tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88820055962266798922024-03-18T20:57:51.486-07:00Teach What You Believe; Preach What You BelieveReflections on the Roman Catholic Lectionary that I hope will provide homily hints.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-77236515658788322932013-02-24T13:21:00.000-08:002013-02-25T09:40:08.190-08:00Second Sunday of Lent Homily 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-1/8</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Philippians 3: 17-4.1</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke: 28b-36</span></i></div>
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I am sure there are many here among us who could tell a
story of an event that occurred to them that changed their lives forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see two instances of this in today’s
readings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We first hear of Abram, a man
who hears a voice calling to him to leave his homeland, a place were he felt
safe and secure, with everything he owned, with everyone he held dear; and
journey to some unknown land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he
arrives in the land, the Lord again speaks to him, promises that from Abram, a
great nation will spring forth, that the land Abram is standing on will be
his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Abram is a practical man, he
wonders how he will be able to hold such a vast land; how he, who is past his
prime, will father a nation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
confirms this promise by performing a miracle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the first miracle Abram witnesses in his relationship with the
Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can any of us even guess at the
emotions that he experienced from this event?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The promise is confirmed, and Abram’s life is forever changed, he is no
longer just a nomad, wandering the plains and hills of Palestine, he is now the father of a people.</div>
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In today’s Gospel, we see the disciples of Jesus, Peter,
John and James, following him up a mountain to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been following Jesus for sometime
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have heard him preach and were
inspired by his words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
witnessed him performing many miracles; and they are in awe of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier in this Gospel, we would have read
how Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the
Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, they may believe that Jesus
is the Messiah, but do they really understand what that means?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the top of that mountain, Peter, John and
James witness the transfiguration of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They see him in all his glory, and they hear the voice of the Father
confirm that Jesus is the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The words the Evangelist Luke uses, I think, fail to adequately describe
what those three disciples saw and experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The three persons who came down from that mountain were men whose lives
had been changed forever.</div>
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I think the common factor that Abram and the three disciples
shared, was that they were already persons with open hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may not have realized it at the moment,
but they were ready for God to come in and do something wonderful, that would
change them forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this season
of Lent, the Church is encouraging us to open our hearts; hearts that may have
grown hard over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving, we break our attachment to those things that may have
become a barrier between us, God and other persons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have an opportunity to break ourselves
open, and become totally receptive to the love and power of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can hear, with open ears, the Word of God;
we can see, with eyes of faith, the miracle of the Eucharist happening before
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we receive Christ in Holy Communion,
we open ourselves up to the power of His love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And with each of these encounters, Jesus will, as St. Paul wrote, “change our lowly body to
conform with his glorified body.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have the opportunity to enter into a new way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this can be somewhat frightening,
scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may be comfortable with the
way our life may be, right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may
be tempted to stay in the place we are, to remain at the base of the
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, God is offering us so
much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it comes with challenges,
but it also comes with so much joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
only need to have the courage to set out on the journey, to have the courage to
climb.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-23355022679975476492013-02-17T12:31:00.002-08:002013-02-17T12:31:41.790-08:00First Sunday of Lent 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq43xPDQSd8TFgpHTtY3JDbW6UO_MpAzz9Gt4FOOavrVHSixjk5If5m0oxqGIlgNf4iU8BYEM_xxY1Me0xnC_dvuL6K8zw7vtQqDigEwkxgrMAnY-hDlnagKr6h-SKovyFw-mhkvasxev/s1600/Temptation+of+Jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq43xPDQSd8TFgpHTtY3JDbW6UO_MpAzz9Gt4FOOavrVHSixjk5If5m0oxqGIlgNf4iU8BYEM_xxY1Me0xnC_dvuL6K8zw7vtQqDigEwkxgrMAnY-hDlnagKr6h-SKovyFw-mhkvasxev/s200/Temptation+of+Jesus.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Deuteronomy 26: 4-10</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Romans 10: 8-13</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Luke 4: 1-13</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Catholic parishes of Beverly, MA,
are part of the first phase of reorganizing the parishes of the Archdiocese of
Boston into 2 to 3 parish collaboratives, under one pastor and pastoral team.</span></i></div>
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Today’s Gospel reading continues
the story after the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has experienced the Holy Spirit coming
upon Him, has heard the Father confirming that he is the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must have been on a spiritual high; he is
“the man.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we see the Spirit leading
him into the desolation that is the desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are told that Jesus fasted for forty days, and was “hungry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, those of us who are dieters, or failed
dieters, we may think we know what it means to be hungry, but that is nothing
compared to the hunger Jesus must have experienced, and what the effects it
must have been to his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
combination of hunger and surviving the desert, must have definitely taken him
out of his comfort zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is then that
the devil challenges Jesus, tempts Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He first tempts Jesus to change a stone into bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he tries to have Jesus doubt his own
power as the Messiah, by accepting power from the devil, at the price of worshiping
him, rather than the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally,
the devil tries to have Jesus get the Father to confirm that He is the Son, by
saving him from a fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these
actions, changing stone into bread, accepting power from another, seeking the
Father’s reaffirmation; these are all self-centered actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus came not for himself but for
others.</div>
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So Jesus drew on the divine power
that was in him all the time, which was and is at the center of his being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Evangelist Luke expresses this power by
having Jesus quote the Hebrew Scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the power of the Word of God that will drive the devil away.</div>
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Now, all of us experience
temptation at different times, and in different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are tempted to reach for that cookie on
the plate, even when our mother says not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are tempted to reach for the game boy, rather than doing our
homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are tempted to join in the
gossip about a coworker, rather than defend him or her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes we are tempted to give in to
despair, because life has gotten so hard, so dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In moments of temptation, great or small, we
all need to turn to Him who has experienced it himself, who knows what we are
going through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we open ours hearts to
Him, if we let His word take hold of us, have faith in Him, we will ignore the
temptation, have hope and not be put to shame.</div>
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Lent is a time when the Church
challenges us; through fasting, increased prayer, and almsgiving, giving of
ourselves for others; to leave our comfort zone, to set sail on uncharted
spiritual waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now this year, as
a parish community, as a community of Catholic believers here in Beverly, we are being
asked to go on into even more uncharted waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of us may be tempted to withdraw within ourselves and not participate
in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the process moves on,
for whatever reasons, some of us may be tempted to jump ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on top of all that, we hear that Pope
Benedict is resigning, and now the way forward looks even more uncertain, the
horizon more shrouded in fog, in uncertainty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I ask of all us to do is to trust in Him, who built the Bark, the
Ship of St. Peter, trust in him who gave St. Peter the keys of the kingdom, and
asked him to care for the Lord’s sheep; believe in Him who at a word, calm the
winds and the waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will bring us to
safe harbor.</div>
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Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-52053551912305396992013-01-19T21:09:00.000-08:002013-01-19T21:09:26.638-08:00Homily For 2nd Sunday In Ordinary Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZai14wEwu6I2iIfzVY5AXG0iDX-QeCw1NiqidWZ_fY4qRaX3OPz9bxqOqyjeNMQe7iYOluWFLekbkLR8yZ5fU8OxHJxKSqrBVigGhPORNGeQPCm8MXsaSflU0oZdgzgxHy4WOMiyZvwY/s1600/Cana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZai14wEwu6I2iIfzVY5AXG0iDX-QeCw1NiqidWZ_fY4qRaX3OPz9bxqOqyjeNMQe7iYOluWFLekbkLR8yZ5fU8OxHJxKSqrBVigGhPORNGeQPCm8MXsaSflU0oZdgzgxHy4WOMiyZvwY/s200/Cana.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>Isaiah 62: 1-5</i><br />
<i>1 Corinthians 12: 4-11</i><br />
<i>John 2: 1-11</i><br />
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Recently, I have learned the meaning of a new phrase, and
that phrase is “back story.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
definition is that it is a literary device used by some writers, to create a
history or biography for a character, or events that lead up to the current
incident the author is writing about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The back story may be just for the author’s benefit, to help in writing
about a present moment in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After going through today’s Gospel reading, I find myself
wondering as to what was the back story for the wedding feast of Cana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passage
hints that the wedding party had a good number of waiters or servants in
attendance, with a head waiter in charge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The size of the water jugs seems to indicate that there were a lot of
guests invited, who would be using them for the ceremonial washings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I am speculating that somebody in the
wedding party had, as saying goes, “a lot of brass!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how does it come about that Mary, the
mother of Jesus, a simple woman from Nazareth,
gets invited to this wedding?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could
be that she was a relative from the poorer side of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She must have been loved and respected to be
invited, and of course, they would have to invite her son, Jesus, who was
developing a reputation as an itinerant preacher</div>
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Mary is observant, she notices the distress among the
servants responsible for pouring the wine; she sees the wine is running low,
and she knows what dishonor it could bring to the married couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turns to her son, who tells her that this
is not the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mary knows; deep
down in her heart, where she has reflected on everything that has happened up
to this moment, that now is the hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the rest is, as they say, history.</div>
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However, I think we should notice something, the groom and
the head waiter are clueless as to what has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not to the people who live “Upstairs”
that this miracle is revealed; but to the ones who are “Downstairs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we can imagine these servants, the ones
who prepared the water jugs, going to their families and telling them of what
they had witnessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And soon the word
gets out throughout their neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And soon, all of Cana is abuzz, as is the rest of Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And everyone is talking about this country
rabbi, by the name of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And his disciples
are now aware that there is something more to this Jesus of Nazareth.</div>
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We all know what the something is; we know that Jesus Christ
is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, who died and is risen, who has freed
us from the power of sin and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
we know this, then we cannot keep this a secret; “For Zion’s sake I will not be
silent, for Jerusalem’s
sake I will not be quiet.” (Isaiah: 62: 1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are entering a process to reorganize the Catholic communities of Beverly into a collaborative.
