Sunday, January 30, 2022

1 February 2022 – Tuesday of fourth week in ordinary time – 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30; 19:3

       In today’s reading from the second book of Samuel, we hear about David and the death of his son Absalom.  Absalom was not a good son at all.  He was not faithful to God.  He even tried to plot the death of his own father in an attempt to become king himself.  Yet when news of Absalom’s death reached David, David did not rejoice, but instead cried out in his pain and his despair: “My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you.”

         Life can be very painful and difficult at times.  Yet, we are called to place our trust in the Lord even in the midst of our struggles and our pain. I was reminded of this prayer written by Therese of Lisieux, which was originally brought to my attention by my friend, Dr Sara Weisenburger:  "Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our father's love — difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul's miseries, her burdens, her needs — everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weaknesses. Everything is a grace because everything is a gift from God. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events, to the heart that loves, all is well."

         May we accept the graces that God gives us in our lives, whatever those graces may be.  May we feel God’s presence both in our joy and in our sorrows.  

8 February 2022 - Tuesday of the 5th week in Ordinary Time - St Jerome Emiliani - Psalm 84

       It amazes me to see the different patron saints that we have in the Catholic Church.  St Fiacre, a 7th century hermit who lived in France, is the patron saint of gardeners, herbalists, and Parisian taxi cab drivers. St Abigail, an abbess and woman of great charity from Ireland in the 6th century, is the patron saint of honey bees and bee keepers. That brings us to the saint we celebrate today, St Jerome Emiliani, born in Italy in the late 15th century.  As a young man, he was a military commander in Venice in charge of a large fortress and a large number of soldiers.  However, the fortress was captured by their enemies, putting Jerome in chains in a prison.  However, at the time, God had not been a part of his life.  With his own personal strength and the strength of his soldiers and his weapons, God did not fit into his life and into his value system.  However, finding himself as a prisoner in a dungeon, he let go of his worldly values and found God. After his escape from prison, he studied for the priesthood.  Yet, soon after, Venice was hit with the plague and famine.  In the midst of the suffering that he saw, he had a special place in heart for the children and youth who were left abandoned and orphaned.  Even after he contracted the plague himself, he devoted his efforts to caring for the poor and the abandoned, establishing hospitals, orphanages, and a shelter for prostitutes. His group of priests became a religious order named the Clerks Regular of Somasca.  Jerome Emiliani died at the rather young age of 56 after contracting an illness from the sick patients under his care.  He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.  He is the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children and youth.  

       One of the verses of psalm 84 states: “My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”  I can imagine St Jerome Emiliani crying out for the Lord, yearning for him in the midst of the suffering and emptiness he felt as a prisoner.  May we feel that same yearning for God.  

4 February 2022 - Friday of the fourth week of Ordinary Time - SIRACH 47:2-11

     We had been hearing the story of David from the 1st and 2nd books of Samuel for several weeks.  Today, in our last readings about David in this cycle of readings in daily Mass, we hear from the book of Sirach in the Old Testament.  That book contains a section which praises the great leaders of Israel’s history, from which we hear of David today.  

      We know that David was an historical king in Ancient Israel, but just like the stories of our heroes that get passed down in our society, we might wonder if part of the story of David contain myth and legend rather than fact.  For example, we heard Sirach extolling David’s courage, stating that he battled lions and bears, whether that really happened or not.  David had a great reputation for courage and bravery, but the accounts of his flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes are also found in Sacred Scripture as well.  What stand out in our reading from Sirach today is not just David’s strengths, but also his humanness and his love for God.  All of us can also turn away from God and make mistakes, but like David, we are called to repent, to receive forgiveness, and to turn back to God.  We can turn away from God due to our own will and our own desires, straying from the path of faith.  God’s love for his people calls out to us today in the story of David.  God also calls out to us today in the Eucharist, as he provides us food and nourishment for our journey.   God calls out to us in a special way in the devotion we have to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrate on the first Friday of each month and which we will honor in the litany at the end of Mass today.  God always calls us back to him in repentance and conversion.  He forgives us for our sins in our contrition when we turn back to him and make amends.  In the story of David today, let us find solace and comfort in God’s love and compassion for us.  

2 February 2022 - Wednesday - Feast of the presentation of the Lord - Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 2:22-32

       The Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord each year on February 2, which is forty days after the birth of Jesus.  This feast day is also traditionally known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in today's liturgy.

       As declared by John Paul II in 1997, today is the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. He attached it to Candlemas Day because the consecrated men and women in religious life are to be the light in the world, imitating Jesus, the true light of the world. In the Church’s liturgical calendar prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, this feast was referred to as the "Purification of Mary." This is known as a "Christmas feast,” since this feast day points back to our celebration of Christmas. B. Even though the Christmas season officially ended on January 9 this year in our celebration of the feast the Baptism of the Lord, the Vatican practices the tradition of keeping out the Nativity creche until this feast day.

      In today’s first reading, we gain insight into the profound mystery of the Lord’s Presentation in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, which adhered to the canons of Mosaic Law.  The Prophet Malachi states: “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord who you seek.” The Gospels tell us that the precursor, St John the Baptist, was born 6 months before Jesus. God sent John to prepare the way for the Savior.  The words of the prophet Malachi foretell the coming of the Lord. God promised that he would send a precursor to prepare the way. Since there is only 6 months between the birth of St John the Baptist and Jesus, it is clear that Malachi’s prophecy meant that suddenly after the precursor, the Lord himself will come.  Soon after John’s birth, God entered His temple. Jesus’ presentation signifies God’s entrance to His temple. Jesus, God-made-man, entered his temple, presenting himself to those who were really searching for him.

       St. Anselm (1033-1109), the Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke about the mystery of the Feast of the Presentation, considering three aspects of the blessed candles. He says, “The wax of the candles signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, the wick figures his soul, and the flame his divinity.”

        We will use the following prayer for blessing the candles:

V: Our help is in the name of the Lord


R: The maker of heaven and earth.

V: The Lord be with you 


R: And also with you.

Let us pray: O Gracious Father, almighty and eternal God, you created all things out of nothing, and by your command caused the labor of bees to be revealed in the perfection of wax. You commanded your servant Moses to keep lamps continually burning before you. Bless and sanctify these candles that their light may be for us a visible reminder of the true light who enlightens everyone coming into the world. As these candles, kindled with a visible flame, scatter the darkness of night, so also may our hearts be enlightened by the invisible fire of the Holy Spirit that we might avoid the darkness of sin, see your salvation, and attain to the Light that never fades away. All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Thursday, January 27, 2022

Update - Father Lincoln

      As you can see, I have not had my normal homily posts here this week.  I was originally slated to go on pilgrimage in Spain on the Camino of St James starting on January 23 for two weeks.  As I love the Camino so much and as I need a break so badly, I was so looking forward to this time of pilgrimage to be with God in nature and to be united with the pilgrims of past, present and future.  Yet, with my own health journey and with the reality of travel and the reality of the pandemic, I realized in mid-December that this would not have been a prudent decision.  Plan B was to go on a hiking pilgrimage closer to home, on trails in Alabama or Louisiana or Georgia, or along the Gulf Coast.  I was even offered the use of a condo on the coast by a good friend.  Everything seemed to fall into place.  Everyone was encouraging to take this time off, knowing that my downtime and time away do not happen very often.  Then, Sunday, as the day progress, I started feeling very poorly, to the point where I was very sick on Sunday evening and scheduled a COVID test at the state department of health for the next day.  Though the rapid test Monday morning was negative, the test results that came back late Tuesday night were positive.  I have been isolated ever since.  My symptoms come and go.  But hopefully I am on the road to recovery.  

        There has been a lot of sickness with COVID, the flu, and with other things.  I pray that we all find health and healing in our lives.  Thank you to the many who have sent prayers and best wishes my way.  Know that my prayers go out to all of you.  

