Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 12/28/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/122808.shtml

[Simeon] took him (Jesus) into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
Luke 2:28-32

As we were recording this week's podcast I started thinking about what it must have been like for Simeon and Anna, two people in today's Gospel. As faithful Jewish people, they had been waiting their entire lives for the coming of the Messiah. Then one day two parents bring a baby into the Temple and they know that they are in the presence of the savior of the world. What would it be like to be aware that the tiny baby you hold, probably only eight days old, is the one that your people have been awaiting for thousands of years?

On Christmas Eve, as I helped distribute Holy Communion, I remembered Simeon and Anna. The ciborium I held in my hands contained the Body of Jesus which would be given to hundreds of people. I was reminded how easy it is to take for granted what we have been given. Simeon and Anna looked into the face of the baby Jesus and knew the hope of their life had been fulfilled. We have the same ability to see and hold Christ, but in a much more astounding way through the Eucharist, yet it can become routine if we are not careful.

As I gave Holy Communion I was nearly overcome with what was occurring. Hundreds of people came through my line, each one bruised and broken in some way. As I held up the host and said "The Body of Christ", I prayed that each person might come to know and understand in new ways that God has come in human flesh so that we may be one with him.

I have that same prayer for all of us, this Christmas season - that we might be able to say, like Simeon: "... my eyes have seen your salvation... a light for revelation..."


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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 12/21/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/122108.shtml

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
(Luke 1:38)

Isn't today's Gospel passage amazing? The Annunciation. It's so much more than announcement though. It's is a moment in time that forever changed the course of human history - God becomes human. Isn't is just like God to use a teenager, not someone from a well-to-do, well educated, well connected family, but a teenage girl from the country who was to become the mother of God. Awesome.

There are many reasons I love this story. First of all, Gabriel appeared to Mary in the midst of an ordinary day to share with her God's message. It wasn't a high holy day, she wasn't in the Temple... it was just a normal day and this messenger from God shows up. That's an important reminder for me, and for all of us. It is in the midst of our ordinary life that God sends his messengers with words of comfort or of challenge for us. Although it's not usually with angels (that we know of), He sends his messages through many conduits - but how close are we listening? For me, God speaks often through other people, sort of like in today's first reading - God speaks to David through Nathan. There is so much noise in my life, I often times miss the message. I have to remember to take time to listen in the ordinariness of the day.

I tend to like to have plans for my life. Maybe not step-by-step details, but a general idea of where things are headed in the next few years. As I reflected on this Scripture earlier this week it struck me that when Mary said yes to God, she just said yes... she didn't ask for a four year plan, or want specific dates so she could put them in her calendar - she didn't even doubt that God could do what Gabriel said, she just wondered how. How often do we feel the prompting of the Spirit to do something, but convince ourselves that it's not the right time in our lives - maybe in a few years when the kids are grown, or when we've retired and have more time to give to God? I often convince myself that whatever God is asking is impossible for me to do, so I try to do something else and end up failing. How much easier my life would be if I could just say: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
What is God asking of you today?



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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 12/14/08 by Deacon Claude

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/121408.shtml

John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

(John 1:26-27)

Light the pink candle. Christmas is drawing nearer. And the word we hear is, "rejoice." This Sunday we are flooded with imagery of God's presence in our world and, especially, within our person.

From the First Reading of Isaiah, we are reminded that because God’s spirit is upon us, we are called to reach out to the needy among us. There is no question that we are equipped with God’s spirit to share the good news of salvation. This spirit immerses us in a life force which sends, heals, proclaims, announces. This spirit calls us to bring forth justice and praise.

It might seem quite daunting, but our responsorial psalm is the response of Mary at the Annunciation. Even in the midst of personal uncertainty, the deepest part of our being, our soul, acknowledges the presence of God within us and names with a surety of purpose in acknowledgment of God’s greatness in our lives.

And Paul’s words to the people of Thessalonica remind us not only to rejoice always and to pray without ceasing; Paul states his creed that God is faithful and will accomplish the plan intended for each of us.

