June 30, 2019 - Come, Follow Me

The Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C

Photo Credit: TurnbacktoGod.com

Reading I:  1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21

Psalm:  16

Reading II:  Galatians 5:1, 13-18

Gospel:  Luke 9:51-62


As I sit here reflecting on one of my favorite pictures of Jesus, The Good Shepherd, with a little lamb enfolded in his arms, I cannot resist speaking of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is on June 28 this year.  Having grown up in a parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart with a perpetual novena to him on Sunday afternoons, this devotion has meant a great deal to me.

The lamb in the picture has his head resting on the Heart of Jesus as if he is listening to the constant love issuing from Jesus’ heart. This picture does not show the physical heart of Jesus, as do many other pictures, but to me it is very endearing. In fact, the Gospel for the Sacred Heart Feast Day Mass is about “The Parable of the Lost Sheep.” The Shepherd leaves the other 99 to search for the lost sheep until he finds it. If one questions that, remember, the Shepherd would do the same for any of the other 99 if it were lost. God’s love is deeply personal and individual.

At a time when people were seeing God only as a stern judge, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation Sister, in her Monastery, at Paray-le-Monial, France. Jesus showed her his heart with flames coming forth and surrounded by a crown of thorns. The flames represented his love and the thorns of his suffering. He wants people to be aware of his love. 

St. Margaret Mary suffered a great deal because at first people would not even believe her when she spoke of her visions. Eventually, her confessor, St. Claude de la Colombiere, a Jesuit, gave her support. Then, he publicly declared her visions to be genuine.

On December 27, 1673, the feast of St. John, Sr. Margaret Mary reported that Jesus had permitted her to rest her head upon his heart, and disclosed to her the wonders of His love. He then asked her to make them known to all people. The devotions which developed included receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of the month and offering holy hours of prayer.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart was observed privately, beginning in 1686. Later in 1688, a chapel was built at Paray-le-Monial to honor the Sacred Heart. It was in 1920 that Sr. Margaret Mary was formally canonized by Pope Benedict XV.

The theme of today’s liturgy is the complete obedience of the true follower of Jesus. It is prefigured in the Hebrew Scriptures contained in Reading I. The Lord tells Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as a prophet.

Elijah sets out to find Elisha, finally discovering him plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha, signifying that he is called to be Elijah’s successor. Elisha responds by slaughtering all the oxen, cooking them and feeding the people. Then he obediently follows Elijah as his attendant.

In the Gospel for this Sunday, we find Jesus being approached by people who offer to follow Him wherever He would go. Jesus makes it clear to them what is required. They must follow His example of surrendering all the comforts of his heavenly home to spread the Good News of God’s love and to redeem us. To be His disciples, they must be willing to leave the security of their homes to face the unknown.

Jesus’ followers must even put their commitments to Jesus ahead of the ones they have for their own parents. Just as He had no reservations about what our salvation would require of Him, Jesus expects the same total dedication of His followers.

 Reflection Question:   How can I make God’s love known in my current circumstances?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Que Todos Sean Uno

Mientras me siento aquí reflexionando sobre una de mis fotos favoritas de Jesús, El Buen Pastor, con un corderito envuelto en sus brazos, no puedo resistirme a hablar de la Fiesta del Sagrado Corazón, que es el 28 de junio de este año. Haber crecido en una parroquia dedicada al Sagrado Corazón con una novena perpetua para él los domingos por la tarde, esta devoción ha significado mucho para mí.

El cordero en la imagen tiene su cabeza apoyada en el Corazón de Jesús como si estuviera escuchando el amor constante que sale del corazón de Jesús. Esta imagen no muestra el corazón físico de Jesús, como lo hacen muchas otras imágenes, pero para mí es muy entrañable. De hecho, la Misa del día de la fiesta del Evangelio para el Sagrado Corazón es sobre “La parábola de la oveja perdida”. El Pastor deja a los otros 99 para buscar a la oveja perdida hasta que la encuentre. Si uno cuestiona eso, recuerde, el Pastor haría lo mismo con cualquiera de los otros 99 si se perdiera. El amor de Dios es profundamente personal e individual.

En un momento en que la gente veía a Dios solo como un juez severo, Jesús se apareció a Santa Margarita María Alacoque, una Hermana de la Visitación, en su Monasterio, en Paray-le-Monial, Francia. Jesús le mostró su corazón con llamas saliendo y rodeado por una corona de espinas. Las llamas representaban su amor y las espinas de su sufrimiento. Quiere que la gente sea consciente de su amor.

