Father McGing is in Ireland now. And this week marked the end of several weeks of travels for me, doing two mission appeals, traveling to New York State for a wedding, and making my presentation at Notre Dame for my project as a part of the Eucharistic renewal. Back in June, I traveled to a large parish located in downtown Los Angeles for a mission appeal, St Vincent DePaul. I was so exhausted at the end of the day, celebrating five Masses with them and hearing confessions in between the Masses. Of those five Masses, four of them were in Spanish. It is interesting how in our own corner of the world, we each have our own unique reality. We are called to be missionaries of Christ Good News, wherever we are in the world. We don’t have to go out on a missionary journey like Christ’s disciples in today’s Gospel. We can bring his message to those around us in different ways. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
14 July 2024 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Prayers of the faithful
Introduction: As we gather for Mass today, we are reminded that we are Christ’s disciples. In today’s Gospel, Christ’s disciples are sent on a missionary journey for the first time, calling the people to repentance and curing the sick. As Jesus was with them in spirit, he is with all of us in spirit on our own journey of faith. May we continue to preach the Gospel message as we continue on our own journey of faith.
Penitential rite - Priest -
Lord Jesus - you bring us words of truth - Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus - you forgive our transgressions - Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus - you bring comfort and healing to our weary world - Lord have mercy.
Prayers of the faithful:
Priest: As we receive many spiritual blessings from Christ, we call upon the Lord to make known our prayers today:
1. That we in the Church may follow in the disciples’ footsteps as we make our own journeys in the world: seeking repentance, bringing healing to the sick, and offering forgiveness. We pray to the Lord.
2. May we all work for justice and peace in our world. We pray to the Lord.
3. For all missionaries, for the safety and well-being as the proclaim the Gospel message throughout the world. We pray to the Lord.
4. That all victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse may know safety and security and receive the healing they need. We pray to the Lord.
5. That through the celebration of the Eucharistic revival, we may grow in the love of Christ present in the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord.
6. For healing for the sick in body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord.
7. For our deceased loved ones and family members, for their entry into eternal life. We pray to the Lord.
8. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts today. We pray to the Lord.
Priest: Heavenly Father, let us see your kindness and provide us with all we need. We present our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.
14 July 2024 - homily for the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Cycle B - Amos 6:7-13 - Mark 6:7-13
For the last several weeks in our Sunday Masses, we have been hearing Jesus teach us about faith. We heard about how, if we can start out of with an amount of faith as small as a mustard seed, that faith can grow and flourish like that small seed that is able to grow into a huge plant. We heard about the disciples being encouraged on their journey of faith when they were in the midst of a terrible storm, when Jesus demonstrated his power and calmed the storm. We also heard about the faith of the woman suffering from hemorrhages, who believed that she would be cured of her affliction if only she could touch Jesus’ cloak.
Our faith is not meant to be guarded and kept to ourselves, which is why after hearing these Gospel stories about faith, we hear Jesus sending out the disciples to be missionaries and to evangelize the world. While thinking about the Gospel today, a few things came to my mind about our faith and about our life of discipleship.
First, we might ask: why would Jesus tell his disciples to bring so few things with them on their journey? For sure, different things can weigh us down on our journey. That is most evident when we going backpacking and have to carry everything with in our backpack. Even small things matter when we carry them everywhere we go. Not just physical things, but also the emotional burdens and worries we carry with us. Jesus wants his disciples to realize that the message of the Gospel was the most important thing. He does not want other things to distract us or take us away from our focus of evangelizing the world.
Another thing that came to mind: the difference in being a disciple and in being an apostle. Each of us as Christians are called to be disciples. The word "disciple" comes from the Latin verb “discere” - which means to learn. A disciple hears Christ’s message, learns from him, accepts his teachings, and lives out those teachings each day. A disciple follows in the footsteps of Jesus.
An apostle is not only a follower of Jesus, but he is an evangelizer of Jesus' message as well. Yes, ALL of us are called to be evangelizers of Christ’s Good News. The word "apostle" has Greek origins - "apostolos" - meaning “one who is sent” by his superiors, a messenger or ambassador. Through baptism, each one of us had a mission to share our faith.
The other important aspect of an apostle is sharing our experience of knowing Jesus with others. We share more than words and ideas; we also share our direct experiences of God. As evangelizers, we’re called to invite others to share in the experience of Jesus, both Christians and non-Christians alike. And think about this: we are all here today because someone shared their faith with us. We are expected to do the same.
