9 November 2022 - 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.  There are four major basilicas in Rome: St Peter, St Paul, St Mary Major, and St John Lateran. It seems like the Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican seems to get more attention and glory when compared to the other basilicas. However, it is St John Lateran Basilica in Rome that is the oldest and the highest ranking of those four basilicas. St John Lateran is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome. St John Lateran Basilica is also called the Church of Holy Savior or 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.

       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, they 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 them 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. 

6 November 2022 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Luke 20:27-38

        In the month of November, at our parish and throughout the Catholic Church, we pray for our dearly departed loved ones in a special way since November is the month of remembrance. We prayed for our dearly departed loved ones in special way on All Saints Day and All Souls Day at the beginning of the month. In that context, we might reflect upon how in Jesus’ day, many people had questions about what life after death would be like, just as many in our modern world struggle with the significance of both life and death as we live out our lives here on earth. 

         Our 1st reading from the 2nd book of Maccabees takes us almost 2 centuries before Christ, when the Jews in Ancient Israel were struggling to live out their faith against an occupying Greek government that forbid their Jewish religious practices. We hear of a woman and her 7 sons who were arrested by the Greek king; they are subjected to cruel torture in an attempt to get them to eat pork in violation of Jewish religious law. One by one the sons are put to death with their mother as a witness.Yet, they stand firm, willing to die for the faith of their ancestors.  We might not understand how being forced to eat pork would be grounds for giving up our lives, but to this family, eating pork was an act of betrayal against God and his laws.  The sons were willing to give up their lives with the hope of the resurrection, that the Lord would raise them up after death.

         Throughout history, many men and women have given up their lives for the faith, witnesses to the values of the Gospel.  As we celebrated All Saints Day on Tuesday of last week, we think of the holy men and women who make up our community of saints. Perhaps we can all think of a lot of martyrs who have given up their lives for the faith.  There are other ways one can give up one's life for the faith as well.  Last Thursday, we celebrated the feast day of St Martin de Porres.  He was born in Peru in 1579, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a free African slave.  Martin grew up being discriminated for his racial heritage, and pledged his life as a youth became a servant at a Dominican monastery, because under Peruvian law, he was barred from full-membership in a religious order if he had African or indigenous blood. Yet, Martin persevered, using his gifts to serve as a member of the body of Christ. Because of his compassion and witness, the Order eventually broke the law and allowed him to take his vows as a lay brother in the Dominican order. Martin was legendary for carrying a broom with him everywhere he went, using his broom to sweep out the living quarters of the poor whom his visited. He eventually founded an orphanage, a hospital, and a refuge house for sick animals.  In his love and humility, in his life dedicated to Christian service, Martin gave up his life to serve God and God’s holy people.  His belief in the resurrection and in the new life he had in Christ allowed him to overcome all the obstacles and challenges in life that he faced in order to dedicate his life to God. Just like the woman and her 7 sons in today’s 1st reading, Martin had no fear of death or of the harm he could suffer at the hand of man.  

         Our belief in the resurrection, our belief in the salvation we have in Christ, should be the source and summit of our lives. But, like the convoluted situation that the Sadducees posed to Jesus in their questioning of him, perhaps we also have difficulty in fully understanding the connection between the resurrected life that we have after death and the reality of resurrection of Jesus that already brings us new life here on earth. We often see people living in two extremes here on earth.  Some in our society seem to think that earthly pleasure is all that matters, that we don’t need faith in God, that instead, we can live by our own man-made laws and our man-made code of morality.  On the other extreme, we see some who are zealous in the way they live out their religious faith, trying to obey the letter of the law to the smallest detail, but violating the spirit of God’s love and mercy, finding little joy in the way they live out their faith. When we don’t see the continuity between our lives here on earth and the eternal life that is to come, then we can easily fall into one of these two extremes in the way we live out our life here on earth.  God calls us to see our earthly lives and our lives after our earthly death as one continuous journey in the light of our faith. The values of God’s kingdom that guide and lead us in life are to help us progress toward our eternal destiny. 

         St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Thessalonians that our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father give us encouragement in the graces we receive on our journey of faith, that our hearts are encouraged and strengthened by every good deed and word we undertake for the faith.  Paul prayed that we like the Thessalonians be delivered from the perversity and wickedness that can entrap us here on earth, that we place our trust in the way we are instructed in order to live out the true faith. If the decisions we make in this life are uncaring, unloving, self-centered and superficial, if the way we live turns our hearts away from God, then we are not preparing ourselves in the eternal ways of God’s kingdom. 

       After our earthly life ends, we continue in eternal life in union with God, a point that the mother and her sons in 2nd Maccabees understood when they were willing to die for their faith. Our faith shapes us: we become what we believe and what we practice here on earth. We become what we believe when we enter eternal life in Christ. One of my favorite Catholic authors is Father Ron Rolheiser;  his column is often in the Mississippi Catholic newspaper. In his book The Holy Longing, Rolheiser recounts a conversation with a young man of 24 years of age who was dying of cancer. Though this young man was in touch with the severity of his illness and the short time he had left on earth, he reflected that there were things that were worse than dying young – the worse tragedy the young man thought we could go through in life would be to end our lives without loving others and without having expressed our affection to those we love. 

     I think love of the mother and her sons to live and die for their faith in 2nd Maccabees. I think of the love of missionaries who travel to a foreign land with the knowledge that they may have to give up their lives for the faith they are proclaiming to others. We are called to live in hope, trust, and love.  Our faith helps us to let go of our fears, our sins, and our faults.  In life and in death, we give ourselves over to God’s love and mercy. 

prayer of St Charles Borromeo -- in honor of his feast day - 4 NOVEMBER 2022

Prayer of St Charles Borromeo 

Almighty God, you have generously made known to human beings the mysteries of your life through Jesus Christ your Son in the Holy Spirit.  Enlighten our minds to know these mysteries which your Church treasures and teaches.

Move our hearts to love the mysteries of the Church and our wills to live in accord with them.  Give us the ability to teach this Faith to others without pride, without ostentation, and without personal gain.

Let us realize that we are simply your instruments for bringing others to the knowledge of the wonderful things you have done for all your creatures. Help us to be faithful to the tasks that you have entrusted to us. Amen.

Bulletin reflection - 6 November 2022 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

     The month of November is traditionally a time in which the Catholic community remembers those who have passed from their lives here on earth. It is related to the fact that the end of November is the end of the liturgical year, with a new liturgical year starting the First Sunday of Advent, which is November 27th this year. The Church uses the end of the year as a time to reflect upon the end of our lives here on earth, the end times to come, and the hope of new life that awaits us in God’s eternal kingdom. We give thanks for those who have gone before us; we look with prayer and hope to their new life in heaven and our desire to join them there one day.  We will continue to pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed throughout the month of November, especially our loved ones and the members of our faith community who have gone on to eternal life.   We also pray in a special way for the soul in purgatory in the process of purification.  

       We always pray for our children and our youth, aware of the opportunities and the challenges they face in the modern world, of the many messages they receive from the secular world that are in conflict with the values of our faith.  Each month, Pope Francis has a special prayer intention for which he asks us to pray.  In November, the Pope asks us to pray for children who are suffering in the world today, especially for those children who are homeless, orphans, and victims of war; may all children be guaranteed access to education and the opportunity to experience family affection.