The aim of this process is more than just preserving the status quo; their
ultimate goals is to give us the resources to go out and be evangelizers, to
got out and proclaim the Good News.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are all called, by virtue of our baptism into Body of Christ, to participate in
the prophetic role of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does this
mean that we all become street corner preachers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, what I would ask all us to do is to reflect on the words of St. Paul from the second
reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all receive different gifts
from the Holy Spirit, which are meant to be used in building up the Body of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means taking the time for
prayer and reflection, to become aware of the gifts we have received and what
opportunities present themselves to us to use these gifts. Sometimes, the best
evangelizers are those who strive to live those two great commandments of Christ,
to love God with all of our heart and soul; and to love others as
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One act of charity can be
like a stone dropped into a pond; the ripples will go out and spread through
our families, our neighborhoods, our city, the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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“For Zion’s sake I will not
be silent, for Jerusalem’s
sake I will not be quiet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us not be
timid, let us not be quiet, but boldly go out, in whatever way the Spirit calls
us, and proclaim the Good News, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-19386793194602187822012-12-25T19:53:00.000-08:002012-12-25T19:53:14.325-08:00Christmas Homily 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Isaiah: 62: 11-12<br />
Titus 3: 4-7<br />
Luke 2: 15-20<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“See, the Lord proclaims to the ends of
the earth: say to daughter Zion,
you savior comes!”</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Christmas morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In America it has become a time when presents
are unwrapped; family and friends gather for a dinner; and Christmas shows and
movies are watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many of us,
Christmas is a time of colors, lights, joy and good times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, we know that there are people and places
where the coming of Christmas morning is bittersweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thinking of the victims of Hurricane
Sandy, still struggling to put their lives together again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thinking of the families, trying to get
through the tragic loss of loved ones in Oregon, Colorado, other cities and
countries, and especially our brothers and sisters in Newtown Ct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thinking of those in our community,
struggling with the challenges, the curve balls that life sometimes tosses at
us.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What I do want to speak about
is of a Christmas that was experienced by a group of shepherds outside the town
of Bethlehem, the town of King David’s birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now shepherds in the time of Jesus were on
the lowest rung of the agricultural workers ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They owned no land; all they had were their
sheep; they depended on the sheep’s wool to sell to weavers; on the sheep’s
meat to feed themselves and their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their flocks were always threatened by starvation if the pastures
suffered drought; by disease, by wolves; and the thievery of other
shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they were not wealthy,
mostly they were poor, very poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And here they were, near Bethlehem, keeping night
watch over their flocks, when suddenly, an angel appears to them, telling them
that the Messiah had been born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
proclamation is not made to rulers of nation, but it is to the poor that this
great news is given. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then they have
a vision of thousands of angels, filling the sky, proclaiming “Glory to God in
the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pope Benedict, in his recent book on the
birth of Christ, expresses the belief that the angels sang this Gloria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine what that must have sounded
like? Picture the Mormon Tabernacle choir times a hundred, times a thousand!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So what would you do if you
had such a vision, heard such news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
go check it out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is what the shepherds
did, and what they found was this couple in an animal stall, with their infant
in a manger, something cattle or sheep would eat out off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now other people, more sophisticated people,
might say this cannot be the Messiah, and go looking elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when these shepherds saw the child,
something in their hearts, told them, “Yes, this is the one who is Christ, Lord,
and Savior.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their lives were
transformed, no longer filled with despair and sadness, but filled now with
hope, with peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“See, the Lord proclaims to the ends of
the earth: say to daughter Zion,
your savior comes!”</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">We have all come here today,
like the shepherds, to see a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Monsignor raises the Host and the Chalice, we will hear the words
“Behold, the Lamb of God!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like the
shepherds at that first Christmas, we will recognize our Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the Son of God came into the world as a
small infant, he comes to us today in the form of bread and wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He comes to save us from darkness and
despair; he comes to brings us hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
comes save us from fear and sadness; he comes to bring us joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Let us all open our hearts to
Him, receive Him, and experience His presence within us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us then leave here glorifying and
praising God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By our lives, let us
proclaim to the entire world the good news, “our Savior comes!!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-38291398002631833302012-12-23T19:31:00.000-08:002012-12-23T19:31:13.193-08:00Fourth Sunday of Advent 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQmndiVzkXC9Z2F1MCrPqOkUoH1TWnn-UmMxhxnZD-0CP5FvpQj9QxdRmXGUUpe2sX8on1lrW38ClpsB8Hj0pLDQ_2Kdg5ZYCw6EbBY_-PklqY7FeHiNgXEBPJDkmERPRzVtf3uiNFYyw/s1600/mary+and+elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQmndiVzkXC9Z2F1MCrPqOkUoH1TWnn-UmMxhxnZD-0CP5FvpQj9QxdRmXGUUpe2sX8on1lrW38ClpsB8Hj0pLDQ_2Kdg5ZYCw6EbBY_-PklqY7FeHiNgXEBPJDkmERPRzVtf3uiNFYyw/s200/mary+and+elizabeth.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Micah 5: 1-4a</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hebrews 10: 5-10</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke 1:39-45 </span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now I do not claim to be psychic, but I am willing to bet
that every child here is thinking “One more day till Christmas!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there must be many adults here thinking;
“Oh my goodness, only one day till Christmas!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are thinking of the presents we still have to buy and wrap, the food
supplies we have to buy for Christmas dinner, and how much time we need to
prepare it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then all those personal crises
seem to get magnified, during the Christmas season, so much pressure and
tension.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let us just for moment, stop, try to still our minds and our
hearts, and listen for the voice of the Lord; feel his Presence, realize that
we are about to celebrate something wonderful that has happened in the past, is
happening now, and will continue to happen into the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Elizabeth knew something awesome was
about to happen, she had already experienced God’s power in her life, when, in
her late age, she was able to become pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One could say that she was already sensitive to the power of the Holy
