During our readings from the Acts of the Apostles in the Easter season, we hear a lot of stories of those whose hearts were touched by the Gospel message that was preached to them by St Paul and his missionary companions. Today we hear about Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. Paul’s message penetrated her heart and soul. She converted to the Way of Jesus and had her entire family baptized. People like Lydia risked comfort, safety, and probably also her economic well-being in order to become disciples of Christ.
When I was the associate pastor at St Richard in the early years of my priesthood, a youth there gave me this prayer to share with the prisoners to whom I ministered, thinking these that these words would inspire them on their journey. No matter if we are a recent convert to the faith like Lydia or if we have been trying to follow the Way of Jesus our entire lives, we all have to give over our lives to Jesus in some way or another, asking him to lead us and guide use on our journey:
Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work,
I give you my feet, to follow your path,
I give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words,
I give you my mind so that you can think in me,
I give you my spirit so that you can pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart, so in me you can love your father and all people.
I give you my whole self so you can grow in me, until it is you, Lord, who lives, works, & prays in me. AMEN
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Bulletin Reflection - St Jude Catholic Church - The Ascension of the Lord - 24 May 2020
As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today, our reading from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles shows the disciples gazing up into the heavens, shocked and mesmerized as they see Jesus ascending. When two messengers appear, they ask the disciples: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?” So what is the Ascension all about? We can start be stating what it isn’t about: The Ascension is not defined in a literal sense of Jesus floating up into space on his way to “heaven”. The Ascension is much more than that.
Perhaps we could say that the Ascension can be best understood in the way that it is a part of the Paschal Mystery, which is comprised of: Jesus’ suffering and death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his sending of the Holy Spirit. Those four elements of the Paschal Mystery comprise one reality. In the resurrection, we understand that Jesus still lives as our Savior and our Redeemer. In the Ascension, we better understand Christ’s relationship with the Father. The living Christ has now entered into glory, a reality he shares with the Father.
In our 2nd reading today from his letter to the Ephesians, Paul sees the Ascension in these terms: of God the Father raising Christ from the dead, of seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every other principality, authority, power, and dominion, above every name that is named, in this age and in the ages to come. Pope Francis sees the Ascension creating a new reality of Christ with us. The pope states: Christ is with God the Father, where he always intercedes for us. He is no longer in a definite place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in all space and time, next to each of us. I am always impressed by the words and images that Pope Francis uses.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, right before your Ascension into heaven, you told your apostles that they will be your witnesses to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit. May all of us as modern-day disciples similarly be inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for us. May we do so prudently and joyfully, with your help and your grace! Remembering the glorious event of your Ascension, help us to always seek our your eternal truths. AMEN.
Reflection for the 6th week of Easter - 17 May 2020
We have been living in a strange time, haven’t we? In my work in the chancery office of the Diocese, I have been working closely with the Bishop and the priests council to devise a plan for the rollout of our public masses starting next weekend in our celebration of Pentecost. You can only imagine the complex discussions we have been having. I know it has been a strange time for all of us living out our daily lives and living out our faith.
But, like anything in life, maybe we have been able to find some blessings in the midst of the challenges of this experience. Since we started a new decade with the year of 2020, I looked back at the last decade and tried to make goals for the year of 2020 and for the upcoming decade. I always love reading and I have read a lot of books in my lifetime, so trying to read more good books is a goal of min for 2020. With the stay-at-home orders during these last two months, even in the midst of all the work I have to do, I have intentionally made time to read more. I have read some books on spirituality, including a book on evangelization in the post-modern era, a book on contemplative prayer by Father Richard Rohr, a memoir of the pilgrimage of the Way of St James, and a book on living out our prayers not just in our words but also in our actions. I have also read some novels recently, including books by the Argentine authors Julio Cortázar and Juan José Saer and the English author Graham Greene. Also, I am in a virtual book club with some men I knew from St James in Tupelo, some of which now live across the state or across the country. We are currently reading a book called The Power of Silence by Cardinal Robert Sarah, which is on our FORMED website.
Besides finding more time to read, hopefully all of us have found time for silence in our lives. Being a priest, going on annual retreats where silence is of utmost importance, and going on hikes where prayer and silence are very important, I have appreciated silence as a part of my faith and spirituality and time with God. I guess that being an extremely introverted person does not hurt when it comes to silence either. Cardinal Sarah writes: “ God’s being has always been present in us in an absolute silence. And a human being’s own silence allows him to enter into a relationship with the Word that is at the bottom of his heart.” Hopefully all of you have been able to appreciate silence in your lives during this time of stay-at-place orders.
