your son, Jesus Christ.  He is Emmanuel, the hope of all people. He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us. He is the Savior of every nation.  

Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we bless our Advent wreath on the First Sunday of Advent and as we light the first candle on our wreath.  May this wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring salvation to the world.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

27 November 2022 - First Sunday of Advent - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Today, as we start the holy season of Advent, we not only prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas when he is born in the humble manger in Bethlehem, but we also prepare for Jesus when he will come at the end times. Let us begin this holy season of preparation with joy and humility in our hearts. 

LORD JESUS - You lead us to the light. 

CHRIST JESUS - You are the truth.


LORD JESUS - you will come again in glory. 

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all of our intentions spoken and unspoken. We pray to the Lord. 

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

Thanksgiving Day Mass - prayers of the faithful - 24 November 2022

Introduction: As we gather for Mass this morning on Thanksgiving Day, let us recall all that we are Thankful for and let us bring to our minds the specific times when we have felt the presence of God who has gifted us with life and love, with mercy and salvation, and with goodness beyond our imagination. 

Penitential Rite:


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


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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


8. In the silence of our hearts, we present our personal prayer petitions this morning. We pray to the Lord.


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

Prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 34th week in ordinary time - 25 November 2022

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to carry our crosses. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer.  

Priest: As we journey together in faith, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father.  

1. We pray for our church leaders and our governmental leaders as the lead and as they make important decisions.  For wisdom and courage for them.  

2. For those who are persecuted for their faith and who gave up their lives for the faith.  May the Lord lead, guide and protect those who are discriminated against, condemned and attacked for their faith.  

3. We pray that all of us may work for justice in the reality of our lives and to bring about greater understanding and collaboration between different cultures and nations.  

4. For unity and solitary in our nation, in our communities, and in our families. 

5. For the sick and shut-ins, for all who need healing in their lives. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.  

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

Priest: As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the Blessed Mother and the community of saints today, we present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 22 November 2022 - Wednesday of the 34th week in ordinary time

Lord Jesus, you call us to live with joy in our hearts - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you call us to be good stewards of our gifts - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you call us to live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters - Lord have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful:

Priest:  Out of our call to stewardship and discipleship, we present our prayers to God:

1.For our Church leaders and governmental leaders, as they help us meet our challenges.  

2. That the missionary spirit of the Church may rekindle in every believer a zeal for carrying the Gospel into all the world.

3. For unity in our Church, in our country, and throughout the world, that we may not bear hatred for any neighbor, but love our neighbor as ourselves.

4. For all the trials and sufferings we are going through in life - that they Lord will deliver us and heal us.

5. For those who are sick or shut-in, for those in the hospital, hospice, and nursing homes.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

Priest:  As we continue on our journey of faith, as we heed to call to conversion and renewal, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  

Tuesday of 34th week of Ordinary Time - 22 November 2022 - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope.

Christ Jesus - you bring us the Father’s love. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us God’s word.

Priest: Let us turn to God our Father in confidence in our prayers. 

1.  For the Church and for all our Church leaders, that all of Christ’s faithful will commit themselves to bringing his light to the world. 

2. For all those who serve us in the government, that they will always strive to protect the dignity of human life. 

3. For the healing of the nations, that all people may learn to live in peace and endeavor to bring an end to war, violence, and terrorism. 

4. For all who are starved of hope, especially the world’s poor and those who are struggling with the trials and tribulations of life, that our sufferings may be recognized and that we find healing, wholeness, and hope. 

5. For our own parish community, that we may be always ready to hear God’s word, do God’s will and face God’s judgement. 

6. For the sick and the homebound, that they may know the healing touch of God’s love. 

7. For those who have died, that they may enjoy their eternal reward with Christ in heaven.  We pray for our deceased loved ones and family members and those enrolled in our book of remembrance. 

Priest: Heavenly Father, you know each one of us and all our needs. Forgive our failings, keep us in your peace and lead us in the way of salvation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Novmber 2022 prayer intentions of Pope Francis

 November prayer intention - Children Who Suffer

We pray for children who are suffering, especially those who are homeless, orphans, and victims of war; may they be guaranteed access to education and the opportunity to experience family affection.

4 December 2022 – homily for the 2nd Sunday of Advent – Matthew 3:1-12

     To awaken from our sleep, to be prepared, to throw off the works of darkness and to put on an armor of light: we heard these messages at Mass on the first Sunday of Advent. Jesus called us to have hope as we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord during this holy season. On this 2nd Sunday of Advent, we hear from John the Baptist, the last of the great prophets of Ancient Israel. John isn’t preaching in the Temple in Jerusalem or in Israel’s great centers of learning. Instead, he comes to us out of the desert. John is a strange figure wearing clothing made of camel’s hair and eating odd foods such as locusts and wild honey. If John the Baptist wandered into our church today, we would be shocked at his presence and his message. As John prepares the way of Lord, his message helps us prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior.

      As we could sum up the message of the 1st Sunday of Advent in the word “hope,” we could summarize today’s message in another important Advent word: “repent.” Our English word “repent” comes from the wonderful Greek word “metanoia,” but our English translation of that word really doesn’t capture the full meaning of the original Greek. We could start by seeing repentance as a change in our minds and our hearts, but repentance is much more than that one action. Repentance demands an initial action, but John the Baptist saw the call to repent as something more. In metanoia and repentance, we turn away from our old ways and our old self, turning toward God instead. By repenting, we transform our minds, our attitude, our spirituality: our entire being. In our modern American view of Christianity, we often see repentance as turning away from a particular sin. But, in repentance, we are called to turn our entire life away from all that separates us from God. 