Spirit, so that when she heard Mary’s voice and felt her child leaped in her
womb, not move or kick, but leaped, she knew something more powerful than her
miracle was occurring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She realized
instinctively that Mary was carrying the Son of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God was intervening again in the lives of His people, the
children of Israel,
as He did during the time of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
promised Messiah was coming, not with great sound and fury, but as a little
child, born of a simple Jewish, peasant woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, He will become a Shepherd of His People, not only the people of Israel, but of
all nations, caring for them, healing them, and guiding them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is this that we celebrate in a couple of days, this great
miracle, and this great act of love by the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an act of love that continues
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continue to celebrate
Emmanuel, “God is with us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ
is present as the Word of God, He is present in the Eucharist, and He is
present within each of us when we open our hearts to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He cares for us as a shepherd, comforting
us, and guiding us, bringing us back to the Father.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the time that is left, I encourage all of us to make some
quiet space in our day, so that we can hear the voice of our Shepherd, and in
hearing that voice we will leap for joy.</span></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-42627367891625633902012-12-15T19:21:00.000-08:002012-12-15T19:21:40.202-08:00Third Sunday Of Advent - Newtown CT Tragedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenuCr-iXgZNvKVFaLp80Pewb8MpRDTfRFwLEvFtjQ6Otu5QFZqs2OdzTeLKmKlC3eJ6sGa4v62uWKoyBSajDACWIDtM37g4eeFoSr5nyNU6dzPDjtzx5w41aP-Lf7L-w5CZM1uJW4oe5h/s1600/Newtown+Shootings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenuCr-iXgZNvKVFaLp80Pewb8MpRDTfRFwLEvFtjQ6Otu5QFZqs2OdzTeLKmKlC3eJ6sGa4v62uWKoyBSajDACWIDtM37g4eeFoSr5nyNU6dzPDjtzx5w41aP-Lf7L-w5CZM1uJW4oe5h/s200/Newtown+Shootings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Zephananiah 3: 14-18a<br />
Philippians 4: 4-7<br />
Luke 3: 10-18<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The pari<span style="font-size: x-small;">sh I am assigned to<span style="font-size: x-small;">, fir<span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span> built </span></span></span>a facility that housed an elementary school, and middle school. Instead of building a church, they converted the school auditorium into a full time worship space.</i><br />
<br />
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When I was in formation to become a
deacon, we had a class on how to prepare and deliver homilies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our instructor advised us to spend at least a
week in advance to prepare a good homily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, there are times when current events forces one to toss out the
long prepared text, and speak to what is happening right now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A great tragedy has happened to our
neighbors south of here; to our fellow New Englander’s of Newtown, CT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many households in that town where
children’s beds lay empty and the grief is so great that you must feel it when
you come into the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sadness
magnified because of the season we are in right now, a season that is suppose
to be full of lights and joy, especially for children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there must be strong feelings being
stirred amongst all of us here today, because of what is next door here, on the
other side of that wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us who have
children in the school may be wondering, “Is my child safe?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Questions are already swirling
about, “Why did this happen?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What was
wrong with that young man?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where was
God, how could He let this happen?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wish I had an answer: I wish somebody had an answer as to the why, because then
maybe we could prevent this tragedy from happening again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I can say is that a great evil
must have taken possession of that young man’s soul, and he gave into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As to being angry with God, well,
humanity has been angry with God off and on for many years, during many crises
and tragedies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just take a look at the
Psalms, especially Psalm 88, if you want to see some real venting of
anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I have no good answer as
to why bad things happen to good people, which by the way is the title of a
book I would recommend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I will share
with you my personal reflection on where was, where is God in all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In downtown Boston, at St. Anthony Shrine, the Franciscan
friars have a statue of Jesus in their chapel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is portrayed having his hand over his face, and there is the
suggestion of a tear falling down his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The title of the piece is “And Jesus Wept.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is taken from the Gospel story of Jesus
finding the tomb of his friend Lazarus, and experiencing grief over the loss of
his friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows grief, he knows
loss, and because of that he is with everyone there in Newtown, the streets of
Boston, in Oregon, Colorado, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where anyone is
grieving; sharing in that grief, and offering healing, offering hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We are still in the Advent season,
a time of expectation, and especially a longing for some hope out of all this
tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would call your attention to
the Advent wreath, to the rose colored candle that is lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reminds me of a very early morning sky,
when the rays of first light is just breaking, and there is a pinkish color to
the sky, promising a new day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope is
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope is already here, Jesus
Christ, Emmanuel, “God is with us...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is present among us, grieving with us, comforting us, and healing us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Again, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“The Lord is near.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We will soon be gathered around the
Eucharistic table to offer those prayers of petition, praise and
thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And through receiving the
Body and Blood of Christ, we will experience a peace the world cannot give.</div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-68530242852062015022012-11-18T17:50:00.000-08:002012-11-18T17:51:39.537-08:00Thirty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslWmoCTTIQwGzsDSosPpRN6sSeqSmTiwbBqLOVl0PWasPk6VkjAi3Ah_r4gRNkYDf1sDFgMIkgXpborIKSLksh1J0v1t3FQCyE_Q0YahWwXBCGiJ8uIeCCwhb7CA9Jghe626w5rwpqM_d/s1600/Second+Coming+of+Chirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslWmoCTTIQwGzsDSosPpRN6sSeqSmTiwbBqLOVl0PWasPk6VkjAi3Ah_r4gRNkYDf1sDFgMIkgXpborIKSLksh1J0v1t3FQCyE_Q0YahWwXBCGiJ8uIeCCwhb7CA9Jghe626w5rwpqM_d/s200/Second+Coming+of+Chirst.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>Daniel 12: 1-3</i><br />
<i>Psalm 16: 5, 8, 9-10, 11</i><br />
<i>Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18</i><br />
<i>Mark 13: 24-32</i><br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One of the favorite themes of science
fiction writers and sci fi movies is the end of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always shown as a series of disasters
that will either wipe out all life on this planet, or totally destroy Earth
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On some of the science cable channels,
I have seen computer generated images of the sun going supernova and destroying
the planets of our solar system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
scary stuff, as frightening as the words we have just heard,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the
powers in the heavens will be shaken.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you imagine how these words may have affected early Christians, or
