8 December 2024 – 2nd Sunday of Advent - CYCLE C – Luke 3:1-6

As we enter our 2nd week of Advent, we continue our preparation for the coming of Christ. Last Sunday, in the Gospel for the first weekend of Advent, Jesus himself told us to await his arrival with vigilance and prayer.  Today, the voice of John the Baptist cries out in the desert. The Gospel tells of the powerful Roman leaders of the region, of Caesar and the Roman governor and tetrarchs, of the high priests of the Temple, but they are not the ones who announce and prepare the way of the Lord. Rather, the eccentric prophet prepares the path for the coming of the Messiah.

As we actively wait during Advent, undertaking special prayers and devotions, John’s voice cries out in the desert wilderness. But the desert is more than just the location where his public ministry took place. We modern Americans might think of the desert as arid and desolate, but in the eyes of the Hebrew prophets, the desert was the place where the Israelites first encountered God and where they faithfully responded to God on their way to the promised land. John the Baptist calls Israel to return to this metaphorical desert, to return to their faithfulness, to respond to God's grace as they had done long ago. The people of Ancient Israel would have remembered how God led their ancestors out of Egypt into the desert on their way to the promised land, how their ancestors responded to God’s call in the reality of their lives.

John the Baptist prepares us for the coming of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the promised Messiah, but there is so much going on in our world that points us in a direction that is anything but peace. Intolerance, anger, and violence seems to be crying out to us in the world, rather than peace, justice, and salvation. On December 24, as we being our celebration of the birth of our savior, the Church will call us to a Jubilee Year with the opening of the holy doors of St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican. The Jubilee Year will be centered on the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope.” As His Holiness Pope Francis so beautifully expressed it: "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision."  As we look forward to the birth of our savior and as we prepare during these weeks of Advent, it is good to think of the Jubilee Year that is coming soon. 

During the Jubilee, some of the activities that are encouraged include going on a pilgrimage to a shrine or a holy site. We can also reflect upon the way we are to be pilgrims of hope, how we can cultivate hope in our own life and in the world around us, even in the midst of the challenges and obstacles we face. We can also engage more fully in acts of mercy and works of charity, reaching out to those who are struggling or who are on the margins of society. Finally, we can participate in the sacrament of reconciliation during Advent and seek forgiveness for our sins. Our Advent reconciliation service will be on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 pm at Holy Savior. We priests make a huge effort to be available for the sacrament of reconciliation during the season of Advent. I actually had my first Advent reconciliations back on November 19 at St Joseph school, almost a month before our parish’s reconciliation service. This is a meaningful Advent devotion that will help us prepare for the birth of our savior. 

Prayers of the faithful - 6 December 2023 - Friday of the first week of Advent - St Nicholas

Lord Jesus - you come to us in our reality. 


Christ Jesus - you come to us as the incarnate son of God 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory 

Priest: We look to the Lord in our prayers today. He guides the humble to justice and he teaches the repentant his way: 

1. That the Church be on constant watch for the Lord’s return and that Advent will deepen our life in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.


2. That our works of mercy may help us prepare for our celebration of Christ’s birth as the incarnate son of God. 

3. That our desire for Christ’s return may bring peace to the land of his birth and relieve the violence and war that takes place in the Holy Land and the Middle East.


4. That governments reflect honesty and truth in the service of their citizens and their care of the most vulnerable.


5. That our devotion be one with the Lord’s for the disadvantaged, the poor, the mentally ill, those struggling with addictions, the disabled, and the imprisoned.


6. That the Lord’s own kindness be upon the sick and the shut-ins.


7. That the faithful departed be one with the Christ.


8. For the prayers we hold in our hearts. 

Priest: Your ways, O Lord, are made known to us through your Son. We ask that you guide us in your truth and teach us in the name of your son, our Savior and Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

6 December 2024 - Friday of the 1st week of Advent - St Nicholas - Isaiah 29:17-24 - Matthew 9:27-31

On December 6 of each year in the midst of our Advent preparations, we celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas, a Bishop from what is now a region in modern-day Turkey, from whom the tradition of Santa Claus in the modern Christian world is at least partially derived. Most of us probably picture St Nicholas as a benevolent and generous gift-giver, an image cultivated from Christmas stories passed down to children. However, what we know about the historical St Nicholas is a bit different. He was a very passionate defender of the faith who is said to have knocked down the heretic Arius with a physical blow during the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century. Nicholas staunchly defended the poor and the powerless while Bishop, preventing an imperial servant from carrying out the sentence of capital punishment on three poor immigrants. He also intervened with the Roman Emperor Constantine, demanding justice for the poor of the city of Myra, as the poor there were oppressed by the burden of unjustly high taxes. Many stories have been passed down about St Nicholas, with his legend and reputation for helping other inspiring the gift giving and generosity of the Christmas season. Perhaps the facts we know about Nicholas makes him more of an Advent figure than our image of him as a kind and gentle figure.

In Isaiah today, the prophet foresees a day when all will change through God: the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the poor will rejoice, and the lowly will be filled with joy. This passage foreshadows Jesus and his ministry in proclamation of God’s kingdom, as he opens the eyes of two blind men and heals them in today’s Gospel. 

During Advent we should strive to see Jesus more clearly, to see him through the lens of our faith.  We know Jesus as our teacher and savior. May we grow in our trust in him. 

 

5 December 2024 - Thursday of the 1st week of Advent - Isaiah 26:1-6

We are in the first week of our Advent journey. Twenty days from today, we celebrate Christmas Day. I was invited to attend a workshop for chancery officials this week in New Orleans - only canon lawyers would schedule such a workshop during Advent, right? - hahaha. But with all I have to do during Advent here at our parishes in Clinton and Raymond, and in the Diocese, I felt like I needed to be here with all of you this week getting ready for the birth of our savior. We know that Advent is a super busy time, and with our busy holiday schedules, we have to make time for our faith life and make it priority with all the things filling our time. 

I associate the prophet Isaiah with the coming of Jesus as we prepare for his birth in this holy season of Advent, as we prepare and wait. Isaiah’s message foreshadows the coming of the Lord into the world and the Gospel message that Jesus brings through his words and ministry. In today’s reading from Isaiah, we hear about a lofty arrogant city that is brought down by the Lord, a city that ignores justice and shuts out the cries of the poor. The city is turned into dust. The dust, in turn, is trampled down by the footsteps of the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden. 