     We might need to open ourselves to a new interpretation of repentance and to be open to those experiences that God introduces into our lives in order for us to discern where God is calling us to be transformed. We might want to think about a time in our lives when we went through a process of repentance and transformation. As we enter the Advent season, I think of how at this time of the year back in 1992, I left my job as a CPA to work at a soup kitchen and a food bank in a rough inner city area of the city of Winnipeg, Canada – a place that was very, very cold most of the year. I went from working in the business world to serving a very desperate population on the fringe of society. As a missionary, I was called to live a very simple lifestyle similar to those whom we served. Yet, as I look back, I see that entire experience in Winnipeg as a missionary as a wonderful gift from God, a gift that transformed my life in so many ways. I was so affected by the relationships that I made there, by living amongst the poor and the street people, by sharing their pain and struggles. I would not have the compassion, the deep faith, and spirit of social justice I have today without having had those experiences. To be honest, I probably would not be a priest today at all without having served in Winnipeg as a lay missionary. At times, it was very raw and challenging working in an inner city soup kitchen. I had to endure things I never dreamed I could endure, including riding a bike all year round in the one of the coldest cities in North America, with ice and snow covering the ground many months out of the year. I remember riding to midnight mass on Christmas eve in Winnipeg when the actual temperature was minus forty below zero, not including the wind chill factor. On another occasion, I remember lying on the ground in the middle of the street after my bike hit some black ice on my way back from the soup kitchen late on a Sunday night. I knew I was hurt, as I got up and walked over a mile back home with my damaged bike. The next morning, I experienced excruciating pain. I was taken into the emergency room as my hip had popped out of its socket when I wiped out on the ice. I literally saw black and blue and just about passed out when the emergency room doctor popped my hip back into the socket. But, looking back, those challenges and these stories that I now can tell were  small struggles and inconveniences compared to the blessings and the transformation I had from those missionary experiences. Yet, I had to be open to metanoia in my life of faith. I had to be open to God’s ability to transform me, mold me, and help me change my ways according to his will.

     I remember a seminary friend of mine asking me if I felt that I would have a metanoia experience as a priest, if I would find a transforming spirituality in my life as a diocesan priest since we were not going to be guided by a particular spirituality that a Franciscan or a Jesuit or a religious order priest would have guiding and shaping his life. Indeed, that is the challenge all of us have as Christians, as followers of Christ. We all are called to be open to metanoia, repentance, and transformation this Advent season. The coming of Jesus into the world as a little baby in a manger in Bethlehem, the salvation that his ministry, death and resurrection brought to humanity transformed everything. How open are we to transformation this Advent season? 

2 December 2022 - Friday of the 1st week in Advent - Isaiah 26:1-6, Matthew 9:27-31

The prophet Isaiah has a vision of a world turned upside down, a world in which the deaf will hear the words of a book and the arid land of Lebanon will turn into a bountiful orchard and a lush forest, a world in which the arrogant and the tyrant will not have a place. We place our trust and hope in the Lord of justice, love, and mercy that are embodied in this vision from the prophet Isaiah. Yet, as we follow God’s path for us in life, as we try to proclaim God’s justice and mercy, we may encounter opposition, hostility, or violence.  Maryknoll Sister Ita Ford wrote this in a letter to her niece while she was serving as a religious sister in the war-torn country of El Salvador: “I hope you come to find that which gives life a deep meaning for you. Something worth living for — maybe even worth dying for, something that energizes you, enables you to keep moving ahead. I can’t tell you what it might be — that’s for you to find, to choose, to love. I can just encourage you to start looking and support you in the search.” Sister Ita wrote her niece this message of hope and love in 1980 amid the challenges she herself faced as a missionary in a country torn apart by violence. On today’s date of that year, December 2, 1980, Sister Ita, along with lay missionary Jean Donovan, Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke, and Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, died as martyrs in El Salvador.   

We have hope in Christ’s message of healing, mercy, and justice, but that is not always the way of the world. Yet, Christ is where we place our hope; it is what we dream of. During these beginning days of our Advent journey, in whatever reality we are facing, may we never lose hope in the values we are to proclaim in our faith.

 

1 December 2022 - Thursday of the 1st week in Advent - Isaiah 26:1-6, Matthew 9:27-31

God is like an eternal rock, like a powerful city with walls and ramparts that protect its citizens. God humbles the arrogant and the haughty, but he offers protection to those who have humble hearts. I think we all can relate to the image of building our lives upon a solid foundation, of being firm in the values of our faith. Perhaps sometimes we want to give up or run away amid the harsh and challenging reality of our lives. However, we must not forget that God is with us every step of the way, that God will not abandon us. If we have faith in that sound foundation, we will stand firm. 

Here in the US, when a building is 100 years old, we consider it rather old. If it is 200 years old, we consider it ancient. Many areas of our country don’t have a lot of of older buildings. However, when I walk the pilgrimage route of the Camino in Spain, I often visit churches that are 800, 900, or 1000 years old. Pilgrims have been hiking the route of the Camino for almost 1200 years. It amazes me how solid these old churches can be, how they have stood up throughout the centuries in war, revolution, and natural disasters. Our Church and our Catholic faith have stood firm through many wars and movements, through opposing philosophies such as Communism, gnosticism, the Enlightenment, and humanism.  

The season we started this week, Advent, comes from the Latin word “Adventus,” which means “coming.” We prepare throughout the four weeks of Advent for the Nativity of the Lord at Christmas. We are to stand firm in our faith, to look into our hearts at the ways we need to renew and change. Advent is a preparatory season in which we look forward to something greater than ourselves. Let us ask Christ to accompany us on our Advent journey during these holy days, to help us change and reform our lives, to be firm in our faith. 

30 November 2022 - feast of St Andrew, Apostle - Wednesday of the first week of Advent - Matthew 4:18-22

Today, we celebrate the feast of St Andrew, Apostle.  Tradition passes down Andrew as the first apostle called by Jesus. We hear about Andrew’s call from Matthew’s Gospel, as Andrew and Peter are called to leave their lives as fishermen to follow Jesus. In the version of this calling as told in the John’s Gospel, Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist are walking along the banks of the Jordan River when they hear John the Baptist call Jesus “the Lamb of God.” Jesus saw Andrew and the other disciple following him, so he asked them, “What are you looking for?” Jesus then invited them to where he was staying. In return, Andrew invites his brother Peter to see Jesus for himself. In asking Andrew what he is looking for, Jesus looked deeply into Andrew’s soul, asking him to delve into his purpose in life, asking him if he would give up his life entirely to God. Jesus lights a spark in Andrew, a spark that grows into a life of discipleship. 