Synodal process at St Jude parish - Pearl, MS

     Greetings to everyone. I am grateful for Father Clem to be able to fill in for me while I am trying to get over my bout with COVID. Thankfully, the respiratory symptoms are not too severe, since I often struggle greatly when I have a respiratory infection. There are a lot of people struggling with COVID and other illnesses right now. I am sure the big swings in weather we have been having lately do not help with our health struggles. I will miss being with all of you at this Masses this weekend, but will join virtually on Sunday morning. We pray for everyone who is dealing with illness and health issues right now.
       In the Flocknote reflection that I sent out this past week, we mentioned the synodal process that our Diocese is undertaking as a part of the synodal process in our universal Church as requested by Pope Francis. Below are the dates and times when we will be having our synodal sessions here at St Jude:

2/11 - Friday - 10:30 am - after the morning mass
2/16 - Tuesday - 6:30 pm - after the evening mass
2/20 - Sunday - 9:15 am
2/20 - Sunday - 5:00 pm - for youth

      Through the synodal process, we are going to reflect upon our journey as a Christian community, how we see God interacting with our lives as individuals and and as a prish. We are going to do this at these sessions through small table discussion, reflecting upon three particular Gospel readings from Luke. We will look at where God is calling us as individuals and as a community. We will look at how we would like the Church and our parish to respond to us in the midst of this reality. I am really looking forward to this synodal process giving us direction as a parish and as a Diocese, as well as helping us in our journey of faith as individuals. I want to encourage all of you to join us for these synodal reflection sessions at St Jude.
     Blessings to all of you - have a blessed week. I hope to be with you all at the Masses next weekend. Father Lincoln.

Friday, January 21, 2022

25 January 2022 - Conversion of St Paul - Acts 22:3-16

     Today, we celebrate the conversion of Paul, as we hear the very dramatic account of his conversion from the Acts of the Apostles, of how he was traveling on the road to Damascus when a bright light and the voice of God came down from the heavens.  Perhaps many of us would like to experience such a dramatic and clear event in our own journeys of faith when we are trying to make a decision or when we are searching for direction in life. 

       Paul heard God calling him to a special mission: to bring the Good New of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.  Paul had been a persecutor of Christians up to this point in his life. However, Paul himself ended up being persecuted for the faith, spending an estimated time of more than 3 years in prison for his role in preaching the Gospel to the world.  I think of this whenever I go to the correctional institutions to celebrate mass with the inmates there. Prior to his conversion, Paul had been very strict in his Jewish faith and very zealous in his devotion to God's laws. We can only imagine how strong a conversion Paul had to experience in order to stay true to his calling through his struggles and hardships.  Paul spent much of his ministry spreading the Way of Jesus to Gentiles, people whom the Jewish faith would have considered unclean. 

      Paul has had a tremendous influence on our Catholic faith, so much so that we celebrated the 2000th anniversary of Paul’s birth as a jubilee year as declared by Pope Benedict XVI back in 2008 and 2009, with Benedict XVI declaring that "the church today needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle's missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice.”  We give thanks for the conversion Paul received in his life, and the conversions that still go on in our Church today.   We pray for those in the RCIA program here at St Jude and throughout the Diocese who will be entering the Church this year.  As we celebrate Paul's conversion today, let us truly appreciate Paul and the others who have passed down their faith to us. 

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

21 January 2022 - prayers of the faithful - second week of ordinary time

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

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the justice and peace of God’s kingdom. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us healing and strength.  

We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That our Church would be renewed with the Holy Spirit working within us as individuals and as a community, making us bold in our faith and dynamic witnesses of God’s love.

2. That the Gospel of life would motivate our words and our actions, helping us to reach out to the vulnerable in society, both born and unborn.  

3. As we celebrate Word of God Sunday this weekend, that we would grow in our love and embrace of God’s word in our daily lives. 

4. That we would take practical steps in striving toward Christian unity, working in collaboration with all our Christian brothers and sisters outside of the Catholic faith.  

5. For all who have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, for strength for our medical professionals and workers, for healing for the sick, and prayers for the faithful departed.  

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

We make our prayers out of faith and obedience through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  


prayers of the faithful - second week of Ordinary Time - 20 January 2022

 Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

Christ Jesus - you encourage us on our journey of faith. 

Lord Jesus - you draw us out of complacency. 

We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church, that we would bring a message of healing, wholeness, and joy to our world.

2. For the world, that our governmental leaders would help us leave behind attitudes of spite, vengeance, and revenge. 

We ask: Lord, hear your people’s prayer.

3. No matter what our status in life, whether we be engaged, married, single, widowed, or in a professed religious state, may we be committed to living out the specific vocation to which God calls us.  

4. That we would be inspired toward a deeper commitment to help and welcome those who are poor, suffering, hated or marginalized by society.

5. In this week of prayer for Christian unity, we pray for unity for the unity of all Christians, that we would work toward healing our wounds, barriers and divisions, so that together we may find more effective ways to bring healing to our broken world.

6. For all who have lost hope. May they believe that miracles can restore their lives. May they find inspiration in faith and strength through prayer.

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

We present our prayers with humble hearts through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

23 de enero de 2022 - tercer domingo del tiempo ordinario - Lucas 1:1-4; 4:14-21 - NehemĆ­as 8:2-4a; 5-6; 8-10

     Hoy, el 23 de enero, la Iglesia catĆ³lica celebra por tercer aƱo el Domingo de la Palabra de Dios, instituido por el Papa Francisco en 2019 para que se celebre todos los aƱos cada tercer domingo del Tiempo Ordinario.  El Santo Padre estableciĆ³ el Domingo de la Palabra de Dios a travĆ©s del documento “Aperuit Illis,” en el que el Papa afirma que “tras la conclusiĆ³n del Jubileo extraordinario de la misericordia, pedĆ­ que se pensara en ‘un domingo completamente dedicado a la Palabra de Dios, para comprender la riqueza inagotable que proviene de ese diĆ”logo constante de Dios con su pueblo.'" Papa Francisco explicĆ³: “Dedicar concretamente un domingo… a la Palabra de Dios nos permite, sobre todo, hacer que la Iglesia reviva el gesto del Resucitado que abre tambiĆ©n para nosotros el tesoro de su Palabra para que podamos anunciar por todo el mundo esta riqueza inagotable.”

      En Israel, sies siglos antes del nacimiento de Cristo, el Templo fue destruido y el pueblo de Israel fue deportado a Babilonia, dejando solo unos pocos campesinos en JerusalĆ©n.  DespuĆ©s de mĆ”s de 50 aƱos del exilio, se les permitiĆ³ regresar, aunque para entonces la mayorĆ­a de los sobrevivientes habĆ­an nacido en Babilonia y nunca antes habĆ­an visto JerusalĆ©n.  El sacerdote Esdras condujo una caravana a travĆ©s del desierto, llegando a una ciudad en ruinas.  ImagĆ­nese lo que aĆŗn enfrentamos tratando de continuar con la reconstrucciĆ³n en la costa despuĆ©s del huracĆ”n muy fuerte. Reconstruyeron la ciudad y el Templo, pero el esfuerzo de reconstrucciĆ³n no fue la historia completa. Desde el amanecer hasta el mediodĆ­a, Esdras estaba de pie sobre una plataforma, leyendo e interpretando la palabra de Dios frente a la gran multitud.  HabĆ­a comenzado una nueva Ć©poca por el pueblo de Israel: un Templo reconstruido para el culto, una ciudad reconstruida para vivir y el redescubrimiento de la Palabra de Dios como la fundaciĆ³n de su religiĆ³n. 

     Para los antiguos judĆ­os, especialmente para aquellos que habĆ­an regresado del exilio en Babilonia, la palabra de Dios y las leyes de Dios eran vistas no solo como la mĆ”xima autoridad, sino como el centro de la vida.  La palabra de Dios no era un obstĆ”culo o una restricciĆ³n, era esencial para la vida misma.

     Vemos que la palabra de Dios y la ley de Dios tienen el mismo papel en la comunidad mĆ”s de 500 aƱos despuĆ©s de Esdras cuando JesĆŗs proclama la palabra de Dios en la sinagoga.  Al igual que Esdras regresando a su hogar en JerusalĆ©n despuĆ©s del exilio, JesĆŗs regresĆ³ a su tierra natal en Galilea despuĆ©s de ser bautizado y pasar tiempo en oraciĆ³n. JesĆŗs leĆ­a del profeta IsaĆ­as, escrito durante la Ć©poca del exilio en Babilonia. JesĆŗs declaraba que el SeƱor lo ha enviado para llevar la buena nueva a los pobres, para dejar en libertad a los oprimidos, para proclamar un tiempo de gracia del SeƱor.  Tanto Esdras como JesĆŗs trajeron nueva vida a sus comunidades, pero la misiĆ³n de JesĆŗs es mucho mĆ”s que inaugurar una nueva Ć©poca en el plan de salvaciĆ³n de Dios.  JesĆŗs proclamaba que ha venido a devolver la vista a los ciegos, lo que tambiĆ©n significa entendimiento a los no iluminados. Sin embargo, una gran parte de la historia de los Evangelios es cĆ³mo tantas personas rechazaron este nuevo entendimiento que traĆ­a JesĆŗs.