Santa Margarita María sufrió mucho porque al principio la gente ni siquiera la creía cuando hablaba de sus visiones. Finalmente, su confesor, San Claude de la Colombiere, un Jesuita, le dio su apoyo. Luego, públicamente declaró que sus visiones eran genuinas.

El 27 de diciembre de 1673, en la fiesta de San Juan, la Hna. Margaret Mary informó que Jesús le había permitido apoyar su cabeza en su corazón y le reveló las maravillas de su amor. Luego le pidió que las diera a conocer a todas las personas. Las devociones que se desarrollaron incluyeron recibir la Sagrada Comunión el primer viernes del mes y ofrecer horas de oración.

La Fiesta del Sagrado Corazón se observó en privado, a partir de 1686. Más tarde, en 1688, se construyó una capilla en Paray-le-Monial para honrar al Sagrado Corazón. Fue en 1920 que la Hna. Margaret Mary fue formalmente canonizada por el Papa Benedicto XV.

El tema de la liturgia de hoy es la completa obediencia del verdadero seguidor de Jesús. Está prefigurado en las Escrituras Hebreas contenidas en la Lectura I. El Señor le dice a Elías que unge a Eliseo para sucederlo como profeta.

Elijah se propone encontrar a Eliseo y finalmente lo descubre arando con doce yuntas de bueyes. Elijah arroja su capa sobre Eliseo, lo que significa que está llamado a ser el sucesor de Elijah. Eliseo responde matando a todos los bueyes, cocinándolos y alimentando a la gente. Luego, obedientemente, sigue a Elías como su ayudante.

En el Evangelio de este domingo, encontramos a Jesús acercándose a personas que ofrecen seguirlo donde quiera que vaya. Jesús les deja claro lo que se requiere. Deben seguir su ejemplo de entregar todas las comodidades de su hogar celestial para difundir la Buena Nueva del amor de Dios y para redimirnos. Para ser sus discípulos, deben estar dispuestos a abandonar la seguridad de sus hogares para enfrentar lo desconocido.

Los seguidores de Jesús deben incluso poner sus compromisos con Jesús por encima de los que tienen para con sus propios padres. Así como Él no tenía reservas sobre lo que nuestra salvación requeriría de Él, Jesús espera la misma dedicación total de Sus seguidores.

 Pregunta de Reflexíon:   ¿Cómo puedo dar a conocer el amor de Dios en mis circunstancias actuales?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D. Historian, Certified Archivist, Emerita

Have you ever heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”?  Mother Katharine described her life as “a moving picture of scenes which recall His wonderful providence in my regard.” Would a film based on my life (or yours) reflect God’s love and presence? Hopefully, we could say “yes.”  Mother Katharine said that to become a saint, all we had to do is to do what God asks us to do. Yes, it’s that simple. Yes, it is often easier said than done. We live in God’s presence, in His present moment. If we can remember His presence with us on our journey, then sharing His love with those we meet could be simply a matter of sharing His joy and mercy with those we meet.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” This quote of Clarence Budington Kelland appeared in our Church Bulletin on Father’s Day. I believe that the wisdom contained in it provides the key answer to this week’s reflection question. 

My first thought to your post was that there are countless numbers of lost sheep roaming around at large.  That response was a reaction based on the many members of my family who have strayed from the Church. I remembered the many times that I was lost and wandering aimlessly, in need of rescue. I thought about the younger generation, born into the digital age, where technology has fundamentally shaped their perspective of the world and influences their behavior and values. Their sense of identity and well-being often depends on how many “Likes” they receive on social media. We spend numerous hours following people of interest on Facebook. These “friendship” connections can consume our day. Any of these situations can cause our center of focus to shift outward. It is easy to neglect our interior self that longs for nurturing. In our fast-paced, world-at-our-fingertips environment, it is easy to get distracted. We lose sight of our Way-Shower, and we become one of the lost sheep. Sheep have an instinctive tendency to wander. If the shepherd did not go out and seek this lost creature, it would not have found its way back on its own.

Life is complex. We are all broken people living in a broken world. As His followers, Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him must come through us.  We are to shepherd one another with the heart and love of Jesus. 

“One of Jesus’ greatest teachings was compassion. He demonstrated compassion when he fed the crowds who followed him in his treatment of the fallen woman and his many acts of healing. I strive to follow these examples each day. When I see someone who is struggling, I lend a helping hand. I choose to express love. I choose to be a light in the world.