        This week, on Thursday and Friday, I will be traveling to St Meinrad seminary in southern Indiana to be a presenter at a workshop for new pastors. I always enjoy helping the new pastors who come from different Diocese.  I look forward to being back with all of you next weekend for the Masses.  Have a blessed week everyone.  Father Lincoln.   

Prayers of the faithful - 11/6/2022 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction: As the days grow shorter, as leaves fall from the trees, and as the last or the crops are harvested, the Church calls to mind those who have died and of Jesus’ promise to eternal life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus affirms the resurrection of the dead as some of the religious authorities of the day refuted that belief.  May our faith in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, give us hope during these dark days.  

Lord Jesus - you bring us new life. 

Chest Jesus - you are a sign of hope for those who seek you. 

Lord Jesus - your is the way that lead us to salvation. 

Priest: As we present our prayers to our heavenly Father, we call to mind our needs, the needs of the Church, and the needs of the world:

1. For the Church: That our faith in the resurrection may console those facing death, give hope to the baptized, and provide a powerful witness to the world, we pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for our elections taking place this Tuesday, that the Holy Spirit may lead us and guide us in choosing our elected official according to the values of our faith, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay leadership in the Church, that more men and women will realize their call from God to dedicate their lives to serving God and his people, we pray to the Lord. 

4. That our faith community may provide consolation and support for those who mourn the loss of a loved one, giving witness to Jesus’ promise of everlasting life, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For the unemployed.  For those looking for a new job.  For those searching for their vocation in life.  We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their search.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the sick and the shut-in.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  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 life, we ask you that your hear our fervent prayers and give us the courage and strength to witness to your love.  We present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

4 November 2022 - feast day of St Charles Borromeo - Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus, you proclaim justice.  

Christ Jesus, you call us to be good stewards of our gifts and treasures. 

Lord Jesus, you call us to faith. 

With humble hearts, let us present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For all leaders of government on the national, regional, and local levels: that God will inspire them with new ways to promote the welfare of citizens and the common good. 

2. For all who are in need; for the poor, the homeless, the widow, the orphan and those on the margins of society: that God will open our eyes and hearts to their needs and their presence in our communities. 

4. For the homebound: that they may experience God with them and support from our Christian community

5. For all who are recovering from natural disasters: that God will give them courage and guide them to the assistance which they need. 

6. For all who are bound by addictions of different kinds, especially to drugs and alcohol: that God will break the bonds that hold them, help them to seek assistance and guide them to people who will support and challenge them to live in a new way. 

7. For all seminarians on the feast day of St Charles Borromeo, especially those seminarians studying for the Diocese of Jackson. 

8. For the sick and shut-in and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  

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

Our we unite our prayers with St Charles Borromeo, we prayers these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN. 

prayers of the faithful - feast day of St Martin de Porres - 3 November 2022 - Thursday of the 31st week in ORDINARY TIME

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to carry our crosses. 

Lord Jesus - you are our Savior and Redeemer.  

As we journey together in faith, and as we celebrate St Martin de Porres today and his spirit of social justice, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. We pray for our Church leaders and our governmental leaders as the lead us during these challenging times.  For wisdom and courage for them.  We pray for our national election which is coming up next week.    

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

3. In honor of St Martin de Porres, we pray that all of us may work for justice in the reality of our lives and to bring about greater understanding and collaboration between different cultures and nations.  

4. For unity and solitary in our nation and throughout the world.  

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

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

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

As we unite our prayers with the prayers of St Martin de Porres today, we present our prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

3 NOVEMBER 2022 – Thursday of 31st week in ordinary time - FEAST DAY OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES – Luke 15:1-10

       We’ve all been lost before, when we couldn’t find our way.   When we’re lost, it is not a very good feeling. I remember a couple of times when I was walking to one of the villages in the jungle as a missionary in Ecuador, thinking I had made a wrong turn or didn’t know where I was going.  I was terrified. I didn’t know how I would find my way back, I didn’t know who would help me. Luckily, I always seemed to find my way back somehow, or I always found someone to give me directions. 

      Today, we hear Jesus telling the parable of the lost sheep.  If only one of a flock of 100 sheep is lost, the good shepherd finds him and brings him back.  Jesus is that good shepherd for us.  No matter how lost we feel, Jesus is there ready to carry us on his shoulders, helping us in our time of need.

       There a lot of different shepherds that the Lord has entrusted to care for his flock throughout history.  The saints represent the image of the Good Shepherd in different ways.  Martin de Porres, a Dominican lay brother from Peru from the 16th century, is the saint we celebrate today.  Martin faced a lot of discrimination and racism in colonial Latin American society, being the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed African slave.  The shame Martin’s father felt over this reality caused him to abandon his family.   However, Martin never gave up: he used his gifts to contribute to the Body of Christ, even though that was not always so easy for him. Martin's compassion for the poor, for animals, and for the sick of Lima, Peru made him a legend in his own time.  Even in the midst of a society and a Church that put a lot of obstacles in his path, his compassion and humble nature won over people's hearts and brought many to God.  The broom became his symbol, because he would bring a broom with him to clean the living quarters of the sick and the poor when he would visit them.He eventually founded an orphanage and a children's hospital in Lima, Peru to care for the poor, and even a refuge that would care for sick and injured animals. From the alms he collected, he fed over 150 poor people a day. Martin was canonized as a saint by Pope John XXIII in 1962 – he is the patron saint of the poor and of social justice.  He is still known today as the saint of the broom. We remember Martin de Porres today and unite our prayers with his prayers.  His example of faith and how he reached out to the poor, the marginalized, and the lost ties in well to our Gospel parable of the lost sheep. 

4 November 2022 - St Charles Borromeo - Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time - Luke 16:1-8

     The month of November is only a few days old, but already we have had some major celebrations in the Church.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, we celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Yesterday, we celebrated St Martin de Porres, a saint of social justice from Lima, Peru who was born in the 16th century. Today, we not only celebrate the First Friday Mass dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a favorite devotion of mine, but we also celebrate St Charles Borromeo.  

       Charles Borromeo was born in the tumultuous 16th century, the era of the Protestant Reformation.  A book I read a couple of years ago was entitled: True Reformers: Saints of the Catholic Reformation.  We often think of the reformers who brought about the Protestant Reformation, as Reformation is commemorated in Protestant church on October 31 each year.  However, there was a lot of renewal and reform going on in the Catholic Church in this same era, which may not be common knowledge for a lot of Catholics.  In that book, Charles Borromeo is listed as one of the reforming saints in the era of the Reformation, along with St Thomas More, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, and St Francis de Sales.  In many ways, Charles Borromeo made an unlikely reformer.  He was a member of the influential Medici family.  His uncle became Pope Pius IV in 1559.  While he was still a young man, Charles was named deacon-cardinal and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan.  He later became the secretary of state for the Vatican, assuming responsibility for the papal states.  He was ordained a priest at the age of 25 and became the Bishop of Milan.  Charles was very influential at the Council of Trent, keeping the sessions on track when they were on the verge of falling apart.  In addition, he is well-known for promoting the system of seminaries that we have today to educate our priests. He could have lived a life of great luxury and privilege, but he gave much of his wealth to charity, led a very simple life, and took out enormous debts in order to feed the victims of the plague in his city.  