the people of the Middle Ages, in those times before our modern understanding
of how the universe works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because now
we have scientists telling us that it will be billions of years before our sun
will be close to going to supernova; and unknown billions of years before the
universe ceases to exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So barring
some cosmic accident, or some catastrophic natural event, we can all take it
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well there is that last statement that Jesus makes
in today’s Gospel, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Now why make this statement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would suggest that Jesus does not want His
followers to be too complacent about how we are or are not living the Gospel
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is a constant theme throughout
the Scriptures, we must all live in expectation that the Risen Lord will come again
into our world; and His coming will forever change our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His coming will be awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see this theme of constant expectation in
the Old Testament, with the early Israelites, on the night of Passover, they
were dressed to move, and they are eating the Passover meal in expectation that
something awesome was going to happen in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it does, the Lord comes and frees His
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s first reading, we see
the prophet Daniel, speaking words of encouragement to the Jewish people, whose
lands are occupied, the people scattered and under religious persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Daniel is telling the nation, to be
ready, for as bad as the times are, the Lord, through his angel Michael, is
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something is about to happen, something
wonderful, something glorious, something awesome!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%;">So Jesus, in Mark’s Gospel, is
telling us, be ready, for the risen Christ is going to return to us, and His
coming is not to be feared, but to be look forward to, because His coming is
going to be awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And how are we to make ourselves
ready for His coming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would suggest
that we try to live our lives in constant expectation of encountering Christ in
our daily lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we wake up in the
morning, we awaken with the expectation that throughout the day, we will
encounter Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walk out into the
world and see God’s hand in His creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In every person we meet during the day, whether rich or poor, we may
encounter Christ in that person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
engage in daily prayer and reading Scripture, we open our minds and hearts to
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, in this place, we are gathered
here around this altar, where in a short while, simple bread and wine will be
transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, We will come forward in
expectation of receiving Him, and becoming one with Him, and that will be
awesome!</span></div>
Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-59171856272858092122009-12-27T20:59:00.000-08:002009-12-27T21:04:37.500-08:00Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, December 27, 2009<div align="center">Lectionary #17</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn8ZgXYA7DuQGO7p64hd2-5CudrtPGx0O02ZSSdkX8P-j9exQK_Q2bJ2tazPMVcQzZ1gxa1rCPd2pfWt6vIfz0OBpyHmLGSPIT41F388DVMIdZP5Lva2cHja5Fsl8Q2gtMztAioYm4hMU/s1600-h/elderly+parents.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 79px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420147676756994914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn8ZgXYA7DuQGO7p64hd2-5CudrtPGx0O02ZSSdkX8P-j9exQK_Q2bJ2tazPMVcQzZ1gxa1rCPd2pfWt6vIfz0OBpyHmLGSPIT41F388DVMIdZP5Lva2cHja5Fsl8Q2gtMztAioYm4hMU/s320/elderly+parents.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-15<br />Colossians 3: 12-21<br />Luke 2: 41-52<br /><br /><br /><br /><em>“My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as his lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins---a house raised in justice to you.” (From the Book of Sirach, Chapter 3)<br /></em><br />I was the lector for my parish’s 8:30 AM Mass. Today being the Sunday of the Holy Family, the lectionary offers a selection of various readings to choose from. My pastor selected the reading from the Book of Sirach, the above quote being the last paragraph of the reading. <br /><br />I do not know if the Holy Spirit was trying to say something to me, but this reading has personal significance for me. My father came down with a case of pneumonia right after Thanksgiving and is still in the hospital. Fortunately, he has gotten through it, but he still has a long road to recovery. He is incredibly thin and weak, but in good spirits. It has been difficult to see my parents’ age over the past few years, but especially my father over these recent weeks. Both parents are going to need a lot of support from my siblings and me.<br /><br />This puts us in the company of many “baby boomers,” who find themselves caring for parents who are living longer, but are developing more illnesses and weaknesses. The media reports on the strains this puts many families through. This is when faith communities need to step up and provide the social and spiritual support that family caregivers need. We need the opportunity to gather and share our struggles, frustrations and joys. Individually, we need to give ourselves time for prayer, to open up to God, pour out our anger, fears and despair; then open our hearts to God’s healing love.<br /><br /><em>“Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (From the First Letter of Saint John)<br /></em><br />Experiencing God’s love enables us in turn to love; to be compassionate and patient. Then we will truly be able to honor our parents.<br /><br /><em>“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (From the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians)<br /></em>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-67244020873374863672009-11-04T20:35:00.000-08:002009-11-04T20:43:32.827-08:0032nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 8, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU9XCc5to7_k-2MioEB9LzHZ6z250YVdVrHc1HJqXA_JDd-VjGlvU_MrVq8nK749qOnV0StsnVK1WCz1EgrS8Mi9Pnhsqh1oqIakbcMYgAcFrjUqMHIIfr4RUUpYfNtsX4-Fd4ttfDw7y/s1600-h/Solanus+Casey.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 84px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400475050194234130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU9XCc5to7_k-2MioEB9LzHZ6z250YVdVrHc1HJqXA_JDd-VjGlvU_MrVq8nK749qOnV0StsnVK1WCz1EgrS8Mi9Pnhsqh1oqIakbcMYgAcFrjUqMHIIfr4RUUpYfNtsX4-Fd4ttfDw7y/s200/Solanus+Casey.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_42BPX9xDhmB49cNlS4sDJoFFIPW7sLf8FRa8wLju9OBomQrpqI6nJPjXQnlaiAlI5BAtYiohwNC-0yBUBWNXWir9IF-UsK75Uy1mbXakvO2SB6PeLmt-mqtfYDhTCc_BcquGzgP4ND/s1600-h/Widows+mite.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400473926924390706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk_42BPX9xDhmB49cNlS4sDJoFFIPW7sLf8FRa8wLju9OBomQrpqI6nJPjXQnlaiAlI5BAtYiohwNC-0yBUBWNXWir9IF-UsK75Uy1mbXakvO2SB6PeLmt-mqtfYDhTCc_BcquGzgP4ND/s320/Widows+mite.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Lectionary #155<br /></div><div>1 Kings 17: 10-16<br />Hebrews 9: 24-28<br />Mark 12: 38-44<br /><br /><br /><br />In 1904, a Franciscan Capuchin by the name of Solanus Casey was ordained as a priest. His journey to that moment had been difficult. He found the studies at the seminary difficult; and because his superiors judged his knowledge of theology as being weak, he was not given permission to preach or to hear confessions. After several assignments, he was assigned to a monastery in Detroit, where he was sacristan and porter. As porter, he greeted everyone who came to visit the monastery, ready to listen to their worries and concerns. He was able to offer a comforting word and a blessing. He was able to touch the hearts of hundreds of people. When Father Solanus died in 1957, about 20,000 people passed his coffin during his wake.<br /><br />Father Solanus Casey was a man judged to have few talents, but he gave those talents to God and God’s children. Through grace, the Father took those talents, multiplied them and enabled Father Solanus to reach out and comfort, heal and inspire thousands of people. Each one of us has skills that we are good at, some of us are blessed with many talents, and some of us are blessed with a few. Jesus is asking us to offer them all for the glory of God, our Creator; and for the service of our brothers and sisters in Christ.