Tradition passes down that Andrew was a missionary in the countries of Ukraine and Georgia. He died as a martyr while on a missionary trip to Greece. Andrew, Peter, and the other disciples left their old lives behind to become new creations as disciples of Christ, making many sacrifices for the faith. As we reflect upon today’s Gospel message, we might ask ourselves: What is the Lord asking us to leave behind this Advent season as we prepare for Christ’s birth into the world? 

 

29 November 2022 - Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent - Matthew 10:21-24

Often, it can be very hard to be humble in our modern world. Often, it is hard to trust, hard to be obedient. Yet, in Matthew’s Gospel today, Jesus proclaims that those who have a humble, child-like trust are the ones who truly understand the Kingdom of God. In a world where it is so easy to be cynical, sarcastic, and distrustful, perhaps this message during this first week of Advent can help us examine the way we approach life.  

The Latin word “suscipe” means “to receive”. The concept of the suscipe prayer has its roots in the monastic tradition, where incoming members made a profession. The suscipe is a prayer that places total reliance on God rather than human means. St Ignatius of Loyola wrote a suscipe that is found toward the end of his spiritual exercises, written in the 16th century. The suscipe prayer of St Ignatius incorporates the spirit of humility, trust, and obedience to God expressed in today’s Gospel: 

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All that I am and all that I possess, you have given me: I surrender it all to you to be disposed of according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. Amen. 

We will start praying the prayer of St Michael the Archangel at the weekend Masses at Holy Savior in Clinton starting the first Sunday of Advent

      On October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. After he had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican Chapel, which had been attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there at the altar as if in a trance for about 10 minutes before returning to his office. From this experience, he wrote the prayer to St. Michael. This prayer was prayed after Mass in Latin throughout the world as a part of the Low Mass in Latin.  When asked what had happened, the Pope explained that as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard two voices. One voice was kind and gentle, while another voice was unkind and harsh. The voices seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the voice of Satan tell God that he could destroy the Church.  

     After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, this prayer of St Michael the Archangel no longer was prayed at the end of Mass.  However, in recent years, especially after the tragic attacks of 9/11, some priests and Bishops in the United States started praying the prayer of the St Michael at the end of Mass. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all encouraged the faithful pray this prayer on a regular basis. There are many other parishes in our Diocese, the Diocese of Memphis, and the Diocese of Biloxi who pray this prayer at the end of the weekend Masses.  I had first installed this prayer at St James parish in Tupelo after some parishioners brought this suggestion to the liturgy committee. We prayed it at the weekend Masses when I was pastor of St Jude in Pearl as well.  In consultation with the parish staff here at Holy Savior, we have decided to pray the Prayer of St Michael the Archangel at the end of our weekend Masses beginning with the first Sunday of Advent.  

    Many of the men and women in the military, many first responders, and many police officers see St Michael the Archangel as their patron saint.  Those men and women make many sacrifices for us each day to keep our communities and our nation safe.  When we pray the prayer of St Michael the Archangel, let us remember those men and women, asking St Michael to protect them in his patronage.  

      St Michael the Archangel is a spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil. He is considered a champion of justice, a healer of the sick, and the guardian of the Church. In art Saint Michael is depicted with a sword, a banner, or scales, and is often shown vanquishing Satan in the form of a dragon.

Prayer of St Michael the Archangel: 

Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do you O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the divine power cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

     This is a favorite prayer of mine.  I am glad we are going to start praying it at the end of the weekend Masses here at Holy Savior.  

Father Lincoln 

prayers of the faithful - 33rd week in Ordinary Time - 18 November 2022

Lord Jesus - you teach us how to pray. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

With hearts united in prayer and hope, let us come before our gracious and loving Father with our needs:

1. For Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz and all our Church leaders: that they may continue to gently guide us to the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We want to pray especially for Bishop Kopacz and all the US Bishops attending their annual meeting this week.  

2. For those in health and public safety: that God will work through them to impart healing and strength to all who seek their assistance. 

3. For the poor and the suffering: that we may open our hearts to hear their cries and respond as the Lord’s hands and feet on earth. 

4. For married couples: that they may grow in true love, witnessing to God's intimate presence in their lives. 

5. For all who are sick: that God’s healing love may renew and strengthen them.                                                                                  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed during this month of remembrance.  

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

Gracious God, we ask that you hear these prayers offered in humility and hope.  In your infinite wisdom, grant them according to your will. We ask this through you son, Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - 33rd week in Ordinary Time - 17 November 2022

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to trust. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to hope. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

prayers of the faithful - 16 November 2022 - 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to repent. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite.  

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. 

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

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

prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 33th week in ORDINARY TIME - 15 November 2022

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

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

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

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

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

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

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

4. For all those are struggling with addictions and mental illness, for healing and wholeness for them. 

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

6. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for our medical professional.  In thanksgiving for the ways they serve the community.  

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

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

20 November 2022 - Solemnity of Christ the King - Prayers of the Faithful

Introduction: Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe in 1925. Today, in this solemnity that marks the end of the liturgical year, we recognize Christ’s preeminence and pray for the day when peace and goodwill may forever overcome war and aggression.  

Lord Jesus, you reconcile the world to yourself through the blood of the cross. 

Christ Jesus, your kingdom last forever. 

Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, our King, and our God. 

Priest: In our prayers, we call upon Jesus our King to answer our needs and the needs of all people around the world: 

1. For Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz, and all bishops, that they may look to Christ the King as they guide us, the Body of Christ, to our ultimate destiny in the heavenly kingdom.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. For the leaders of nations, that they may approach their position of governance and power with humility and grace.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we all may work for greater justice in this country and around the world, especially for those oppressed by unjust leaders and systematic injustice.  We pray to the Lord. 