             “My expressions of empathy and kindness come from my divine powers of     

             understanding and love. As I attune to these qualities within and let them flow

             from my mind and heart, I see beyond differences. I let my true Self reflect the

             expression of love that I am. I shine the light of love from my heart to others.” 

                                                                                              (Daily Word June 13, 2019)                                                                                                                                                                                   

People notice how we live and act. When we speak caring words, go through our daily activities with joy and a gentle spirit, are fully present to others, forgive freely, are slow to anger, and love unconditionally, people will see Jesus in us.  Hopefully, they will allow us to guide them back to the fold.

June 23, 2019 - Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus

June 23, 2019 - The Feast of the Body and Blood                               of Christ - Year C

Reading I: 
Genesis, 14:18-20

Psalm:  110

Reading II: 
1 Corinthians
11:23-26

Gospel: 
Luke 9:11b -17

In this time of concern and anxiety about the future of our country and the world, the Hebrew Scriptures remind us of God's providing for the Hebrew people. They had no food and water in the desert. Without divine intervention, they would starve to death.

The only hope for the Jews was God himself. Because of their trust in him, the Lord provided water from a rock and manna (a type of bread) from the heavens.

In the Christian Scriptures, we learn of the time when Jesus had been preaching to a crowd of 5,000 men and curing people throughout the day. It was getting toward evening. His disciples had expressed their concerns and asked Jesus to dismiss them so they could find food and shelter for the night.  Jesus simply responded: Give them some food yourselves. The disciples tell Jesus that all the food that is available is five loaves of bread and two fish. There was no way that they could feed the 5000 men and probably some women and children.

The disciples have to put their trust in the Lord because it did not make sense to them. Jesus rewarded their faith by taking the five loaves of bread and two fish, lifting his eyes to heaven, offering a blessing and breaking them and giving them to the disciples to distribute. The food multiplied so that the disciples are able to feed the crowd and have twelve baskets of food left over. This prefigured what Jesus would do at the Last Supper and at every Mass since. 

In the Eucharist, we are blessed to have Jesus as our loving companion. Sometimes, when people receive the Eucharist during their last days, it is referred to as Viatecum. The word comes from the Latin: Via (on the way), te (you), cum (with). However, that word can be a comfort all the time because Jesus is with us all along the paths of our lives.

God wants us to know that he cares and provides for us. However, it is not always in the way we expect. Often it is only when we look back over our lives that we see how he provided and even carried us at times. I love the poem “Footprints” which illustrates that so well.

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord

Scenes from my life flashed across the sky,
In each, I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints;
other times there was only one.

During the lowest times of my life
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said, “Lord, you promised me,
that you would walk with me always.
Why, when I have needed you most would you leave me?”

The Lord replied, “My precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
The times when you have seen only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

Jesus invites us to participate in caring for ourselves and our brothers and sisters. Jesus knows that in difficult times, if we focus only on our own problems, we become weighed down. However, if we try to find solutions for ourselves and others, we are able to make it through.

I can recall my mother giving me similar advice. She told me: “If you ever find that you are feeling sorry for yourself,  remember there are others worse off than you are, and do for them.” In these stressful times, we see many people, and even children, helping others to deal with the tragedies and disasters so common today. Often they become more Christ-like people as a result.  

 Reflection Question:  Think of a time when you, or someone else who was having a difficult time, reached out to help others, and as a result helped yourself/themselves.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Fiesta del Cuerpo y la Sangre de Jesús

En este tiempo de preocupación y ansiedad por el futuro de nuestro país y del mundo, las Escrituras hebreas nos recuerdan que Dios proporcionó a los hebreos. No tenían comida ni agua en el desierto. Sin la intervención divina, morirían de hambre.


La única esperanza para los judíos era Dios mismo. Debido a su confianza en él, el Señor proveyó agua de una roca y maná (un tipo de pan) de los cielos.

En las Escrituras cristianas, nos enteramos del momento en que Jesús había estado predicando a una multitud de 5,000 hombres y curando personas durante todo el día. Se estaba acercando a la noche. Sus discípulos expresaron sus preocupaciones y le pidieron a Jesús que los despidiera para que pudieran encontrar comida y refugio para pasar la noche. Jesús simplemente respondió: Denles algo de comida. Los discípulos le dicen a Jesús que toda la comida que está disponible son cinco panes y dos pescados. No había forma de que pudieran alimentar a los 5000 hombres y probablemente a algunas mujeres y niños.