<br /><br />This can require courage, because it can be difficult to open ourselves and share all that we are with others. But all things are possible with God, so let us turn to him for that courage; ask that he send his Spirit to inspire us; his Son to strengthen us; so that we can contribute all that we have for the mission of the Church. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-62723980581612719622009-10-20T20:31:00.001-07:002009-10-25T06:16:01.815-07:0030th Sunday of Ordinary Time - October 25, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYMGRTu8wpTKByOvB8eV0PhMeDo1oxcJ6lQmKxfAFhNCU6OH9vh0hxSQU0hoUBhbWMlYMAOi48j4hXvD2_00J4bnF4S4N4m8g5DjqqWCzo7Y9BSWLBgd7iqqAuW8Q6DjDmnywzldnfjqC/s1600-h/Bartimaeus.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 79px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 108px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394890979162616882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYMGRTu8wpTKByOvB8eV0PhMeDo1oxcJ6lQmKxfAFhNCU6OH9vh0hxSQU0hoUBhbWMlYMAOi48j4hXvD2_00J4bnF4S4N4m8g5DjqqWCzo7Y9BSWLBgd7iqqAuW8Q6DjDmnywzldnfjqC/s320/Bartimaeus.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #149<br /><br /><br />Jeremiah 31: 7-9<br />Hebrews 5: 1-6<br />Mark 10: 46-52<br /><br /><br /><br />Can anyone of us who have our eyesight, imagine what it must be like to be blind? To be living in total darkness? Imagine what it would be like in the time of Jesus; with none of the aids or support systems we have today for the blind. Some would be abandoned by their families, ashamed because they think God is punishing them for some unknown sin. Some of the blind would be like Bartimaeus, sitting on the roadside, hearing the sounds of the world going by them, calling out for some alms. They hope to hear the clatter of coins; they hope that no one will rob them of what little treasure they have.<br /><br />We do not know how long Bartimaeus was blind, how long he had been sitting at that roadside. Whether he was despairing over how his life was turning out. Then one day he hears this commotion, he learns that Jesus of Nazareth, the famous healer and preacher is coming. He suddenly feels a spark of hope, and he grabs for it. He cries out, somehow inspired to call Jesus, “son of David.” Bartimaeus is brought before Jesus; he is asked what he wants Jesus to do for him. Now he has only heard stories about this Jesus; and there have so many so-called healers in Judea. But deep in his heart, he believes in this man from Nazareth, so he asks that he might see. It is that faith that saves him, he receives his sight and his world is forever changed. Now, his world is open to new opportunities, he can take any road now. He chooses to follow Jesus, who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”<br /><br />We all suffer from some type of blindness, the blindness of prejudice, greed, hate, depression, and self-doubt. It is a blindness that keeps us from seeing the beauty of God’s creation; keeps us from seeing others as our brothers and sisters in Christ; keeps us from seeing how much the Father loves us. We all need healing; even though that healing may change us, change how we perceive the world and ourselves. And change can be scary; it can draw us out of our comfort zone. What we need then is the gift of faith. It is faith that causes us to get up and draw near to Jesus. It is faith give us that little spark of hope. It is faith that makes us ask Jesus to say, “Master, I want to see.” </div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-68985699343631047572009-10-13T20:07:00.000-07:002009-10-13T20:11:02.471-07:0029th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 18, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2s9ZARO7zLxr4bMTkwE0_GugbVc-tI9vYD7bBf8ZrPUY1z6HyB5z_PiAIcDI2yj6LnO3tGOvckErjOxKfkD9APmlLW-I9N3BjxHF4H26e_zFK9YJoYydP_BtMmrfDDxfnrVUuSMke5ZI/s1600-h/James+and+John.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392287292229698994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2s9ZARO7zLxr4bMTkwE0_GugbVc-tI9vYD7bBf8ZrPUY1z6HyB5z_PiAIcDI2yj6LnO3tGOvckErjOxKfkD9APmlLW-I9N3BjxHF4H26e_zFK9YJoYydP_BtMmrfDDxfnrVUuSMke5ZI/s320/James+and+John.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #146<br /><br />Isaiah 53: 10-11<br />Hebrews 4: 14-16 <br />Mark 10: 35-45<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One could say that James and John are the most clueless of Jesus’ disciples. And they are definitely slow learners. We have seen in the earlier readings from the Gospel of Mark, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus; what are the challenges and the sacrifices that are required. But James and John do not seem to get it, they are still looking to be above the others; they want to be Jesus’ “number one” guys. Jesus is blunt with them; he lets them know what will be required of them, what it will cost them to be his followers. James and John are still clueless; they should have remembered what Isaiah had written about the Messiah, how he was going to suffer, so that others may be saved. Jesus reminds them and the other Apostles that they are not to be like the rest of society, where everyone is continuously seeking power and prestige. No, they are to be servants to all people; that if one wanted to be the greatest of all, they would have to be “the slave of all.”<br /><br />In our society today, we are constantly being bombarded with images and stories of people who are seeking fame, power, and wealth; and those who have it, are flaunting it. Our televisions are constantly showing us the lives of the rich and famous, the checkout counters of our stores are almost buried with magazines, papers, “scandal sheets,’ revealing every aspect of these “bright, young things” lives. And truth be told, all of us have a desire to be “top dog” in our own little part of the world, to have at least fifteen minutes of fame. <br /><br />And there is Jesus telling us: “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. <strong>But it shall not be so among you</strong>.” We are all called to be servants, to one another, and to the rest of the world. This will require us to make sacrifices, let go our egos, give of our talents, time and treasure. We are inspired by the example of Jesus Christ; receive strength from his Body and Blood, so that we can give our lives for others.<br /> </div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-70176003129921089052009-10-01T20:16:00.001-07:002009-10-01T20:19:02.220-07:0027th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 4, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbwlDkj8Qa01AXlVxm4M02MViEhwZwUJ-L0HifjK96ScBJBxOHtS3usK3Vn3M4_nfQMkyutOq6YQK2W4mKD6R5EFc23GvIqCjvOWC0VzXV58rFNrg_7IIrCOv-O2fy6AzBQyGdVJUBnhU/s1600-h/Joyful+married+couple.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387836485036353522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbwlDkj8Qa01AXlVxm4M02MViEhwZwUJ-L0HifjK96ScBJBxOHtS3usK3Vn3M4_nfQMkyutOq6YQK2W4mKD6R5EFc23GvIqCjvOWC0VzXV58rFNrg_7IIrCOv-O2fy6AzBQyGdVJUBnhU/s200/Joyful+married+couple.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #140<br /><br />Genesis 2: 18-24<br />Hebrews 2: 9-11<br />Mark 10: 2-16<br /><br /><br />America has the reputation of being the most litigious country in the world. It seems that we need a contract, or some written document that covers every aspect of life. This is especially true of marriage, where we see pre-nuptial agreements becoming a regular practice. We see divorce attorneys becoming almost a numerous as marriage counselors. We are becoming a society where the idea of a permanent commitment to a relationship seems anachronistic. <br /><br />But historically, that is how marriage has developed over the centuries. To many societies, both ancient and modern, marriage was seen as a contract, at first between the man and woman, then between a man and the woman’s family. It involved dowries, money, and land. Society would soon consider the woman as the man’s property. But when we read today’s passages from Genesis and the Gospel of Mark, we know that the marriage of a man and a woman is something more than just a contractual relationship, it something wondrous, awesome and holy.<br /><br />I know it may not seem that way on days when we are arguing with our spouse over money, kids, and work. But despite that, the sacramental reality still exists, man and woman are one flesh, each unique, but both one. Both united to one another by God’s grace, and it is in opening oneself to that grace that can enable us to bear the troubles of life and stay united as one flesh. <br /><br /> </div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-11370551118021453682009-09-22T19:40:00.000-07:002009-09-22T19:50:31.829-07:0026th Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 27, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNSzEeAscUVbQWQv22jvNF2seJP5CUltX2e93_Ez-Lbeoloz-lIoYkD7QcOFJZnHCIa3OXI0TvnYlEMst4DP_n1J5YasKtTmfD0QPAtsQ7ljMWQvMj-R3iONVe8aBnMPu20S4WAgw1WCd/s1600-h/madoff.