Archive for September 5, 2015

Lord of Suprises And Unique Opportunities

Posted: September 5, 2015 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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Today although a little under the weather I pressed on to serve as Extraordinary Minister of Communion for the healing mass which takes place only once a month in our Parish Auditorium.

For those who are early what takes place is the Jericho prayer followed by the Rosary.  Then praise and worship followed by Adoration then finally it ends with the EC proper. Whole session if you come at the very beginning, is easily 3 hours long. For most it’s only 2hrs.

Today the order of the session was slightly altered in that we began with the EC and ended with Adoration.  As my throat was feeling a little raspy, I was contemplating leaving after the EC. Afterall this morning after the morning EC followed by a parent’s prayer group meeting I managed to squeeze in about half an hour of quiet Adoration.  But the Lord had other plans for me! 

After communion as I was heading back to my seat the priest signalled to me to return to the altar. He then instructed me to bring the remaining hosts back to the tabernacle.  After I did that he informed me that he could not stay for the whole duration of the Adoration session.  And so instructed me to repose the Blessed Sacrament from the Monstrance when Adoration was over and keep it back in the tabernacle.

Although so unworthy the Lord granted me a unique opportunity to serve Him in a way I had never done nor ever hoped to be able to do.

With great reverence and love I thank You, my Lord and my God.  Amen

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 5, 2015 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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All Things Well:
Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:
Isaiah 35:4-7
Psalm 146:7-10
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37

The incident in today’s Gospel is recorded only by Mark. The key line is what the crowd says at the end: “He has done all things well.” In the Greek, this echoes the creation story, recalling that God saw all the things he had done and declared them good (see Genesis 1:31).

Mark also deliberately evokes Isaiah’s promise, which we hear in today’s First Reading that God will make the deaf hear and the mute speak. He even uses a Greek word to describe the man’s condition (mogilalon = “speech impediment”) that’s only found in one other place in the Bible—in the Greek translation of today’s Isaiah passage, where the prophet describes the “dumb” singing.

The crowd recognizes that Jesus is doing what the prophet had foretold. But Mark wants us to see something far greater—that, to use the words from today’s First Reading: “Here is your God.”

Notice how personal and physical the drama is in the Gospel. Our focus is drawn to a hand, a finger, ears, a tongue, spitting. In Jesus, Mark shows us, God has truly come in the flesh.

What He has done is to make all things new, a new creation (see Revelation 21:1-5). As Isaiah promised, He has made the living waters of baptism flow in the desert of the world. He has set captives free from their sins, as we sing in today’s Psalm. He has come that rich and poor might dine together in the Eucharistic feast, as James tells us in today’s Epistle.

He has done for each of us what He did for that deaf mute. He has opened our ears to hear the Word of God, and loosed our tongues that we might sing praises to Him.

Let us then, in the Eucharist, again give thanks to our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Let us say with Isaiah, Here is our God, He comes to save us. Let us be rich in faith, that we might inherit the kingdom promised to those who love Him.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 5, 2015 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We should look in the mirror from time to time to see if are living in the joy and presence of the Lord. Or are we instead pouting? Or do we have an angry or unapproachable look on our faces? Glum or downtrodden? What had happened? What changed?

Did we fall back into sin? Did we become judgemental? Did we demand perfection in others? Our children? Our colleagues? Our family and friends? When we ourselves are far from perfect.

For if we live in communion and joy in the Lord. Then we live in His love and it fills our hearts. Just as His mercy is upon us, we too are merciful toward our brethren. We are able and ever so willing to share the joy of the Gospel with everyone.

Lord Jesus reign in my heart now and forever. Amen

First reading
Colossians 1:21-23

Not long ago, you were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now he has reconciled you, by his death and in that mortal body. Now you are able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless – as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never letting yourselves drift away from the hope promised by the Good News, which you have heard, which has been preached to the whole human race, and of which I, Paul, have become the servant.

Gospel
Luke 6:1-5

One sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. Some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry how he went into the house of God, took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’