I love this quote from Pope Francis: "Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.” The pope’s words echo Isaiah’s message today. How is Advent calling us to works of mercy during this holy season and to reach out to those who needs us as we prepare for the coming of Lord? 

Prayers of the faithful - 5 December 2024 - Thursday of the first week of Advent

Lord Jesus - you come to us in our present reality. 


Christ Jesus - you come to us as the incarnate son of God 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory 

Priest: We look to the Lord in our prayers today. He guides the humble to justice and he teaches us the repentant his way: 

1. That the Church be on constant watch for the Lord’s return; that Advent will deepen our life in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.


2. That sacrificial support of God’s works of mercy mark our celebration of his birth as the incarnate son of God. 

3. That our desire for Christ’s return may bring peace to the land of his birth and relieve the violence and war that takes place in the Holy Land and the Middle East.


4. That governments reflect honesty and truth in the service of their citizens and their care of the most vulnerable.


5. That our devotion be one with the Lord’s for the disadvantaged, the poor, the mentally ill, those struggling with addictions, the disabled, the imprisoned, their families and caregivers.


6. That the Lord’s own kindness be upon our sick and shut-ins.


7. That the faithful departed be one with the Christ.


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

Priest: Your ways, O Lord, are made known to us through your Son. We ask that you guide us in your truth and teach us in the name of your son, our Savior and Lord for ever and ever. AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - 4 December 2024 - Wednesday 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. 

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

1. We pray 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. That all of God’s children throughout the world 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. That they might find hearts and hands reaching out to them with love and encouragement in their struggles.


4. We pray for our first responders, the men and women in the military, our veterans, and our medical professionals. We give thanks for the sacrifices they make. 

5. We pray for our parish community, that we will grow together in faith, hope and in Christ’s love during this Advent season.


6. For our children and youth, the the Lord will lead them and guide them on their journey of faith this Advent season. 

7. For healing for the sick and for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.


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

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

prayers of the faithful - 3 December 2024 - Tuesday of the first week of Advent

Lord Jesus - you are a light in the world - Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus - you call us to justice - Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus - you call us to serve our neighbor - Lord have mercy.


Priest: We now bring our prayers to the God of justice and mercy:


1. For our Church, that Christians everywhere will work together for justice, unity and reconciliation during this season of Advent. 


2. For our governmental leaders, that they may lead and guide their people in wisdom and courage.


3. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military, for our veterans, and for all who protect us and keep us safe in society.


4. For our students, that their work, studies, rest, and play may always serve God’s glory.


5. For the sick and shut-ins of our community, for healing and wholeness, for their caregivers and their families.


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


7 . For our own prayer intentions that we hold in the silence of our hearts.


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

4 December 2024 - Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent - Isaiah 25:6-10a - Matthew 15:29-37

For those who are dealing with mental health issues, addictions, anxiety, depressions, or loneliness, the holiday season can be a very difficult time of the year. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reaches to the crowds. In the crowds are those who are struggling through life and those who are on the margins. Before Jesus gives them something to eat through the miracle of the loaves and the fish, he heals many in the crowd of their afflictions. Jesus reaches out to the the lame, the blind, the deformed, and the mute, and he makes them whole. Jesus is not just interested in feeding people physically. He wants to feed them spiritually. He is concerned for their entire being. 

The eternal life that we receive in Jesus is foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah in the image of the great banquet to which God invites us. It is a place where the brokenness of life here on earth is not present any longer. 

Jesus offers healing to us as well. As I mention when we offer the anointing of the sick at mass, all of us need healing on some level, whether it be body, mind, or spirit. He invites us to a fulness of life that only he can offer. 

3 December 2024 - Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent - Luke 10:21-24 - Isaiah 11:1-10

The saint we celebrate today on Tuesday of the first week of Advent is St Francis Xavier. He is one of our Church’s great missionaries. He also was a founding members of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuits. Francis Xavier came out of 16th century Spain, a time of great exuberance in Catholic spirituality that still influences our faith to this day, producing such great saints as John of Avila, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Ignatius of Loyola. Francis Xavier came from a very wealthy family from the Spanish kingdom of Navarre. After his ordination, he traveled to Asia, being a missionary to India and Japan, as well as current day Malaysia and Indonesia. Many of the places that he visited had not been exposed to Christianity before his visits. He died in 1552 before he was able to travel to China, which was his ultimate goal. In 1927, along with Therese of Lisieux, Francis Xavier was named one of the co-patron saints of the foreign missions by Pope Pius XI. Francis Xavier is a great example of faith for us and his missionary spirit makes him a great saint for the Advent season. 

Today’s first reading from Isaiah changes the expectation for the coming of the Messiah. He is not to be a warrior, but rather a man of wisdom, counsel, and understanding. He will come not to destroy his foes with his power, but rather to reconcile them with wisdom. He will not be limited to the nation of Israel, but rather to the whole world. 

Today’s Gospel gives a glimpse to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision. He shows himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. He is a Messiah who heals and forgives, rather than a Messiah of power and military might. Jesus as the Messiah enlightens his disciples and will confer salvation on those who trust in him.

Quotes on Darkness - 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

On this 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Gospel from Mark's Gospel is about the tribulations and judgment that will be coming in the end times. We are nearing the end of our Church's liturgical year.  I preached about the darkness that we encounter in different shapes and forms on our journey of faith.  I included the following quotes in my homily: 

Thomas Merton - Catholic spiritual author and Trappist monk (1915 -1968) 

“True love and prayer are really learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and your heart turns to stone.” 

Sue Monk Kidd - American novelist (1948 - present)

“Too many of us panic in the dark. We don’t understand that it’s a holy dark and that the idea is to surrender to it and journey through to real light."

Caryll Houselander - Catholic British laywoman - mystic, spiritual writer, artist, poet, and counselor (1901 - 1954)

God will enter into your night,

as the ray of the sun enters into the dark, hard earth, 

driving right down to the roots of the trees,

and there, unseen, unknown, unfelt in the darkness, 

filling the tree with life, 

a sap of fire will suddenly break out, 

high above the darkness, 

into living leaf and flame.

1 December 2024 - 1st Sunday of Advent - Luke 21:25-28 and 34-36

I love our liturgical year, with the different liturgical seasons and feast days that we celebrate throughout the year.  Today, we mark the beginning of the new liturgical year with the celebration of the first Sunday of Advent. For the Sunday Mass readings, we are now in Cycle C. Many Catholics do not realize that the Daily Mass readings are on a different two year cycle. We are entering Year 2 for our Daily Mass readings this year.  