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 92px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384487583654444898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNSzEeAscUVbQWQv22jvNF2seJP5CUltX2e93_Ez-Lbeoloz-lIoYkD7QcOFJZnHCIa3OXI0TvnYlEMst4DP_n1J5YasKtTmfD0QPAtsQ7ljMWQvMj-R3iONVe8aBnMPu20S4WAgw1WCd/s200/madoff.jpg" /></a><br />Lectionary #127<br /><br /><br /><br />Numbers 11:25-29<br />James 5:1-6<br />Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48<br /><br />When we hear the words from James as he rails against those rich persons who oppressed the poor, we most likely visualize persons like Bernard Madoff, the bankers with their huge bonuses, and the brokers who sold mortgages to poor people, pocketed their commissions and skipped town. We probably would say, “Preach it, Brother James, preach it!” But what if we realize that James is addressing his words to us? Then we would be thinking, “Now he’s stop preaching and gone to meddling!”<br /><br />Now most of us would never act in ways that James in describing in the reading. We would never withhold wages from workers. We would never hoard wealth, never sharing it with those in need. We would never live in “luxury and pleasure,” while others live in poverty and squalor. Or have we? How often do we shop in stores that withhold compensation their workers are due? How often do we stand silently by while developers take over poor neighborhoods, building homes and condominiums, bringing in wealthy tenants and driving out the poor ones? How often do we fail to lift a finger or raise a voice for those who are oppressed in this world?<br /><br />James was a prophetic voice in his time; we are called to be a prophetic voice in our times. We have seen how corporations, how people of wealth, through their political contributions, buy access to our political leaders. Their voices speak louder than the voices of those who are poor. God is calling us to be their voice, he calling us to fulfill the prophetic role we accepted when we were baptized into the Body of Christ. We need only open ours hearts to God, and he will send us his spirit, and we will prophesy.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-9165168356770871492009-09-16T20:13:00.000-07:002009-09-20T13:37:31.595-07:0025th Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 20, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sdWVhzGMKotpuHpiKrqmM7EPS6glg1GNciGK2Wj6n252vxld7vdkMssecdesqg309H7WvzpE2qkOsCm68_W6kklq425Wn2lDfAxHNM6z3EcJyzKwVpAKMfoMxztR8pAs7O2m7EOdaN8T/s1600-h/boss.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 99px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 108px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382269687807203186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sdWVhzGMKotpuHpiKrqmM7EPS6glg1GNciGK2Wj6n252vxld7vdkMssecdesqg309H7WvzpE2qkOsCm68_W6kklq425Wn2lDfAxHNM6z3EcJyzKwVpAKMfoMxztR8pAs7O2m7EOdaN8T/s200/boss.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #134<br /><br />Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20<br />James 3: 16—4: 3<br />Mark 9: 30-37<br /><br /><br /><em>“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”<br /></em><br /><br />“Numero Uno,” “Top Dog,” “King of the Hill.” It almost seems to be in our DNA, this desire to be ahead of the crowd, to be the Boss. We see it in other mammals. The “Alpha male and female” in a wolf pack. The stallions that fight each other to control the herd. The bull elephant seal, protecting his harem from all challengers. And in humans, we see this competitive streak, whether in sports, in the office, in business or politics, we all want to be recognized as the greatest.<br /><br />This applies even to the disciples of Jesus Christ. They are small group, minuscule compared to the forces of the Roman Empire, or the priestly class of the Temple in the Jerusalem, yet they are arguing about which one of them is the greatest of this small group. One can picture Jesus holding his head and shaking it as he listens to this. He then sets the Apostles straight, and turns their world upside down. Contradicting everything they have experienced and learned in their society, they hear that to be the greatest, means to be the least, to be the leader means to be the servant.<br /><br />This is an alien concept even in our own time. In the world of business, to be the greatest means to have the biggest office, the fanciest limo, the largest mansion, and the biggest bonus. Celebrities expect the best seating in restaurants, all their needs and desires to be taken care of. Even some leaders among the clergy expect to be treated like princes.<br /><br />Jesus preached that we all are called to be servants to each other. Anyone who is called to be leaders in their fields of endeavor, need to remember that all the talents and strengths we have are gifts from God. And these gifts are meant to be used for the good of all. </div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-999630908074868332009-09-09T19:51:00.000-07:002009-09-09T19:56:15.247-07:0024th Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 13, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq0PgKOUooLrR6L-UZOV_3VkWxte6Qf3cMVuU50gOpzZyiZ-29PIC0o3ZaNyukMKAquhssMBtYcZCcoRrgWZshjbEZ5Y6KbFN8OtBUQdKSDRMMTXMvqCk4lUvyBO8E0N2OgV3DWdYXWaA/s1600-h/cross.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 96px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379666575879516386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq0PgKOUooLrR6L-UZOV_3VkWxte6Qf3cMVuU50gOpzZyiZ-29PIC0o3ZaNyukMKAquhssMBtYcZCcoRrgWZshjbEZ5Y6KbFN8OtBUQdKSDRMMTXMvqCk4lUvyBO8E0N2OgV3DWdYXWaA/s320/cross.jpg" /></a> Lectionary #131<br /><br />Isaiah 50: 4c-9a<br />James 2: 14-18<br />Mark 8: 27-35<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When a charismatic leader is trying to entice people to join his or her movement, there are promises of rewards, glory, and the gratifications of desires. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has been acclaimed as the Messiah by Peter, but then he begins to describe the suffering he must undergo. Peter is shocked by this, and tries to let Jesus know that this is not the way to recruit and keep followers. Jesus then lets his followers know what it means to be his disciple. It means self-sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom, even to the point of losing one’s life. <br /><br />This is the challenge that Jesus lays before us, this is the question he asks, do we wish to be his disciple and follow him? To follow him means giving up our self-centeredness and loving God with our whole heart and mind, and loving others unreservedly. It means sharing all that we are, our talents, our gifts, and our wealth, with those who are in need. And it means bearing with our own weaknesses, pains, personal crises and troubles, and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Many people in our society today would not find this an attractive calling. They would be happy to accept the title “Christian,” and declare that they are a follower of Jesus, but continue to maintain their comfortable lives. We have seen though that many people can see through this rouse, and are turned off by the hypocrisy. Faith that is not lived is worthless, lifeless. We need to trust that God’s grace will give us the courage to really begin the gospel journey, give us the strength to pick up our individual cross’s and follow Jesus. The journey may be hard, with sacrifice called for along the way. But if we remain faithful to Jesus and his call, the journey will lead us to new life.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-56665346829154338152009-08-18T20:45:00.001-07:002009-08-18T20:49:17.978-07:0021st Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 23, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_OCeJOy8mWKQbsDEP0uYM11fxflzq8pUO6mK8C0qtwV5xpXyLK1U0qZaWSlp2B_1nbD9RHvCoRLje6c5GRvrw3tOC6pSCBi6d0OKkow9xwl2iabm4CRie4LNbc3_3FhnjS3xmWP1K3RR/s1600-h/Jesus+and+apostles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371516304257723218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 64px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_OCeJOy8mWKQbsDEP0uYM11fxflzq8pUO6mK8C0qtwV5xpXyLK1U0qZaWSlp2B_1nbD9RHvCoRLje6c5GRvrw3tOC6pSCBi6d0OKkow9xwl2iabm4CRie4LNbc3_3FhnjS3xmWP1K3RR/s200/Jesus+and+apostles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #122<br /><br /><br /><br />Joshua 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b<br />Ephesians 5: 21-32<br />John 6: 60-69<br /><br /><br /><br />We see in the first reading and the Gospel reading, people being asked to make a choice; to step over the line; to cross the Rubicon; to fish or cut bait…you get the idea. What we have are groups of people being asked to make a life changing decision. <br /><br />In the Book of Joshua, we see God giving the people of Israel an opportunity to get out of the covenant they first entered into with God at Mount Sinai. God, who freed the Israelites from the Egyptians; who guided and sustained them through the desert; who protected them from their enemies; is giving them a do over. God does not want to coerce a commitment from Israel; he wants them to accept his way freely. They can be like other people in the land of Canaan, trying to control their lives through worshipping little idols. Or, they can be transformed into God’s unique people, with all the glory and challenges that transformation will bring. The people chose to “serve the Lord, for he is our God.”