Friday, August 31, 2018

Living the Eucharist, Part 2 (readings from August 19, 2018)

Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
What these passages tell us not to do
Commentary
Hyperlink

Reading 1 PRV 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidensshe calls from the heights out over the city: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to the one who lacks understanding, she says, comeeat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!  Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 EPH 5:15-20
Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you livenot as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.  And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your heartsgiving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Alleluia JN 6:56
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

In a previous post we looked at how these readings call us to do more than simply receive the Body and Blood at Mass, but instead call us to consume Jesus in all areas of our lives. This post looks at what these readings tell us about how to do that. They give us several specific instructions:

1.    We are to do so humbly. As the psalm tells us, “the lowly will hear” God.

2.    We are to do so intentionally. The first reading tells us to “turn” and “come” to Him. The psalm speaks of seeking God, looking to Him, calling out. The second reading tells us to “watch carefully how [we] live” and exhorts us to “try to understand what is the will of the Lord.” All those things involve intentional efforts to get closer to God. Similar instruction is found in the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth It

3.    We are to do so persistently, over time.  The first reading’s statement about “advance[ing] in understanding” implies an ongoing progression.  A similar implication is made in the scriptures collected in Wisdom principles: We Grow in Godliness Over Time, Gradually

4.    We are to do so in all areas of our lives.  The first reading ‘s statement about wisdom calling out from “the heights out over the city” suggests us that God reaches out in the midst of the busy, seemingly secular, parts of our lives. That is reinforced by the second reading’s instruction to give thanks “always and for everything.”Similar statements are made in Proverbs 1:20-21Proverbs 9:3Ephesians 6:5-8, and Colossians 3:22-24

5.     We are to do so the exclusion of other things. The first reading tells us to “forsake foolishness.” The second reading tells us to “not continue in ignorance” and “not get drunk on wine.” We have to give some things up to receive the much better things Christ offers.

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6.    We are to do so joyfully, with enthusiasm. The second reading talks about “singing and playing to the Lord in [our] hearts,” and “giving thanks always and for everything.”

Friday, August 24, 2018

Prayer Request

Please pray for my 16-year-old daughter as she deals with an eating disorder. Please pray that she be healed and for help getting through the healing process. 

Please also pray for my wife and me, that we best support our daughter and each other as we go through this. 

Finally, please pray that this whole ordeal be turned to the good. 

Thank you.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Living the Eucharist, part 1(readings for August 19, 2018)

Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do

Reading 1 PRV 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to the one who lacks understanding, she says, come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 EPH 5:15-20
Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.  And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Alleluia JN 6:56
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever 
eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

This gospel reading speaks to something that goes beyond simply receiving the Body and Blood at Mass. That is true in several respects.

1.    Jesus’ statement that we must eat and drink His body and blood to “have life within” us tells us that we must make Him the consuming focus, the priority, the organizing principle of our lives. Jesus must be to us (at least) what sports, pop culture, or politics are to those who “eat and drink” sports, pop culture, or politics.

2.    Jesus’ statement that “my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” communicates that that His nature and teaching, made the focus of our lives as discussed in point 1 above, are sufficient to sustain us in every aspect of our lives, just as ordinary food and drink sustain us in all areas of our lives.

3.      Jesus’ statements also imply that we must seek Him as consistently and regularly as we seek physical food and drink.

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4.      None of these directions in any way detract from the centrality or nature of the Eucharist at the Mass itself.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

God welcomes all. We should follow His example (readings for August 18, 2018)

Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
What these passages tell us not to do
Commentary
Hyperlink

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: "Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children's teeth are on edge"?

As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.

If a man is virtuous—if 
he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one,  gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoingjudges fairlybetween a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

But if he begets a son who is a 
thief, murderer, or lends at interest and exacts usury–this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault.

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD.
Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyonewho dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God; and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father,Lord of heaven and earth;you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 19:13-15
Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

1.   God himself places no barriers between himself and any person. He does not separate Himself from or reject folks because of the nature/status of their ancestors or relations, because of age, or because they lack sophistication. (First reading, alleluia verse, gospel).

2.   He does not even reject us because of our past sins—provided that we repent of and turn from them. (First reading, psalm). To the contrary, God went to—and continues to go to—great lengths to invite and receive former sinners into loving fellowship with Him. Luke 15 powerfully illustrates that. 

3.   As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “at every time and in every place, God draws close to man… He calls together all men,” even those “scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family” (emphasis added).

4.   How do we respond to that?

A.   Accept God’s loving invitation. Do not hold back because of your prior sin. Come to Jesus, repent, and be reconciled. Similarly, do not hold back because you know little about God or His ways; He calls even little children to Him.
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B.    Be as welcoming to others as God is to all of us. Reach out for and accept fellowship with all, regardless of their parentage, past misdeeds, or lack of sophistication. Likewise, reject appeals to political tribalism/division, racism, and xenophobia. Instead, welcome and love all, just as Jesus welcomes and loves all. See Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 15.