Today’s readings urge us to be vigilant and to stay faithful for the coming judgment of the Lord. In the early Church, Christ’s followers believed that he would return soon after his ascension, certainly during their lifetime. The hope that placed in the Lord coming back again very much influenced their faith, as the end of the book of Revelation states: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” 

Even though we are still waiting for the Lord to come again, this first part of the Advent season reminds us that it is still important to be prepared - not only for Christ’s birth at Christmas, but also for when he will return one day to judge all of humanity.  Until that day, we prepare and we wait. 

Luke’s Gospel tells us today to be vigilant at all times. The things of the earth will pass away, but the God’s promises and Christ love will never pass away. In November, we commemorated the month of remembrance, in which we prayed in a special way with the community of saints who have already entered eternal life. We prayed for our loved ones and family members who have entered eternal life with God, whose named we inscribed on our pray cloth and our book of remembrance. This reminds us how things on earth our constantly changing. My own mom has been gone now for more years of my life than the years she was present, which is hard for me to believe. Even in the changing of the season, the hot humid months here in Mississippi have now given way to the winter. Things change here on earth, but even with those changes, we are to remain vigilant and prepared in our faith. We are to stay focused on Jesus and the values of God’s kingdom. 

Today, we light the first candle of our Advent wreath. The circular shape of the wreath represents God's infinite love and the eternity of our human soul. The circle has no beginning or end, symbolizing the everlasting life we have in Christ. The evergreen branches of the wreath represent the hope we place in our eternal life with God. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. The lit candles represent the light of God that will come into the world at Christmas. The candles will be lit each weekend in Advent, helping us mark the days of this holy season. The purple candles symbolize hope and peace. The rose colored candle represents joy. 

Blessings to all of you as we start our Church’s new liturgical year and as we commemorate this beginning of the holy season of Advent. May our hearts be fixed on what lasts forever. 

Catholic blessing of the Advent wreath - first Sunday of ADVENT - 1 December 2024

The holy season of Advent 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, and to desire the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. 

God our Father, we praise you for your son, Jesus Christ on this first Sunday of Advent.  He is Emmanuel, the hope of all people. He is the wisdom that teaches us and guides us. He is the Savior of all the nations.  

Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we bless our Advent wreath on today and as we light the first candle. 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.  

1 December 2024 - First Sunday of Advent - prayers of the faithful - PRISON MINISTRY CMCF

Introduction: Today, we start the holy season of Advent. During Advent, we not only prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas when he is born in the manger in Bethlehem, but we also prepare for Jesus when he will come again 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 - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - You are the truth - Christ have mercy. 


Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory - Lord have mercy. 

PRIEST: We believe that God will come to our aid. We now present our prayers to our God of mercy and compassion: 

1. For all of us who wait for the Lord’s coming, that these holy days of Advent may help us in our preparations. We pray to the Lord. 

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


3. For places in the world where there is war, poverty, human suffering, social unrest, and violence. May we all work together toward unity and healing. Let us also work toward unity and healing here at CMCF. We pray to the Lord.


4. For all who suffer from anxiety, mental illness, 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 who have died, especially our family members and loved ones, that God’s light may shine upon them. 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. 

8. That our family members and love ones feel our love and prayers in a special way this holiday season. We pray to the Lord. 

PRIEST: God of hosts, as you watch over your chosen people, we ask that you listen to our prayers we make through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

1 December 2024 - First Sunday of Advent - prayers of the faithful

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

Priest - Penitential rite - 

Lord Jesus - You lead us to the light - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - You are the truth - Christ have mercy. 


Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory - Lord have mercy. 

PRIEST: Because we believe that God will come to our aid, we now present our prayers to our God of mercy and compassion: 

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

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


3. For places in the world where there is war, poverty, human suffering, social unrest, and violence. May we all work together toward unity and healing. We pray to the Lord.


4. For those who suffer from anxiety, mental illness, 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. 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, as you watch over your chosen people, we ask that you listen to our prayers we make through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

Bulletin reflection - First Sunday of Advent

This weekend, we not only begin the month of December, but we begin the holy season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. In our readings today, we hear about the signs that will come in the end times, because we should always have our eyes fixed on the eternal life we will have in our Lord. However, I don’t think these signs are noted in order for us to try to predict the coming of the end times. Rather, the message of these reading about the end times to lead us and guide us in the way we live out our life each day. I pray that you all have a blessed Advent season, these holy days of preparation.  Father Lincoln.  

29 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - FRIDAY of the 34th week in Ordinary Time

Priest: With joyful heart, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. We pray that our Church and our leaders have the grace of wisdom to honestly confront our failings and to walk humbly together toward wholeness and holiness.

2. We pray that Pope Francis and all our bishops have the grace of discernment to lead us with courage to be channels of love, peace, justice and healing in our world.

3. That we may be freed from any ambition for wealth, status or power. That our hearts be compassionate and selfless in order to serve others. 

4. We pray that our children and youth have their minds opened with understanding and their hearts filled with faith. 

5. For all in need of our prayers. That God may comfort those who are anxious, depressed or in pain.

6. For the needs of our beloved sick, dying and grieving. For the souls of the faithful departed. 

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

Priest: We make these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

29 November 2024 - Friday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Psalm 84

Dorothy Day passed away on this day in 1980.  I remember hearing about her for the first time when I was a college student at Wake Forest. She was born in 1897 in Brooklyn.  After living a very secular life, and supporting herself as a writer for different socialist publications in New York City, she had a conversion of faith and became Catholic.  With Peter Maurin, she founded the Catholic Worker movement in New York City in 1933, reaching out to those in need in Catholic charity in the depths of the depression. Day was famous for her social activism as a part of her Catholic faith, opposing war and supporting the rights of workers.  Her cause for sainthood has been opened in the Catholic Church and she has been named as a Servant of God. In his visit to the United States in 2015, Pope Francis mentioned Dorothy Day in his address to Congress, stating: "Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.”

Our psalm states today: “Here God lives among his people.”  God lives amongst his people in the reality of our lives. He lives with us we celebrate with him at Mass. He lives with us as we go out to the world. Dorothy Day saw God alive in the poor and the marginalized of the world.  May we recognize the many ways God lives amongst us. 