4. For healing and reconciliation in our broken relationships, that we may heed the call for repentance and redemption.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For healing for the sick and shut-in in body, mind, and spirit.  For their families and caregivers.  We pray to the Lord.  

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For our deceased loved ones and family members who are enrolled in our book of remembrance.  We pray to the Lord.

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all of our intentions spoken and unspoken.  We pray to the Lord. 

Priest:  Merciful God, we pray that you grant us the grace to choose to repent for our wrongs and to forgive those who have wronged us.  We present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

Reflection for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - Holy Savior Catholic Church - Clinton MS - 20 November 2022

       As the time changed a couple of weeks ago, it gets dark much earlier in the day.  The weather is getting colder, as we had the first frost on our cars this past weekend.  We reach the end of our Church’s liturgical year this weekend as we celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  Next weekend, we start the season of Advent and a new liturgical year as we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.  Most of us have very busy lives during most of the year.  The holiday season only gets busier.  Yet, as we celebrate Christ the King this weekend, we call to mind how we must live out the values of our faith every day of our lives and to prepare a place in our hearts and our lives as we commemorate the season of Advent.  

     We have enjoyed using our new parish hall.  We have had a baptism reception and wedding reception there already.  The youth and their families had a potluck dinner there this past Sunday to share a meal together and to give thanks together as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We also welcomed the newcomers to our parish with a luncheon there this past weekend.  We are very thankful for all the contributions and sacrifices our parishioners have made in order to make our parish hall a reality. 

     A couple of things I also want to mention: this upcoming week with our celebration of Thanksgiving, we will have Mass on Thanksgiving day at 9:00 am and Mass on Friday at 8:30 am.   Also, we are excited to announce that in addition to having a 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Saturday this year, we will also have a Midnight Mass as well.  I love the traditional Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and am so excited that we are going to celebrate Christmas in that special way here at Holy Savior this year. 

      Blessings to all of you.  Have a blessed week.  Father Lincoln.  

25 November 2016 - Friday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 21:29-33

     We see signs around us in nature and in the world, sometimes they can predict or foreshadow what is going to happen next.  As Jesus says, when we see a fig tree in bloom, we know that summer is drawing near.  There are a lot of people, especially farmers, who rely on the weather predictions made in the Farmer’s Almanac.  This is what is says for this year for our part of the country: “(Much of the Southeast) will see frequent storms bringing cold rains and a wintry mix of wet snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain, as well as chilly temperatures.” Hopefully it will not be as bad as that description down here in Mississippi, but still, this forecast does not offer us a lot of consolation after our hot and humid Mississippi summer. Right before my favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, won this World Series in 2016, there was a cartoon circulating around the internet that showed two devils shivering and freezing in hell, huddled together in a warm blanket.  One devil was explaining to the other: “The Cubs are playing the Indians in the World Series.”  We Cubs fans have not seen our team in the World Series since then and perhaps we won't again in my lifetime.  We see signs here on earth that tell us things, but sometimes we miss the signs of God’s kingdom. Advent starts this upcoming Sunday, a time of preparation, planning, and waiting.  We are called to prepare for the birth of Jesus.  We are called to prepare always in our life of discipleship.  May we not miss God’s signs that he is sending to communicate to us.  

24 November 2022 - homily for Thanksgiving Day - Thursday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Sirach 50: 22-24, Psalm 145, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

       Thanksgiving is an important national holiday in our country. Today, we pause from our busy daily lives in order to give thanks for our blessings and for the abundance we have as a nation. We give thanks for our family and friends, for our community, for our unity as a nation. We are called to give thanks and gratitude today not out of a sense of obligation or duty, but because we want to do so out of the goodness of our hearts, because we truly want to give thanks.  In our faith, giving thanks is a way to experience the world.  Giving thanks is a way for us to be able to open up our hearts.  But giving thanks does not mean that we ignore the realities of our lives and our world.  We acknowledge as well that many people struggle with grief, addictions, loneliness, and despair at Thanksgiving time and around the Christmas holidays. Perhaps we ourselves or members of our family are in the midst of such a reality. 

      May we be reminded today that although Thanksgiving has its roots in the colonial American colonies even before our nation was formed, Thanksgiving was not declared a national holiday until 1863, being announced a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in the midst of our country’s Civil War. Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday several months after the Battle of Gettysburg, with more than 57,000 casualties by some estimates. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address on November 19, 1863, just a few days before our first national celebration of Thanksgiving. Lincoln expressed grief and compassion in his proclamation at Gettysburg, asking his fellow citizens to commend to the tender care of God all who became “widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged.”

      In Sacred Scripture, thanksgiving is reflected in an attitude of adoration, sacrifice, praise, and offering. For the Jewish people, Thanksgiving is a grateful language to God as an act of worship.  In our reading from Sirach, a blessing is given to God for the great things he has done for us here on earth. The psalmist proclaims that he will praise the name of the Lord forever. Even though St Paul went to prison for the faith, even though he had many trials and tribulations as a result of the Gospel message he proclaimed, he is still able to give thanks to God, especially for the blessings God has given us in our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to the Lord today in the midst of our joys and our sorrows, in the midst of our blessings and challenges, in the midst of chaotic times and peaceful times, in the midst of our contentments and our frustrations.  As a country and as individuals, let us give thanks.  