      Al leer el libro del profeta IsaĆ­as al pueblo, JesĆŗs traĆ­a la palabra de Dios a esta realidad mientras vivĆ­a y cumplĆ­a la profecĆ­a de IsaĆ­as.  Si realmente creemos en el mensaje liberador de Jesucristo en la nueva visiĆ³n y la nueva comprensiĆ³n que Ć©l traĆ­a a nuestro mundo: ¿quĆ© diferencia deberĆ­a hacer eso para nosotros en la vida?  Las lecturas este domingo del Evangelio de San Lucas y del libro de NehemĆ­as tienen lugar en la proclamaciĆ³n de la palabra de Dios en nuestra celebraciĆ³n litĆŗrgica.  ¿CĆ³mo nos acercamos a la presencia de Dios y la presencia de su palabra cuando vamos a la misa y otras celebraciones en la Iglesia? ¿Venimos con una sensaciĆ³n de asombro, respeto y reverencia, o es solo una de obligaciĆ³n o actividad mundana? Venir a la iglesia debe ser algo especial para nosotros: entrar en este espacio de adoraciĆ³n, escuchar la palabra de Dios proclamada, recibir el Cuerpo de Cristo en la EucaristĆ­a; todo esto debe tocar nuestros corazones y nuestras almas como ninguna otra cosa en la vida.  DeberĆ­a despertar una sensaciĆ³n de asombro en nuestra vida.  Las lecturas este domingo nos dan mucho para reflexionar en cĆ³mo nos acercamos a Dios en la vidas y en cĆ³mo vemos su presencia en medio de nosotros.


Reflection - Word of God Sunday - 23 January 2022

      Back on September 30, 2019, on the memorial of the great Scripture scholar St. Jerome, Pope Francis announced that each year the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time would be celebrated as the Sunday of the Word of God in our Church’s liturgical calendar.  The Pope’s intention is that through this celebration, Catholics will grow in their study, their learning, and their love of the Holy Scriptures.  

      I look at myself as a priest, at how the Word of God is at the center of my life in so many ways.  I chose a week at random, and counted 14 Masses that I celebrated that week, 8 homilies and 2 reflections that I wrote for that week, in all of which the Word of God in Sacred Scripture had a central role.  In the homily that I present at the Mass, which I spend a considerable amount of time preparing, I as a priest am asked by the Holy Church to reflect upon the Word of God that is proclaimed at Mass.  We look at the crisis of faith that is present in the United States and in most parts of the world today, of so many people using the pandemic as an excuse to walk away from the faith or to disengage from the faith.  Perhaps getting back to the Word of God as a central part of our lives is one of the ways of reengaging people with our Catholic faith.  Pope Francis has called all of us to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus, no matter where we are on our faith journey.  Meeting Jesus in Sacred Scripture is an essential way we encounter him; there is no substitution for the role of Scripture in our life of faith.

     A good way to increase the role of the Word of God in our lives is to read Sacred Scripture on a daily basis.  Many people have followed a popular podcast this past year that encourage them to read the Bible in a year.  Attending some of the daily Masses or reading the Scripture readings for the daily Masses is a great way to increase the place of the Word of God in our lives.  Blessings to all of you as we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God.  Father Lincoln.  

prayers of the faithful - 19 January 2022 - second week of ordinary time

Lord Jesus - you call us to be faithful. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to holiness. 

Lord Jesus - you are the son of God. 

We know bring our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. That all of us Christian may bring hospitality and compassion to our brothers and sister in need.  

2. For the unemployed, for those searching for work, for those searching for value and meaning in their lives, may the Lord lead them to meaning and to their vocation in life.  

3. For our governmental leaders, that they look beyond their own self-interests and to the good of society and to the values of our faith. 

4. For parents and teachers, that by their words and actions, they may help our children find Jesus, the Lamb of God.

5. For the elderly and all who are lonely, that they may know our support during these dark winter days. 

6. For those who have died recently (especially N and N), and all the faithful departed, that God who delivered Jesus from death may raise them to eternal life.  

God our creator, you hear our cries when we are in need.  We ask that you humbly grant our petitions, we pray you, through Christ our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Saturday, January 15, 2022

20 January 2022 – Homily for Thursday of the 2nd week of ordinary time – 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

      We are in the middle of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time in the weeks that take place between the Christmas season of the beginning of the holy season of Lent, which will begin the first week of March.  We have been hearing the story of David and Saul in the book of 1 Samuel this past week.  We just heard about David as a boy slaying Goliath yesterday.  Today, we hear about Saul’s jealousy against David, because of the great love and admiration the people have for him.  Saul, in a fit of rage and jealousy, expresses his desire to kill David.  Jonathan, Saul’s son, intervenes on David’s behalf.  You might think that it would be risky for David to trust Jonathan, to trust Saul’s own son, yet at this point in the tale, things seem to work out.  

     Just as David used Jonathan as his intercessor, we also need intercessors at times on our journey.  The Church teaches us that the intercessory prayers of the saints, the martyrs of the faith, and the Blessed Virgin Mary are all helpful in guiding us and leading us along our journey of faith.  I really love learning about the saints, about their teachings and their spirituality. If you look at the book selection on the saints on Amazon, there seems to be a renaissance in interest in the saints with so much being written about them and their spirituality. May we thank the Lord today for all the intercessors who help us along our way.

21 January 2022 – Homily for Friday of the 2nd week of Ordinary Time - Samuel 24:3-21

      We hear our continuing story from the first book of Samuel for the second week in a row.  Today, we hear about David having the opportunity to kill King Saul, his nemesis, as Saul enters the cave where David is hiding.  Saul is intent on killing David himself when he enters that cave, as he sees David as his rival.  The mercy that David showed Saul when he had the chance to kill him is remarkable, a contrast to the revenge, vengeance, and vitriol we have seen in society in recent years, especially in politics and in the stress and frustration many people have felt during the pandemic.  I saw this in the attitude of the high school students I taught up in the Delta when I was a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.  So many in our modern world today would not have the discipline or compassion to show the restraint that David showed in cutting off the end of Saul's garment and then pointing out to Saul that he could have easily killed him.  Even if David had not confronted Saul and had simply allowed him to walk out of the cave unharmed without saying a word, the Lord would have known the reality of the situation. In the end, it is the Lord who judges us, who knows our motives and our desires. It is easy to show kindness to our friends, family members, loved ones, and those who are kind to us, to pray for them, but not so easy toward our enemies, is it?  

       Tomorrow, on January 22, we mark a day that has been declared a day of penance by the Catholic Bishops here in the United States in recognition of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case from 1973 that legalized abortion in our country.  This year has shown some advances in our efforts to protect the unborn, with laws passed to restrict abortion from the states of Mississippi and Texas that have been presented to the US Supreme Court.  We continue to pray for the Gospel of Life, which covers many issues, including the protection of the unborn.  May we use God's mercy and love to be a witness for life in our world as we advocate and to stand up for God's laws and commandments.  

19 January 2022 – Homily for Wednesday of the second week in ordinary time – 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

      For the past two weeks, we have been hearing from the first book of Samuel, the story of the Samuel the prophet, Saul thrst king of Israel, and now the familiar story of David and the Philistine Goliath.  Goliath is a strong professional warrior who has confidence in himself and in his abilities to fight.  When Goliath sees David approach him, he curses David in the name of his gods and describes how he is going to destroy him and leave his flesh for the wild animals to eat.  David, on the other hand, came into this meeting having confidence that the Lord would protect him.  He knows that having God on his side is more important than his own abilities. David tells Goliath that he comes against him in the name of the Lord of hosts, in the name of the God of the armies of Israel whom Goliath has insulted.  While David has confidence in God, he also does his part and cooperates with God’s will.  He doesn't just sit back and let God do all the work. David had his work to do as well.