9 November 2024 - Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - Lectionary 671 - Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  It is the oldest and the highest ranking of the four basilicas in Rome and the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome. This basilica also holds other names: the Church of Holy Savior, the Church of St. John Baptist and St John the Evangelist. In ancient Rome, this was the church where everyone was baptized.  St John Lateran is the oldest church in the West, built in the time of the Emperor Constantine and consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. When I was visiting Rome with the Notre Dame program, I got to celebrate mass in the baptistry of St John Lateran, which was an amazing experience. 

Our first reading today from the prophet Ezekiel gives us the vision of a new temple, with life-giving water from from it.Throughout Israel’s history, the people chose to leave the path of faith many times. While in exile, Ezekiel responds to God’s call to become his prophet. Ezekiel proclaims his prophetic visions to the people of Israel, calling them back to God. Ezekiel makes many sacrifices in order to follow this prophetic call. In today’s reading, Ezekiel’s vision foresees the glory of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, when the Jews will be able to return back from their exile.  

Our celebration of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica speaks to us about the importance of our parishes as places of community and worship. Our buildings and the Body of Christ that lives within our parishes are important symbols, as is the symbol of each believer being a holy temple where the Spirit lives within. As Ezekiel and the other prophets suffered and worked for the building up of God’s kingdom, may we continue to be living stones in God’s kingdom as we celebrate this historic basilica of Rome today, our Mother Church. 

Great modern writers

Pope Francis recently issues a document about the importance of seminarians to read literature as a part of their formation. He said he extends that desire for us to read literature to priests and all Catholics. I thought of this document when I saw this image of the major modern authors.  

 

10 November 2024 - homily for 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Kings 17:10-16 - Mark 12:38-44 - Prison ministry

We are presented with two humble generous widows in our readings today. In our reading from the first book of Kings from the Old Testament, a widow in desperate circumstances is saving her last portion of flour for her final meal. However, at the request of the prophet Elijah, she uses that flour to make bread to feed him, as she is asked by Elijah to place her trust in the Lord, that the Lord will provide. God blesses this widow with flour and oil in abundance in gratitude for her generosity to the prophet. 

In the Gospel, the scribes are wearing luxurious robes and sitting in the places of honor, using their power to take advantage of the vulnerable. In contrast to the arrogance of the scribes, a poor widow very generously gives her livelihood, two small coins, to the Temple. We see the trust, generosity, and humility of these poor widows in the first reading and in the Gospel today. What they give is a sacrifice to them, but they give with joyful hearts. What do these readings tell us about the importance of giving and how we are called to give? And there are many things we can give. 

Many would consider the gift of the poor widow's two small coins as insignificant. Why would she give them as a gift? If it didn't matter to the treasury, wouldn't she be better off keeping that money for herself for her own needs? If she had let the rich citizens make all the contributions themselves, she could have kept her coins and invested them in her future. Perhaps the widow realized in her heart that by not keeping her coins to herself and instead giving them to the Temple, she was worshipping God and giving him glory. 

There is a sharp contrast between the poor widow and the scribes and Pharisees. In ancient Jewish society, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger were the poorest and most marginalized. The orphan had no family and no means of support. The stranger was an outcast in a strange land, considered unclean under Jewish law. In ancient Israel, where husbands could often die young of disease or in war, widows could be relatively young themselves. In a world of arranged marriages, most often, the widow would not be chosen again as a bride. With her husband dead, she was of no interest to her husband’s family or her own family. If she had no children, she was uncared for and alone. Yet, this poor widow’s simple piety is different from the arrogance and social ambitions of the scribes. What they gave did not affect their financial situation or standard of living.  

There can be different motivations behind what we give, whether what we give is big or small, whether we are rich or poor. For example, we could resent the act of giving, not wanting to part with what we give. We can give out of shame, feeling that we need to keep up appearances, to give so that others won't look down on us. We can give in a calculated way, giving only because we think we will receive something back in return. Or we can give because we feel like it is our obligation to do so. But we can also give out of thanksgiving, gratitude, and our blessings. Why else would the widow give her last coins, her whole livelihood, to the Temple treasury, if it wasn't out of thanksgiving? For us, what is the motivation for what and how we give in our lives? Do we give mostly out of shame, or do we do so out of thanksgiving?

Some of things you inmates can give are your gifts, your talents, your time, your honesty, your respect, and your kindness. I understand that even in prison, you want down time and time for yourself. But how are giving time to God? I recently went the Hinds County detention center to meet with a man awaiting trial. I had to have the public defender escort me to see him - they were not going to let me visit him on my own. This man was into his fifth year at the detention center awaiting trial. He had not had the Eucharist in that long. He only had two visits from a priest in that amount of time. Great sacrifice is made by many people to bring you the Eucharist each week. How many inmates say their are too busy to come to a Church service here at CMCF. They would rather stay on their rack and watch TV. And I get that. But what is important to you? What if this opportunity was taken away? In the federal prison in Yazoo, they bring in Rabbis from New York to minister to the inmates there. Can you imagine that? For years, the priests who went to the federal prison in Yazoo City drove 150 miles round trip to go to that prison. Now I drive 100 miles round trip. And when the other priests left, the 6,000 inmates at that federal prison had no mass for 3 1/2 years. 

Think of the widow and her small coins in the Gospel. Think of the widow in the first book of Kings who gives the prophet something to eat from the little that she has. What can we give to the Lord this week? 

Quote - on scripture

It is not how much Scripture you know, 

It is how much Scripture you live.  

Thanksgiving Day Mass - 28 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: As we gather for Mass on Thanksgiving Day this morning, let us recall all that we are thankful for. 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 to give 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 day: 

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


2. We pray 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. We pray 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. We pray 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. We pray 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. We pray 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 them in their service, we pray to the Lord.


7. 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. 

28 November 2024 - Thanksgiving Day - Sirach 50:22-24 - Luke 17:11-19

With great joy, we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving today. We are glad to have you all at Mass this morning, to give thanks to God in the sacrament of the Eucharist and to listen to his holy word as we give thanks to him as individuals, as families, as a nation, and as a community of faith. 

In our reading from the book of Sirach, the author blesses the God of all who has wondrous things here on earth. We bless God and give thanks for the goodness of creation. Through nature and through God’s creation, we human beings are given what we need for our lives here on earth. We think of the first immigrants here in North America who depended on God’s creation and the assistance of the native people to create settlements here, overcoming many struggles and challenges. We give thanks for their courage and tenacity. 

Another important part of our celebration of Thanksgiving today is giving thanks for our community.  We give thanks are individuals and as families, but also as a community. We come together today in love with our families and our friends.  In love and compassion, we remember those who live in need. We offer up our prayers for them and we think of ways to help them with our assistance. 