Los discípulos tienen que poner su confianza en el Señor porque no tenía sentido para ellos. Jesús recompensó su fe al tomar los cinco panes y los dos pescados, alzando sus ojos al cielo, ofreciéndoles una bendición y rompiéndolos y entregándolos a los discípulos para que los distribuyan. La comida se multiplicó para que los discípulos puedan alimentar a la multitud y les queden doce canastas de comida. Esto prefigura lo que Jesús haría en la última cena y en cada Misa desde entonces.

En la Eucaristía, tenemos la bendición de tener a Jesús como nuestro compañero amoroso. A veces, cuando las personas reciben la Eucaristía durante sus últimos días, se la denomina Viatecum. La palabra proviene del latín: Via (en el camino), te (you), cum (with). Sin embargo, esa palabra puede ser un consuelo todo el tiempo porque Jesús está con nosotros a lo largo de los caminos de nuestras vidas.


Dios quiere que sepamos que él se preocupa y nos provee. Sin embargo, no siempre está en la forma que esperamos. A menudo, solo cuando miramos hacia atrás en nuestras vidas, vemos cómo nos proporcionó e incluso nos llevó a veces. Me encanta el poema “Huellas” que ilustra eso muy bien.


Huellas en la arena por Maria Stevenson

Una noche soñé que caminaba por la playa con el Señor
Escenas de mi vida cruzaron el cielo,
En cada uno, noté huellas en la arena.
A veces había dos series de huellas;
otras veces solo había una.

Durante los momentos más bajos de mi vida.
Solo pude ver un conjunto de huellas,
Así que dije: Señor, tú me prometiste
que caminarías conmigo siempre.
¿Por qué, cuando más te necesito, me dejarías?

El Señor respondió: "Mi niño precioso,
Te amo y nunca te dejaría.
Los tiempos en los que has visto un solo conjunto de huellas,
fue entonces cuando yo te llevé."

Jesús nos invita a participar cuidándonos a nosotros mismos y a nuestros hermanos y hermanas. Jesús sabe que en los momentos difíciles, si nos enfocamos solo en nuestros propios problemas, nos agobiamos. Sin embargo, si intentamos encontrar soluciones para nosotros y para otros, podemos lograrlo.


Recuerdo a mi madre dándome consejos similares. Ella me dijo: “Si alguna vez encuentras que sientes lástima por ti misma, recuerda que hay otros que están peor que tú, y hazlo por ellos”. En estos momentos estresantes, vemos a muchas personas, e incluso niños, ayudando a otros a lidiar con las tragedias y desastres tan comunes hoy en día. A menudo se convierten en personas más parecidas a Cristo como resultado.

 Pregunta de Reflexión:  Piense en un momento en que usted, o alguien más que estaba pasando por un momento difícil, buscó ayudar a otros y, como resultado, se ayudó a sí mismo.

Comments:

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

The first thing that came to mind when I read your reflection question was, “Support Groups.” As I thought about it, I felt gratitude for the multitude of needs supported by so many gatherings facilitated by compassionate people who can hold the pain of others as precious because they experienced a similar event, situation, or circumstance.  I have participated in a few such groups and have always left the meeting feeling more hopeful than when I entered. The opportunity to tell one’s story and be heard, to listen to another’s story, shed tears and receive hugs, express anger, learn coping tips, all in a nurturing environment, is healing as well as renewing. The Holy Spirit is very active in such life-affirming spaces. 

Twenty-seven years ago, when my youngest child was just a toddler, my friend and I started a support group for separated and divorced women. We met twice a month in my living room. The gathering was the brainchild of my friend, a psychologist, who saw many women who were bitter toward men and, by focusing on perceived wrongs done to them, held themselves prisoners by their limiting belief that they were victims. The foundation of our group was to support and uplift one another to move forward with our lives as stronger and more self-aware women. We called our group Self-Empowerment. My friend was committed to inspiring women to claim their wholeness by acknowledging their accountability and responsibility for their own choices, decisions, and actions. The eye-opening techniques grasped were life-changing for many of us.

For individuals unable to get to meetings, the internet can be a window to beneficial supportive communities. Whether grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, marriage, or job, to feeling intense fear resulting from a devastating diagnosis, worry surrounding addiction, or fatigue resulting from caregiving – there is positive support available to guide us through life’s difficult experiences.