     Our Gospel today talks about the stewardship of our treasures.  We can definitely see in the life of Charles Borromeo a dedication to the good stewardship of all that the Lord gave to him, of all that was entrusted to him for the people of God.  We unite our prayers with the prayers of St Charles Borromeo today.  May his spirit of renewal and charity be alive in our Church today.  

prayers of the faithful - ALL SOULS DAY - 2 November 2022

Priest: As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the saints during November, the month of remembrance, we present our prayers to the God of mercy and compassion: 

1. For our friends, family members, and members of our faith community who have died, may they rest in peace. We pray to the Lord. 

2. For those who have lost their lives through war or violence, that the tragedy of their deaths may motivate people to work for peace and justice.  We pray to the Lord.  

3. For those who have died through accidents or suicide, that their loss may remind us of the sacredness and fragility of our lives here on earth.   We pray to the Lord.  

4. For those who are overcome by grief, that the power of Christ’s love may lift them up, heal them, and renew their hope.  We pray to the Lord.  

5. For those departed souls who have no one to pray for them, that they may always have the benefit of the prayers we offer in the Church for the faithful departed. We pray to the Lord.  

6. For the repose of the souls in the process of purification in purgatory.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For all our relatives and friends who have gone before us in faith, may their spirit and prayers live within us.  We pray to the Lord.  

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

God of light: to live in your house is the desire of all your children.  Hear our prayers and help us in all our needs.  We ask these prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.

October 2022 prayer intention of Pope Francis

We pray for Pope Francis’s prayer intention for the month of October 2022: For a Church Open to Everyone: We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality. AMEN.

I love this prayer intention of Pope Francis. We hope to live up to this ideal at our parishes of Holy Savior in Clinton and Immaculate Conception in Raymond.

Prayers of the faithful - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - 30 October 2022

Introduction:  We come today to Mass as we encounter the Lord in his holy word and in the Eucharist.  As the Lord brought salvation to Zacchaeus and his house, may the Lord bring salvation to us all. 

Lord Jesus - you came to seek and save the lost, Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you are gracious and merciful, Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you bring salvation to those who place their trust in you, Lord have mercy. 

Priest: God, the creator of all, brings his life to his creation.   Let us be confident that God will hear our prayers today:

For the Church, that we bring joy and enthusiasm to our encounters with the Lord, and that we encounter the Lord in the least of our brothers and sisters, let us pray to the Lord. 

For those in government and in positions of authority may respect the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death, especially in the formulation of laws and policies, let us pray to the Lord. 

For those who are unable to be in Mass with us today due to their health or due to life circumstances, and for those who bring the Eucharist to them, that God may bless them in the Body and Blood of Christ, let us pray to the Lord. 

That our community of faith may welcome visitors and those who are curious and searching in their faith, that we may help them recognize God’s presence with them, let us pray to the Lord. 

For our first responders, for the men and women serving in the military, for our medical professionals, for all who protect us in society, let us pray to the Lord.  

For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord. 

For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all of our intentions both spoken and unspoken, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest:  God of love and mercy, hear us as we call out to you, looking at our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters, and respond to us according to your divine will.  We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Bulletin reflection - October 30, 2022 - 31st Sunday in ORDINARY TIME

It is hard to believe we are coming up to the end of October as next week we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We will have special Masses at Holy Savior on Tuesday and Wednesday to commemorate those two important celebrations in our liturgical year. On Wednesday, we will also have adoration of the blessed sacrament from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at which time we will offer the sacrament of reconciliation. We invite you to join on those days as a part of your journey of faith.

I love the story of Zacchzeus that we hear in the Gospel today. Zacchaeus’ search for something in his life and his curiosity about Jesus and his ministry led him to climb a tree to seek him out. May the Lord propel our curiosity and our search for meaning to want to learn more about him, to want to engage more on our journey of faith.

I have now been with all of you for four months at Holy Savior. I feel very blessed to be here with all of you. I had a lot of travel for the Diocese scheduled in these first months I was here. Fortunately, that travel time is over, and I look forward to spending more time with all of you and getting to know you. I am thankful for all the parishioners who volunteer in our parish in different ministries and in getting things done, for all of your generosity that allows our parish to operate. I am thankful for our wonderful staff. Have a blessed week everyone - Father Lincoln

prayers of the faithful - ALL SAINTS DAY - 1 NOVEMBER 2022

Lord Jesus - you bless the poor in Spirit - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to a path of holiness - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to justice and peace - Lord have mercy. 

As we unite our prayers with the prayers of the community of saints in our celebration of All Saints Day, we present our prayers to our merciful God. 

1. For the Holy Catholic Church, for Francis our Pope, Joseph our Bishop, and for all of our church leaders, for wisdom and clarity of mission as they lead the people of God, we pray to the Lord:

2. For the governmental leaders of the world, that they would promote justice, holiness, and respect for human life, and work together for the good of all, we pray to the Lord:

3. For our church community here at Holy Savior and in the Diocese of Jackson, that we would model our lives after the holy men and women of God, becoming more like Christ in all ways, we pray to the Lord:

4. In thanksgiving for the saints of God, for the love and mercy they have shown to the world, and for the example of faith they give to us, we pray to the Lord:

5. For those who are sick or suffering in any way, may they be comforted with the love of Christ. For healing for all of us in mind, body and spirit.  We pray to the Lord:

6. For all those who have died, that the light of Christ would shine upon them. In a special way, we pray for the souls in the process of purification in purgatory, we pray to the Lord:

7. For our own personal needs and intentions that we now recall in our hearts, we pray to the Lord:

As we honor the saints today in our celebration of All Saints Day, we make these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.  

30 de octubre de 2022 - XXXI domingo del tiempo ordinario - Lucas 19:1-10

      Podemos recordar el cuento del Evangelio de San Lucas donde el joven le preguntó a Cristo lo que debe hacer para entrar la vida eterna.  Esta joven sabía las leyes y los mandamientos de Dios, pero cuando Jesús le dijo que él debe vender todo lo que tiene y distribuir este dinero a los pobres, este joven salió desanimado.  El joven no estaba dispuesto a hacer un compromiso firme a la vida de discipulado con Cristo.  Este joven estaba buscando algo, pero él estaba perdido en su camino también.  En el Evangelio este domingo, también del Evangelio de San Lucas, hay otro alma perdida: el publicano Zaqueo.  Pero este cuento tiene una diferencia muy importante.

     Jesús se encontró a Zaqueo en la ciudad de Jericó. Jericó era una ciudad comercial muy rica - Zaqueo ganó todo su dinero cobrando los impuestos de los judíos por los romanos. Zaqueo era un hombre muy rico, pero probablemente tenía pocos amigos porque los publicanos extorsionaron multas de los judíos cuando cobraron los impuestos por los romanos.  Los publicanos eran despreciados por su pueblo. Los judíos en Jericó le consideraron a Zaqueo como ladrón y traidor.