23 November 2022 - homily for Wednesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 21:12-19

      In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples that they will suffer for him in their trials and tribulations, but that he will be there accompanying them, strengthening them, and protecting them.  Today’s reading is a continuation of yesterday’s Gospel from the 21st chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus warns his disciples about the upcoming persecutions and violence that they will have to endure. The members of the Early Church will soon face these things that Jesus warned them about. Those things will also play out throughout the history of the Church, including in our modern era. Jesus tells his disciples that they will be handed over to prisons and synagogues. Think of how John the Baptist was handed over to King Herod, being put in prison and eventually put to death. Jesus, too, will be handed over to the civil and religious authorities.  Why would Christ’s disciples be worried about being handed over to the synagogues, since they are practicing Jews themselves? Many of Christ’s followers in the first century found themselves in conflict with the Jewish synagogues and institutions. In the first century, the synagogues were not only places of religious worship, but also, they were places of civil administration, a place where civil trials were held. When I became a priest in 2008, I never dreamed of the open hostility that we Christians would face in North America and Europe today, of the secularism that is trying to wipe out any influence Christianity has on our society. Perhaps in reading the Sacred Scriptures and studying Church history, we can better understand what we are going through and realize that in many ways, history repeats itself.  May we learn from the challenges and struggles of the past. 

22 November 2022 - Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - St Cecilia - Luke 21:5-11

     We are journeying in our last few days of Ordinary Time as we approach the beginning of the holy season of Advent and the first Sunday of the Church’s new liturgical year. In today's Gospel, we hear about the Temple in Jerusalem, which during the time of Jesus was one of the most magnificent buildings in the ancient world. The people of Jesus’ day admired the beauty, power, and majesty of the Temple, believing that it would last forever. But, then, Jesus foretells the destruction of theTemple. We can imagine the shock and skepticism in which they received Jesus’ message. Just think how just a few years before the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York on 9/11 in 2001, we would have felt disbelief and skepticism if someone had foretold of the destruction of that great center of the financial power in our own country.       

       In Jesus’ day and in our day as well, there are conspiracy theorists and others who think they can predict events such as the end of the world. Yet, 40 years after Jesus made this prediction, the Jews of Ancient Israel saw the destruction of the Temple and the entire city of Jerusalem. They must have thought it was the end of the world. They could not have imagined their world without the Temple, the center of their Jewish faith, the place where they encountered God. How could Yahweh allow such a thing to happen? Yet, Jesus warns us that we should not misread the signs of the times, that we should not become too alarmed. The Christians of the first century were certain that the end times would come in their lifetime. Now, 2,000 years later, we still wait. The 20th century witnessed many wars and natural disasters. We know that those things will continue. Yet, with Christ as our Savior, we continue our journey, we believe and we endure.  In faith, we make it to the next day. 

      I would be remiss if I did not mention the saint of the day, St Cecilia.  Not too many details are known about her, even though she was one of the most famous Roman martyrs venerated in the Early Church. According to Church Tradition, St Cecilia was born into an influential Roman family. She converted her fiancé to the Christian faith, but Cecilia, her fiancé, and his brother were all martyred. Tradition passes down that there was a church named after St Cecilia in Rome in the early days of Christianity. St Cecilia is known as the patron saint of musicians, although we do not know the true origins of this tradition.  We unite our prayers with the intercessions of St Cecilia today.  We pray for our Church musicians. 

27 NOVEMBER 2022 - Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent - Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:37-44

     The prophet Isaiah has a vision of all the nations gathering together on Mount Zion. Isaiah looks forward to a time when the covenant between God and his people will be extended to all. It is a vision of everyone living in peace and harmony with God and with their fellow human beings. At the time Isaiah prophesied in the late 8th century BC, the Jewish people were divided between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Israel was already under Assyrian rule, while Judah and its capital city of Jerusalem were in danger of being conquered by the Babylonians. In this vision of peace, the Lord will mediate the disputes that exist amongst the nations, as the nations will beat their swords into plowshares, leaving behind war and violence. Isaiah’s vision of salvation is offered to all the nations.  It is not just for the Jewish people. This vision would have been radical and unheard-of for the Jews of the 8th century BC as well as the Jews of Jesus’ day. We might think that this vision of the world is unrealistic in our own day as well.  In her poem “Evidence,” poet Mary Oliver challenges us: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” Indeed, certain boundaries and limits are important for us to have in our journey through life, but it is also important for us as disciples of Christ to be able to dream the unimaginable, such as the Son of God coming to us as a little baby in a humble stable in Bethlehem on Christmas morning. 

     Our psalmist sings today, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Jewish pilgrims used to sing this hymn at they journeyed on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the site of their holy Temple, the dwelling place of God here on earth. As we sing those words today in our psalm, as we start our preparations on this first Sunday of Advent, we’re called to look longingly toward Christmas, the feast of the celebration of God made incarnate with us.  

     A lot of us have read books by Matthew Kelly, the well-known Catholic lay evangelist and best-selling author. A few years ago, he wrote a book called Resisting Happiness. As our reading talks the about Jewish pilgrims going to Jerusalem, one of the chapters in Kelly’s book caught my eye, entitled: “Are You a Pilgrim or a Tourist?”  We Catholics are a pilgrim people, journeying here on earth to the eternal life we will have in Christ. Many of us also go on physical and spiritual pilgrimage journeys at different times in our lives. I recently went to Italy and we’ve had parishioners go to Rome or the Holy Land on pilgrimage. Think about how we would approach life if we are in “tourist mode.”  A tourist wants everything as he has planned and imagined it. He wants to cram everything into a planned out schedule. A tourist demands prompt attention and service to his every need. A tourist focuses on himself and shoves past others, going sightseeing and counting the cost. But, pilgrims are very different from tourists. A pilgrim looks for signs and symbols on the journey, seeing the spiritual aspect of the journey every step of the way.  A pilgrim tries to see God in all of his experiences, both the planned experiences and the unexpected surprises, both in joys and in challenges. A pilgrim has a focus not only on himself, but also on others, on service to others. A pilgrim focuses as much on the journey as the destination. Our journey of faith is a pilgrimage, a sacred journey. Our journey during the season of Advent is a special pilgrimage, too.  