I became aware of Chris Wark, via the internet, when my friend, Jill, was diagnosed with cancer. Jill received the traditional treatment protocol – surgery, chemo and radiation, but she felt there was more she actively needed to do to regain her health. Chris Wark not only regained his health but is healthier now than before his diagnosis as a result of healthy lifestyle changes he personally made. His online community (chris@chrisbeatcancer.com) became a resource for Jill as she incorporated his tried and proven enhancements to nutrition, exercise, meditation, and rest. He developed twenty questions that every newly diagnosed patient should ask his or her oncologist prior to initiating treatment; he created a powerful docu-series on healing modalities, and he posts ongoing interviews with people who have successfully beat cancer! Positively healing, genuinely caring information to help others as they journey through cancer treatment is provided.  Helping cancer patients achieve wellness has become his passion and mission in life.

Jesus was the model support group leader. He drew diverse peoples together, and spent three years dispelling worldly fallacies, teaching spiritual principles, and introducing people to a higher level of living, caring and sharing for themselves and others.  Communion was his passion and mission. He died promoting it. However, the group, Christianity, continues His mission to this day as its members, individually and collectively, extend His love through ministering to others.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D. Historian, Certified Archivist, Emerita

St. Katharine made a note to herself: “The Holy God is ever within me – the presence of God.” If God is within us, then He is with us whenever we meet someone. Do we ask ourselves how God would greet or respond to a person we meet? Do we consider how God would like us to greet or respond to anyone we meet? 

June 16, 2019 The Feast of the Holy Trinity

The Feast of the Holy Trinity  - Year C

Reading I:  Proverbs 8: 22-31

Psalm:  8

Reading II:  Romans 5: 1-5

Gospel:  John 16:12-15

When we express ourselves through words, actions, attitudes, music, art, dance or even silence, we are revealing who we are. From the beginnings, ancient peoples were able to learn about their Creator by observing His creations.

Whether it was the sun giving light and warmth or the rain providing the moisture to refresh the earth, its animals and its people, they could recognize the care of the Creator. The fertile ground and the waters of the world providing food for sustenance were also recognized as welcomed signs of this providence.

When Jesus came as a human to be our Emmanuel (God with us), we were given the gift of being able to have a deeper understanding of our God. By observing and listening to Jesus we learn that God’s love is unconditional. We know that God is
a forgiving God. We also discover that God is not far off somewhere. He is present to us.

Finally, from Jesus, we learn about the trinitarian nature of God. We hear Jesus frequently talking about his Father. He promises to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples to guide and strengthen them. He also speaks of their unity.

When preaching to the people of  Ireland, St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the trinitarian concept. The three leaves on the single clover served as a simple illustration for his preaching.

However, God’s creation of the family is probably a more accurate metaphor [implied comparison] for the Trinity because of the intimacy of the relationships. Father, mother, and child share on a deep level. Jesus preaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one.

Jesus uses male images like the father in the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” to show the unconditional love of God (Luke: 15:11-32). Then, He uses a female image when he weeps oven Jerusalem saying: “You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! And so your Temple will be abandoned.” (Luke 13:34).

When Jesus was giving His last instructions to the disciples, He gathered them on a hill in Galilee and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The baptized person has a seal (mark) on his/her soul which designates to whom he/she belongs. It also indicates the close bond of unity between the person and God. Finally, it signifies his/her call to invite others to share fully in the holy life of the Trinity.

 Reflection Question:   How have I already invited people to learn about God?   How can I invite people to learn about God in the future? 

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Fiesta de Pentecostés

Cuando nos expresamos a través de palabras, acciones, actitudes, música, arte, danza o incluso silencio, estamos revelando quiénes somos. Desde los comienzos, los pueblos antiguos pudieron aprender acerca de su Creador al observar Sus creaciones.

Ya sea que el sol diera luz y calor o que la lluvia proporcionara la humedad para refrescar la tierra, sus animales y su gente, podían reconocer el cuidado del Creador. La tierra fértil y las aguas del mundo que proporcionan alimento para el sustento también fueron reconocidas como signos bien recibidos de esta providencia.

Cuando Jesús vino como un ser humano para ser nuestro Emanuel (Dios con nosotros), nos dieron el don de poder tener un entendimiento más profundo de nuestro Dios. Al observar y escuchar a Jesús, aprendemos que el amor de Dios es incondicional. Sabemos que Dios es un Dios perdonador. También descubrimos que Dios no está lejos en algún lugar. Él está presente para nosotros.

Finalmente, de Jesús, aprendemos sobre la naturaleza trinitaria de Dios. Escuchamos a Jesús frecuentemente hablando de su Padre. Él promete enviar el Espíritu Santo a los discípulos para guiarlos y fortalecerlos. También habla de su unidad.