      Era la temporada de la Pascua - había miles de judíos que pasaban a través de Jericó en su camino a Jerusalén. Jesús pasaba por la ciudad de Jericó también.  Jesús estaba muy famoso en este momento en Israel - muchos de los judíos que pasaban por la ciudad quería verlo.  Zaqueo estaba muy interesado en el rabino Jesús de Nazaret que tenía amistad con los marginados, incluso a los pecadores y publicanos. Zaqueo probablemente sabía que Mateo, que salió su trabajo como publicano, fue elegido para ser miembro del grupo de los apóstoles de Jesucristo. Zaqueo tenía este deseo para tener contacto con Jesús. Para escapar de las multitudes y para acercarse a Cristo, Zaqueo subió al árbol, escondido en sus ramas.   Jesús veía a Zaqueo y en su grito comunicaba las ganas de visitarlo en su casa.  En el momento en que Jesús llamaba a Zaqueo en el árbol y le presentaba esta invitación, el corazón de Zaqueo llenaba con gozo y alegría y él se convertía como discípulo en un instante. Considerando que antes Zaqueo extorsionaba el dinero de los ciudadanos, ahora se compromete a ayudar a los pobres y devuelve cuatro veces lo que robó.  El encuentro entre Jesús y Zaqueo es un ejemplo de su proclamación en el Evangelio este domingo: “El Hijo del hombre ha venido a buscar y a salvar lo que se había perdido.”

     El joven rico del Evangelio de San Lucas y Zaqueo estaban buscando algo en sus vidas.  Este verano, me encontré con un dicho del filósofo Henry David Thoreau que me hizo reflexionar. Thoreau dijo esto: “No es lo que miras lo que importa, es lo que ves ¿Realmente tratamos de ver las cosas, o simplemente las miramos? No podemos ver todo. Hay demasiado que ver y procesar en la vida cotidiana, por lo que nuestra mente borra lo que cree que es innecesario.  Nuestra selección de lo que miramos y lo que vemos es muy importante. Incluso cuando examinamos cuidadosamente lo mismo que otra persona, podemos ver algo completamente diferente Zaqueo vio a Jesús desde el lente de la fe. Por eso estaba abierto a la transformación en su encuentro con Jesucristo. Nosotros también necesitamos ver las cosas a través de los lentes de nuestra fe.

     Zaqueo tenía defectos, por supuesto. Tenía pecados.  Pero Zaqueo era buscador y literalmente subió al árbol para encontrar a Jesucristo.  A veces, estamos perdidos en el camino de fe, pero no nos damos cuenta. A veces, buscamos algo en la vida y no sabemos lo que buscamos. No sabemos cuales son preguntas que necesitamos preguntar. No sabemos las respuestas que queremos recibir. Estamos llamados de tener corazones abiertos al cambio y transformación como Zaqueo.  Y a veces, como él, tenemos que subir al árbol para hacerlo.

Special Masses at HOLY SAVIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH for the first week of November 2022 - CLINTON, MISSISSIPPI

November 1 - Tuesday - All Saints Day - Masses at 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM

November 2 - Wednesday - All Souls Day - Mass at 8:30 AM and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:00 PM, with the sacrament of reconciliation being offered. 

November 4 - Friday - Mass of the First Friday of the Month, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 8:30 AM.  

Please join us as we pray for the community of saints, for our dearly departed loved ones and family members, and for the souls in purgatory in the process of purification.   

Father Lincoln.  

prayers of the faithful - St Simon and St Jude - 28 October 2022

Lord Jesus - you called your apostles to help you in your ministry. 

Christ Jesus - you are our source and our strength. 

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

Priest: Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of St Simon and St Jude, Apostles on their feast day today: 

1. For all Church leaders, especially Pope Francis and Bishop Joseph Kopacz, may they lead the Church in unity and courage in the spirit of the apostles.  

2. For all of our governmental leaders, may the Lord lead them and guide them in the difficult decisions they have to make. 

3. For all missionaries serving the Church throughout the world, for a missionary spirit in all of us, for great understanding and dialogue amongst the religions of the world. 

4. For our children, our youth, and our families, for a strengthening of our faith and a great effort in the way we reach out to families in our faith.  

5. For those who are struggling through life, for those who are recovering from natural disasters, for those struggling with addictions and mental health issues, for healing and help for those who need it. 

6. For our parish, for all who serve here in various missionaries, for continued blessings for our parish.  

7. For the spirit of Respect life month to last throughout the year, that our society may have a greater respect for life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.  

8. For the sick and shut-in and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

9. For any desperate prayers we may have and for any seemingly impossible causes, we pray for St Jude for help and for his intercessions.  

Heavenly Father, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.

Thursday of the 30th week in ordinary time - prayers of the faithful = 26 October 2022

Lord Jesus - you call us to stand firm in our faith. 

Christ Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Priest: In a spirit of trust and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

For a spirit of gratitude: that we may recognize all our gifts, possessions, and opportunities as gifts from God, that we may place each of them in the service of God. 

For Pope Francis’s prayer intention for the month of October: For a Church Open to Everyone: We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.

For all who are bound by a spirit of self-righteousness: that God will free their hearts, break down the walls of prejudice, and open them to the dignity of each person. 

For all who are suffering or being persecuted for their faith: that God will comfort and strengthen them and bring them safely through their trial. 

For greater respect for each person: that God will turn the hearts of all who rely upon violence and bring healing to all who have suffered harm, abuse or neglect

For healing for the sick and the afflicted in body, mind and spirit.  

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

Priest: In unity with the community of saints, we present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - 26 October 2022

Lord Jesus - you are the word of God. 

Christ Jesus - you bring us salvation. 

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

We now present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may recognize our need for God and resist relying upon our own efforts to justify ourselves. 

2. For growth in prayer: that the Holy Spirit teach us how to pray so that we may deepen our dependency upon God and open us to God’s mercy and kindness. 

3. For greater compassion: that we may proclaim the greatness of God and show God’s love and concern for all who face the burdens of life. 

4. For humility: that we may come before God honestly, surrendering our pride, and recognizing our human limitations. 

5. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

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

As we thank God for the blessings he bestows upon us and for his grace that helps us meet our challenges, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

2 NOVEMBER 2022 - All Souls Day - Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 3:6-9

       I was listening to a reflection on All Souls Day on the Vatican Radio Station by Monsignor Peter Fleetwood of the Archdiocese of Liverpool in England. He saw the feast of All Souls Day not only as a time of remembrance, but also as a time for us to respond to the grief, sadness, and loss we feel in our hearts at the death of a loved one. All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and the month of November are a time of the year when we are called to dedicate time and prayer to the memory of our dearly departed loved ones. When a loved ones departs this world, we miss them dearly. We do not entirely get used to this new reality.  Our liturgies in the Church during November recognize the need to remember and commemorate our deceased loved ones.  

       Today’s celebration of All Souls Day is based on the theological basis that some souls who have departed from this world have not been perfectly cleansed from their sins or have not fully atoned for past transgressions.  These souls are in purgatory until they complete a process of cleansing and purification. We assist those souls through our prayers, through works of mercy and charity, and through the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. But rather than seeing purgatory in a negative way, we are called to see purgatory as a positive aspect of our relationship with God, since with these sins and transgressions not yet purged from their souls, these souls not yet ready for unification with our Lord.  