        David went into battle with Goliath without the armor that the ancient warriors wore into battle because it would not fit him. David went into battle without the weapons an ancient warrior would traditionally use. Instead, he brought stones and a sling that a shepherd in ancient Israel would normally carry to defend their sheep against predator animals.  Many times, we also go through our journey of faith feeling vulnerable and ill equipped. Yet, we are called to trust in the Lord when we follow his path and his will in our lives. 

      When we face our goals and challenges and problems in life, we are called to see God's presence and will in what we are undertaking. Nothing is impossible for God.  However, when we try to take matters in our own hands and ignore God's will and God's path for us in our lives, we will realize that we cannot do it alone and on our own initiative no matter what the battle is.  


Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18 - 25 - 2022 - reflection

    From January 18 - 25, our Catholic Church and Churches throughout the world join together in the Week for Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme for 2022 was selected by the Middle East Council of Churches and originates from the churches in Lebanon. Present times in the Middle East and in particular in the country of Lebanon are extremely difficult and economically disastrous. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made the situation quite stressful for many people in Lebanon, in the Middle East and throughout the world. The power of prayer in solidarity with those who suffer is a demonstration of Christian unity and a sign of communion.

  As I thought about how the theme this year originated in Lebanon, I thought of the many members of the faithful from the Diocese of Jackson whose ancestors immigrated from Lebanon. That heritage is an important part of our Diocese to this day.

  The theme, taken from the second chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, is the Epiphany. Each year in January, right after Christmas, the Church recalls the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, highlighting God’s invitation to all of humanity to a new covenant in the Incarnation of Christ. In the Eastern Churches, Epiphany is joined to the mystery of the Baptism of Christ, a baptism all Christians hold in common as testimony to their faith in the Son of God.

  Matthew’s Gospel states that the Magi saw the star in the east and that they came to worship the Christ child. Today, more than ever, the Middle East needs a heavenly light to accompany its people. The star of Bethlehem is a sign that God walks with his people, feels their pain, hears their cries, and shows them compassion. It reassures us that though circumstances change and terrible disasters may happen, God’s faithfulness is unfailing. The Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps. He walks beside his people and brings them back when they are lost or in danger. The journey of faith is this walking with God who always watches over his people and who guides us in the complex paths of history and life.

  We pray for people of good will throughout the world in this Week of for Prayer for Christian Unity. We pray that one day all Christian Churches may be united as the one Body of Christ. We pray for our Church in our Catholic Diocese of Jackson and for the unity amongst all Christians.

  Have a blessed week everyone - Father Lincoln.

Prayers of the faithful - 2nd week of Ordinary Time - 18 January 2022

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary.

Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh. 

Lord God of wonder, as we reflect upon we you real yourself to us in your son, let us bring our prayers to you today: 

1. For all who seek to follow Christ, we pray that we may follow him more closely each day.  

2. For those who suffer because of the COVID-19, for healing and wholeness, for patience as we follow our safety protocols.  

3. For couples hoping to marry this year, for their time of planning and preparation as the Lord accompanies them on their journey forward holy matrimony. 

4. For more love and kindness in the world, for a great sense of thanksgiving and gratitude.  

5. For an end to all violence in our homes and in our communities. 

6. For our children and youth, as many of them return to virtual learning and as they face different challenges and obstacles throughout the school year.  

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

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

Friday, January 14, 2022

18 January 2022 - Homily for Tuesday of the second week of ordinary time - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

      We continue our first readings this week from the first book of Samuel.  God has rejected Saul as the king of Israel due to his recalcitrance.  God sends Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem, telling Samuel that he has chosen the new king of Israel from among Jesse's sons.  Samuel takes a look at one of Jesse's sons, Eliab, and is certain that he is the one whom God has chosen.  However, this is the response God gives to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him.  Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” 

        One thing I have learned in my years as a priest is that we think we can know someone's situation from what we ourselves observe and from the outward appearance, but what is going on in someone's heart can be so completely different.  In our society, we can get so caught up into looking at what's on the outside, to the externals that we see.  And that can be true of ourselves as well. We are conditioned in our society to make everything look good on the outside, to give a good appearance to the world, to try to get others to think well of us.  But, when we come down to it, it does not matter what everyone else thinks or what appearance we give to the world.  What is most important is what God sees, what God knows is going on in our hearts. 

       God chooses David to be king, a young man whom Samuel and the world thought to be an unlikely choice. May we not be quick to judge by outside appearance.  May we cultivate virtue and integrity in our hearts and not be so concerned with the superficiality of outward appearance.  

16 de enero de 2022 - segundo domingo del tiempo ordinario - Juan 2:1-12

     Como cristianos, creemos en Dios de revelaciĆ³n. Dios se nos revela en maneras diferentes.  En diciembre y en enero en nuestras Misas, Dios se ha revelado a travĆ©s de Jesucristo de maneras diferentes.  En la Misa de Navidad, Dios se revelĆ³ en el nacimiento de JesĆŗs, de este humilde niƱo nacido en un pesebre. Dios se revelĆ³ su solidaridad con toda la humanidad, ya que JesĆŗs naciĆ³ como uno de nosotros.   Dios se revelĆ³ en JesĆŗs a los viajeros gentiles de Oriente, los Reyes Magos, que venĆ­an de una parte remota del mundo. Con alegrĆ­a y gozo, los Magos vinieron a adorar al niƱo Jesucristo y traerle regalos preciosos. El domingo pasado, Dios se revelĆ³ en el bautismo de Jesucristo en el rĆ­o JordĆ”n cuando el EspĆ­ritu descendiĆ³ sobre Ć©l, con una voz que clamaba desde los cielos, llamando a JesĆŗs el Hijo amado del Padre, en quien el Padre tiene complacencia.  Este domingo, en las Bodas de CanĆ”, Dios se revela en JesĆŗs a travĆ©s de la primera seƱal de su ministerio pĆŗblico y su proclamaciĆ³n pĆŗblica del reino de Dios.

       En el Evangelio, JesĆŗs convirtiĆ³ el agua en vino en el banquete de las bodas de CanĆ”.  En el Antiguo Testamento, Israel era visto como la novia de Dios, lo cual se describe en la primera lectura de IsaĆ­as.  En el Nuevo Testamento, la Iglesia, la comunidad cristiana, a menudo se representa como la novia de Jesucristo. Cuando deseamos celebrar una ocasiĆ³n alegre, como una boda, un cumpleaƱos, un aniversario o una graduaciĆ³n, generalmente nos sentamos juntos para comer juntos un gran banquete como parte de la celebraciĆ³n. Podemos imaginar nuestra vida con Dios, nuestra vida con Jesucristo, tambiĆ©n, como banquete gozoso. Tantas veces en las Sagradas Escrituras, vemos a Jesucristo compartiendo la comida con otros, a veces con aquellos que normalmente estarĆ­an excluidos de un banquete tan grande, como los pobres, los marginados, los extranjeros, los pecadores y aquellos que la fe judĆ­a vio. como inmundo.

     Las Bodas de CanĆ” nos recuerdan la comida que celebramos juntos cada vez que tenemos la Misa.  En la EucaristĆ­a, nos reunimos para celebrar con el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo alrededor de la mesa del SeƱor, para participar de esta comida y bebida celestial. B. SĆ­, la EucaristĆ­a es sacrificio, pero la EucaristĆ­a tambiĆ©n es comida de celebraciĆ³n.  Falta algo esencial en la comprensiĆ³n de la EucaristĆ­a si llegamos y la vemos como una experiencia aburrida, si perdemos el aspecto de alegrĆ­a, celebraciĆ³n y acciĆ³n de gracias que es parte de la EucaristĆ­a.  No debemos mirar la Misa como una obligaciĆ³n aburrida o una penitencia.   Eso es lo contrario de lo que es la EucaristĆ­a. En el centro de la EucaristĆ­a, celebramos todo lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros a travĆ©s de su Hijo, Jesucristo, a travĆ©s de la vida, las enseƱanzas, el sufrimiento, la muerte y la resurrecciĆ³n de Cristo, todos los cuales son signos del gran amor de Dios por nosotros.

