Feast of Pentecost - May 20, 2018

The Feast of Pentecost  Year B


Reading I:  Acts 2:1-11

Psalm:  104

Reading II:  1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7,
                                                   12-13
Gospel:  John 20:19-23  or
               John 15:26-27;16:12-15

The liturgy today is very rich as we celebrate the birthday of the Church.
I shall begin by focusing on the Preface of the Mass:

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

              For, bringing your Paschal Mystery to completion,         
              You bestowed the Holy Spirit today
              on those you made your adopted children
              by uniting them to your only begotten Son.
              This same Spirit, as the Church came to birth,
              opened to all peoples the knowledge of God
              and brought together the many languages of the earth
              in profession of one faith.

 Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, president of the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas,  wrote a powerful reflection: “Keeping our Loved Ones Connected to the  Body of Christ.”  According to this Oblate Missionary of Mary, by receiving the Holy Spirit, we become one with our Lord and are called to do all the things Jesus did, “including the forgiveness of sins and the binding of each other, through love, to the family of God.” (The full text of  Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s reflection can be accessed at www.ronrolheiser.com/archives.  Then scroll down to 2005 and
click on August 7.)

Father Ron acknowledged that this is partly a mystery.
However, we can understand it because...
           A loving mother knows that the family still includes a given
           child, even if that person is struggling in ways that don’t
           allow for him or her to be home and at the family table on
           a given night. Love binds, loosens, forgives, and holds others
           in union even within the painful contingencies of immaturity,
           absence, anger, infidelity, and sin.

Another notable message in the Gospel of John is that the Holy Spirit will be with us to guide us as the future unfolds with its new knowledge and challenges. While we have instructions on basic moral issues in the Bible,  there are some things that did not exist at the time of the writings. When we are faced today with moral decisions, we can receive assistance from the Holy Spirit if we call upon him and keep our minds and hearts open.

Not only are there new scientific discoveries, but there are newer understandings of certain laws in the Old Testament. In the time before refrigeration, e.g. to eat pork could make one very ill because of the microbes which would grow in the non-preserved meat. Therefore, today the Reformed Jews will eat pork because they see that law as a protection that God provided at a time when there was no
known way of preserving meat.

Today, prayers to the Holy Spirit usually precede meetings where major decisions are to be made. Research, clarification and assistance from the Holy Spirit can enable us to make informed decisions in the many complex circumstances of our times. However, it is also helpful to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in our simple, everyday, personal situations. It is a way of helping us to be aware of the Lord’s accompanying us, daily, on our journey.


 Reflection Question:   At Confirmation, we were given gifts of the Holy Spirit to assist us in life. How do I make use of those gifts? 

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Fiesta de Pentecostés

La liturgia hoy es muy rica cuando celebramos el cumpleaños de la Iglesia. Comenzaré centrándome en el Prefacio de la Misa:

Es verdaderamente correcto y justo, nuestro deber y nuestra salvación, siempre y en todas partes para darte gracias, Señor, santo Padre, Dios todopoderoso y eterno.

                   Porque, al completar tu misterio pascual,

              Has otorgado el Espíritu Santo hoy

              en aquellos que hiciste tus hijos adoptivos

              uniéndolos a tu Hijo unigénito.

              Este mismo Espíritu, cuando la Iglesia nació,

              abierto a todos los pueblos el conocimiento de Dios

              y reunió a los muchos idiomas de la tierra

              en profesión de una fe.

P. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, presidente de la Escuela Oblata de Teología, San Antonio, Texas, escribió una poderosa reflexión: “Mantener a nuestros seres queridos conectados al cuerpo de Cristo”.  Según este Oblato Misionero de María, al recibir el Espíritu Santo, nos hacemos uno con nuestro Señor y somos llamados a hacer todas las cosas que hizo Jesús, “incluyendo el perdón de los pecados y la unión de unos a otros, a través del amor, a la familia de Dios”. (Se puede
acceder al texto completo de la reflexión del P. Ron Rolheiser en www.ronrolheiser.com/archives. Luego desplácese hacia abajo hasta
2005 y haga clic en el 7 de agosto).

El padre Ron reconoció que esto es en parte un misterio.

Sin embargo, podemos entenderlo porque ...