<br /><br />In today’s Gospel, we are at the end of the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus has announced that he is the bread of life, that his flesh and his blood is true food and true drink. Anyone who feed on him will receive life eternal. His disciples, his followers hear this and do not know what to make of it. Some must have thought that Jesus was a crazy person. Others heard this teaching, and could not understand its meaning. Others must have heard the words, and understood them, but were afraid to accept them. For to accept the meaning of his words, is to be open to a radical transformation. The disciples could not make that choice, so they left Jesus, all but the Twelve. Peter, speaking for them all, has made the decision to continue to follow Jesus, because he has “the words of eternal life.” In making that choice, the lives of the Apostles are forever changed.<br /><br />Every Sunday, we hear the Word of Lord, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and receive the Body and Blood of Christ. But are we letting ourselves be transformed, are we saying yes to Christ by entering into his life and letting him enter into us. Every day, we make that decision anew to serve the Lord by serving others, to love the Lord by loving others, by being people of hope.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-56934261623626056902009-08-13T19:19:00.000-07:002009-08-13T19:24:40.691-07:0020th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 16, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoyoLcQx3YIDmin8eqCvyc2eutBS8wqeKiLS_ZDQ84kplWWWNmfXRCRMFuLK7mCr-z_wvJJRhK9HBt-AXXLGqPU0AvXynAhkzOnB54rrWc1fZYiJbSNCjMf33xeAki5K2cJvcQ-AtXJOL/s1600-h/Eucharist+host+and+wine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369638788405377410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 127px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 108px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoyoLcQx3YIDmin8eqCvyc2eutBS8wqeKiLS_ZDQ84kplWWWNmfXRCRMFuLK7mCr-z_wvJJRhK9HBt-AXXLGqPU0AvXynAhkzOnB54rrWc1fZYiJbSNCjMf33xeAki5K2cJvcQ-AtXJOL/s200/Eucharist+host+and+wine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #119<br /><br />Proverbs 9: 1-6<br />Ephesians 5: 15-20<br />John 6: 51-58<br /><br />“The Jews quarreled among themselves saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” (Gospel of John)<br /><br />There have been surveys that asked Catholics whether or not they believed the Church’s teaching on Christ’s Real Presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist. One survey was taken by Gallup in 1992, and the other survey was taken by the New York Times/CBS news. The results of these surveys showed that a growing number of Catholics, especially young Catholics, no longer believe that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist. Why this unbelief? Is it a perceived lack of reverence in the Eucharistic liturgy? Is the result of Western skepticism about all things mystical? Or could it be that we have not lived Eucharistic lives?<br /><br />Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, because he loves us so much, is willing to give himself to us in the form of bread and wine; so that the gift of divine life will be renewed within us. And what have we done with this gift? When we eat this bread of life, do we open ourselves completely to the Presence of Christ? Do we allow Jesus in, and allow him to transform us? Have we forsaken foolishness? It is we who will provide living proof of the power of the Eucharist to transform. <br /><br />I want to close with the words of St. Francis of Assisi, from his writings, <strong>The Admonitions</strong>, “And we may ask in the words of Scripture, <em>Men of rank, how long will be dull of heart?</em> (Ps. 4: 3). Why do you refuse to recognize the truth <em>and believe in the Son of God?</em> (Jn 9: 34) Every day he humbles himself just as he did when he came from his heavenly throne (Wis. 18: 15) into the Virgin’s womb; every day he comes to us and lets us see him in abjection, when he descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar. He shows himself to us in this sacred bread just as he once appeared to his apostles in real flesh. With their own eyes they saw only his flesh, but they believed that he was God, because they contemplated him with the eyes of the spirit. We, too, with our own eyes, see only bread and wine, but we must see further and firmly believe that this is his most holy Body and Blood, living and true. In this way our Lord remains continually with his followers, as he promised, <em>Behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world</em> (Mt. 28: 20).”*<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">*The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi, Franciscan Herald Press, 1976</span></div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-33229338317625991092009-08-03T13:27:00.000-07:002009-08-06T06:47:16.081-07:0019th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 9, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl0G1k8pKoOBAAxp_NxIiR-k8WKLAuIR_NywJH9lH5XSLFHafPJ5GAj2dTDYF5oysi0ngZCegZwkCUHNsw4J4gFgX8vu2uvwb-6KWvfNpJ3_I2pBBpTNZoLljkUqjaFxGyMdW8QWgsJxz/s1600-h/Eucharistic+bread.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366846634674142770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 105px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl0G1k8pKoOBAAxp_NxIiR-k8WKLAuIR_NywJH9lH5XSLFHafPJ5GAj2dTDYF5oysi0ngZCegZwkCUHNsw4J4gFgX8vu2uvwb-6KWvfNpJ3_I2pBBpTNZoLljkUqjaFxGyMdW8QWgsJxz/s200/Eucharistic+bread.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lectionary #116<br />1 Kings 19: 4-8<br />Ephesians 4: 30-5:2<br />John 6:41-51<br /><br /><br />This Sunday’s Scriptures begins with the story of Elijah, fleeing the anger of Ahab, King of Israel. To escape, he flees into the desert. We have already seen in the previous Sundays’ readings, what the desert meant to the early Israelites. The desert heat drained them of energy; its lack of food and water weakened them; the starkness of the desert frightened them. It has the same affect on Elijah, just one day’s journey into the desert, and he is ready to give up. He complains to God that he has suffered enough, and is ready for death.<br /><br />Most of us have had a “desert” experience in our lives. The struggles, the challenges of daily life can sometimes drain us of life, of hope. Some of us may experience a life crisis, a burden that we find too hard to bear. Like the desert heat, life can sometimes beat down on us, so much so that sometimes we feel like giving in to the despair, the hopelessness. Or else, like the early Israelites, like Elijah, we want to give up the journey we began when we were baptized. We want to give in to the bitterness, the anger, the hatred.<br /><br />In the Gospel, we hear Jesus’ response, “Stop murmuring..” As God did for Elijah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes to provide “the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.” Jesus Christ, “the living bread,” comes to feed us, to strengthen us, to renew the life within us, so that we will get up and begin the gospel journey again. As the bread Elijah ate, gave him the strength to reach Mount Horeb, where he encountered God; so to when we receive the Eucharist, we are united with God. Through the Son, our hope is renewed, the darkness of despair dispelled. Feed by the “living bread,” anger, bitterness, and hatred are removed, and kindness, compassion, and love are reborn.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-66924773198414272712009-07-26T20:36:00.000-07:002009-07-26T20:41:14.952-07:0018th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 2, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmYyY2RRyXn6XJA8UuRiseoEJsex_9Wu6uNo1SzZ8_f4RwEf2TgvbTxB0bgFIQL90ZgO2AwtubyyPgGUP9mY3C0DTEbyK4r9YZ8MiuU3g-K0QJSqCjRuPcBPjPmLNY7UD07pTbxZWVHg_/s1600-h/Eucharist+hosts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362979082111256290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmYyY2RRyXn6XJA8UuRiseoEJsex_9Wu6uNo1SzZ8_f4RwEf2TgvbTxB0bgFIQL90ZgO2AwtubyyPgGUP9mY3C0DTEbyK4r9YZ8MiuU3g-K0QJSqCjRuPcBPjPmLNY7UD07pTbxZWVHg_/s200/Eucharist+hosts.