Although thanksgiving is not solely a Christian celebration, as disciples of Christ, we wholeheartedly show our gratitude to God for the gift of his son. Jesus celebrated in food and fellowship with his disciples, with members of the community, and with those on the margins of society. Jesus also give us hope that the joy, thanksgiving, and love we express here on earth will be multiplied immeasurably when we enter eternal life with him in his kingdom. 

We have the example of faith in our Gospel today of the one leper who returned after he was healed to give thanksgiving to Jesus.  That act of thanksgiving was very important to that leper. May all of us have that same joy of Thanksgiving in our hearts. Blessings to all of you as we celebrate Thanksgiving day today and give thanks to God. 

27 November 2024 - Wednesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 15:1-4

Near the end of his vision in the book of Revelation, John sees seven angels who are carrying seven bowls of plagues that will out the persecutors of the Christians. Just as the ten plagues of Egypt ended up liberating the Israelites from their Egyptian captors, the seven plagues of the Apocalypse in the book of Revelation will liberate the Christians from their Roman oppressors. 

The Book of Revelation was written in the genre of apocalyptic literature that was well-known in the ancient world. Sometimes it is used in our modern world to defend the anger and the revenge that is wanted by the reader. Sometimes it is used to proof-text events that are happening in the world today. However, the message of this genre of literature is much more subtle and profound than the images we see on its surface. In today’s passage, we hear of God’s care for the people of faith, for those who follow his will in their lives. This type of literature has the aim of promoting us striving toward a life of holiness and turning to God in our time of need. It assures us that God is ready to help us when we call on him for help.

27 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you call us to be faithful. 

Christ Jesus - you reach out to the afflicted. 

Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

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

1. May God’s spirit be evident in our Church leadership and in our service so that the poor, the marginalized and the victimized. 

2. For world leaders and policy makers. May the Spirit of God encourage work that fosters peace and justice in all our communities and in every nation. 

3. For a deeper spirit of openness and welcome. That God may give us welcoming hearts that we may acknowledge God’s presence in all people.

4. That our youth may be filled with courage and vision, that they may reshape our world into a place where love is shared and where all people are deeply valued.

5. For all in special need — the sick, addicted, depressed, dying and grieving.

6. For all who suffer with through violence, war or bloodshed.

7. For the prayers we lift up in the silence of our hearts. 

Priest: We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

26 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to discipleship. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us the joy of our faith. 

Priest: We now to bring our prayers to our merciful God: 

1. For the Church and our leadership. May we work together to find unity, healing and peace. May we be a sign of God’s love in the world.

2. For the grace of fidelity. May we be faithful in our relationships with spouses, siblings, parents, children, relatives, neighbors and friends.

3. That God may heal the divisions and ease the tensions that pull us apart from each other.

4. That God may instill in us a deep respect for all human life from conception to natural death. May we honor the sacredness of every person. 

5. That we may find ways to share the resources of our planet and to deal with climate change and natural disasters.

6. That God may tenderly hold all who are persecuted in our world and touch their lives with peace.

7. For all who are sick, addicted, dying and grieving. 

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

Priest: We ask these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

26 November 2024 - homily for Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 14:14-19

Today’s passage from the Book of Revelation describes the judgment at the end times. The judgment is depicted as a double harvest.  In the first harvest, the son of man cuts and gathers the good fruit, the righteous of earth. In the second harvest, the grapes are cut down, representing the ungodly. The grapes are crushed and thrown into God’s fury. 

This is quite a harsh image that we might want to dismiss. But there will be a final judgment in which we will all be judged for their actions. We will be held responsible. Even though Jesus and sacred Scripture warns us many time of the judgment that is to come, many people knowingly persist in doing evil and giving way to their temptations. 

Those disciples of Christ who make great effort and great sacrifice to follow the moral life and to follow God’s commandments should be encouraged on their journey of faith through this message today. Those who turn their back on God and continue to persist in their sinfulness should have fear cast into them through this scene. 

In the end, we will not be able to escape God’s judgment. That is our destiny. 

24 November 2024 - Solemnity of Christ the King - prayers of the faithful - prison ministry

Introduction: Pope Pius XI instituted the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe in 1925. Today, in this celebration 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 unite the world to yourself - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, your kingdom will last forever - Christ have mercy. 

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

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 Joseph Kopacz, and all Church leaders, 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 the nations, that they may approach their position of governance with humility and grace. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we all may work for greater justice in our local communities, in our 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. We pray especially for the men here at CMCF who are struggling with addictions, anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. We pray to the Lord.  

6. For our deceased loved ones and family members. We pray for them in a special way during the month of November. 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.   

24 November 2024 - Solemnity of Christ the King - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: Pope Pius XI instituted the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe in 1925. Today, in this celebration 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 - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, your kingdom will last forever - Christ have mercy. 

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

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 Joseph Kopacz, and all Church leaders, 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 the nations, that they may approach their position of governance with humility and grace. We pray to the Lord. 

3. That we all may work for greater justice in our local communities, in our 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. 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.    

Bulletin Reflection - Solemnity of Christ the King - 24 November 2024

We are going to celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving later this upcoming week. Then we get ready for the busy holiday season.  We know that we are getting close to the end of the year. This weekend we reach the end of our Church’s liturgical year with the celebration of the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Next weekend, we will start the season of Advent as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. So many of us are busy most weeks of the year. Advent and the holiday season gets even busier for us. As we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King this weekend, may we call to mind the values of our faith that we are to live out each day as we prepare a place in our hearts in this holy season of Advent. Blessings to all of you as we commemorate the end of the liturgical year today and as we get ready for the busy holiday season. Father Lincoln.  

24 November 2024 - homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King - John 18:33b-37

In order to teach Spanish at Greenville High School in the year 2000, I had to sit for the Praxis teacher exam in Spanish. One of the sections covered Spanish history and culture. I remember one of the questions asking the name of the palace built by King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. The name of that palace is El Escorial, built from 1563 - 1584, located about 45 miles from Madrid. It is the largest renaissance building in the world, containing more than 4,000 rooms and housing a monastery, a basilica, a royal palace, a library, a museum, a university, a high school, and hospital. I got to visit this structure in 2003, the first time I visited Spain. It was incomprehensible to think that a king had such an opulent palace. 