Al predicar a la gente de Irlanda, San Patricio usó el trébol para enseñar el concepto trinitario. Las tres hojas en el trébol solo sirvieron como una ilustración simple para su predicación.

Sin embargo, la creación de la familia por parte de Dios es probablemente una metáfora más precisa [comparación implícita] para la Trinidad debido a la intimidad de las relaciones. Padre, madre e hijo comparten en un nivel profundo. Jesús predica que el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo son uno.

Jesús usa imágenes masculinas como el padre en la “Parábola del Hijo Pródigo” para mostrar el amor incondicional de Dios (Lucas: 15: 11-32). Luego, usa una imagen femenina cuando llora en el horno de Jerusalén diciendo: “¡Matas a los profetas, apedreas a los mensajeros que Dios te ha enviado! ¡Cuántas veces quise poner mis brazos alrededor de toda tu gente, así como una gallina junta sus polluelos debajo de sus alas, pero no me dejaste! Y así tu templo será abandonado”. (Lucas 13:34).

Cuando Jesús estaba dando sus últimas instrucciones a los discípulos, los reunió en una colina en Galilea y les dijos: “Se me ha dado toda autoridad en el cielo y en la tierra. Ve, entonces, a todos los pueblos en todas partes y hazlos mis discípulos: bautízalos en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y enséñales a obedecer todo lo que te he mandado. Y estaré contigo siempre, hasta el final de la era”. (Mateo 28:18-20).

La persona bautizada tiene un sello (marca) en su alma que designa a quién pertenece. También indica el estrecho vínculo de unidad entre la persona y Dios. Finalmente, significa su llamado a invitar a otros a compartir plenamente en la vida santa de la Trinidad.

 Pregunta de Reflexión:   ¿Cómo ya he invitado a la gente a aprender acerca de Dios? ¿Cómo puedo invitar a las personas a aprender acerca de Dios en
el futuro?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D. Historian, Certified Archivist, Emerita

“And Jesus began to do and teach.” Note that Jesus invited others to follow Him first by “doing” and then by teaching. Mother Katharine noted that we should “Love not in word, but in work.” We can interest others in learning about God by living God first – doing what God asks each one of us to do. If others can see God in us, they might become interested in knowing more
about God.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

I admit, I have not done a very good job of inviting others to learn about God. This week’s reflection question has identified a weakness I did not consider before. I can, however, testify to the joy of receiving such an invitation. I have received and accepted many invitations. Doing so has been a life-changer.

One of the women in my Scripture Sharing Group, who is also a fellow Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, has invited me to her home several times to watch Scripture-Based videos and programs led by various spiritual leaders. She, herself, leads Bible Studies and Spiritual discussions which I attend in response to her invitation to join.

When she learns of spiritual events, she eagerly shares the information with others and organizes a group of us to attend. We have celebrated our faith and enjoyed fellowship at day and weekend retreats. As a result of sharing these spiritual activities together, we have grown into a family-like group, sharing joyful times as well as sad and difficult experiences.

 She posts uplifting spiritual reflections on Facebook, and it is always warming to open an email and find an inspirational picture or quote.  Her whole being radiates the love of Jesus. I have had the pleasure of hearing her communicate with her adult children and she is like a well- calibrated compass always pointing them to faith and trust in God!

She is a talented, skilled hair stylist who, in addition to making women look and feel physically attractive, uplifts their spirits by getting them in touch with their beautiful interior, true selves.

A former teacher, she helped empower her young adult students to recognize the presence of God in their lives, enabling them to co-create the life they desired. She is a prayer warrior! Once you make it on her list, consider the request taken care of.

This is only a partial listing of her “being of light” mode of operating. She is a model disciple of the Lord, ever ready to embrace the opportunities that God presents in her life. God’s love flows through her to others with ease and grace.

I intentionally left this incredible woman unnamed because she would not like the honors. She is an example for me to follow. It is my hope that I will become courageous enough to extend invitations to others that they may grow in the faith and come to know Jesus more intimately.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for my dear friend who continues to inspire and remind me of the joy that comes from knowing and sharing the good news of Your love with others.

June 9, 2019 Feast of Pentecost

The Feast of  Pentecost - Year C

Reading I:  Acts 2:1-11

Psalm:  104

Reading II:  Romans 8:8-17

Gospel:  John 20: 19-23


The Feast of Pentecost, meaning 50 days after Easter, is called the Birthday of the Church. The disciples hiding behind closed doors, terrified that they would be tortured and killed if they were known to be followers of Jesus, were called to hold leadership roles in the new Church. How could these frightened men lead in this new Christian Community?

