13 September 2018 - Thursday of the 23 week in Ordinary Time - St John Chrysostom – Bishop and Doctor of the Church – Luke 6:27 – 38

       The ways of our faith can be so different from the ways of the world.  In that way, our Gospel is especially challenging for us today, as it tells us to turn the other cheek when someone hits us and to give the person who tries to steal our cloak our tunic as well.  This is so different from the code of vengeance and revenge that many follow in our world today.  We all called to forgive.  We are called to show mercy.  As followers of Christ, we are not to judge or condemn.

         We celebrate John Chrysostom today on his feast day.  He was the Archbishop of Constantinople in the late 4th and early 5th century.  He is one of the revered Doctors of the Church.  He was known as one of the greatest preachers in the early Church.  Here is one such teaching from his homilies that relates to today’s Gospel, on how to reach out to others and how to have joy in our hearts: “Helping a person in need is good in itself. But the degree of goodness is hugely affected by the attitude with which it is done. If you show resentment because you are helping the person out of a reluctant sense of duty, then the person may receive your help but may feel awkward and embarrassed. This is because he will feel beholden to you. If, on the other hand, you help the person in a spirit of joy, then the help will be received joyfully. The person will feel neither demeaned nor humiliated by your help, but rather will feel glad to have caused you pleasure by receiving your help. And joy is the appropriate attitude with which to help others because acts of generosity are a source of blessing to the giver as well as the receiver.”

         May the Lord give us the grace to reach out to our enemies, to forgive, and to foster joy in our hearts.  

12 September 2018 - Wednesday of the 23rd week in Ordinary Time - The Most Holy Name of Mary – Luke 6:20-26

    As we hear the Beatitudes today from the Gospel of Mark, that help us think about what virtues we are to live out in our lives as people of faith, we celebrate a feast that dates back to the 16th century, was then eliminated in the reforms after the Second Vatican Council, and then restored by Pope John Paul 2nd in 2002: the most holy name of Mary. In accordance with Jewish custom, Mary's parents named her eight days after her birth, and were inspired to call her Mary. The celebration of this memorial thus follows that of her Birthday, which we celebrated in the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 5.  This is a counterpoint to the memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus which is celebrated on January 3.  The feast originated in Spain and was approved by the Vatican in 1513.  Pope Innocent XI extended its observance to the whole Church in 1683 in thanksgiving to our Lady for the victory on September 12, 1683 by Holy Roman Empire over the Ottomans, who were besieging Vienna and threatening the West.

        Pope Benedict 16th, in an address at a Cistercian monastery in Austria in 2007, said that he wanted to invite everyone to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did. Benedict stated: “Where Mary is, there is the archetype of total self-giving and Christian discipleship. Where Mary is, there is the Pentecostal breath of the Holy Spirit; there is new beginning and authentic renewal.”

       The Hebrew name of Mary, Miryãm, means lady or sovereign.  We call Mary our Lady as we call Jesus our Lord, and when we pronounce her name we affirm her power, we implore her aid and we place ourselves under her protection.  Pope Francis ended his apostolic exhortation the Gospel of Joy with a Section on Mary.  Pope Francis writes: “Mary is always present in the midst of the people.”  Yes, Mary is indeed always with us.  Her prayers and intercessions are always with us to bring us closer to her son.  As we honor the most holy name of Mary today, may we feel her presence with us.  

Quote from Flannery O'Connor - human nature resists God's grace

“All human nature vigorously resists (God's) grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.”

- Quote from Catholic author Flannery O'Connor in The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor

Quote - St Augustine of Canterbury - quoted in my homily from September 2 2018

O my God teach my heart where and how to seek you,
where and how to find you…

You are my God and you are my All and I have never seen you.
You have made me and remade me,
You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
Still I do not know you…

I have not yet done that for which I was made….
Teach me to seek you…

I cannot seek you unless you teach me
or find you unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire, let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you, let me love you when I find you.
AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - feast day of Mother Teresa of Calcutta - September 5 2018

Penitential Act: 

Lord Jesus, you hear the cry of the poor, Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, you call us to carry your light into the world, Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you are love and compassion, Lord have mercy. 

Collect prayer - feast of Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

God, who called St Teresa of Calcutta to respond to the love of your Son as he endured his passion with outstanding charity to the poorest of the poor, grant us, we beseech you, by her intercession, to minister to Christ in his suffering brothers and sisters. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayers of the Faithful

September 5 - Feast day of Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

Celebrant: The love of Christ gathers us together in faith so that we might be renewed in our baptism and its commitment to mission. We make our prayers to our loving Father.

1. In the spirit of Mother Teresa, we offer our love, support and prayers for all Christian communities throughout the world. We ask God to pour out his blessings on us that we may bring the joy of the Gospel to all. 

2. We pray for all missionaries: for the Christian communities that sent them and those who receive and welcome them. We ask God to bless all our missionaries and to bless those who are missionaries to us. 

3. We pray for those who suffer injustice and those who are victims of any form of violence or terrorism. Grant them your comfort and peace and help us all to be peacemakers.

4.  We pray for our families: we thank God for them and we ask God to bless them, especially those who are sick, troubled or in any need.  We ask God also to bless those who reach out to people in need.

5. For the sick and shut-ins, for those battling addictions, for those searching for something to fill the emptiness in their lives, that Christ’s love and compassion may comfort them.  

6. For the victims of natural disasters, including the brush fires in California and the storm system in our part of the country, for assistance, healing and recovery.  

7.  For the silent prayer we hold in our hearts. 

Celebrant: May the missionary spirit of Mother Teresa infuse our hearts today and encourage us.  We present these prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever and ever.   AMEN. 

Pope Francis - Prayer intention for September 2018

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for September 2018: that young people in Africa may have access to education and in their own countries. 

2 September 2018 - prayers of the faithful - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - you are a light in the world - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you call us to justice - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to serve our neighbor - Lord have mercy. 

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

1. For our Church, that Christians everywhere will work together for justice, unity and reconciliation.  

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

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

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

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

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

7 . For our own prayer intentions in silence.

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