Located about six miles from El Escorial is the Valley of Fallen, a basilica and monument carved into the sign of a mountain, topped by one of the largest crosses in the world.  Francisco Franco, the dictator of Spain for many decades, built this monument that houses the remains of than 40,000 men and women who were killed in the Spanish civil war in the 1930s. Franco himself was buried there after his death, but his body was removed by the Spanish government in 2019 due to the complicated history the Spanish Civil War has in that country. 

Our world has seen many powerful leaders and many different kings and queens. We see political power gained and lost in an instant.  We see palaces and moments built by regimes that had power but then lost it. While the kings of this earth amass great fortunes and live in great palaces, Jesus tells us he is a very different king, as he explains to Pilate in today’s Gospel that his kingdom does not belong to this world. 

In the gospel Jesus testifies that he is not this kind of king. In fact, he says that his kingdom is not of this world. Jesus is telling us that the values of his kingdom have not yet permeated our world. We see the violence and crime in our cities. We see how many people treat other with disrespect and anger.  Yet there are aspects of Christ’s kingdom here on earth, evident in the hearts of his disciples, evident in their good works and in their way of life. 

Jesus states that he has come to "be a witness to the truth” - the truth of his kingdom. We who strive to follow Christ’s truth know that our efforts to sow seeds of Christ’s peace and love are not in vain. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus stated that those who are members of his flock and who follow his truth hear his voice and listen to him; Jesus knows them, and they in turn follow him. Unfortunately, Pilate does not follow Christ’s truth and does not truly hear the truth that he speaks. 

We lives as the people of Christ’s truth by helping to prepare the world for his coming. Next weekend, we will enter the holy season of Advent in preparation for Christ’s birth into the world. While it is easy to get caught up in the busy holiday season of December, we can focus our hearts on the mystery of Christ’s birth that we will celebrate at Christmas. Blessings to all of you today as we end our Church’s liturgical year and as we get ready for our celebration of Advent next Sunday. 

22 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you are the Lamb of God. 

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

Lord Jesus - you bring us salvation and hope. 

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

1. For the grace to be able to listen to God as he speaks to us each day. 

2. That our Church leaders and governmental leaders grow in insight and wisdom. 

3. For all who feel overwhelmed, confused, manipulated or misdirected, that they be enlightened and strengthened on their journey. 

4. For peace among nations and governments. For reconciliation in the midst of anger and division. 

5. For our beloved sick, addicted, dying, grieving or depressed. For those who are abused, ignored or mistreated.

6. For the names we remember during the month of remembrance. For the repose of the soul of all the faithful departed. 

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

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

21 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Christ Jesus - you ask us to be ready when you come again. 

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

With faith and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church and those who minister within the Church. May our ministry and activity as servants help to heal the world.

2. For those who face difficulty and hardship and for those overwhelmed by the pressures of life. May we be inspired to find ways to serve people in need.

3. May world leaders center their values, decisions and actions on the common good and to benefit the needy.

4. In thanksgiving for those who dedicate their lives to serving others in the church, government, the military, in areas of social justice, medicine and education. May God keep them safe and protect them. 

5. In thanksgiving to God for our parish family. We ask God’s continued grace upon us.

6. For the names inscribed in the book of remembrance, as we pray for them in a special way during this month of November. 

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

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

22 November 2024 - Friday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - St Cecilia - Revelation 10:8-11

St Cecilia is the saint we celebrate today. Not much tangible is known about her, even though she was one of the most famous Roman martyrs venerated in the Early Church. According to Tradition, Cecilia was from an influential Roman family.  She converted her fiancé to the Christian faith, but Cecilia, her fiancé, and his brother were all martyred.  Tradition holds that there was a church named after her in Rome in the early days of Christianity.  Although we are not sure of its origin, Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians.  We unite our prayers with the intercessions of St Cecilia today. We pray for all of our Church musicians.

We have a very interesting first reading from the book of Revelation today. Several times in Sacred Scripture, prophets are told to eat pages of God’s Holy Word.  This happens to the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Today, in Revelation, John is told to take the scroll that is in the hand of the angel and to eat it. Asking these men to actually eat the pages of God’s word is symbolic of how the word is to become a part of our entire being. Rather than remaining on the surface of our lives, the word of God is to enter our lives, we are to chew on it and digest it, to be strengthened by it and nourished by it.  Only then can we become evangelizers of God’s word and to transmit that word to others. By eating God’s word in the book of Revelation, John acquired a greater understanding of the word. May God’s word always be at the center of our lives. May it be an integral part of our entire being. 

 

21 November 2024 - Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 5:1-10 - Luke 19:41-44

Today, we celebrate the presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple, which does not have a direct reference in the Gospels or in any other book of Sacred Scripture. This feast has its foundation in a belief passed down in the traditions of the Early Church and in other first century sacred writings. Tradition teaches that Mary was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem when she was a girl. Mary must have spent a great deal of time in the Temple practicing her faith and preparing for her eventual role as the mother of our Lord and the mother of the Church. We can use our imagination and our understanding of Mary from Scripture and from tradition to reflect upon what her childhood and her journey of faith might have been like before her visit from the Archangel Gabriel. We can ask ourselves how we can turn to Mary and ask her to help prepare us for our mission as Christians in the modern world, a task that becomes more challenging as our modern secular society becomes a place that is hostile to the values of the Gospel.  

Although Mary probably spent much time in the Temple and in the study of Jewish Scripture and tradition, she also probably spent a lot of time with St. Anne and St. Joachim, her mother and father, growing up in a loving family that exposed her to the reality of life around her, including the sufferings of the poor. Mary was full of grace, as declared by the Angel Gabriel, but I imagine that her parents and her upbringing fostered and encouraged her empathy and compassion, her generosity and humility, her hospitality and forgiveness. 

Yesterday and today, we hear a description from the book of Revelation of the heavenly liturgy that gives praise and thanksgiving to God. God is so revered and so great that no one on earth or under the earth or in heaven is worthy enough to break open the scroll that is in the hands of the one who is seated on the heavenly throne.  We contrast that reading from Revelation to what we hear in today’s Gospel, as Jesus pauses at the entrance to Jerusalem, weeping at the way the people have rejected him. As we honor Mary today, we pray that she lead us closer to her son, which is what Mary always does for us in our journey of faith. 

 

20 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father

Christ Jesus - you call us to the joy of our faith

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer

With joy in our hearts, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For Pope Francis, our bishops, and all leaders in the church, That they be inspired with vision and hope as they lead God’s holy people. 