       En la primera carta a los Corintios en la segunda lectura, San Pablo nos recuerda el gran tesoro de dones que Dios ha dado a cada persona.  Estos dones no son simplemente para ser usados ​​por nosotros mismos y para nuestro propio beneficio individual. A travĆ©s de estos dones, podemos hacer nuestra propia contribuciĆ³n Ćŗnica a nuestra comunidad cristiana y a nuestros hermanos en la sociedad.  Estos dones nos permiten ser el Cuerpo de Cristo, como individuos y como comunidad.  AsĆ­ como celebramos el don de la EucaristĆ­a en el AƱo de la EucaristĆ­a en la DiĆ³cesis de Jackson, tenemos mucho que celebrar y estar agradecidos con muchas personas que han usado sus dones para ayudarnos en nuestro camino de fe.  Usar nuestros talentos juntos nos ayuda en nuestra celebraciĆ³n de la EucaristĆ­a, sin duda. El tono de la celebraciĆ³n de la EucaristĆ­a podrĆ­a realzarse si mĆ”s de nosotros usĆ”ramos nuestros dones y talentos para el mejoramiento de la comunidad y para contribuir a la celebraciĆ³n eucarĆ­stica. 

     No podrĆ­a hablar del Evangelio de las bodas de CanĆ” sin hablar sobre MarĆ­a nuestra Madre y la Madre de Jesucristo. Un amigo sigue recordĆ”ndome que cuando lo conocĆ­ por primera vez, me preguntĆ³ si tenĆ­a devociĆ³n por nuestra Madre MarĆ­a. Le respondĆ­: "Claro que sĆ­. Todos los sacerdotes estamos llamados a tener una fuerte devociĆ³n a MarĆ­a". Realmente mi amigo amaba esa respuesta.  Es a travĆ©s de la compasiĆ³n y la conciencia de MarĆ­a que JesĆŗs se da cuenta de que se estĆ”n quedando sin vino en la boda.   Pero MarĆ­a tambiĆ©n nos seƱala algo mĆ”s: al interpretar el Evangelio, podemos ver a MarĆ­a como representante de la Iglesia.   AsĆ­ como JesĆŗs respondiĆ³ a la fiesta de bodas a travĆ©s de MarĆ­a, JesĆŗs viene a menudo a nosotros a travĆ©s de MarĆ­a ya travĆ©s de nuestra comunidad cristiana.  La Iglesia y nuestros hermanos en Cristo nos ayudan a acercarnos a la plenitud de vida en nuestra fe.  Entonces, mientras volvemos al ritmo del Tiempo Ordinario, mientras nos alimentamos continuamente de la EucaristĆ­a y continuamos nuestro camino de fe, veamos nuestra vida como fe como un don de Dios que se transformarĆ” continuamente en el mejor vino.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

16 January 2022 - 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time - CYCLE C - The Wedding at Cana - John 2:1-12

     As Christians, we believe in God who reveals himself to us in different ways.  We believe in a God of revelation.  In the past month, in our Mass celebrations, God has revealed himself through Jesus in several ways.  At Christmas, God was revealed in the birth of Jesus, of this humble baby born in a manger.  God revealed himself to be in solidarity with all of humanity, as Jesus was born as one of us.  God revealed himself in a special way to the poor of the world, as the first people to visit Jesus were the shepherds who were tending to their flocks in the dark of night.  Then, God revealed himself in Jesus to Gentile travelers from the East, the Magi, coming from a remote part of the world.  In joy and gladness, these Magi visitors came to worship the Christ child and to bring him precious gifts.  Last Sunday, God revealed himself in Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River when the Spirit descended upon Jesus, with a voice calling out from the heavens, calling Jesus the Beloved Son of the Father, with whom the Father is well pleased.  Today, at the Wedding of Cana from John’s Gospel,  God reveals himself in Jesus through Jesus’ first sign and miracle, through the start of his public ministry and his public proclamation of God's kingdom.  

       Our Gospel today with Jesus’ miracle of turning the water into wine takes place at a wedding banquet.  In the Old Testament, Israel was seen as the bride of God, which is portrayed in our first reading from Isaiah today.  In the New Testament, the Church, the Christian community, is often portrayed as the bride of Jesus.  When we wish to celebrate a joyful occasion, such as a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, or a graduation, we usually sit down together to eat a great feast as a part of the celebration.  We can picture our life with God, our life with Jesus, as a joyful banquet as well.  So many times in Sacred Scripture, we see Jesus sharing a meal with others, sometimes with those who would normally be excluded from such a great feast in Ancient Israel, such as the poor, the outcast, the stranger, the sinner, and those the Jewish faith saw as unclean.  

      The Wedding of Cana reminds us of the meal we celebrate together each time we have Mass.  In the Eucharist, we gather to celebrate with the body and blood of Christ around the table of the Lord, to partake of this heavenly food and drink.  Yes, the Eucharist is sacrifice, but it is also a celebratory meal as well.  Something essential in our understanding of the Eucharist is missing if we come to it and we see it as a boring experience, if we miss the sense of joy, celebration, and thanksgiving that is a part of the Eucharist.  Going to Mass is not to been seen as a dreary obligation or a penance.  That is the opposite of what the Eucharist is.   At the core of the Eucharist, we celebrate all that God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ, through Christ's life, teachings, suffering, death, and resurrection, all of which are signs of God’s great love for us. 

      In his first letter to the Corinthians in our second reading, St Paul reminds us of the great treasury of gifts that God has given to each person.  These gifts are not merely to be used for ourselves and for our own individual benefit.  Through these gifts, we are able to make our own unique contribution to our Christian community and to our brothers and sisters in society.   These gifts allow us to be the Body of Christ, both individually and as a community.  Just as we celebrate the Year of the Eucharist in our Diocese, we have much to celebrate and be thankful for with many people having used their gifts to help us on our journey of faith.  Using our talents together helps us in our celebration of the Eucharist, without a doubt.  Perhaps the celebratory tone of the Eucharist could be enhanced if more of us used our gifts and talents to the betterment of the community and to contribute to our Eucharistic celebration. 

       In closing, I could not talk about today's Gospel without mentioning Mary.  A friend keeps on reminding me that when I first met him, he asked me if I had a devotion to me.  I answered him: "Of course I do.  All of us priests are called to have a strong devotion to Mary."  Many priests will tell you that without our prayers to Mary and without Mary accompanying us on our journey, we would not make it as priests.  It is through Mary's compassion and awareness that Jesus becomes aware of them running out of wine at the wedding. But Mary also points us to something else: In interpreting today's Gospel, we can see Mary as representing the Church.  Just as Jesus came to the wedding party through Mary, Jesus often comes to us through Mary and through our Church community.  The Church and our Church community help bring us closer to the fullness of life in our faith.  Mary's role in the Gospel today is a symbol of that.  
       So, as we get back to the rhythm of Ordinary Time, as we are continuously fed by the Eucharist and continue our journey of faith, let us see our life as faith as a gift from God that will be continuously transformed into the finest wine, just as the water was transformed by Jesus into the finest wine at the Wedding at Cana.  

St Jude Catholic Church - bulletin reflection - 16 January 2022 - second Sunday of Ordinary Time

   After our celebration of the final days of the Christmas season last weekend, we once again return this weekend to Ordinary Time. We will remain in Ordinary Time until we start the holy season of Lent at the beginning of March. The English name “Ordinary Time" is the translation of the Latin term “tempus per annum” (literally "time through the year"). This doesn't mean that Ordinary Time is mundane or nothing special. This means that, because Ordinary Time takes up more than half of the liturgical year and is not one of the specially designated liturgical seasons, it is referred to as the "time through the year.”

  Ordinary time does not mean that we get a break from the Liturgical Year. Throughout Ordinary Time, we continue to celebrate the mystery of Christ in all its aspects. We have different liturgical celebrations throughout Ordinary Time. We celebrate the saints whose feast days fall during Ordinary Time. And we mark special times of prayer and devotion in the Church during Ordinary Time, a couple of which will be commemorated this upcoming week. For the week of January 18 - 25, we celebrate a week of prayer for Christian unity, a tradition that is over 100 years old. Starting on January 19, the Church also prays for the Gospel of Life, with the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children taking place on January 22, the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision.

  We are looking forward to our commemoration of Lent this year. We have been dealing with the pandemic through the Lenten season these past two years. We will see where we are at in March in terms of the pandemic to see what Lenten observances are possible this year. We are glad we have the outdoor stations of the cross here at St Jude, which is always a meaningful Lenten devotion for us.

