6 August 2022 - homily for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - Luke 9:28B-36

      Unfortunately, sometimes we can just get stuck in our own perspective of thing, perhaps without even realizing it. Sometimes, we just see what is going on around us without seeing the big picture without being able to go beyond what we ourselves can see.  

      I thought about this on the feast of the Transfiguration as we hear about Jesus separating himself from the crowds to go up the mountain to pray with some of his disciples.  On this mountaintop, an amazing transformation takes place. Jesus is changed and transfigured as his clothes become white as light.  His disciples are overjoyed to be there with him.  In the midst of this experience, the disciples hear the voice of God calling out to them.  

       In our world today, we are bombarded with so much news and information.  With all the technology we use, we are overloaded with news, information, and messages 24 hours a day.  But the message that God give us thru his beloved son is not an ordinary message, like those the emails and texts and soundbites that bombard us all day long. God’s message can bring us life and renewal in a transformative way, in a way that nothing else can transform us.  The voice calls out the disciples on the mountaintop: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 

      Jesus interacts in our lives to nourish us, sustain us, change us, and guide us. Jesus brings us the message of eternal life. He leads us out of our own perspective, out of our own little corner of the world. 

        In the transfiguration, we glimpse the glory of Christ that is to come. The transfiguration encouraged Jesus and the disciples in midst of their difficult journey.  The transfiguration is meant to encourage us too.  We can have so much that fills up our daily lives, so we need to be reminded by events like the transfirguration that there is more than our daily existence here on earth.  As disciples of Christ, we have the promise of the fulness of God’s kingdom in eternal life.  Christ and his disciples did not stay on the mountain, glorying in that moment; they came down in order to enter back into their everyday lives as their journey was not finished yet, as there was still work to do. The transfiguration was a wondrous moment for Christ and his disciples. Yet, every day, sometimes in seemingly small ways, God makes himself present to us. In moments of peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing, we experience the wondrous presence of God, a presence that can transform us and transfigure us.  As we open our hearts to the message of the Transfiguration today, may we look for those small but important moments that God is present to us in our ordinary lives. 

Prayers of the faithful - 5 AUGUST 2022 - The feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome - Friday of the 18th week in ORDINARY TIME

Lord Jesus - you came to earth as a humble servant - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you are the son of Mary - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you love us with your sacred heart - Lord have mercy.  

Prayers of the faithful:

Let us unite our prayers with the prayers of Mary and the community of saints as we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the basilica of the St Mary Major and as we pray through the sacred heart of Jesus:

1. For our governmental leaders and our Church leaders - that they may be faithful disciples like Mary, our Blessed Mother.  

2. That all the nations of the world and their leaders may work for true economic justice and lead the people in unity and solidarity. We pray that we all might work toward an end to war, terrorism, and violence. 

3. For the poor, the stranger, and the oppressed: that they may be welcomed by all Christians and our community.

4. That all youth, like Mary, may they be open to God’s call in their lives.  We pray for a good beginning of the school year for our youth and children.  

5. That all of us may trust in Mary’s intercessions and imitate her faith and her virtues.  

6. For the sick and shut-ins, for healing for all of us in body, mind, and spirit. 

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

Gracious God, you called Mary to be your humble servant. Hear the prayers of your children and grant them in the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.

6 August 2022 - The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus - You were transfigured on the mountaintop. 

Christ Jesus - You shine in glory. 

Lord Jesus - You are our savior and redeemer.  

Heavenly Father, your Son, Jesus, revealed his glory and Godhead on Mount Tabor so that we can be sure of his divinity.  So, we pray with confidence through your beloved son:

1. That the church will radiate the beauty of the transfigured Jesus through, preaching, teaching and social outreach.

2. That the world will have eyes to see the light of Christ, who reveals himself and his love to those who seek him. His light can transform and renew all who believe in Him.

3. That the needs of the poor, the homeless, the suffering and the sick will be in the minds of those who govern our country.