2. That we may all grow in our faith as we trust the strength of prayer and have a greater reliance on God’s help and grace. 

3. May we honor and respect all who are maligned or challenged mentally, emotionally or physically.

4. For all who are ill, incapacitated, angry or addicted. For people who are dying or grieving loss. May they be blessed with healing and comfort.

5. For peace in our world. May our local government and world leaders take bold steps to end violence, hunger and prejudice. 

6. For our loved ones who we remember in the month of remembrance, for their entry into eternal life. 

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

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

20 November 2024 - homily for Wednesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Revelation 4:1-11

Our liturgy in the Mass connects us with the mysteries of salvation so that we might participate in their effects of these mysteries. In the Mass, we participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection as if we were there when they took place. Our reading from the Book of Revelation this morning shows the liturgy of the heavens with all creation giving glory to God. We hear of these magical creature who harmoniously praise God in the liturgy. 

The book of Revelation was written at a time when the Early Church was under persecution. Although these persecutions would continue for many years, the liturgy described assumes a glorious outcome. The readings from Revelation encouraged the Early Church to persevere and to keep the faith despite this persecution. We are also to find hope in the midst of our challenges on our journey of faith, in the midst of the ridicule and persecution of Christians that we see in the world. 

19 November 2024 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

Christ Jesus - you forgive the sins of the contrite. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and redeemer. 

With faith and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That our Church leaders may inspire the motivations and directions of the Catholic faithful. 

2. For wisdom for our governmental leaders. 

3. For those who are questioning or skeptical about faith, that they be given insight to make life-giving choices filled with forgiveness, love and understanding.

4. We pray that the Lord invigorate the spirit of the downtrodden and bring peace to the sick, dying and grieving.  

5. We pray that the Lord open our hearts to all who are affected by violence, war, depression, anxiety or addiction.

6. In loving memory of our friends and fellow parishioners who have died during this past year. For all the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life. 

7. For all the prayers we offer in the silence of our hearts. 

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

Prayers of the faithful - 17 November 2024 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - prison ministry

Introduction: This weekend and next weekend we celebrate the last two Sundays of the liturgical year. Our readings on these weekends focus us on the last days. May our trust in our loving and merciful God bring us joy and hope. 

Priest: Penitential Rite 

Lord Jesus - you are the eternal high priest. 

Christ Jesus - you are the just judge of the nations. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: Called to be people of mercy, we now turn to the Father of Mercy with our prayers today: 

1. That we in the Church will serve as a beacon of mercy throughout the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That we may all proclaim Christ in what we say, in what we do, and how we treat others.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. That our community leaders and civil servants reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society. May we also reach out to our brothers in need. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That all of us will be nourished by Christ in the Eucharist and live out the spirit of the Eucharist each day in our words and our actions. We pray to the Lord. 

5. During this month of remembrance, we pray that the souls of our loved ones and all the faithful departed be joined with the Lord on the last day. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all who gather to be nourished by Christ in the Eucharist, that we will recognize him as the true bread of life. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God all all, we thank you for our gifts, seen and unseen. Hear our faith-filled prayers that we offer today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 17 November 2024 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: This weekend and next weekend we celebrate the last two Sundays of the liturgical year. Our readings on these weekends focus us on the last days. May our trust in our loving and merciful God bring us joy and hope. 

Priest: Penitential Rite

Lord Jesus - you are the eternal high priest. 

Christ Jesus - you are the just judge of the nations. 

Lord Jesus - you will come again in glory. 

Priest: Called to be people of mercy, we now turn to the Father of Mercy with our prayers today: 

1. That the Church will serve as a beacon of mercy throughout the world. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That all Christians may proclaim Christ in what we say, in what we do, and how we treat others.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. That our community leaders and civil servants reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society. We pray to the Lord. 

4. That all of us will be nourished by Christ in the Eucharist and live out the spirit of the Eucharist each day in our words and our actions. We pray to the Lord. 

5. During this month of remembrance, we pray that the souls of our loved ones and all the faithful departed be joined with the Lord on the last day. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all who gather to be nourished by Christ in the Eucharist, that we will recognize him as the true bread of life. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God all all, we thank you for our gifts, seen and unseen. Hear our faith-filled prayers that we offer today through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

Reflection - 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - 17 November 2024

Back in August, I was remarking how quickly the summer months went and how busy they were.  Now, as we near the end of our Church’s liturgical next week and get ready for the busy season of Advent in preparation for the birth of our Lord at Christmas, I am noting how fast these past months have gone by. I love our Church’s liturgical calendar, marking the rhythm of life for us Catholics throughout the year. Our readings this weekend and next weekend address the end times, appropriate as we approaching the end of the liturgical year. As we near the beginning of Advent, it would be good for us to think about those we can invite to our Advent and Christmas liturgies and activities at Holy Savior. Blessings to all of you - I hope you have a great week.  Father Lincoln. 

19 November 2024 - homily for Tuesday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time - Luke 19:1-10

In the Gospel story of Zacchaeus, Jesus reaches out to those who are far from him. Zacchaeus, a tax collector, was not someone many people expected Jesus to seek out. But, Jesus sees him in a tree and calls him by name. Jesus wants every person, no matter his past, to know God’s love and forgiveness.

Jesus does not look down on Zacchaeus or judge him. He sees Zacchaeus’ desire to know God, despite Zacchaeus’ past mistakes. This shows us that Jesus welcomes all who want to draw close to him, and he calls us to do the same with others. Instead of judging or excluding others based on their history or appearance, we are called to share Christ’s love with everyone. Our role is to welcome, support, and trust that Christ can work in every heart. In our daily lives, we are called to reflect Christ’s openness and kindness, remembering that God desires all people to come to him.

17 November 2024 - homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 13:24-32

This is the last Sunday we will see the liturgical color of green for a while, as next Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King with the end of the liturgical year. Then, we enter the seasons of Advent and Christmas. As we get close to the end of the year, our readings today are about the end times. But these readings are not about us with the angels in heaven in eternal life. Instead, we hear of a time of tribulation and judgement, of images of the darkening of the sun, stars falling from the sky, and the shaking of the powers of heaven. This reading from Mark’s Gospel comes right after Jesus talks about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which will usher in at time of persecution. Indeed, Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed as Jesus predicted. As the Gospel takes place at a dark time in Jesus’ life, just before his passover meal with his disciples and the beginning of his passion, the communities of the early Church first heard this Gospel in the midst of their own darkness, living under a cloud of fear and persecution. When Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the source and end of all, comes back in the end times, many will choose him, but others will choose the darkness instead. 