       Our readings on All Souls Day remind us that God’s grace touches our lives in different ways. The Book of Wisdom was written in the first century before the birth of Christ, reflecting the belief in the afterlife that was developing in the Jewish community of that era. Many people of that day thought that an earthly death meant the end point for that person. Yet, the author of Wisdom states that these souls are still alive in the eternal life they have in God.  They are in the hands of God, where he will take care of them. In the trials and sufferings they went through in their lives on earth, they souls were proved worthy by God’s grace of immortality in the next life with God.  St Paul reaffirms this by asserting that our baptism in Christ unifies us and makes us one in his Body and Blood, making us into new beings who are free sin, rising to holiness in life. Reaffirming the thoughts of the author of Wisdom, St Paul sees the grace of God working in us, bringing us to a newness of life that will live forever, to the immortal destiny we have in Christ. United with the community of saints that we celebrated yesterday on All Saints Day, we pray for the faithful departed today, especially for the souls in purgatory, as we are one with them in our common faith. 

1 November 2022 - Solemnity of All Saints - Matthew 12:1-12, Revelation 7: 2-4

      Today we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints. Some of the adults in our Dioceses in the various parishes where I have served as a priest have told me that they did not learn a lot about the saints growing up. They knew of them, that they existed, but did not study them so much. Thankfully, in our current era, with the emphasis on learning more about the Early Church and the evolution of our faith coming from the Second Vatican Council, there has been a renaissance of interest in the saints in recent years. 

       When we think of today’s celebration of the saints, we might think about those holy men and women who have been canonized or beatified by our Church, which includes saints as diverse as St James the Apostle, St John the Evangelist, and St Jerome from the Early Church; lay people such as the married couple Louis and Zelie Martin and St Joan of Arc; missionaries such as Francis Xavier and Jean de Brebeuf; mystics such as John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila;  and modern saints such as Mother Teresa and Jose Maria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. But, today’s celebration of the saints goes beyond those who have been canonized and beatified. All Saints Day celebrates all those baptized Christians who have died and who are now with God in heaven in eternal glory.  

      It is always interesting to hear the Gospel that has been chosen for All Saints Day: the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount.  When we think of holiness, we might think about conforming to God’s Ten Commandments and God’s other laws that we are instructed to follow as disciples of Christ.  And when we think of the values of Christ’s Good News, perhaps the Beatitudes are not what first come to our mind. The Beatitudes can be thought of as a kind of mission statement that we are called to follow as Christians that take us beyond the Ten Commandments. We are blessed by God, to be happy and fortunate as we follow the values of the Beatitudes, because by following the Beatitudes, it shows that we are putting God first in our lives. The saints have lived out the Beatitudes in their lives in many different ways.  We are called to be poor in spirit, to realize that through our human weaknesses and frailties that we need the help and support of God, that we need God at the center of our lives. We are called to be meek in the Gospel sense, to reach out to others in tenderness, compassion, and care, to be aware of their needs to be aware of our connection as brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are called to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to treat others with dignity and respect, to work together to ensure that all are treated with that dignity and respect, even if we have to make sacrifices to do so. We are called to be merciful, to extend God’s compassion and forgiveness to others, to be merciful to others in the sense that God the Father is merciful to us.  The Beatitudes describe the attitudes, attributes, and values we are to have as disciples of Christ. Many of the saints had these same attributes. Their witness and their intercessions help us to strive toward the perfection of these Gospel values.   

     Our reading from the Book of Revelation tells us of John’s vision of saints in glory, unified with God in his kingdom: “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” Our celebration of All Saints Day today reminds us that we are called to be a part of that vast multitude of holy ones whose numbers are so great they cannot be counted.  We remember the community of saints today. We give thanks to God for the community of saints.  But, we also pray for their help and intercessions as well. 

30 October 2022 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 19:1-10

       We probably remember the famous story from the 18th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, in which the rich young man asked Jesus what he must do in order to enter into eternal life.  This young man knew God’s laws and commandments very well, but when Jesus tells him that he should sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor, this young man leaves disheartened.  He is not willing to commit to a life of discipleship. This young man was searching for something, but he was still lost. Today’s Gospel comes in the next chapter of Luke’s Gospel, after the story of the rich young man.  Today, we hear about the tax collector Zacchaeus, another soul who is searching for something.  But this story has quite a different ending.  

      It was Passover time. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were passing through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was one of those passing through the city to celebrate the passover in Jerusalem. Jesus was well-known at this time, so many of those Jews who were passing through the city wanted to see him.  Zacchaeus was very interested in finding out more about this rabbi from Nazareth who befriended the outcasts of society, even the sinners and tax collectors.    In fact, Zacchaeus probably knew that Matthew, a former tax collector himself, was chosen to be a member of Jesus’ select group of apostles.  A longing deep inside Zacchaeus’ heart moved him to take extraordinary measures to try to get closer to Jesus.  To escape the crowds and to get a good look, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree, sitting hidden away in its leafy branches.  The minute Jesus sees Zacchaeus, he calls him down from the tree, inviting himself to visit Zacchaeus at his house. Joy fills Zacchaeus’ heart and he is converted into a disciple. Whereas before he extorted money for the taxpayers, he now vows to help the poor and to repay four-fold what he stole. Jesus calling down Zacchaeus from the tree is a real life example of what Jesus proclaims in the last sentence of today’s Gospel: “The Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”  That is what Jesus and his ministry are all about.  

        Both the rich young man and Zacchaeus were searching for something in their lives. In my reading this summer, I came across a thought-provoking quote from 19th century American naturalist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau.  You probably know Thoreau from his book Walden, a reflection on living in simplicity and appreciating nature.  Thoreau stated: “It is not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”  Do we really try to see things, or do we just look at them? It is only human to not see everything. There is too much to see and process in everyday life, so our minds delete that which it believes to be unnecessary. Our selection of what we look at and what we see is so very important. Even when we carefully examine the same thing as another person, we might see something completely different. Zacchaeus saw Jesus through the lens of faith, which opened him to transformation in his encounter with Jesus.  We, too, need to see things through the lens of our faith.  

      In Forbes business magazine, Jane Chen wrote about a company she started that manufactures incubators for premature babies in non-industrialized countries in Asia and Africa, quite a noble effort.  She writes that after years of operating her company that was set-up in Asia, dealing with the hassles of trying to run a company in a country where the business climate is very chaotic and organized and full of corruption, seeing violence and illness and extreme poverty all around her, it was easy to become frustrated, cynical, and jaded.  That is what she looked at every day.  Yet, she had the realization one day that she was concentrating on the bad and not really seeing the good.  For every horrible thing she experienced, there was something equally as beautiful.  She met compassionate doctors who worked tirelessly for their patients.  She had a wonderful dedicated team working at her company.  She saw impoverished and poorly educated mothers who would do anything to help their babies.  She realized that if she looked closely, she could see some incredibly pure and selfless forms of love everyday through her work. Jane Chen concludes that perspective is a choice as she reflected on the quote from Thoreau.  We need to look for and see the good and the beautiful in life, especially at our most challenging moments, when everything appears to be bleak. 