     Our daily lives are complicated.  Complicated, complex, and busy.  But as Jesus reminds us today on this first Sunday of Advent, we need to be alert always in the midst of our busy lives, ready for eternal life, ready for when Jesus comes again. In the Gospel, the man working in the field and the woman working at the mill will be “left," because they won’t leave their work.  True enough, work and the many other things that occupy our lives are very important.  We need to support ourselves, to live out our vocation, and to contribute to society.  We provide food and shelter for ourselves and our families. But there is something more important: the coming of the Son of Man. God will arrive again unexpectedly. We don't know the time or the hour, so we are called to be prepared for him at all times. We are in the midst of our hectic holiday season. No matter how busy we are, our focus this Advent season is to keep our daily life centered on Christ.  

20 November 2022 – homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Luke 23:35-43

    We’ve had many great emperors and kings throughout human history.  One of the greatest emperors in the ancient world was Alexander the Great, who lived 4 centuries before Christ's birth.  Alexander wanted to rule the world. He even called himself the “King of Kings." His empire eventually included much of the known ancient world: from his native Greece to India, Egypt, and Palestine.  Alexander had a great intellect; the renowned Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of his teachers. Alexander was such a great military commander that his military strategy is still studied by military leaders today.  Like any great leader, Alexander knew what he needed to do in order to rally his troops and to gain their loyalty. There is a story told of Alexander’s travels with his troops in the deserts of Persia. His entire army ran out of water; they were getting very desperate. Intolerable thirst seized them as they traveled under the hot desert sun. A couple of Alexander's lieutenants captured some precious water from a caravan passing through the desert. The lieutenants brought the water to Alexander in one of the soldier’s helmets. Alexander asked if there was enough water to give to the troops, but he was told that there was only enough for him alone to drink.  Alexander lifted up the helmet as his men watched him intently, but instead of drinking the precious water, he poured it on the ground.  His men let out a great shout, knowing that their great leader would not allow them to suffer anything he was unwilling to accept and suffer himself. Alexander the Great proved many times why he was viewed as such a great powerful leader. 

       In our modern world, we think of a king or emperor as having great power and strength. All the kings and emperors who led the mighty empires and kingdoms here on earth pale in comparison to Christ, the true King of Kings. Yet, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King today at the end of our liturgical year, we don’t have readings about Christ’s power and might at Mass today, but rather we hear about Jesus as he dies on the cross, accompanied by the two thieves who are also about to be crucified alongside him. Many of the values of our world call out to us to acquire wealth, to seek power, to assert our domination and superiority over others. Often times, our world asks us to seek revenge or payback rather than to work towards reconciliation or healing. Yet, as disciples of Christ, we are taught that there is another way.  We follow a leader who wore a crown of thorns rather than a crown of gold and jewels, who sought to love rather than to dominate, who forged solidarity and unity with the poor and the marginalized rather than alliances with the rich and powerful, who led a group of twelve apostles who brought his Good News to the world rather than a powerful army that sought to conquer and defeat others. It is by these values that Jesus lived on earth, and that he proclaimed in God's kingdom.  It is by these values that we will be judged at the end of days: by how we bring God’s love and mercy to the world through our words and actions, by the way we live out God's love and mercy each day.  

     There is so much about our faith that perhaps we struggle to understand. Even with some of the dogmas and teachings of the Church that we seem to understand on the surface, we sometimes have a hard time applying them to real life situations. The great 11th century philosopher, St Anselm of Canterbury, called it faith seeking understanding, meaning that out of the active love we have for God, we seek a deeper understanding of God and we seek to live out our faith in our daily reality. Out of our faith, we seek a personal experience of God, a personal encounter in which we can truly say that Christ is our king and our shepherd.  In that way, Jesus is to be more than a noun in our lives. Jesus needs to be a verb, an action word by which we live our lives.  Jesus as our savior, our shepherd, and our king calls us to action and a way of life. As we get ready to prepare for the birth of Christ in the world at the start of the season of Advent next Sunday, may we look around us and see the ways we are called to bring Christ's message to the world.

18 November 2022 – Homily for the feast day of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul – Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Luke 19:45 - 48

          Today, we celebrate the dedication of the basilicas of St Peter and St Paul, two of the four major basilicas in Rome.  The other two major basilicas are St Mary Major and St John Lateran. Our Church also celebrates the feasts of their dedications as well in our liturgical calendar. We just celebrated the feast of St John Lateran on November 9.   The basilica of St Peter is perhaps one of the most well-known places of worship in all of Christianity.  The current structure of St Peter began construction in the year 1506, but it was not completed until 1626 under the papacy of Urban VIII. The Basilica of St Paul's is often referred to as "St Paul Outside the Walls," as it was built by the Emperor Constantine in 324 along the Ostiense Way about a mile outside of the Aurelian Walls that surrounded the city of Rome.  The Basilica was enlarged and renovated in the late 4th century, but was later destroyed by fire, with the new basilica built from what remained in the mid-19th century.  

            In today’s well-known Gospel story, we hear about Jesus expressing his righteous anger over what he sees going on in the Temple, how a place that is supposed to be centered on worship and prayer has become a place for its community’s business transactions and negotiations.  It makes me wonder how Jesus would view our parishes and our places of worship today in our modern world, how he would view the liturgy and the other parish activities that take place here at our humble parish. The attitude of those he saw in the Temple so angered Jesus, incurring his wrath.  What would he think of our attitudes, of the way we welcome the stranger in our midst, of the way we reach out to the poor and the oppressed in our community, of the way we take care of the church and use it to lift up our Lord and our faith? 

            As we come to Mass and come to church, let us examine the attitudes and actions that we bring with us.  Are they befitting of a place that is set aside for community worship and for our holy encounter with God? 

17 November 2022 - Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Luke 19:41-44

      In our Gospel passage today, Jesus approaches the holy city of Jerusalem for the last time during his public ministry here on earth, during which he is overcome with emotion.  He weeps for his city and for his people, knowing in his heart that destruction and calamity will befall them soon. Jesus knew that the Jews of Ancient Israel struggled throughout their history to follow God, to be true to God’s commandments and laws, and  to honor their covenant with him. For the many times that they strayed, the Jews were often recalcitrant and willfully disobedient. Perhaps on our own faith journey through life, we may struggle with the same things that the Jews did in Ancient Israel.  