I have missed all of you very much and am hoping that we can gradually unfold more time together once we get back to having mass. Blessings to all of you as we continue our journey during the Easter season.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Reflection on St Dominic de la Calzada - A Saint from the Camino of Santiago in Spain
One of my favorite saints from the Camino of Santiago in Spain is named St Dominic de la Calzada. We celebrated his feast day in the Catholic Church earlier in the week. Born in 1019, more than 1,000 years ago, he was turned down by two different Benedictine monasteries when he applied to become a monk as a young man. Instead, he lived his life as a young man as a hermit in a cave in northern Spain. He worked with the newly arrived bishop in the area to combat a plague of locusts. The bishop was very impressed with young Dominic and he was ordained a priest. He spent a lot of his priesthood improving the pilgrimage route, building bridges, clearing land, and even building an alternative causeway route on the camino that is now part of the modern route that I have hiked in Spain. The church he started constructing in the village named after him is now a cathedral. He died in 1109 at the age of 90. I love the spirit of St Dominic de la Calzada that still calls out to us today. (The name “Calzada” means “causeway” in Spanish.) He thought “out of the box” to find a way to serve God, even after being rejected by a religious order. As a result, he is remembered to this day with great love by the pilgrims on the route of St James in Spain. I actually saw the baptismal font in which he was baptized and have stayed in the town named after him several times.
When we look back at the saints throughout history, we see a lot of creativity and ingenuity. In our faith, we are called to be creative and resourceful in a time where we are battling the unexpected. I look to the saints for so many wonderful stories, for so much creativity, for a spirit of living out our Catholic faith to the fullest. Blessings to all of you this 5th week of the Easter season. May the spirit of St Dominic de la Calzada inspire us on our own journeys.
When we look back at the saints throughout history, we see a lot of creativity and ingenuity. In our faith, we are called to be creative and resourceful in a time where we are battling the unexpected. I look to the saints for so many wonderful stories, for so much creativity, for a spirit of living out our Catholic faith to the fullest. Blessings to all of you this 5th week of the Easter season. May the spirit of St Dominic de la Calzada inspire us on our own journeys.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
17 de mayo de 2020 – sexto Domingo de Pascua – Juan 14,15-21
Hoy, escuchamos el Evangelio de Juan en la mitad de nuestro camino en el tiempo de Pascua. No podemos olvidar que el Espíritu Santo está presente en la vida de aquella persona que sigue a Cristo resucitado. El Espíritu está presente cada día en nuestro camino de fe, pero, especialmente en este tiempo de Pascua. Hoy en el Evangelio, Cristo habla sobre el Espíritu Santo porque fue Cristo, nuestro Señor, que nos presentó el Espíritu Santo como nuestro digno defensor.
Hoy, Jesús nos dice: "Si me aman, obedecerán mis mandamientos." Amar en la forma que Dios quiere es obedecer su voluntad en nuestra vida. Pero ¿Cómo puede una persona obedecer a quien desconoce? Hay personas que "piensan" que creen en Dios. Hay otras personas que dicen "Si, tengo fe”, pero su fe es algo abstracto. Decir que tenemos fe es algo, pero necesitamos vivir la fe en la profundidad del corazón y en nuestra vida diaria. Vemos con frecuencia las personas que dicen que ellos tiene fe, pero viven una realidad muy inmadura, una realidad muy floja en la superficie. No podemos vivir una vida de fe solitos. Necesitamos la gracia de Cristo en nuestra vida. Para ayudarnos, Cristo nos promete un Defensor – el Espíritu Santo - para que la experiencia de fe en nuestra vida se acerque más y más a Dios.
El Espíritu de la verdad está siempre con nosotros. Si somos ciegos, la luz del Espíritu brilla constantemente para darnos la vista en la mitad de las tinieblas del mundo. Si somos sordos, el Espíritu continúa hablándonos insistentemente. Si oramos, el Espíritu ora con nosotros; pero, si no oramos, el Espíritu esta también para darnos inspiración y animo. En nuestra maldad y en nuestra bondad, el Espíritu está con nosotros. En nuestro dolor y en nuestra alegría, el Espíritu está ahí. En nuestro morir y en nuestro vivir, El Espíritu está con nosotros. Tú estás siempre, Espíritu Santo, con nosotros en nuestro camino.
El Espíritu de la verdad que Jesús nos promete y nos defiende. El Espíritu Santo nos defiende de nosotros mismos, de nuestros temores, de nuestros demonios, de las sombras de nuestro corazones, de nuestras adicciones. El Espíritu de la verdad nos defiende del mundo que no quiere conocer ni ver a Dios. El Espíritu nos defiende de las ideologías y de las filosofías que intentan ocultar la propia realidad y la dignidad humana. Nos defiende de nuestra división interior, de nuestros pensamientos y sentimientos y razonamientos que son contra nuestra fe.
No podemos olvidar - Jesús no nos abandona. Él fue a los cielos, pero no quedamos solitos. En verdad, Jesús sabe nuestras miserias y nuestros sufrimientos. C. Jesús nos da el Espíritu Santo, nuestro consejero. El Espíritu está siempre a nuestro lado. Es su misión, él no toma decisiones por nosotros. En su misión, el Espíritu Santo es nuestra fortaleza, nuestra luz, nuestro guía, y nuestro amigo. El Espíritu Santo, nuestro consejero, nuestro defensor, actúa siempre en nuestra vida y nos enseña que el amor de Dios no es como nuestro amor humano. Es un amor y una presencia muy diferente.