4. That the mystery of the Transfiguration will inspire our parish to seek Christ in daily life and prayers. 

5. We ask that the gentle arms of Christ will carry all the sick through their illnesses. 

6. For all who have died recently, and for all our deceased family members, may their sins be forgiven, may perpetual light shine upon them, may they live in peace with you forever

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  That they be heard.  

Loving Father, we place these prayers before you. We thank you for hearing them in the name of Jesus your Son, he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the Faithful - Thursday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time - 4 August 2022

Lord Jesus - You bring us renewal in body and spirit. 

Christ Jesus - You proclaim the kingdom of God. 

Lord Jesus - You are our savior and redeemer. 

In we trust in your covenant, we present our prayers with faith and love: 

1. For our church leaders and our elected officials, for wisdom and divine guidance in the difficult decisions they have to make. 

2. For all teachers and the beginning of the school year: that God will inspire them with ways to assist their students and help them to promote the growth and development of each of them. 

3. For all who feel burdened in life, for all who are searching for meaning, that God’s Word will touch their hearts and open the beauty of life before them. 

4. For peace: that God will open new opportunities for dialogue between national leaders, increase their concern for the common good, and free them from the constraints of their egos. 

5. For healing in our lives in body, mind, and spirit, for reconciliation of wounded and broken relationships. 

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

Lord, as we ask you to show us your truth and call us to new life, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.  

3 August 2022 - Wednesday of the 18th week in Ordinary time - prayers of the faithful

Lord Jesus, you call us to grow in faith. 

Christ Jesus, you ask us to live out the Gospel message in our words and our actions. 

Lord Jesus, you are the savior of the world. 

As we trust in God’s mercy, we now present our needs: 

1. For freedom from anxiety: that we may never be seduced by the illusions of wealth, fame, power, or control, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For an end to discrimination: that God will help us recognize the dignity of every person and not judge them on appearance, status in life, nor cultural origin, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For the poor: that God will sustain them each day, open new opportunities for them to use their gifts, and open our hearts to reach out to them in their time of need, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who live in violence: that God will break the cycle of violence, protect them from harm, and bring peace to their communities, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For all families that are divided: that God will help them recognize the value and dignity of each other and guide them to a resolution of their conflicts, we pray to the Lord. 

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

With humble hearts, we present these prayers through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers of the faithful - 2 August 2022 - Tuesday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time

Lord Jesus - You bring us hope. 

Christ Jesus - You bring to fulfillment God’s covenant. 

Lord Jesus - You call us to holiness. 

With faith and hope, we present our prayers to our heavenly Father: 

1. For the Church: that we may recognize our dependence upon God in all things, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For deeper understanding: that the Holy Spirit will increase our awareness of the beauty and power of the New Life we have in Christ, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For conversion of hearts: that we may lay aside lies, greed, and selfishness, and live as children of God, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For a spirit of gratitude: that we may appreciate all the gifts that God has given us and become rich through words of faith, attitudes of hope, and deeds of love, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For a greater sense of the common good: that we may recognize that God’s gifts are for the benefit of the whole human family and not allow them to become idols that control us, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord.  

With great love, we present these prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.  

21 August 2022 - Prayers of the faithful - 21st Sunday

Introduction - We come to the table of the Lord today in humility, knowing that the first will be last and the last will be first. 

Lord Jesus - You invite us to enter through the narrow gate - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - You welcome the sinner - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - You gather the nations to be one holy people - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: The Lord prepares a banquet for all.  He will not turn away from our prayers made in sincerity. 

1. That Holy Scripture and the Church’s Sacraments may nourish and strengthen all believers, we pray to the Lord. 

2. That the homeless, the hungry, and those in exile may find hope and help for the future, we pray to the Lord. 

3. That the farmers and ranchers who feed our nation and the world may be given favorable weather and a bountiful harvest, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For students, teachers, school administrators, that Christ and his truth lead them and guide them throughout the school year, we pray to the Lord. 

5. For our first responders, for the men and women in the military and for our medical professionals, in gratitude for their service and prayers for their safety, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray to the Lord. 

Priest: God of Abraham, you know our works and our thoughts.  Gather our prayers and shower us with your blessings.  We make our prayers through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.