       Back to Zacchaeus in our Gospel today.  He was a tax collector who extorted money from his fellow Jews, collaborating with the enemy Roman Empire. He probably had very few friends. But, for all his faults, for all his sins, Zacchaeus was a searcher and seeker who literally went out on a limb to find Jesus.  Jesus knew that there was a lot of bad in Zacchaeus.  That is what people saw on the surface.  But Jesus knew there was good in him too.  Sometimes we can be lost in life and we do not even know it.  it. Sometimes we are searching for something in life and we don’t know what we are looking for.  We don’t know what questions to ask.  We don’t know the answers we are looking for.  But above all, in our seeking and our searching, we are called to be open to change and transformation like Zacchaeus. And sometimes, like him, we need to go out on a limb. 

28 October 2022 - FRIDAY - Feast of St Simon and St Jude - Apostles - Luke 6:12-16

     Back in September, we celebrated the feast of St Matthew.  And just last week, we celebrated the St Luke, the Evangelist.  As of a reflection of their importance in the Early Church, we celebrate all of the the apostles and the Evangelists in our Church’s liturgical calendar.  This brings us to the feast of St Simon and St Jude, which we celebrate on October 28th each year.  You might wonder: Why would we celebrate St Simon and St Jude together when many of the other apostles have their own individual feast day?  As best we can tell, Simon and Jude are associated with each other and celebrated on the same feast day because, according to tradition, they were missionaries together in Persia and Mesopotamia, with both being martyred in Persia. From Sacred Scripture, we don’t know a lot about them, other than that they are included on the list of apostles. Tradition holds that Simon was a member of the Zealots, a nationalistic group in Ancient Israel that hoped that the Messiah would come to liberate them from the foreign powers that had occupied their country. St Peter’s in Rome and St Sernin’s in Toulouse, France both claim to have the remains of Simon and Jude, so we are not entirely sure where they are buried. We do not know many of details about the apostles, but we do know that they passed down the fact to us through great sacrifice and suffering.  As we hear in the Gospel today of the 12 apostles whom Jesus called by name, we know that they were not the richest, not the most intelligent, not the most politically connected, but rather they were men who had great flaws and weaknesses. We can take away this message from our celebration of St Simon and St Jude today: In the midst of all our human weaknesses and failings, the Lord calls us to be his followers, to live out our faith as best we can in the reality of our lives.  May we all hear that call

27 October 2022 - Thursday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Ephesians 6:10-20

     As we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls day in a few days, I was curious to know how these liturgical celebrations connected to our secular holiday of Halloween. Indeed, Halloween started as All Hallows Eve, the Old English term for the vigil celebration before the Feast of the Saints.  In Ireland, the faithful used to dress in costumes on All Hallows Eve of both saintly and evil spirits, depicting the battle between good and evil that goes on in the world.  Paul mentions such a battle in the passage from the Letter to the Ephesians in today’s first reading, telling the faithful to draw strength from the Lord to help them stand firm against the tactics of the Devil.  St Paul states that our main struggle in this world is not against our fellow human beings, but rather it is against those forces of spiritual evil that wage battle against us.  In our modern way of looking at the world and at the universe, with our knowledge of science, astronomy, and cosmology, we perhaps have lost the sense of the battle of good vs evil spiritual forces that the ancient world saw as a integral part of reality.  We have gained a lot in our advances in scientific knowledge, but perhaps we have lost a lot as well, especially in the way we see the spiritual realm. On our journey of faith, we are called to grow in God’s truth, to maintain integrity and loyalty to the faith, to follow God’s laws and commandments, and to form a strong union with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  These are all ways that we can put on the armor of Christ, to be firm and resolute on our journey of faith. Like Paul, may we live out our faith boldly, not being afraid to stand up for our beliefs and convictions. 

26 October 2022 - Wednesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 13:22-30

     A man approaches Jesus, asking, “Is it true that only a few people will be saved?”  We get the feeling that this man believes that the answer will be “yes”, that he thinks that he will be one of the chosen ones who will be saved. Jesus does not answer directly, but instead tells him that many will strive to enter the narrow gate, but only a few will be strong enough to enter.  What is important is not how we view ourselves as God’s chosen ones, but rather how we walk down the narrow path of faith that Jesus speaks about. When that gate is closed for the last time, many will be crying to get in. Do we see ourselves as committed to our faith in light of Christ's message today? 

     The scribes and Pharisees attacked Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners, for reaching out to sinners rather than condemning them. However, more than having contact with Jesus, these men and women are called to repent and to change their lives. It is not enough to claim Jesus as our friend, to say that he is our Lord and our Savior.  It is not enough to be a baptized Christian who has heard Christ’s teachings, who tries to go to mass on Sunday and and who tries to fulfill all of all the religious obligations.  Yes, we are called to do those things, but we are also called to dive deeper past the surface of our faith.  To go through the narrow gate as a disciple of Christ, we must commit ourselves to living out the Gospel and to being transformed. 

25 October 2022 - Tuesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 13:18-21

      When Luke recorded in his Gospel Jesus’ parable about the mustard seed, a small seed that would grow into a large tree, the Early Church was still small and developing.  Christianity was not yet a recognized religion in the Roman Empire.  It was subject to persecution and attacks.  However small it still was, the Early Church had still grown considerably compared to the small group of disciples that helped Jesus in his ministry while he was still walking the earth.  When these words in the Gospel were written, there was still a lot of hope and confidence that the Church would grow and overcome its setbacks and challenges.  I wonder how those first Christians would respond to the Church today.  We are so much bigger, so much a part of the fabric of many societies here on earth.  The attacks and persecutions may be different than they were in those days of the Early Church, but they are still a reality in our world today. In fact, persecutions and attacks on Christianity and other faiths are probably worse now than they have been in many years.  We need to capture a sense of the hope, confidence, and optimism that characterizes this parable, knowing that we can still be dedicated to the truths of our faith in the midst of the secularism and violence against religion that exists in our world today.   God is still with us.  We have nothing to fear. Being a Christian is more than a label, more that what we call ourselves.  Being a Christian is having the faith that we can indeed live a life of faith and a life of discipleship in the world. Back in the first century, St Ignatius of Antioch, Doctor of the Church said this: “It is right, therefore, that we not just be called Christians, but that we actually be Christians.”  Let us live our faith boldly and courageously.   Let the faith of a mustard seed grow within us.  

23 de octubre de 2022 - XXX domingo del tiempo ordinario - Lucas 18:9-14 - Sirácide 35:12-14, 16-18

     En su compasión y misericordia, Dios escucha el grito de los pobres.  En la primera lectura, escuchamos la sabiduría de Sirácide. Sirácide vivía en Egipto dos siglos antes del nacimiento de Cristo. Sus alumnos eran de las familias ricas, pero Sirácide explicaba a estos jóvenes que Dios no escuchaba sus oraciones automáticamente porque eran privilegiados.  También, Dios escucha específicamente a los pobres porque Dios tiene una ternura especial para ellos.

      La humildad es el tema común en las lecturas este domingo. La humildad tiene un papel muy importante en la forma en que oramos a Dios, en la forma en que vivimos el discipulado, en la manera de llevar el mensaje de Cristo al mundo como misioneros de su Buena Nueva.  En el evangelio, el fariseo ora a Dios. En realidad, lo que el fariseo dijo no es realmente una oración a Dios. En lugar de dar gracias a Dios, el fariseo dice esta oración a sí mismo.  El fariseo mira a los demás y proclama que ellos son "pecadores".  En verdad, el fariseo hace muchas cosas buenas en su vida, pero es arrogante y orgulloso. Dios nos llama a la humildad y la compasión hacia nuestro prójimo, muy diferente de la actitud de este fariseo.