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #113<br /><br />Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15<br />Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24<br />John 6: 24-35<br /><br /><br /><br />Since 9/11, there has been a debate in this country on how much freedom we are willing to give up for security. In Russia, people seem willing to give up many newly gained freedoms to a central authority, so that they will feel secure in their country. As long as the Chinese government provided jobs, the people see no need for individual liberties. In Exodus, God has just delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, and is leading them to freedom. The path is taking them through the desert, and soon they are grumbling against Moses. Even though they had witnessed the power of God, when He freed them from slavery; even though He is making them His Chosen People, they are already longing for the supposed security of Egyptian slavery. They were willing to give up their newly won freedom for full stomachs. <br /><br />God hears their complaints, provides for their needs, not just birds for meat, but he gives them a special food. God gives them bread from heaven.<br /><br />Now in John’s Gospel, we see the people whom Jesus has just fed, begin searching for him. They had witnessed a miracle; they believe that Jesus is “the Prophet.” They want to make him King, have him use his power to free them from the Romans. Jesus berates them, telling them that they are missing the point of the miracle of the loaves. He has come not to provide for the physical security of Israel, he has come for a higher purpose. And he is calling on the people to join him in that work, which will provide gifts that will never perish, that will truly sustain them, no matter what troubles, what crises life may throw their way, the Father will provide the food that will sustain them and strengthen them. And that food is “the bread of life,” Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Jesus Christ is “the true bread from heaven.” The Son of God comes to us in the simple form of bread and wine, transformed into his Body and Blood. He comes to feed us, to renew the life within us, to satisfy our need to experience God’s love, to satisfy our need for hope, to satisfy our thirst for justice and peace. So let us receive him, open ourselves to him, and be transformed by him.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-47279334998876500822009-07-21T20:27:00.000-07:002009-07-25T19:32:22.246-07:0017th Sunday of Ordinary Time - July 26, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8Tv53BTdnYtpR_0oswwghvXF70GXN_BLn440Mq_g4_sLbrKn5HggLsIdBpXtUR1NGXezcKn7Xrd6ASHV-j1SQvhX9NjRzg4PIz8fZeYTY8WeqGMgHEggJ3SeIwxB_5XgfxeG6aHgDHXZ/s1600-h/loaves.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361121211787792482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8Tv53BTdnYtpR_0oswwghvXF70GXN_BLn440Mq_g4_sLbrKn5HggLsIdBpXtUR1NGXezcKn7Xrd6ASHV-j1SQvhX9NjRzg4PIz8fZeYTY8WeqGMgHEggJ3SeIwxB_5XgfxeG6aHgDHXZ/s200/loaves.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #110<br /><br />2 Kings 4: 42-44<br />Ephesians 4: 1-6<br />John 6: 1-15<br /><br /><br />Bread is a staple of life. No matter what type of grain is used, many societies in the world depend on bread to live. The lack of bread has lead to revolutions and the overthrow of governments.<br /><br />Bread is important in the Scriptures. In Genesis, Mielchizedek, the King-Priest of Salem, brought bread and wine to Abraham, to celebrate his victory against the four Kings. In Exodus, God instructs Moses to tell the people of Israel to prepare and eat only unleavened bread on the night of Passover, the bread of haste. And later in Exodus, in the great desert, God feeds His people with manna, “bread from heaven.”<br /><br />In the first reading, the people are suffering from famine; Elisha comes in possession of twenty barley loaves, to feed one hundred people. Elisha, trusting in the Lord’s word, has the food distributed and it satisfies everyone. The Lord cares for His people.<br /><br />In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing an even greater miracle, with just five barley loaves and a couple of fish, he is able to feed five thousand people. The people are awed by what they have witnessed; they believe that the Messiah is among them; they want to make Jesus king and have him use his power to drive the occupying Romans out. The people do not understand that this miracle is not meant to reestablish a political kingdom. It was to show them that God still cares for His people.<br /><br />God still cares for us, His people. In a harsh world, we are hungry for healing, hungry for hope, hungry for peace, hungry for love. The Father feeds us with the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Through the Eucharist, we are refreshed, through the Eucharist, we are strengthened for the Gospel journey, through the Eucharist, we become one with the God who loves us. </div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-41500587145090348532009-07-13T19:51:00.000-07:002009-07-13T19:56:55.627-07:0016th Sunday of Ordinary Time - July 19, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYbrEZ1105w0rw2aFNaDsqZjgaES2jV7E1tUfcs-GNe0c-41GWoI-tpmDCoGL4QpWEXz7PfC0xVqQOi67MMgzN3D4QykGy62ucVI9co9kUzhyphenhyphenW3wjHEZxPhdwBA8EVvOwRAgFqMm0U4lp/s1600-h/Good+shepherd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358143305473727458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 117px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYbrEZ1105w0rw2aFNaDsqZjgaES2jV7E1tUfcs-GNe0c-41GWoI-tpmDCoGL4QpWEXz7PfC0xVqQOi67MMgzN3D4QykGy62ucVI9co9kUzhyphenhyphenW3wjHEZxPhdwBA8EVvOwRAgFqMm0U4lp/s200/Good+shepherd.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lectionary #107<br /><br />Jeremiah 23: 1-6<br />Ephesians 2: 13-18<br />Mark 6: 30-34<br /><br /><br />Oh, with today’s reading from the prophet Jeremiah, anyone with a grudge against America’s bishops could have a field day. Especially when one considers how some of them failed to act during the clergy abuse scandal, one could really write a ripping homily.<br /><br />However, Jeremiah was not speaking about the religious leaders of Israel, but rather its political leaders, the kings that came after David and Solomon. Jeremiah is railing against their failure to remain faithful to the Covenant God made with his people. These kings trusted in their own political machinations, rather than in trusting God’s power. The result being that these kings have leaded the people to disaster. The Davidic kingdom was split in two; and the two kingdoms would eventually be destroyed and the people of Israel scattered. <br /><br />Jeremiah, after his condemnation of Israel’s past leaders, proclaims that God will send a new shepherd, a true descendant of David. He will gather the scattered people, and will restore the nation to justice, peace and security. <br /><br />Christians believe that this new shepherd is Jesus Christ, but He is coming not to restore the political nation of Israel, but to reconcile all people with God, to create a new nation of believers. He begins by teaching the people, guiding them with His words, showing them the way back to the Father. Then, like a good shepherd, Jesus gives up His life for His sheep, that through His death and resurrection, all people are united into one flock, one body, the Body of Christ.</div>Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882005596226679892.post-39453302273744020862009-07-04T19:25:00.000-07:002009-07-04T19:28:35.581-07:0015th Sunday of Ordinary Time - July 12, 2009(Lectionary #104)<br /><br />Amos 7: 12-15<br />Ephesians 1: 3-14<br />Mark 6: 7-13<br /><br /><br /><br />We see in today’s readings, two examples of the Lord calling ordinary people to mission. In the Old Testament reading, we see the prophet Amos, telling off the priest of the northern kingdom of Israel. Amaziah is assuming that Amos is one of those “professional” prophets, who prophesy for pay. These prophets were probably trained on how to make prophesies more favorable to their clients. Amos declared that he was no professional, but a simple farmhand, a shepherd. A most common man, yet he was called by God to go out and proclaim His word; to go and confront a king and call him to account for his actions. He had no training, but the Lord gave him the words he was to speak.<br /><br />God always seems to call the most ordinary of people, to do the most extraordinary actions. We see this in the gospel passage from Mark, which details the commissioning of the Twelve Apostles. Here we see Jesus calling the Twelve and sending them out to proclaim the Good News, to drive out demons, and heal the sick. Again these followers of Jesus were just ordinary people, fishermen, a tax collector, and other common men. Yet, because of God’s grace, God’s power, they were able to work wonders.<br /><br />Many of us today, may assume that because Jesus commissioned the Twelve that the work of proclaiming the Gospel to the world is to be left to the bishops, the clergy and the religious; and we lay folk are off the hook. But we would be wrong. By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, all of us, ordained or lay, have been called by the Lord to make the Good News known to the world. We ordinary folk, by our words, but especially by the example of our lives, are to make known to everyone the healing love of God, to call everyone to change their lives and believe the Good News.Deacon Jonathan Jones ofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779829456979888250noreply@blogger.com0