So, when John responds to, “Who are you?” he knows his greatness comes, not from being the Messiah, but heralding the way of the Lord.

These Advent days call us to that kind of announcement of faith through our actions; we are not the Messiah. We are preparing His path because we have the certainty that God has so wonderfully gifted us to speak good news to our world through our actions of unconditional, forgiving love. For, as Paul says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” With our whole spirit, soul and body we REJOICE.

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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 12/7/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/120708.shtml

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
(Mark 1:2-4)

In today's Gospel we hear that John the Baptist went throughout the wilderness, inviting people to prepare a way for God to come into their lives. We are asked to do the same during this Advent season.

Many churches choose to sing the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" during Advent. While at a conference this week I was listening to a concert by Catholic singer and songwriter Matt Maher. He chose to sing that same hymn, in a beautiful, prayerful way. As we were singing it I started thinking about the chorus "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel." The "rejoice" really got me... here we have the Incarnation - God becoming one of us. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, and yet "rejoicing" is one of the last things we think about at this time of year. We're consumed with financial worries, busy schedules, and stress in our relationships. We don't make time to contemplate what it means that God - the God who created the entire universe, yet knows the number of hairs on our heads - is with us. Have you ever really thought about it? When I stop and try to put my head around it I can't understand how I can do anything other than rejoice.

Now I'm not naive. Our lives are difficult, we are broken people living in a broken world which makes rejoicing difficult. But that's one of the reasons why Advent is so great - it's all about preparing our lives to welcome in Emmanuel. One of the main reasons our lives are difficult is because we sin, and we have to deal with the consequences of our actions. It's the same reason why John the Baptist went throughout the countryside calling people to repentence. To repent is to resolve to change. We prepare the way of the Lord, making the paths straight when we go to confession and ask for forgiveness. All those times we've turned away from God by sinning are erased, the path is made straight through the Sacrament of Penance. Why not give it a try this Advent? My experience is that you leave the encounter rejoicing.



Please share your thoughts with us by posting a comment.


p.s. Hear Matt Maher's new song which blends together "Silent Night" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" at www.ilike.com/artist/Matt+Maher/track/Silent+Night+(Emmanuel). Currently you can also download it for free at iTunes.

Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/30/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/113008.shtml

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
...and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming..."
(Mark 13:334-35)

It doesn't seem possible that a new Church year has begun, that we've entered the season of Advent. When we enter the church building we may notice the Advent wreath and the purple altar cloth, instead of the white. Indications that this is no longer Ordinary Time, instead we're in a season of waiting - waiting for the birth of our Savior. We often speak of Advent as a time of "waiting in joyful hope".

I often equate waiting with boredom. My mother will tell you that when I'm bored, I'm awful to be around. As a teenager, when I was bored I would mope and whine for something fun to do. I can be very annoying, believe it or not! But boredom is not what Advent is about. Instead, we're asked to be actively waiting. This sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. It is demonstrated in today's Gospel - we are supposed to be like a gatekeeper, or watchman. The job of a gatekeeper was not only to keep out people that shouldn't be allowed to enter, but also to watch for the return of their master and to announce to the household when they were approaching. So it is the same with us. We need to make sure to keep out those things that shouldn't enter our interior dwelling, but we also need to keep watch for our Master, and to announce his coming to those we encounter.

We do this active waiting in many different ways during Advent. We may spend a little more time in prayer each day, using the "Little Blue Book" available in church; perhaps in the new year of Spirit Alive! we spend more time reading Scripture. We may take a tag off the giving tree or buy food to give to the food pantry or Christmas baskets; perhaps we ring bells for Salvation Army, or help sort presents or food; maybe it's having an Advent wreath in our own homes and lighting the candles before each meal; or we may make a special effort to examine our conscience and go to confession before Christmas. However you spend your time during Advent, remember that this season is meant to be one of actively waiting and watching.

The part about announcing the return of the master is harder for me. For me, it's much easier to talk about God and faith issues with those who hold the same beliefs as I do. We're called, though, to share our faith with everyone. This does not mean you need to bang people over the head with a Bible, but maybe it's just sharing with a coworker, friend or spouse where you witnessed God at work during the day. During this Advent is there someone in your life to whom you should announce the coming of the Lord?