      La oración del publicano es muy diferente de la oración del fariseo. El publicano se sitúa en la parte posterior del templo, en lugar de asumir la posición de poder y honor. El publicano es tan humilde - no puede levantar los ojos a Dios. Él confiesa sus pecados y pide perdón.  Su oración viene de los rincones más profundos de su corazón. Él ha hecho muchas cosas malas en su vida, pero, él posee la virtud de la humildad.  El fariseo ora como alguien que no necesita el perdón de Dios, pero el publicano ora como alguien que sabe que necesita el perdón, y recibe el perdón de Dios. ¿Cómo nos acercamos a la vida de oración? ¿Fuera de nuestro orgullo y el poder y la justicia propia?  ¿O fuera de nuestra humildad y la obediencia? Según el filósofo Soren Kierkegaard: "La oración no cambia a Dios, pero la oración cambia el hombre que ora." Según Padre Raymond Brown de la Universidad de Notre Dame, "Si no hay cambio como resultado de la oración, entonces uno realmente no ha orado.”  En la humildad y el arrepentimiento, podemos abrir nuestras oraciones al cambio y la transformación en nuestras oraciones. El publicano se entrega a la gracia de Dios en su humildad. El fariseo piensa que él mismo tiene todas las respuestas - la gracia de Dios no tiene un puesto en su vida. En el espíritu del Evangelio este domingo, de la humildad, el arrepentimiento y la fe, se puede encontrar en las oraciones en la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia: "Padre Eterno, te ofrezco el Cuerpo y la Sangre, el Alma y la Divinidad, de tu amadísimo Hijo, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, como propiciación de nuestros pecados y los de todo el mundo. Por el bien de su dolorosa pasión, ten misericordia de nosotros y del mundo entero “.

      Este domingo, celebramos el Domingo Mundial de la Misiones. El Domingo de las Misiones estaba declarado por primera vez por el Papa Pío XI en 1926. Como el mundo, las misiones han cambiado mucho desde ese año. Por muchos años, muchos de los sacerdotes de nuestra diócesis en Mississippi vinieron de Irlanda. Ahora, no hay mas sacerdotes que pueden venir de Irlanda - entonces, tenemos sacerdotes en nuestra diócesis de África, India, Vietnam, y México, lugares que antes estaban los países de las misiones.

       El mensaje del Papa Francisco para este Domingo reflexiona sobre el tema: “No podemos dejar de hablar de lo que hemos visto y oído” de los Hechos de los Apóstoles. El Papa nos recuerda que, “como cristianos, no podemos quedarnos con el Señor para nosotros”, ya que “recordamos con gratitud a todos aquellos hombres y mujeres que con su testimonio de vida nos ayudan a renovar nuestro compromiso bautismal para ser apóstoles generosos y gozosos de el Evangelio."

     Al celebrar la llamada universal que tenemos que ser misionero, reconocemos la forma en que la llamada se inicia en el nivel parroquial. Queremos que todos ustedes a ser parte de nuestra misión aquí en nuestra parroquia de San Judas Tadeo. Todos nosotros podemos ser parte de este mandato misionero. Esa es una de las metas aquí en nuestra parroquia - para cumplir con este llamado a ser misioneros en el mundo.

Bulletin Reflection - World Mission Sunday - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 23 October 20

     While I was on pilgrimage in Italy, I took with me a scallop shell with the cross of St James painted on it, a symbol of the pilgrimage of St James that I have taken several times in Spain.  I also took with me a simple cross made from wood from the rain forests of Ecuador made by the students at the carpentry and mechanics school where I served as a lay missionary from 1996 to 1999.  I think of all the missionaries I worked with in Ecuador.  Just in our humble mission site, we had priests, sisters, brothers, and lay missionaries from the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Uganda, Italy, and Spain.  All of us served there united in our faith, bringing the Gospel message to the people there in different ways.  We had more than 100 villages that we served from that mission site, traveling hours by canoe to reach them.  I used to travel 4 to 5 hours by canoe every Friday afternoon to work in one of those villages, San Francisco de Onzole.  It was amazing visiting Assisi this week, seeing the place where St Francis was born, seeing the basilica named after him, seeing the cave where he lived, seeing the place where he received the stigmata, and then reflecting upon the village named after him in that remote rain forest in Ecuador where I served as a missionary for three years.  However, as we celebrate World Mission Sunday, we must realize that all of us are called to have a missionary spirit wherever we are in the world.  This missionary spirit is not just for missionaries who serve in a foreign land.  St Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun in France, lived her life as a nun in a monastery, but due to her love of the missions and her missionary spirit, she is one of the patron saints of the missions.  As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, may we never forget this missionary calling we all have.  It is good to be back with all of you for Mass this weekend.  Have a blessed week everyone.  Father Lincoln.

Prayers of the faithful - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 23 October 2022

Introduction: We gather today in the presence of God and our neighbor to worship God and to receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  In our Mass today, may we humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging our dependence upon him in all things.  Today, we celebrate World Mission Sunday.  

Lord Jesus - you are the everlasting sign of reconciliation.

Christ Jesus - you listen to the prayers of the poor and the needy.

Lord Jesus - you are the source of salvation.

Priest: The Lord hears the prayers of the poor, the oppressed, the lowly, and those who faithfully serve the Lord.  Acknowledging our own sinfulness and poverty, we petition God for justice and mercy:

For the Church, on World Mission Sunday, that we may always continue the Lord’s mission of bringing Good News to the poor, peace to the troubled, and hope to the lonely, let us pray to the Lord.

For missionaries throughout the world, that the Lord will keep them safe from harm and threat of persecution as they follow in the footsteps of the first disciples, let us pray to the Lord.  

For a bountiful harvest from farms, orchards, and vineyards, that the fruits of the harvest may feed plenty and that the laborers of the harvest receive just payment, let us pray to the Lord.

For the widowed, the orphan, and the stranger, that they may be cared for by loved ones and enjoy the companionship of family and friends, let us pray to the Lord.

For healing of body, mind and spirit, for reconciliation in broken relationship, and for peace in our land, let us pray to the Lord.

For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.

For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts, for all of our intentions both spoken and unspoken, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: Heavenly Father, may you watch over all of us and grant peace to your people.  We present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

23 October 2022 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - World Mission Sunday - - Luke 18:9-14

     When I was working as as a lay missionary in Ecuador prior to becoming a priest, I hosted a group of high school students from Cincinnati, Ohio for a two week long mission experience.  In this jungle province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, there were more than 100 missionaries doing many different kinds of ministry in parishes, schools, health clinics, orphanages, and community centers.  I had arranged for a canoe to bring the youth and their leaders to a village where I did a lot of work as a missionary. The canoe ride was 4 hours away from the main mission site. As the two canoes was speeding down the huge river that was about as wide as the Mississippi River, with the immense rain forest jungle all around us, one of the high school students in the canoe turned to me and said: “I feel like we’ve been transported to the pages of National Geographic Magazine!” Many Catholics see this mission field in this same way: an exotic location in a foreign land thousands of miles. However, in recent years, the Church has been educating the faithful with the reality that whole world is the mission field for us, that all of us are called to be missionary in spirit as disciples of Christ.  

