Archive for August 18, 2018

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 18, 2018 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Wisdom’s Feast: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Proverbs 9:1–6
Psalm 34:2–3, 10–15
Ephesians 5:15–20
John 6:51–58

The Wisdom of God has prepared a feast, we hear in today’s First Reading.
We must become like children (see Matthew 18:3–4) to hear and accept this invitation. For in every Eucharist, it is the folly of the Cross that is represented and renewed.
To the world, it is foolishness to believe that the crucified Jesus rose from the dead. And for many, as for the crowds in today’s Gospel, it is foolishness—maybe even madness—to believe that Jesus can give us His Flesh to eat.
Yet Jesus repeats himself with gathering intensity in the Gospel today. Notice the repetition of the words “eat” and “drink,” and “my Flesh” and “my Blood.” To heighten the unbelievable realism of what Jesus asks us to believe, John in these verses uses not the ordinary Greek word for eating but a cruder term, once reserved to describe the “munching” of feeding animals.
The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25). In His foolish love, He chooses to save those who believe that His Flesh is true food, His Blood, true drink.
Fear of the Lord, the desire to live by His will, is the beginning of true wisdom, Paul says in today’s Epistle (see Proverbs 9:10). And as we sing in today’s Psalm, those who fear Him shall not want for any good thing.
Again, today in the liturgy, we are called to renew our faith in the Eucharist, to forsake the foolishness of believing only what we can see with our eyes.
We approach, then, not only an altar prepared with bread and wine, but the feast of Wisdom, the banquet of heaven—in which God our Savior renews His everlasting covenant and promises to destroy death forever (see Isaiah 25:6–9).
Let us make the most of our days, as Paul says, always, in the Eucharist, giving thanks to God for everything in the name of Jesus, the bread come down from heaven.

Prayer of The Faithful

Posted: August 18, 2018 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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When the children of God gather in Jesus’s name to pray for a special intention whether they are laying hands over someone or lifting up their hearts praying in unity. The Lord in His mercy and love answers their prayers. For He knows the sincerity of their hearts and the intention and desire to grow in their relationship with Him and in His love.

Thank You Lord for ministering to all of us even while we were praying for a only few individuals. And how swiftly You act! Glory and Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

*update*after this reflection I picked up the book I’m reading turned a page and read this….

A little personal reflection

Posted: August 18, 2018 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Man of God

I have often looked upon those few men and women of God (laity> and marveled at how they seem so much closer to the kingdom of God. Moreover they would never think of themselves as such though they simply are by the way they live their lives. How could I ever walk in their shoes? It seemed impossible for me.

Today when I heard someone call me a man of God, I broke down and wept. I know it is an affirmation, but it also weighed heavily on me that I am very much a sinner fully in need of the Lord’s grace.

No this is not the first time, I have been called as such. In fact a total of four times as far as I can remember, once by a priest. Still I would rather be known simply as a servant of God in need of His mercy. Do pray for me… 🙏🏼❤️

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 18, 2018 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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A little child is trusting, loving, curious, innocent and in awe of God our Father’s creations. Thankful and grateful for all it has been given even though it may not always know how to express it. This is the heart of a child which belongs in the kingdom of heaven. Can we not possess such a childlike heart?

While it is true that the sins of the father or mother for that matter, can be passed on to the child; in that they either pickup the wrong thing learnt from the parent’s mistakes or they react badly to them. Still they can repent and be changed through the loving mercy and grace of the Lord our God. For the Lord looks at the heart of the individual child who is unique in His eyes.

I am a child of God unique in His eyes and so loved by Him. And so are you. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32
You, not your children, will suffer for your sins: so repent, and live

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:
‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?
‘As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.
‘The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour’s wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances – such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.
‘But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.
House of Israel, in future I mean to judge each of you by what he does – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent, renounce all your sins, avoid all occasions of sin! Shake off all the sins you have committed against me, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why are you so anxious to die, House of Israel? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent and live!’

Gospel

Matthew 19:13-15
Do not stop the little children coming to me

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.