Jesus tells us that as evangelizers, we are not always going to be welcome. But, we should just move on to the next household and to shake the dust off our feet if we are not welcome. In our first reading today, the prophet Amos is told to leave Bethel, that the message he has brought is not welcome there. Amos responds by saying that it was not his idea to become a prophet, that he was just a simple shepherd and caretaker of trees. However, while working as a shepherd, God called him to be a prophet. We may sympathize with Amos. We may say: I am a nurse, or a teacher, or an accountant, or an engineer. God is calling me to be an evangelizer? Yes, indeed, as a baptized disciples of Christ, we are ALL to be evangelizers. We are called to invite others to come to know Jesus, to share our faith with them. We will not always get a warm reception, but some will welcome the Good News we have to share with them. Christ works in us and through us, but we have to allow him to do so.
Being sent out by Jesus is not easy. Let us think of ways we can do this each day. In the workplace. At school. In the neighborhood. In our own homes. Yes, in everyday life.
16 July 2024 - Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - prayers of the faithful
Lord Jesus - you bring us salvation.
Christ Jesus - you proclaim justice.
Lord Jesus - you call your Church to be prophetic in the modern world.
Priest: The Lord’s mercy and love never ends. We now present our prayers to God with confidence and hope:
1. For our Church leaders, that they may sincerely and fully live the Gospel message that they preach.
2. That we may all grow in our understanding of God’s mercy, recognizing the welcome extended to those who are repentant and contrite.
3. For those on the margins of society, for men and women who are exploited, that justice and hope may prevail in our land.
4. For those who endure sickness in body, mind or spirit, that the support of the Christian community and their family and friends remind them of God’s healing care.
5. For all the faithful departed, that they may be raised to life through Jesus’ resurrection. We also pray for the souls in purgatory in the process of purification.
6. For our children and youth, that God may watch over them in their summer activities and travels.
7. For our Carmelite sisters here in the Diocese of Jackson and for our secular Carmelite group, for their novena this week for our Lady of Mount Carmel. We give thanks for all their benefactors and for the parishes in the Jackson area who help them.
8. For all the prayers we hold in our hearts today.
Priest: God of endless goodness, your love and compassion have no end. We ask that you hear the prayers that your people make in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.
Healing Mass - Friday July 12 at Holy Savior parish in Clinton, MS.
12 July 2024 - Friday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful
Lord Jesus - You are the son of the living God.
Christ Jesus - You are our savior and our redeemer.
Lord Jesus - You nourish us with your body and blood in the Eucharist.
Priest: With faith and hope, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father this evening.
1. That we in the Church may hear God’s call to discipleship and seek first the kingdom of God in our lives.
2. May we in our parish and in the entire Diocese of Jackson strive to bring back the lost sheep and evangelize in our community.
3. That God’s word may touch the hearts of all Christ’s disciples and guide them into a deeper knowledge of God.
4. For all who feel impelled to violence, that the Spirit of God will calm their anger and help them recognize each person as a child of God.
5. For all who are recovering from natural disasters, that God will protect them from further harm, guide them to the resources that they need, and open the hearts of many to assist them.
6. For healing for the sick. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.
7. For the prayers in the silence of our hearts.
PRIEST: We present these prayers with humble hearts through your Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.
12 July 2024 - Zelie and Louis Martin - Friday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time - Hosea 14:2-10
Zelie and Louis Martin were first made known to the Catholic world as the parents of St Therese of Lisieux. However, they were canonized as saints in the own rite in 2015 by Pope Francis. Another daughter, Leonie, is also being proposed for canonization as well. Louis Martin was born into a military family in Bordeaux region of France. As a young man, he tried to join a Catholic religious community, but was not admitted because he could not speak Latin and thus could not study theology. He trained to become a watchmaker and moved to the Normandy region of France where he met Zélie Guérin, a lace maker. Zélie also had tried to enter the convent as a nun, but was turned down. They married in 1858. They raised a family in a very loving Catholic home. Zélie died of breast cancer in 1877. After his wife’s death, he moved his family to the town of Lisieux to be closer to extended family members so that they could help him raise his five daughters. Zélie and Louis Martin nurtured their own holiness and faith and the faith and holiness of their daughters, all of whom became nuns.
In our first reading today from the prophet Hosea, the Lord tells his people that he will heal their defection and love them freely. The Lord will be like the dew for Israel, help Israel to bloom like a lily. What a comforting image from this wise prophet. However, we hear some not so comforting images from the Gospel of Matthew, of how Christ’s followers will be sent out like sheep amongst the wolves. The Evangelist explains that the Lord will help his followers endure their persecution, putting words in their mouths that they will use in their defense, helping them get through this difficulty.
As we celebrate Zelie and Louis Martin today on their feast day, let us find the inspiration in them to live out our faith in the reality of our lives.