              Una madre amorosa sabe que la familia aún incluye un determinado

           niño, incluso si esa persona está luchando en formas que no lo hacen

           permitir que él o ella esté en casa y en la mesa familiar en

           una noche determinada. El amor ata, afloja, perdona y mantiene a los
           demás en unión incluso dentro de las dolorosas contingencias de
           inmadurez, ausencia, ira, infidelidad y pecado.

Otro mensaje notable en el Evangelio de Juan es que el Espíritu Santo estará con nosotros para guiarnos a medida que el futuro se desarrolle con sus nuevos conocimientos y desafíos. 

Si bien tenemos instrucciones sobre cuestiones morales básicas en la Biblia, hay algunas cosas que no existían en el momento de las escrituras. Cuando nos enfrentamos hoy con decisiones morales, podemos recibir ayuda del Espíritu Santo si lo llamamos y mantenemos nuestras mentes y corazones abiertos.

No solo hay nuevos descubrimientos científicos, sino que hay nuevas comprensiones de ciertas leyes en el Antiguo Testamento. En el tiempo anterior a la refrigeración, p. comer carne de cerdo podría enfermar mucho a causa de los microbios que crecen en la carne no conservada. Por lo tanto, hoy los judíos reformados comerán carne de cerdo porque ven esa ley como una protección que Dios proveyó en una época en que no había forma conocida de preservar la carne.

Hoy en día, las oraciones al Espíritu Santo generalmente preceden a las reuniones donde se deben tomar decisiones importantes. La investigación, la clarificación y la asistencia del Espíritu Santo pueden permitirnos tomar decisiones informadas en las muchas y complejas circunstancias de nuestro tiempo. Sin embargo, también es útil orar al Espíritu Santo para que nos guíe en nuestras situaciones personales simples y cotidianas. Es una forma de ayudarnos a ser conscientes de que el Señor nos acompaña diariamente en nuestro camino.

 Pregunta de reflexión:   En la Confirmación, recibimos dones del Espíritu Santo para ayudarnos en la vida. ¿Cómo hago uso de esos regalos? 

September 25, 2016 - The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Reading I: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Response: Psalm 146

Reading II:  1 Timothy 6: 11- 16

Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31


Is there anything wrong with being rich?  Jesus seems to focus on the dangers of being rich. He says that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Of course, the “needle” is not a sewing needle.  However, even though he is referring to a narrow passageway in the mountains through which shepherds and herders needed to lead their animals, we wonder why he stresses this.   

It seems obvious that we need to share with those who are needy. But, there seems to be more to it. Eleanor Stump, professor of philosophy at St. Louis University, sheds some light on this when she points out the words used in the Gospel. When the rich man is in hell, he asks the Lord to send Lazarus, who is resting in the bosom of the Lord, to get him some water to quench his thirst.  When the Lord refuses, the rich man asks God to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them about the folly of riches. The Lord refuses again. Why? Perhaps the Lord is reacting to the rich man’s basic attitude of seeing Lazarus as only useful to him. He doesn’t consider him a brother, as an equal. Rather he chooses only to use him for his own purposes. Even the dogs lick the wounds of Lazarus as they do for themselves and one another. They have compassion and try to heal him. 

The rich who are poor in spirit reach out and share with the poor. The poor recognize those who have a superior attitude and those who see them as brothers and sisters. At the 125th jubilee celebration for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Bishop Curtis J Guillory, SVD, of the Beaumont, Texas Diocese, shared his experiences with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. He made a comment which touched me. He said that the Sisters “engaged” with the people. In other words, they became a part of the people with whom they ministered. They realized that they were enriched themselves by the poor they served.

Another view is expressed by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI. He reminds us that for our own physical,
psychological and spiritual health, we need to share. Our Native American brothers and sisters have retained that generosity of spirit by some of their customs. For example, when I young man has success hunting a deer, the family has a “deer supper.” I was invited to one by one of our Pueblo Sisters from Laguna, New Mexico. Before the meal the skull of the deer was placed on a side table. The mother of the young hunter blessed her son and thanked the deer for giving its life to feed the people. Then, everyone in the village and friends were invited to partake in the meal. They took turns eating in silence and moved on so others could have a place at the table. While waiting for a turn at the table, people were watching a ballgame on TV and chatting. It was like two worlds in one house.