  We express our gratitude to all of you for being a part of the St Jude community. Have a blessed week everyone - Father Lincoln.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Prayers of the faithful - first week in Ordinary Time - 12 January 2022

Lord Jesus - you followed the will of the Father.

Christ Jesus - you call us to holiness.

Lord Jesus - you are seated at the right hand of the Father where you intercede for us.

Prayers of the faithful:

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. For the Church: that we may become better disciples by doing all that God asks of us.

2. For a greater recognition of the Spirit’s gifts: that we utilize the gifts that we have been given and encourage one another to build up the Body of Christ and to serve those who are in need.

3. For a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving: that we may appreciate the abundance of God’s generosity toward us and rely upon God who never tires of providing for us.

4. For deepening of our relationship with God: that we may grow in intimacy with God, the source of our life, through prayer, reflection, and service.

5. For the sick and shut-in, for the many who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

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

Reflection - Gospel of Wedding at Cana - John 2

 I hope everyone has been having a good week. We are now in Ordinary Time in our liturgical year, with next Sunday being the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. We hear a wonderful Gospel this upcoming Sunday about Jesus' first miracle at the Wedding of Cana. Below I have a link to a YouTube video from The Chosen web series depicting the Wedding at Cana. I know that we have had a lot of parishioners talking about The Chosen series, about how much they enjoy it. It is a depiction of Jesus and his ministry from the Gospels. The creators of The Chosen are getting ready to shoot the third season. The Chosen has its own app that you can download to your tablet or smart TV. Or you can watch the episodes on YouTube. The depiction of the Wedding at Cana from The Chosen gives you a glimpse of the wonderful quality of this production. Watching this short YouTube video prepare you for the Gospel at Mass this Sunday as well.

At the Wedding at Cana, we see the relationship between Jesus and his mother Mary in action, showing us how Mary was a big part of Jesus' life, his mission, and ministry. We see Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry through his miracle at the wedding. Ultimately, this Gospel story of the Wedding of Cana is a story of transformation. Just as Jesus transformed the water into wine, just as Jesus was transformed in his mission and ministry, we are transformed on our journey of faith. We are transformed into sacramental beings, into a life-giving presence in our world, just as the wine was transformed to give joy and life to the wedding guests. However, we must be open to change and transformation. We must be willing to trust and risk transformation, just as Mary trusted Jesus to take care of this situation at the wedding.

Blessings to all of you - see you at Mass this weekend.

Father Lincoln


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD88q3vGNR4



Monday, January 10, 2022

Prayers of the faithful - first week in Ordinary Time - 11 January 2022

Lord Jesus - you call us to faith. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to do your Father’s will. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to be servants as you were a servant. 

Prayers of the faithful: With faith and love, we bring our prayers to the Father of Mercy: 

1. For renewal in the Church.  That Christ will stir up the gift of the Spirit within us, making us bold in our faith and dynamic witnesses to your love.

2. For our engagement in the reality of our world, that we would be strengthened to bear daily challenges and to confront our struggles with faith. May you help us, O Lord, to find ways to heal discrimination, injustice, poverty and violence.

3. That all the baptized and confirmed be inspired to be faithful to their promises, filling us with zeal and courage.

4. For healing for all who are blind to your love. May those alienated from the Church know and feel that they are welcome. Open our hearts to all who are seeking. 

5. That you would shepherd our beloved sick and grieving. Console the homebound, those alone, afraid and imprisoned. Comfort the dying; release the addicted and the abused. Bring us peace of mind and safety during this time of pandemic.

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

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

Saturday, January 8, 2022

13 January 2022 – Homily for Thursday of first week of ordinary time – Mark 1:40-45

    We hear of the healing of the leper in today’s Gospel reading from Luke this morning.  I read a book several years ago that spoke about lepers in different ways that has stuck with me The book, entitled In the Sanctuary of the Outcasts, was written by Neil White, a man who originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and who lived in Oxford, Mississippi for a long time.  He also spent some time in Carville, Louisiana, the last functioning leper colony on the mainland of the United States.  White felt as much as an outcast as the lepers did during his time there, since he was spending his time in Carville incarcerated as a federal prisoner after living a very lavish lifestyle as a businessman and after having robbed a lot of people of the money they invested with him.  White came to that federal prison very arrogant and very full of himself, which he freely admits in his book.  Yet, he also admits that learned a lot about life, about himself, and about God through his interaction with the lepers who lived there.

         When we hear the word “leper” in our modern world, we immediately think of an outcast, of someone who is feared and condemned by the rest of society.  The name “leper” certainly has a stigma connected to it.  Lepers were greatly feared in the ancient world due to the very contagious and debilitating disease that they had. Yet, Jesus allows the leper to approach him, and he makes the leper clean due to the great faith and confidence the leper has in Jesus.

         We may want healing and miracles in our own lives, but perhaps God is enacting healing and miracles in our lives in ways that are different from our expectations.  We may come to God arrogantly and full of ourselves just as Neil White did when he entered that leper colony in Louisiana.  However, may we approach the Lord with the humility and confidence of the leper that we hear about today.  May we always have faith in our Lord.

prayers of the faithful - first week in Ordinary Time - 10 January 2022

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life.

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

Lord Jesus - you call us to take our rest in you.  

Prayers of the Faithful:

Priest: Ever mindful that Jesus is always there to show us how to listen for God’s voice and guide us according to God’s will for our lives, we present our prayers to God. 

1. For all the members of Christ’s body and Church: that we may continue to listen to God’s insistent call to help the poor and the needy.

2. For the leaders of this world, that they learn to listen for the voice of God as they carry out their earthly responsibilities to those whom they are duty-bound to serve.

3. For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons, or cold indifference.

4. For the Gospel of Life, that we may respect human life and God’s creation in our words and our actions, and we pray that all unborn children be protected in law and welcomed in love.

5. For people of all religions, that they be able to practice their faith in freedom and openness.  

6. That people everywhere receive the patience, vigilance, and understanding necessary to keep us safe during the current surge of the COVID19 pandemic. 

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

Priest: Father God, you gave us ears to hear your voice and hearts designed to live according to your will. Please help us to use these gifts to love and serve others. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

9 de enero de 2022 - el Bautismo de Nuestro SeƱor - Lucas 3:1-16; 21-22

     La celebraciĆ³n de Navidad en la Iglesia contrasta con el reconocimiento de la temporada navideƱa en el mundo secular.  En nuestra cultura secular, la temporada navideƱa comienza alrededor de Halloween o al inicio del mes de noviembre y luego termina el 26 de diciembre despuĆ©s del dĆ­a de Navidad. Sin embargo, en la Iglesia CatĆ³lica, la temporada litĆŗrgica de Navidad se inicia con la misa de la vigilia de Nochebuena y concluye con la celebraciĆ³n del Bautismo del SeƱor, que celebramos este domingo.  Durante la temporada santa de Navidad, la Iglesia nos invita a celebrar el nacimiento de Cristo en el mundo y en nuestros corazones, para reflexionar sobre el don de la salvaciĆ³n que nace con Cristo, incluido el conocimiento de que Cristo naciĆ³ para morir por nosotros. 

      La misa de este domingo celebra la forma en que JesĆŗs permitiĆ³ que su primo Juan el Bautista lo bautizara en el rĆ­o JordĆ”n antes de comenzar su ministerio pĆŗblico.  El Catecismo afirma que aunque JesĆŗs fue completamente fiel a la voluntad de su Padre y libre de todo pecado, eligiĆ³ ser bautizado pĆŗblicamente en el rĆ­o JordĆ”n para que su inmersiĆ³n en las aguas del bautismo fuera una seƱal para todos por nuestra necesidad de morir a nosotros mismos para hacer la voluntad del Padre.  A travĆ©s de su bautismo, JesĆŗs tiene solidaridad con la humanidad para reconciliarnos con el Padre. Al final del Evangelio de Mateo, JesĆŗs da la gran comisiĆ³n a sus discĆ­pulos, diciĆ©ndoles que vayan a la gente de todas partes y los hagan sus discĆ­pulos, bautizĆ”ndolos en el Padre, el Hijo y el EspĆ­ritu Santo. A travĆ©s de este mandato de bautizar, JesĆŗs establece la manera en que debemos morir al pecado, tanto el pecado original como nuestros pecados actuales, y comenzar nuestra nueva vida en Cristo y ser iniciados en el Cuerpo de Cristo en la Iglesia.