     Today, we celebrate World Mission Sunday, which was first declared by Pope Pius XI and the Pontifical Society for the Propagation for the Faith back in 1926, almost 100 years a go. The mission world has changed dramatically since then. Back then, many of the priests in our Diocese came from Ireland.  Now, with just one active non-retired priest from Ireland, Father Gerry Hurley, we have priests from places like Africa, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and Guatemala, places that used to be thought of as the mission field.  We are working hard to cultivate home-grown priests from Mississippi to provide the priests we need here in the Diocese of Jackson.   

        Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday this year reflects on the theme: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”  (Acts 4:20). The Pope reminds us that, “as Christians, we cannot keep the Lord to ourselves,” as we “recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel.”

     Humility is the common theme in our readings today.  Humility plays an important role in how we pray to God, in how we live as disciples in how we bring Christ’s Good News to the world as missionaries of his Good News. In today’s parable, what the self-righteous Pharisee said is not really a prayer to God.  Instead of thanking God, he brags about himself. In fact, he really says this prayer to himself.  The Pharisee looks down at others, labeling them “sinners”. The Pharisee does a lot of good things in his life, but he is arrogant and proud.  God calls us to humility and compassion toward our brothers and sisters, very different from the Pharisee’s attitude. 

     In contrast, the tax collector stands at the back of the Temple, rather than assuming a position of power and honor up in front. He is so humble that he will not even lift up his eyes to God.  He confesses his sins and asks for forgiveness, praying from his heart. The tax collector has done many bad things in his life, but he possesses the virtue of humility, leading him to repent and to ask forgiveness from God, the merciful Father. The Pharisee prays thinking he does not need God’s forgiveness, but the tax collector prays knowing that he needs forgiveness; he receives that forgiveness from God. How do we approach prayer? Out of our pride and power and self-righteousness?  Or out of our humility and obedience?  

      According to the 19th century existentialist philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, “Prayer does not change God, but (prayer) changes him who prays.”  And according to scripture scholar Father Raymond Brown from University of Notre Dame, “If no change occurs as a result of prayer, then one has not really prayed.” Out of our humility and repentance, like that which was shown by the tax collector in today’s Gospel, we can be open to change and transformation in our prayer life. The tax collector surrenders himself to God’s grace in his humility and openness.  The Pharisee thinks he had all the answers; God’s grace has no room in his life.  The spirit of today’s Gospel, of humility, repentance, and faith, can be found in the prayers in the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.  For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.”

      As we celebrate the universal call we have to be missionary, we acknowledge how that call begins on the parish level.  We want all of you to be a part of our mission here at Holy Savior and Immaculate Conception.  As we reach out to our fellow parishioners, our children, our youth, and our young adults, as we reach out to the community and beyond, all of us can be a part of this missionary mandate.  That is one of goals here at our parishes - to fulfill this call to be a missionaries in the world. 

Friday of the 29th week in ordinary time - 21 October 2022 - PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Lord Jesus - you proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Christ Jesus - you are the 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 as they lead their people.  

2. For those who have served in the military, we pray that all veterans in need receive help and assistance.  For those who are currently serving in the military, in thanksgiving for their sacrifices. 

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

4. In thanksgiving for those who have passed down the faith to us throughout the centuries. 

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

6. For the prayers we hold in 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 - 20 OCTOBER 2022 - Thursday of the 29th week in ORDINARY TIME

Lord Jesus, you show us the ways of justice and peace: Lord, have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you heal us and forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you came that we might have life in its fullness: Lord, have mercy.

Prayers of the faithful: 

We present our prayers to our heavenly Father this evening with faith and hope: 

1. That the leaders of the Church may preach with faith and courage, spreading the Gospel message throughout the world. 

2. That the women and men who labor for justice and peace may not give up and may persevere.

3. That Christian missionaries may be blessed and protected as they spread the Gospel message throughout the world. 

4. That those who are recovering from natural disasters may receive the assistance that they need.  We pray for aide workers and all who are helping in the recovery process.  

5. That we may continue to care for our neighbors — in good days and bad.  We pray for those who are struggling with depression, mental illness, and addictions.  

6. That our faith communities here in the Diocese of Jackson may be strengthened. May we bring comfort, healing and life to our neighbor. 

7. For the sick and shut-in of our families and of our parish community.  For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. 

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

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

prayers of the faithful - feast of St Luke the Evangelist - 18 October 2022 (pilgrimage in Italy)

Lord Jesus - you call us out of our weaknesses.

Christ Jesus - you are the word of God.

Lord Jesus - you call us to repentance and conversion.

Priest: As we celebrate St Luke the Evangelist today on his feast day, we present our prayers to our loving and merciful God:

1. For all of our Church leaders who lead us and guide us in the faith. May they help us grow in wisdom and charity.

2. As St Luke was a physician, we pray for all physicians and medical professionals. May their hard work and talents be a service of love and mercy to our community.

3. For all missionaries throughout the world, for all who spread the word of God to others.

4. For all pilgrims and for all travelers. May the Lord bless them and keep them safe. 

5. For the sick and shut-ins and for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, we pray to the Lord.

6. For all members of the Franciscans, that they may continue the work and vision of St Francis of Assisi.

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, you called St Luke to be a missionary of your Gospel message. Help us all recognize our missionary calling. We present these prayers to you through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

18 October 2022 - St Luke the Evangelist - Tuesday of the 29th week in Ordinary Time - Luke 10:1-9

     We all know that St Luke is one of the 4 evangelists whose Gospels are included in the New Testament.  Scripture scholars surmise from his Gospel that Luke was a Gentile Christian who accompanied St Paul during part of his missionary journeys.  Referred to by Paul as the “beloved physician,” he has traditionally been referred to as a medical doctor. 

      Luke's Gospel is closely associated with God’s mercy, since Luke gives special attention to the poor, the marginalized, the outcast, and the oppressed in his Gospel.  Luke’s Gospel gives us the Magnificat, the hymn of social justice presented by Mary in response to the blessing she receives from her cousin Elizabeth.  Luke’s Gospel also includes the description of the birth of Jesus in the poor manger.  Jesus - the King of Kings - is born amongst the poorest of the poor. We think of St Francis who we have experienced in the Assisi these last couple of days - Luke's Gospel would coincide with Francis' vision of the mercy of Christ and with his love for the poor and the vulnerable. 

     In the Gospel reading we hear today, notice how Jesus sends his disciples out as missionaries with very little to weigh them down - no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals. They are to proclaim the Gospel to each town and village where they enter, accepting the welcome and the hospitality that is accorded them. And where they are not welcomed, they knock off the dust from their shoes and they move along to the next town or village.  May we also have the same courage and tenacity as we travel on our journey and proclaim the Good News. 

      The antiphon for today’s feast of Luke, the Evangelist declares: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings of peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation.” Blessed are those who heard Christ’s Gospel, who pondered in their hearts, who passed down the Gospel to us.  Blessed are those missionaries and proclaimers of the Gospel today who make sacrifices to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  We give thanks to St Luke and the other men and women of the Early Church, who gave witness to the Gospel that we continue to proclaim today.