Archive for July 25, 2019

A Voice

Posted: July 25, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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It is far easier to be silent than to be the voice of reason or the voice of conscience for the community. Afterall why put yourself at the mercy of detractors? Of those who would rather not listen or act? To be accused of being the one who causes divisiveness.

Yes it is far better to be silent and to remain at peace where you’re at, even to be loved if not then liked. But I will never forget a fiery homily by a beloved priest who spoke about the conspiracy of silence! In many ways he is a ‘John the Baptist’ of sorts, preparing hearts to receive our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many did not like or even respect him but it did not faze him in the least. For he had led many countless folks closer to the Lord our God. Just like him, I sleep soundly at night.

Praise and glory be to the Lord our God!

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 25, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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If I remember correctly is was at the Passover Seminar where after registering my attendance I walked in and within a few minutes was asked by a special lady from the team if I could help them out. I said yes I would be glad to help in any way I could even if meant to keep the toilets clean though I did not mention the last bit to her. (chuckles) I was then issued a special ‘Passover’ name tag. During a break, I was teased by a few members of my Parish why it was that I had that special name tag on while they were not likewise issued the same? I jokingly replied “Can you drink this cup?” We laughed and soon the break was over and it was time to go back in.

But it stuck with me as a prompting to reflect more deeply on the words of Jesus who originally asked that very question. Are you prepared to suffer for my sake? To face persecution? To be wrongfully accused? Are you prepared to die if need be for my flock which I will entrust to you? Are you prepared to get down on your hands and knees if need be? To get yourself grimy, dirty and soaked in perspiration? Servant leadership is not simply a title or a fad nor does it come from a place of faux humility, it begs the answers to the above questions! Difficult and challenging as it is we are never cornered as St Paul mentions for Jesus our Lord will see us through it all. Dying for Him we will surely rise in Him. This is the conviction of our faith in the same spirit as mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us.

Let us then give thanks and glorify the Lord our God, this day and every day by the way we live our lives for Him, with Him and in Him. Amen

St James the Apostle pray for us….

First reading

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 ·
Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

Gospel

Matthew 20:20-28
‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’

The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’