       De alguna manera, podemos ver el bautismo de Jesucristo y nuestro propio bautismo prefigurado en el Antiguo Testamento a travĆ©s de los israelitas que pasan por el Mar Rojo cuando salen de la esclavitud en Egipto y viajan a travĆ©s de la tierra que Dios les habĆ­a prometido. AsĆ­ como el Mar Rojo fue una puerta de entrada para los israelitas en su viaje en el desierto, nuestro bautismo es nuestra puerta de entrada a la Iglesia y de entrada a la fe catĆ³lica a medida que nos convertimos en miembros de la familia de Dios.  JesĆŗs, por su propio bautismo, nos deja este signo. Seguimos a JesĆŗs a las aguas del bautismo a una nueva vida que compartimos con Dios.


        Nuestro Evangelio este domingo afirma que en el momento de su bautismo, JesĆŗs oraba y el EspĆ­ritu Santo descendĆ­a sobre Ć©l como paloma.  El EspĆ­ritu Santo trabajaba en Jesucristo de maneras asombrosas.  DespuĆ©s de su bautismo y despuĆ©s de su tiempo de tentaciĆ³n en el desierto, JesĆŗs comenzĆ³ su ministerio pĆŗblico y su proclamaciĆ³n pĆŗblica del reino de Dios.  Cristo comenzĆ³ a enseƱar en las sinagogas y asombrĆ³ a todos los que lo escuchaban. Jesucristo llamĆ³ a los hombres de Galilea fuera de la vida ordinaria para que fueran sus discĆ­pulos. Hizo milagros, curĆ³ a los enfermos y expulsĆ³ demonios.  No solo seguimos a JesĆŗs a las aguas del bautismo, sino que en nuestro camino como sus discĆ­pulos, estamos llamados a entrar en su misiĆ³n y ministerio.


       Como discĆ­pulos bautizados en Cristo, estamos llamados a la acciĆ³n, a vivir la fe. A medida que continuamos el AƱo de la EucaristĆ­a aquĆ­ en la DiĆ³cesis de Jackson, estamos llamados a reflexionar sobre cĆ³mo la EucaristĆ­a no es solo el Cuerpo de Cristo que recibimos en la Misa, sino que debemos vivir como miembros del Cuerpo de Cristo en la vida diaria.  En el AƱo de la EucaristĆ­a y en la vocaciĆ³n cristiana que recibimos en nuestro bautismo y el espĆ­ritu de la EucaristĆ­a, podemos mirar este domingo las obras de misericordia corporales que podemos tener en nuestras acciones. Al salir de la misa, recibirĆ” una hoja de las obras de misericordia.  Hay 7 obras de misericordia corporales y 7 obras de misericordia espirituales, pero hoy vamos a hablar sobre las obras corporales. Estas obras de misericordia son: dar de comer al hambriento, dar de beber al sediento, vestir al desnudo, visitar a los encarcelados, dar posada al peregrino, visitar a los enfermos y enterrar a los muertos.  Voy a darles un ejemplo de mi vida como sacerdote: Durante las dos semanas alrededor de Navidad, tuve cuatro funerales, solo uno de los cuales fue un miembro de muestra parroquia de St Jude. Veo hacer esos funerales como lo que puedo hacer como sacerdote para ayudar a enterrar a los muertos. 


        Este domingo, es bueno para reflexionar sobre nuestro propio bautismo que tenemos en nuestro discipulado en Cristo, reflexionando tambiĆ©n sobre las obras de misericordia corporales. Incluso si hacemos algunas de estas obras de misericordia con regularidad en nuestra vida diaria, tal vez podamos pensar en una que podrĆ­amos hacer que no sea parte de nuestra forma de vida habitual.  Dentro de esta prĆ³xima semana, trata de hacer esa obra de misericordia.  AdemĆ”s, reflexione realmente sobre las obras de misericordia y cĆ³mo puede incorporarlas mĆ”s plenamente en su vida de fe.  De hecho, asĆ­ como celebramos hoy el Bautismo de nuestro SeƱor Jesucristo, tambiĆ©n celebramos la llamada que recibimos en nuestro propio bautismo.

Friday, January 7, 2022

12 January 2022 - homily for Wednesday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 3:1-10,19-20

       These past few days, we have been hearing the story of Samuel, of how his mother came to the Lord in her shame and in her agony of being barren, of his mother's promise of her son to serve the Lord for his entire life if God would give her the gift of a son. We now see Samuel as a boy in his service to the Lord as an apprentice to the priest Eli.  God calls out to Samuel twice in the silence of the night, but both Eli and Samuel are not able to recognize the special presence of the Lord that is with them.  On the third call, Samuel is able to answer to the Lord’s call, telling the Lord that he is his servant and that he is indeed listening. The Lord consecrates Samuel as his specially chosen prophet who is able to transmit the Lord’s word to his people.  

     We receive God’s call in our lives in different ways.  Sometimes we want to hear the word of the Lord in the same way Samuel heard it, speaking to us in very clear words in the silence of the night.  Often, time God’s word in her in the silence of our hearts.  We do not hear the words, but we know in our heart that God is calling us to do something. However, we can easily mistake God’s call for something else.  Through the people in our lives and through our experiences, God is calling us to his love and to his service.  He is calling us to come close to him. 

     We also must remember that in our baptism, we were anointed in the line of Jesus as priest, prophet, and king.  By our baptismal calling, we are called to bring God’s prophetic message to the world through our words and our actions.  

     However, we often cannot hear God’s call on our own.  Just as Eli helped Samuel discern God’s call, we have spiritual directors to help us discern God’s will and God’s call for us.  Even we priests have spiritual directors to discern his call for us in our service as priests.  May we be open to God’s call for us, no matter what it may be. 

14 January 2022 - Friday of the first week in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a; Psalm 89

      For many generations, the people of ancient Israel had been led by a confederation of tribes.  However, God brought forth leaders, priests, and prophets throughout Israel's history to lead his people. The tribes were supposed to help and protect each other, but often times they were too weak or too disorganized to be effective. Many of the books of the Old Testament show the failures that happened to the people of Israel because of their lack of unity and trust.

         In our first reading today, the people approach Samuel, wanting a king for their nation after seeing the other nations around them prosper and gain military victories under the leadership of kings.  However, Samuel responds to the people that they already have a king, that they simply need to be more faithful to the king that they already have. But, to the people, having God as their king is not good enough; they want more, they want what their neighbors have. 

         Isn't that so much a part of our human nature today as well? Often, what we have isn't good enough for us.  So many in our society and in our world today envy the prosperity, success, and material goods of their neighbor.  Samuel tells the people of Israel what it will cost them when they make things other than God their king.  The same is true for us today.  The people of Israel refuse to listen to Samuel.  For us as well, if we do not listen to God, there will be a price to pay. 

      In the midst of our suffering, our afflictions, and our infirmities, we come to the Lord for healing and wholeness out of our humility and our love for God.  We ask God to enter our hearts and our lives in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. 

       The psalmist tells us in Psalm 89 that we are blessed if we walk in the light of the Lord, if we rejoice in God's name & if we exalt in his justice.  May we truly follow in our hearts this road of faith that the Lord has put before us.       


 

11 January 2022 - Tuesday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 1:9-20

Yesterday, we heard of Hannah’s pain and shame of being barren, feeling that the Lord had abandoned her.  Hannah brings her sufferings to the Lord at his sanctuary at Shiloh.  She promises God that is he gives her the gift of a son, that she would dedicate that child to service to the Lord for his entire life, in contrast to the promises made by the males of the tribe of Levi, who serve the Lord from age 25 to age 50.  Her son would be dedicated to service in the Lord’s sanctuary at Shiloh.  Hannah receives a blessing of peace from Eli, who prays that the God of Israel grant Hannah what she had asked of him in her prayers.  

This past weekend, we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord in the final day of the Christmas season.  I think of the baptisms we have at St Jude, of the joy and hope in which parents have their children baptized, in which they promise to bring up their children as disciples of Christ, as members of the Body of Christ in the Church.  All of us are called to honor our baptismal promises, to follow God’s law and God’s will in our lives.  God can answer our prayers in different ways, just as he answered the prayers of Hannah.  Through our baptismal promises, we promise to serve just as Christ served, to carry our crosses and to follow him.  

prayers of the faithful - Friday of the Christmas season after Epiphany - 7 January 2021

Lord Jesus - you are a light to the nations. 