       I was listening to a podcast, produced by a high school teacher at a private academy in Portland, Oregon. This young man has contributed many writings and broadcasts to promote the pilgrimage of the Way of St James in Spain, a pilgrimage that has its roots in the Catholic faith, as its end point in the Cathedral in Spain that contains the remain of St James the Greater, Apostle. Even today, certificates for the completion of the pilgrimage are issued by the Diocese of Santiago de Compostela. I have listened to more than 30 different podcast episodes that this young man has produced, enjoying them immensely.  However, it shocked me when he stated in one of his podcasts that he considers himself a secular pilgrim and does not bring an attitude of spirituality and faith when he approaches his pilgrimage walks on the Camino. He says that he is not a Christian and not a believer. That comment shocked me a bit, because he is such a big fan of the pilgrimage route and nothing he had said previously led me believe that he approached pilgrimage from a non-religious and non-spiritual perspective.  As Catholics and as disciples of Christ, we are called to approach life through the lens of our faith, to be faithful witnesses to Christ's Gospel.  We are called to undertake great sacrifices and hardships for the sake of the faith.  As opposed to how Jesus saw the people of Jerusalem of his day, may he be able to say to us at the end of our journey: “Well done, faithful disciple.” 

16 November 2022 - Martyrs of El Salvador - Homily for Wednesday of the 33rd week of Ordinary Time - Luke 19:11-28

     Today, in a parable from the Gospel of Luke, we hear of 10 servants receives a gold coin – the equivalent of about 3 months of wages according to Scripture Scholars, so it certainly was not an insignificant amount of money.  Those who invested their coin and used what the king gives to them are rewarded, but the servant who kept the coin hidden and did not invest it is punished.  The end of the parable says that Jesus continued on his journey to Jerusalem.   We as modern-day disciples of Christ know that Jerusalem is the city where Jesus met his death on the cross, but it is the place of resurrection and salvation as well.  As disciples of Christ, to live out the resurrection of Christ in our lives here on earth and in anticipation of the resurrection that will bring us salvation and eternal life, we are called to use our gifts and talents in the way God calls us to do so for the glory of his kingdom, not to leave them hidden and unused.  

         God calls us to use our gifts and talents in the reality and the circumstances of our lives, to make sacrifices for the faith, and sometimes the ultimate sacrifice. Today, we commemorate a very stark reality that happened in our own lifetime: the anniversary of 6 Jesuit priests who were martyred in the country of El Salvador in Central America on this date in 1989 at their residence at the university in the capital city of that country. These men of God gave up their lives for the faith in the midst of a revolution and the great political turmoil in this poor Latin American country. In our own way, in the reality of our own lives, we are called to live out our faith courageously and sincerely in order to find Jesus in our own lives and to be witnesses of the Gospel in the world around us. “The struggle against injustice and the pursuit of truth cannot be separated nor can one work for one independent of the other.” These words were spoken by Father Ignatio Ellacuria, the superior of that Jesuit community that was martyred.  His profound words challenge us to live out the justice that God’s truth calls us to, a justice that cannot be separated from our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 13 November 2022 - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: As we get close to the end of the liturgical year, our readings today look ahead to the end of the world and the second coming of the Lord.   In the end times, the faithful we face persecutions and many challenges, but they will be vindicated in the end.  May we always have confidence in the Lord.  

Lord Jesus you are the Son of Justice. 

Christ Jesus, you are our sign of peace and reconciliation.  

Lord Jesus, you lead the just to salvation. 

Priest: As we place our trust in the Lord, who watches over us and who consoles us in our suffering, let us call to mind our needs and the needs of the world: 

1. For the Church, that we be faithful to our mission to bring Christ to others.  May we be a sign of justice in times of persecution and a sign of hope in times of despair.  We pray to the Lord. 

2. For governmental leaders around the world.  May they lead us in being good stewards of God’s creation and our natural resources.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. For those we are incarcerated, both guilty and innocent.  That they find mercy and peace in the Lord.  We pray for those serving in Catholic prison ministry in our Diocese.  We pray to the Lord. 

4. As winter approaches, we pray for the homeless, for the unemployed, and those who are struggling to provide for their families.  We pray that they receive the help they need.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For our deceased loved ones and family members who are enrolled in our book of remembrance.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all of our intentions spoken and unspoken.  We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of justice and mercy, we pray that you lead us safely through our trials and tribulations.  Hear the prayers we offer you today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

bulletin reflection - HOLY SAVIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH - Clinton, Mississippi - 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - 13 NOVEMBER 2022

       We are getting to the end of our Church’s liturgical year, with the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe being celebrated next weekend.  After that, we celebrate Thanksgiving and the season of Advent as we get ready for the arrival of Jesus at Christmas. As we approach the end of the liturgical year, Jesus speaks in the Gospel about the end times.  I think of the “Y2K” hysteria that happened with the turn of the millennium in the year 2000 when it was predicated that all the computers would crash and that there would be a huge crisis in the world.  I knew of people who were stockpiling food and water at the time.  As we know, those predictions never came true. We have no control over when the end times will come.  We don’t know the day or the hour.  Instead, we should focus on a life always being centered on the values of the faith, of always being prepared. 

     Last Monday, I had the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the inmates at the federal prison in Yazoo City.  The Nobertine priests who resided in Raymond were very devoted to that ministry for many years.  I participated in that ministry back when I was pastor in Yazoo City from 2010 to 2013.  There had not been a Catholic Mass celebrated there since March 2019 with the departure of the Norbertines from our Diocese.  It seemed like I was thanked more than 100 times while I was at the federal prison for Mass this past Monday.  Even the warden came up to me and thanked me.  With the pandemic, I think we don’t take the Mass for granted anymore.  But for the prisoners, it means so much for a priest to be able to visit them and to celebrate Mass with them.  I see visiting the prisoner as an important work of mercy and an important part of my priesthood. 