The Lord had promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would be their companion and guide in this new challenge. The Lord had promised not to abandon them. Knowing their weaknesses, as well as their good will, Jesus sent the help they needed.

Although it was a deep interior experience, St. Luke describes it in ways that appeal to our senses.  He describes the coming as like the wind. The wind can lift up and move things. He was the wind behind the back of Peter who now had the fortitude to stand up and preach to the Jews that they had put to death their Savior. Many were converted and baptized as a result of his preaching.

The Holy Spirit is also described as tongues of fire. Fire can purify, and warm things. The disciples were cleansed of their cowardliness and set on fire with zeal to spread the Good News. They even had the courage to give up their lives as martyrs for the faith.
 

Fire provides light. The disciples are given guidance also through the light of the Holy Spirit. Today many people pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, especially when there are important decisions to be made.


The Holy Spirit is visualized as a dove, symbolizing gentleness and love. Jesus had exhibited gentleness and love all through His divine-human life. How gentle He was with sinners who repented! His whole message was “Love” that we are to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.  


Finally, there was the phenomenon of people hearing things in their own native languages. The Spirit’s message is that the Good News is for people of all nations and races.


Reflection on the sequence for today’s Mass is very helpful for fully appreciating the Gift we were given at Pentecost.

Veni, Sancte Spiritu (Come Holy Spirit)

Come, Holy Spirit,

send forth the heavenly

radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor,

come, giver of gifts,

come, light of the heart.

Greatest comforter,

sweet guest of the soul,

sweet consolation.

In labor, rest,

in heat, temperance,

in tears, solace.

O most blessed light,

fill the inmost heart

of your faithful.

Without your spirit,

there is nothing in man,

nothing that is not harmful.

Cleanse that which is unclean,

water that which is dry,

heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,

fire that which is chilled,

correct what goes astray.

Give to your faithful,

those who trust in you,

the seven-fold gifts.

Grant the reward of virtue,

grant the deliverance of salvation,

grant eternal joy.

 Reflection Question:  Do I take the time to call on the Holy Spirit at times when I need, courage, comfort, or guidance?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Fiesta de Pentecostés

La Fiesta de Pentecostés, que significa 50 días después de la Pascua, se llama el Cumpleaños de la Iglesia. Los discípulos que se escondían detrás de puertas cerradas, aterrorizados de ser torturados y asesinados si se sabía que eran seguidores de Jesús, fueron llamados a desempeñar roles de liderazgo en la nueva Iglesia. ¿Cómo podrían estos hombres asustados liderar en esta nueva comunidad cristiana?

El Señor había prometido enviarles al Espíritu Santo, quien sería su compañero y guía en este nuevo desafío. El Señor había prometido no abandonarlos. Al conocer sus debilidades y su buena voluntad, Jesús envió la ayuda que necesitaban.

Aunque fue una experiencia interior profunda, San Lucas lo describe de maneras que atraen a nuestros sentidos. Describe la venida como como el viento. El viento puede levantar y mover cosas. Él era el viento detrás de la espalda de Pedro, que ahora tenía la fortaleza de pararse y predicar a los judíos que habían matado a su Salvador. Muchos fueron convertidos y bautizados como resultado de su predicación.

El Espíritu Santo también se describe como lenguas de fuego. El fuego puede purificar, y calentar las cosas.Los discípulos fueron limpiados de su cobardía y prendieron fuego con celo para difundir la Buena Nueva. Incluso tuvieron el coraje de renunciar a sus vidas como mártires por la fe.

El fuego proporciona luz. Los discípulos reciben orientación también a través de la luz del Espíritu Santo. Hoy en día, muchas personas oran al Espíritu Santo para que los guíe, especialmente cuando hay que tomar decisiones importantes.

El Espíritu Santo se visualiza como una paloma, simbolizando la dulzura y el amor. Jesús había exhibido amabilidad y amor a lo largo de su vida divina y humana. ¡Qué amable fue con los pecadores que se arrepintieron! Su mensaje completo fue "Amor": que debemos amar a Dios y al prójimo como a nosotros mismos.

Finalmente, estaba el fenómeno de las personas que escuchaban cosas en sus propios idiomas nativos. El mensaje del Espíritu es que la Buena Nueva es para las personas de todas las naciones y razas.