Christ Jesus - you are our hope. 

Lord Jesus - you are the Son of God. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

As we journey through the last days of the Christmas season, let us bring our prayers to our loving and merciful God.  ​

For the Church: that, through our words and deeds, we may be a light to those who are searching for direction and a sign of hope for those seeking to begin again. 

For a deeper awareness of the signs along our spiritual journey: that we learn from the people and experiences in our lives how to recognize God’s presence and invitations. 

For God’s blessing on the New Year: that God will fill the coming days with health of body, mind, and spirit; that God will renew the gifts of the Spirit within us, and inspire us with new ways to share the Good News with others. 

For greater trust: that, like three Magi we celebrated this week, God’s Light may guide us through the unknown of the coming days as we rely more deeply on God’s love and care for us. 

For a great utilization of our gifts and talents: that we may offer all our gifts to God and use them in the service of God’s reign.   

For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.  

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday today, we present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

10 January 2022 - Monday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 1:1-8

Today we start the first week in ordinary time, as we ended the season of Christmas yesterday with the feast of the Baptism of our Lord.  This week we will hear from the first book of Samuel in the Old Testament.  In the beginning of the first book of Samuel, we meet Elkanah, a man with two wives, which was common according to the custom of the day.  While the one wife, Penninah has borne several children, his other wife Hannah is barren.  In ancient society, where the continuation of the family line was of utmost importance, not being able to bear children was a painful experience for a wife.  Hannah grieves that she is without children and that she is mocked by Penninah.  Had God abandoned her? 

       It is easy for us to regret that God has not given us a gift that we truly would like to have.  We do not get the job we yearn for.  Marriages can end in divorce.  We want to be talented in sports or music, but we are just ok.  We study for a test, but then we fail. We try to do well at work, but then we get fired, or we don’t get the promotion we want.  In such situations, all we can see sometimes is mockery or criticism or failure.  Why, God, why? - is our cry.  God is at work in our lives.  Sometimes it is hard to see God in our anger, our frustration, our pain, our failure, and our deficiencies.  Sometimes we don’t realize how God was at work in our lives until years later.  Sometime the darkness and the pain can bring forth new birth and new life.  

Thursday, January 6, 2022

9 January 2022 - The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - Luke 3:15-16 and 21-22

      Each year, it strikes me more and more how our celebration of Christmas in the Church contrasts to our secular world’s recognition of the Christmas season.  In secular culture, it seems like the Christmas season starts either around Halloween or early November and then ends on December 26 after Christmas Day has passed.  However, in the Catholic Church, the liturgical season of Christmas starts with the vigil masses on Christmas Eve and concludes with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate this weekend.  During the holy season of Christmas, our Church invites us to celebrate the birth of Christ into the world and into our hearts, to reflect upon the gift of salvation that is born with Christ, including the knowledge that Christ was born to die for us.  

      Today’s feast celebrates the way Jesus allowed himself to be baptized by his cousin John the Baptist in the Jordan River before he started his public ministry.  The US Catechism for Adults states that although Jesus was completely faithful to the will of his Father and free from all sin, he chose to be publicly baptized in the Jordan River so that his immersion into the waters of baptism would be a sign to all of humanity for our need to die to ourselves in order to do the Father’s will.  Through his baptism, Jesus shows solidarity with humanity in order to reconcile us to the Father.  At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives the great commission to his disciples, telling them to go to people everywhere and to make them his disciples, baptizing them in the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit.  Through this mandate to baptize, Jesus establishes the manner by which we are to die to sin, both original sin and our actual sins, and to begin our new life in Christ and to be initiated into the Body of Christ in the Church.  
       In some ways, we can see the Baptism of Jesus and our own baptism being foreshadowed in the Hebrew Scriptures through the Israelites passing through the Red Sea as they leave slavery in Egypt and travel through the land that God had promised to them.  Just as the Red Sea was a gateway passage for the Israelites on their journey, so our baptism is our gateway into the Church and into the Catholic faith as we become members of God’s family.  Jesus, through his own baptism, leaves us this sign.  We follow Jesus into the waters of baptism into a new life that we share with God.  
     Our Gospel today states that at the time of his baptism, Jesus prayed and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove.  The Holy Spirit worked in Jesus in amazing ways. After his baptism and after his time of temptation in the desert, Jesus began his public ministry and his public proclamation of God’s kingdom. He started teaching in the synagogues and astonished all who heard him.  He called men out of ordinary life to be his disciples.  He performed miracles, cured the sick, and cast out demons.  Not only do we follow Jesus into the waters of baptism, but in our journey through life as his disciples, we are called to enter into his mission and ministry.  
       As I state often as a priest, we as disciples baptized in Christ are called to action, to live out our faith.  As we continue our journey in the Year of the Eucharist here in the Diocese of Jackson, we are called to reflect upon how the Eucharist is not just the Body of Christ we receive in Mass, but we are to live as members of the Body of Christ in everyday life as well.  As I thought about the Year of the Eucharist that we are currently celebrating and how we can live out our Christian vocation that we receive in our baptism and the spirit of the Eucharist, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy come to mind.  As you leave Mass today, you will receive a handout of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, of which there are seven in each category.  The corporal works of mercy are probably very familiar to you: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, giving shelter to the homeless, visiting the sick, and burying the dead.  During the two weeks around Christmas, I had four funerals, only one of which was a St Jude parishioner.  I see doing those funerals as what I can do as a priest to help bury the dead.  The spiritual works of mercy are perhaps less familiar to us.  They include: admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injury, and praying for the living and the dead.  One example is perhaps being able to forgive someone who has committed a wrong against us.  Forgiveness can be one of the most difficult and challenging things we do as human beings.  Perhaps there is so resentment or anger in our hearts that has been weighing on us that we find difficult to forgive.  
       As we think about our own baptism that initiated us into discipleship in Christ, perhaps we could reflect upon the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and perform one on them in an intentional way this week.  Even if we regularly do some of these works of mercy, maybe we can think of one we could do that is not part of our regular way of life.  Within this upcoming week, try to do that work of mercy.  Also, really reflect upon the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and think of how you can more fully incorporate them in your life of faith.  For indeed, as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ today, we also celebrate the call we receive in our own baptism. 

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Reflection on Peace and Catholic prayer for peace for our communities - Father Lincoln - 6 January 2022

I remember being in St Peter Square on January 1, 2011 with the St Richard Youth Choir, listening the message of peace for the world proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, a peace message that the Popes always pray with the world at the new year. I recently saw in the news that the city of Jackson had 153 homicides in 2021, giving us a homicide rate per resident that is the highest in the nation, almost double the rate in cities like New Orleans and Memphis. That is an incredibly sad statistic. My hometown of Chicago had a large increase in the number of homicides in 2021, like many other big cities in our country. A friend of mine in the San Francisco area had his truck broken into and had his two bicycles stolen. He showed me a photo of a car parked on the street where the owner had a hand-written note attached to the window of the car, pleading that no one break into his car, that it had no valuables in it. This is all happening while attendance at church is down and many people are claiming that they are no religious. It should sadden all people to see this violence and division that exists in society today.

It is important that we work for justice and that we pray for peace. In my homily this upcoming weekend on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I am going to talk about the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, which are tangible actions we can take to work for peace.

I would like to share with you a prayer for peace in our communities that was adapted from the US Bishops a few years ago. Blessings to all of you. Have a blessed end to your week. I hope to see you all at Mass this weekend as we commemorate the end of the Christmas season.

Father Lincoln

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Let us pray: O Lord our God, in your mercy and kindness, no thought of ours is left unnoticed, no desire or concern of ours is ignored. You have proven that blessings abound when we fall down on our knees in prayer, and so we turn to you with our needs. So many of our communities are filled with violence and cries for justice. In our midst, we hear your voice telling us what is required: “Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Fill us with your mercy so that we, in turn, may be merciful to others. Strip away pride, suspicion, and racism, so that we may seek peace and justice in our communities. Strengthen our hearts so that they may beat only to the rhythm of your holy will. Shine your light on our path as we walk humbly toward a future that is filled with hope and reconciliation, encounter and unity. Be with us, O Lord, in our efforts, for only by the prompting of your grace can we progress toward virtue. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.