      I look forward to being with all of you at the Masses this weekend.  Blessings.  Father Lincoln. 

15 November 2022 - homily for Tuesday of the 33rd week of Ordinary Time - Luke 19:1-10

     How often do we go out on a limb for our faith?  Do we make an extraordinary effort to search for God in our lives and to find the ways he is present to us?  Today, we hear the familiar story of Zacchaeus, which we just heard in our Sunday liturgy back on October 31. We see Zacchaeus literally climb a tree and go out on a limb in order to find God in his life.  He responds to meeting Jesus, to having Jesus call after him, by conversion and repentance, by offering to give half of his possessions to the poor, by willing to make amends to those whom he extorted money from during his work as a chief tax collector. 

    Zacchaeus originally just wanted to have a glimpse of Jesus, an external encounter with him.  But Zacchaeus now comes to see Jesus in a much deeper profound sense.  He sees Jesus in a way that changes and transforms his life. I bet that all of us, too, want to see Jesus in a deeper sense in our lives, just like Zacchaeus did. Only then will we know what it mean to be a true disciple of Christ. When Jesus says to each one of us, “I want to stay in your house today,” may we joyfully open our door to welcome him in.

13 November 2022 - homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 21:5-19

   We are nearing the end of our Church’s liturgical year, with the solemnity of Christ the King being celebrated next weekend. Today, we hear Jesus talk about the end times from Luke’s Gospel.  As Christians, we can be so tempted in putting our own interpretation on our Church’s teaching of the end times. Throughout history, there have been many different false prophets who have done this, who have predicted when the end times were going to happen. You might remember the Left Behind books that were popular in the 1990s. There have been other novels and TV shows about end times events in which large numbers of people disappeared without an explanation. Then there was all the hysteria in the marking of the new millennium in the year 2000, when people were stockpiling food and water and predicting that all the computers were going to crash.  Even though Jesus explicitly told us that we could not speculate as to when the end times would happen, many cannot resist the temptation.  

     So, in order to correctly interpret today’s message, we need to put the Gospel into its proper context, as it is a part of Jesus’ teachings in the Temple. The Temple was destroyed six centuries before Jesus’ birth and then rebuilt.  All of Jerusalem was in ruins and much of Israel’s population was sent into exile to Babylonia for 70 years. The Jews finally returned to their beloved city to rebuild the Temple, but the Temple never achieved its former glory. Under King Herod, during the days of Jesus, a rebuilding project was undertaken to expand the Temple.  The people saw the Temple as the place where God resided. Indeed, if a Jew in Ancient Israel wanted to encounter God, he went to the Temple. Jesus had already had cleansed the Temple of the merchants and money changers by the time today’s Gospel takes place.  Now, he predicts the destruction of the Temple, warning that its stonework and votive offerings will come tumbling down. To the proud people of Jerusalem, Jesus’ prediction was blasphemy and an insult to God. They believed that God would not allow this to happen. Yet, within 40 years of this prophecy, Jesus’ words would be mostly fulfilled, with the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in the year 70 AD. By the time Luke’s Gospel was written, this had already occurred. The Christians of this time period had to decide: Now that the Temple and Jerusalem have been destroyed, now that there was a time of persecution, what was God calling them to do?  Jesus assures his followers in the Gospel today, calling them to believe in his words in the face of persecutors and false prophets. Jesus’ teachings today show us how we can use every circumstance for the glory of God and as an opportunity to be witnesses to Gospel message.  

      Rather than trying to predict the end times that are to come in the future, perhaps we Christians need to be more concerned about how we live out our faith each day of our present times. The everyday practice of our faith will help us be prepared for the eternal life to come and strengthen our relationship with Christ. I remember attending an International Stewardship conference in New Orleans several years ago, where the first workshop session I went to was entitled: Everyday Stewardship: Spirituality for the Ordinary, Everyday Person.  The title alone intrigued me. The first thing the speaker mentioned in the talk was our calling to walk with Jesus each day and to live our faith in the present moment, in the here and now.  As modern Christians, we can often focus on the future, neglecting the present. We’re called to be mindful of our relationship with Jesus and mindful of our faith, seeking him out in the everyone moments in our lives.   This everyday spirituality concept echoes the Jesuit spiritual concept of finding God in all things, in the different moments of our lives. We can often put our faith into compartments, focusing on what we do once a week when we go to Sunday mass.  Mass is very important, but we are called to infuse our faith in our daily lives in a focused, mindful way. 

       This is a difficult, stern Gospel message for us to reflect upon today.  At the heart of this Gospel message, we are called to trust: to trust in Jesus, to trust in our faith, and to trust that we will persevere.  We are to place our hope and trust in the way that Jesus will accompany us through any trials and tribulations that come our way.  We are not to wait for the end times to come in order to find the courage we need to be disciples of Christ: we are to learn from Christ’s wisdom and teaching as we journey in faith each day.

8 November 2022 - Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Luke 17:7-10

       Today’s parable about a master and his servant is an analogy about our relationship with God. In this parable, perhaps Jesus is telling us that any good thing we do for God and his glory is small compared to what he has done for us and for humanity. We do not serve God mainly in expectation of gratitude and rewards in return. We are the ones called to have an attitude of gratitude, thanksgiving, and humility. The common preface IV for daily Mass for weekdays states: “For, although you have no need of our praise, yet our thanksgiving is itself your gift, since our praises add nothing to your greatness, but profit us for salvation through Christ our Lord.”  If we live out our lives of discipleship in gratitude and thanksgiving, we know that God is not in debt to us, that God does not owe us anything.  Today is our national election day.  We the contentious political reality we have been facing in recent years, I know a lot of us will be relieved when this election cycle is over.  I remember what President John F Kennedy, a practicing Catholic, famously challenged us to do in his inaugural address in 1961: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” What great words we can apply to our lives of faith. May all of us, both as individuals and as a community, honor God with our life of faith and with our service.”