Another custom is that on birthdays, the one being celebrated is the giver of gifts. Of course, in today’s world they probably receive gifts also. However, the custom reminds them that they are
here to share with others also. On special holy days, they have “throws.” Items like candy, blankets, etc. are thrown from flat adobe rooftops for anyone to take.  

A real challenge comes when a relative is in financial need, e.g. because of alcohol or drug problems. The expectation is that the relative with some resources will provide for the needy one. Therefore, it is difficult for them to save for future needs of their own family. Nevertheless, they do have the sense that accumulating too much is unhealthy.

It is healthy to share because it prevents one from becoming too self-centered. One of the first things that many mothers teach their small children is to share treats that they receive and to share their toys. That can be a difficult lesson, but an important one. Young people who are encouraged to do some type of service to help others experience a sense of pride and joy. It feels good and is a wonderful experience for them and those they help. That is good for people of all ages. God our Father and Jesus know what we need for a healthy and happy life. It is not to hold tightly onto wealth. Rather it is to share our time, talent, and treasures with our brothers and sisters.

July 24, 2016 - Lord, Teach Us to Pray

The Seventeenth Sunday in 
   Ordinary Time - Year C


First Reading: Genesis 18: 20-32

Response: Psalm 138

Second Reading: Col.  2:12-14

Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13

In the face if recent tragic events in our world and in our Nation, we often feel helpless. Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI, presents a remedy in his article The Power of prayer and Ritual Inside Our Helplessness. He refers to a movie based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, Sense and Sensibility. A young woman is lying close to death from pneumonia while a young man who loves her is pacing back and forth frustrated by the fact that he is helpless in the situation. He asks her mother what he can do to help the sick woman. Heart-broken he cannot accept the response that there is nothing they can do. He then cries out: “Give me some task to do, or I shall go mad!”

Many of us experience these feelings in events of our personal lives, as well as in the other times of crisis. There are two helpful ways of dealing with them: prayer and action. I remember the many times that I was called to Maristhill Nursing Home where my father was residing. I would be told that there was a possibility that he might be nearing death. Usually, one of the Sisters would drive me. Instinctively, I would reach for my rosary and finger it on the way. Then, when my mother died, I wanted to pass on the love and wisdom that my mother had given to me. Having no children of my own, I joined the Big Sister Association and mentored two young girls. That action helped not only the children, but also helped me to deal with the loss of my mother.

We often see good evolve from tragedy. Maybe that is why the Lord allows these difficult and heart-wrenching events. In times when people realize things are out of their control, they often turn to God. How many people after a divorce, a health crisis, the death of a loved one, a devastating weather catastrophe, or in the midst of the terrors of war, turn to their Creator in prayer? How many acts of kindness, tributes, memorials, support groups, fundraisers, scholarships and philanthropic foundations, result from the need to do something positive on the heels of a tragedy?

A current example of this is being initiated by the National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) which is responding to the terrible epidemic of violence in our Nation and throughout the world in the following manner:

Baltimore, 13 July 2016: The National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) joins the nation in mourning over the tragedies in Baton Rouge, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, and Dallas last week. As we commend to the Lord those who have died, we pray for the consolation of all who are grieving.

It is important for Black Catholics to contribute to the ongoing national conversation about the underlying issues which have existed for too long. These issues include racism, inequality, poverty, and violence. During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we must be signs of God’s love which promotes justice. Justice promotes right relationships, which includes upholding the dignity of human life.

The NBCC invites Black Catholics and all people of good will to join in a time of prayer and action. We believe in the power of prayer. We also believe that we must cooperate with how God will answer our prayers. HENCE, THE NBCC ASKS YOU TO JOIN US IN OFFERING THIS PRAYER FROM MONDAY, JULY 18TH TO MONDAY, AUGUST 15TH:

       

O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the just advancement of their neighbor, that, through the good
things which you richly bestow upon all each human person may be brought to perfection, every division may be removed, and equity and justice may be established in human society. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.                              

Collect - Votive Mass for the Progress of Peoples from the Roman Missal

In addition, Friday is a day of penance for Catholics throughout the year. During this same period, we invite Black Catholics [and others] to make a sacrifice of your choosing on Fridays to accompany our prayers for justice with acts of reparation.  What positive action do you think the Lord may be asking of you?