Darkness is a part of life. All of us experience darkness in different shapes and forms on our journey through life. Many people fear the darkness and see it as a very bad thing. Darkness can bring a lot of pain and suffering. It can make us feel alone and abandoned. It can negatively affect our faith and our hope. We can spend a lot of time and energy fearing the darkness or battling it. But, often, we are so caught up in the pain and suffering of the darkness that we don’t see the gifts, the blessings, and the transformation that can come from the darkness. Perhaps we priests don’t preach enough about the darkness we encounter in life, since it is not an easy subject to tackle. Author Sue Monk Kidd states: “Too many of us panic in the dark. We don’t understand that it’s a holy dark and that the idea is to surrender to it and journey through to real light."  

Think of Jesus’ time in the tomb between his death on the cross and his resurrection; the seed that goes into the ground and that comes up from the soil into new life; the caterpillar that spins itself into a cocoon before it emerges as a beautiful butterfly; the bear that hibernates in the cold dark winter to emerge in the light of springtime. These times of transformation are essential to new life or new birth. Yes, fear is a natural response to the darkness inside of ourselves and to the darkness around us. We need to let go of our fear and not let it have power over us; in faith, we are called to believe that darkness is an essential part of life and essential to our growth as human beings.  

Perhaps we all need to see darkness in a new way. In being open to the blessings, transformations, and light that are present in the darkness, we will be ready for Jesus when he comes for us in the darkness and trials of the end times. When we go through a time of darkness, God calls us to trust, to pray, and to stay connected to him in any way we can. Trappist monk Thomas Merton writes: “True love and prayer are really learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and your heart turns to stone.” 

Carylll Houselander is an interesting figure in our Catholic faith. She was a Catholic lay woman from England who lived in the first half of the 20th century. She was a writer, artist, and mystic. Although she had no formal training in psychology, theology, or counseling, she served as a spiritual director and counselor, helping people to heal. Priests and medical doctors would refer patients to her. I have come across her writings at different times, coming across this poem she wrote about darkness:

God will enter into your night,

as the ray of the sun enters into the dark, hard earth, 

driving right down to the roots of the trees,

and there, unseen, unknown, unfelt in the darkness, 

filling the tree with life, 

a sap of fire will suddenly break out, 

high above the darkness, 

into living leaf and flame. 

We can bring the light of Christ to others in darkness in different ways, especially as we journey through our own darkness. Reflecting upon our own darkness, we can have more empathy and compassion. No matter what darkness we have in our lives, the light of Christ is still there. 

15 November 2024 - homily for Friday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - St Albert the Great - PSALM 119

Born in 1193 in Germany, Albert the Great was a member of the Dominican order, a bishop, a theologian, a philosopher, and a scientist. He is also famous for being the teacher and mentor of St Thomas Aquinas, probably the most significant theologian in the history of the Church. Albert’s attempt to understand Aristotle’s writings established the climate in which Thomas Aquinas developed his synthesis of Greek wisdom and Christian theology. But Albert deserves recognition on his own merits as a diligent, curious scholar. St. Albert also played an important role in introducing the science of the ancient Greeks and of the Arabs into the curriculum of medieval universities. His boundless interests prompted him to write a compendium of knowledge in natural science, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, economics, politics, and metaphysics. He taught at the influential universities of Cologne and Paris. He also served as the provincial of the Dominicans and as bishop of Regensburg in Germany for a short time. He was named a Doctor of the Church and is the patron saint of scientists, philosophers, and educators. 

Our psalm states today: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord. St Albert the Great diligently followed God’s law, but also used his creativity and intelligence to go beyond the realm of religion into many different spheres of learning. His contributions to our faith and to academia are important to us even today.  May we unite our prayers with his prayers in honor of his feast day. 

prayers of the faithful - Friday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - 15 November 2024

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Christ Jesus - you are the beloved son of the Father. 

Lord Jesus - you proclaim justice. 

Priest: My sisters and brothers in Christ, God’s love brings us new life. Let us present our prayers to the Lord:

1. For our Church leaders and our governmental leaders, may their faith bring them wisdom and courage.  

2. We pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed in this month of remembrance. For those grieving over the loss of a family member, we pray that they may be consoled. 

3. That we may continue to grow in our love for and appreciation of the Eucharist as we continue our Eucharistic revival. 

4. For our program of religious education.  We pray that all children, youth, and adults may be active in learning more about their faith. 

5. For the sick and shut-in.  For their families and care givers.  For our medical professionals.  

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

Priest: God of endless love, in the shadow of your wings we find refuge: hear the prayers we humbly make, through your son Jesus Christ our Lord forever.  AMEN.  

prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary time - 14 November 2024

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: We now present our prayers to God, the shepherd who cares for all his flock:

1. For those in leadership roles in the Church, both lay and ordained leaders, that the Lord will give them wisdom and strength.  

2. For leaders in our government, that they will serve God and the people in humility and hope. 

3. For those our deceased family members and loved ones, that they may dwell in the Lord’s house for ever in eternal life. We remember them in a special way during this month of remembrance. 

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

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

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 your son, our Lord forever and ever. Amen. 

14 November 2024 - Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time - Philemon 7-20

During the past few weeks, our first readings have been from the letters of Paul rather than readings from the Old Testament.  Today our reading is from his letter to Philemon. Many Christians probably could not even name this book as a part of the New Testament. It is the shortest of Paul’s letters, not even being organized in chapters, and containing only 355 words in the original Greek. Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison himself, probably in Rome. But Paul is not interested in his own well-being, but rather in the welfare of the runaway slave Onesimus, who was returning to his owner, Philemon. On Paul’s journey, he started out as a prosecutor of Christians, wanting them to be arrested or to be killed. Now he is willing to do anything to spread the Gospel to the world, even to go to prison for the sake of the Gospel. 

When I visited the Basilica of St Paul just outside the walls of the ancient city of Rome, I got to see a piece of the chains that enslaved Paul when he was in prison. Paul wrote to so many different Christian communities as their spiritual father. He spent so much time nurturing these Christian communities in the faith. He calls Onesimus his spiritual son in the faith, his own very heart.

For Paul, God was not an ambiguous concept. God is not far away in the heavens.  Jesus was his Lord and his Savior, a reality in his daily life. Jesus led Paul to the faith and to salvation. We are called to reach to others in the faith just as Paul did, nurturing them in that same loving way.