La reflexión sobre la secuencia de la misa de hoy es muy útil para apreciar plenamente el regalo que recibimos en Pentecostés.

Veni, Sancte Spiritu (Ven, Espíritu Santo)

Ven, espíritu santo,
envía lo celestial
resplandor de tu luz.
Ven, padre de los pobres,
ven, dador de regalos,
Ven, luz del corazón.
El mejor consolador,
dulce huésped del alma,
dulce consuelo.
En trabajo de parto, descanso,
en calor, temperancia,
en lágrimas, consuelos
Oh luz bendita,
llenar el corazón más íntimo
de tus fieles.
Sin tu espiritu
no hay nada en el hombre,
Nada que no sea dañino.
Limpia lo que es inmundo,
el agua que está seca,
Curar lo herido.
Dobla lo que es inflexible,
fuego lo que se enfría,
Corregir lo que se extravía.
Dale a tus fieles,
los que confían en ti,
Los siete regalos.
Concede la recompensa de la virtud,
concede la salvación de la salvación,
Concede eterna alegría.

 Pregunta de Reflexión:   ¿Me tomo el tiempo de invocar al Espíritu Santo en momentos en que necesito valor, consuelo o guía?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D. Historian, Certified Archivist, Emerita

St. Katharine wrote that “The Holy Ghost is ever within me – the presence of God.” Like the Apostles, we have received the Holy Spirit; like the Apostles, we each have our “own particular work to do for the Church.” Spending a little quiet time with the Holy Spirit, after Communion or whenever we have some quiet time, we may hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit, inviting us to work with God to do what God has asked us to do.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

The song, “The Prize Worth Fighting For,” by Jamie Kimmett, can be heard regularly on Christian radio. Essentially, it affirms that one will persevere through the difficulties of life by remembering the promises of Christ and His unfailing grace. 


Before I headed out the door to do some errands, I read your post for the Feast of Pentecost so I could think about it during the day. I turned the radio on in the car and the above-mentioned song was playing. I was struck by the description of the challenges the songwriter was describing:

“Lately been down so low

My faith seems to come and go

Some days father I don’t know

How did my love grow cold

When every day’s just another struggle

And every choice is an act of war

Gotta pray gotta press on

To the prize worth fighting for…”


The lyrics go on to describe the depths of pain that none of us desire to experience.

The first thing that came to my mind is how blessed I am to believe in, and have a relationship with, the Holy Spirit. Next, I felt panic at the thought of not having the Holy Spirit to call on for comfort and support if I were going through a season where life felt like a battle. I realized how important it is to pray for others going through difficult times who may not know of the Presence of the Holy Spirit, that they will come to know His consoling, strengthening grace.

Richard Rohr wrote a series of daily reflections on the Indwelling Spirit and one thought that stirred me was, “When the Spirit is alive in people, they wake up from their mechanical thinking and enter the realm of co-creative power.” That sentence moved me because I recognized that, after so many decades of praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance, this is now a reality for me. As soon as I turn my attention to the Holy Spirit when I am in need, I am reminded that I have access to a higher level of thinking. When I ask Spirit for help, I can be assured of a more favorable outcome than if I had turned to my default mode of operating and tried to “fix” matters on my own.


While preparing for the day today (May 26), I was listening to talk radio and Flash Point Philadelphia was on. The topic was Suicide Awareness among teens. Suicide has tripled over the past several years in the 10 to 19-year-old age group, and Mental Health experts attribute this situation to increased exposure to social media. Depression, linked to loss of contact with others, is cited as contributing to the suicides. The facilitator also mentioned the presence of self-harm videos on Instagram where practices such as cutting, draw young people into a darkness that ending life is an option.

I found the program to be disturbing and I felt profound sadness that these exquisite children fail to recognize their true value and worth. Mental health issues are unique and complex, yet I ask, against what standards do these hurting souls measure their sense of identity. These grim statistics, in my mind, provide evidence that the attractions of the world are shallow and that we have an obligation to reach young people with the message that they are loved and have available to them the intimate companionship of the Spirit of God.

As numbers of churchgoers continue to drop, where will this generation of youth hear the message of God’s love and of His Plan for them; that they matter and are infinitely precious? 

We are wired for God. It is who we are, and the absence of this awareness, I believe, will cause us to experience a void when we encounter struggles that cry for a spiritual communion.


As I call upon the Holy Spirit for guidance, comfort, and courage for myself and my loved ones, I will include in my prayers those who are in need of His assistance but unaware of His Presence in their lives.