12 May 2020 - Prayers of the faithful - 5th week of Easter
Lord Jesus - you fill us with Easter joy - Lord have mercy.
Christ Jesus - you accompany the people of God on their journey of faith - Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus - you bring us hope - Lord have mercy.
Priest: Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we bring our supplications on behalf of all who are in need.
1. For the Church, that we may find ways to both preach the word and serve our neighbor, especially during this time of separation and crisis.
2. For elected leaders, that they may serve with wisdom, compassion and humility all the people in their care.
3. For an end to gun violence and terrorism in our nation and throughout the world.
4. For all those who are graduating high school and college, may the Lord give them joy and encouragement as they reach this milestone in life.
5. That, more and more, we will come to see the Lord Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
6. For all who are on the frontlines of this COVID-19 pandemic, especially our health care workers and first responders, for those in essential jobs that put them at risk and in danger, may God continue to protect them and keep them in good health.
7: That all gathered in homes watching this mass may find comfort in the Lord when our hearts are troubled.
8. For the sick and shut-in, for the faithful departed, and for those prayers we hold in our hearts today.
Priest: God of all, you sent your only Son to us as a sign of hope and faith. Help us always to keep his way firmly in our sights as we make these prayers to you in his name, Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever and ever.
Christ Jesus - you accompany the people of God on their journey of faith - Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus - you bring us hope - Lord have mercy.
Priest: Gathered around the altar of the Lord, we bring our supplications on behalf of all who are in need.
1. For the Church, that we may find ways to both preach the word and serve our neighbor, especially during this time of separation and crisis.
2. For elected leaders, that they may serve with wisdom, compassion and humility all the people in their care.
3. For an end to gun violence and terrorism in our nation and throughout the world.
4. For all those who are graduating high school and college, may the Lord give them joy and encouragement as they reach this milestone in life.
5. That, more and more, we will come to see the Lord Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
6. For all who are on the frontlines of this COVID-19 pandemic, especially our health care workers and first responders, for those in essential jobs that put them at risk and in danger, may God continue to protect them and keep them in good health.
7: That all gathered in homes watching this mass may find comfort in the Lord when our hearts are troubled.
8. For the sick and shut-in, for the faithful departed, and for those prayers we hold in our hearts today.
Priest: God of all, you sent your only Son to us as a sign of hope and faith. Help us always to keep his way firmly in our sights as we make these prayers to you in his name, Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever and ever.
12 May 2020 – Tuesday of 5th week of Easter – Acts 14:19-28
Paul’s travels call out to us today as they are described in the Acts of the Apostles. In some places, In some villages, Paul is welcomed with open arms and he is able to win over many converts for the faith. Yet, in one place as described in today’s reading, Paul is stoned and dragged to the outskirts of the city and left for dead. No matter how Paul is treated and no matter what obstacles and challenges stand in his way, he never gives up in spreading the Gospel throughout the land. He goes from town to town bringing Christ’s message wherever he goes.
While we on the priests council for the Diocese have been talking about how we are dealing with the reality of our parishes being closed for public masses and public activities during the pandemic, what faces us as we think about phasing in public masses again is that realty differs quite a bit for the parishes in the Diocese. I think about us in Pearl in the metro-Jackson area with a large number of parishes. Our reality is different from a small rural parishes with only a couple of dozen of parishioners and only one parish in the whole county. The area of Humphries and Yazoo counties that I used to cover as a priest when I lived at St Mary in Yazoo City is larger than the entire geographical area of some Diocese here in the United States.
I think of the struggles and hardships were are facing in the pandemic. In some ways, they pale in comparison to the challenges that Paul and his companions faced in their ministry. Just like Paul, we will have doors opened and door slammed in our face. But, God’s grace and our faithfulness to the Gospel will see us through, just as God’s grace accompanied Paul and the members of the Early Church on their missionary journeys.
While we on the priests council for the Diocese have been talking about how we are dealing with the reality of our parishes being closed for public masses and public activities during the pandemic, what faces us as we think about phasing in public masses again is that realty differs quite a bit for the parishes in the Diocese. I think about us in Pearl in the metro-Jackson area with a large number of parishes. Our reality is different from a small rural parishes with only a couple of dozen of parishioners and only one parish in the whole county. The area of Humphries and Yazoo counties that I used to cover as a priest when I lived at St Mary in Yazoo City is larger than the entire geographical area of some Diocese here in the United States.
I think of the struggles and hardships were are facing in the pandemic. In some ways, they pale in comparison to the challenges that Paul and his companions faced in their ministry. Just like Paul, we will have doors opened and door slammed in our face. But, God’s grace and our faithfulness to the Gospel will see us through, just as God’s grace accompanied Paul and the members of the Early Church on their missionary journeys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)