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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/23/08 by Marie

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/112308.shtml

Thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend my sheep.

(Ezekiel 34:11-12)

Recently as American citizens we elected our new government officials – and many of us - especially rejoiced in electing our new president. Our leaders, however, expect that we do our part as well. Today, we rejoice and celebrate another leader, Christ our King. What kind of leader do we find in Jesus Christ? And what does He expect of us? And who are those family members, friends, and others who enflesh following Jesus for us?

In our first reading, Ezekiel images God as shepherd, totally spending himself in caring for, guiding, and protecting His sheep. When the sheep (us) stray, God more than willingly goes out of his way to find and bring us back into the fold. God’s presence and faithfulness is steadfast – even when we fail to notice it. One of my sisters comes to mind. During the early days of their marriage, her first husband was caught being unfaithful. She painfully and compassionately took him back… mindful of their 2 young children needed a father. Later, he repeated the same behavior… and this time, this led to divorce. However, my sister made it a priority that their now 3 children remained on good terms with their father, and received the financial support that they deserved. Often… this was not easy!

The psalmist, David, echoes this same image when he says, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing that I shall want.” God’s love and tender care … particularly in moments of darkness … transcends all. For David, God’s presence is so fulfilling... his desire to follow God is so total, nothing else satisfies. When I think of generosity of spirit, my friend, Ruth, comes to mind. Her faith and love for Jesus and following His path, lavishly spills over for all who desire to hear. She especially comforts those who grieve, nourishes those struggling with illness into her home or goes to their home to care for them. She listens to the stories of those who bring their clothing for repairs – which occasionally challenges her seamstress skills.

We may in wonder how can this be? Paul in today’s writings provides a clue. Jesus has already died for our sinfulness, our failings. All is new… and made whole. As the “new Adam”, Jesus modeled - and continues to model - what new life is like. We became citizens of Jesus’ kingdom through our Baptism; we became “the elect”. Perhaps, our parents, step-parents or another person made this decision for us. Or maybe, we made this decision in later life to become followers of Jesus. Often times, we need to look back before looking ahead…

It was a late autumn Sunday. We stood there… around the Paschal candle of St. John’s Church, Clyde, NY. My dad, brother – Joe – and I stood on the sacred grounds where our ancestors settled and prayed. His parents brought him to church to share and hand- down their faith to their son and a lot of life has transpired since December 29, 1915. And now he returned… as an elderly, fragile person… whose life was spent serving... and continues to serve without recognizing it. His “doing” and “being there for” as husband, father, son, brother, friend, and legal counselor has given way to simply “being present” to family, friends, and staff at his assisted living facility. Dad spends much time sharing his rich stories, often comforts those grieving the loss of their spouse – just as he grieves the loss of his beloved, Julie. The “being present” is what Lazarus’ sister, Mary, was praised for in another Scripture reflection.

How are combining the “doing” required of daily living with the “being”? The Gospel today serves as a guide on “how to” live as a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom. As a leader, Jesus reflected and modeled His Father’s unconditional love, compassionate care, and unlimited forgiveness. As disciples, how are we….how am I … radiating this same love, care, and forgiveness on the sacred grounds of where I trek in daily living? As you reread the passage, invite Jesus – as your leader - to graze in your heart. Notice and listen what causes a stir within you. Then consider and take a small step in living it…. and see where it leads… and what new life it brings.

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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/16/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/111608.shtml

When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax and works with loving hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
(Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31)

I suppose that some members of the feminist movement might not like this passage so much. However, when I hear this passage I think of all the women I have met in my life who this depicts. My mother, my grandmother, a few other role models I have met along the journey. Mostly, though, I think of Monica Greene, or Monnie, as I always called her. Monnie and Chuck, her husband, were an older couple my parents met when they were first married. I think of her because these verses perfectly describe her. When I was little we spent a lot of time at their house. I have the happiest memories of playing cards with Monnie, thanks to her generous nature, I seem to have one a lot!

I don't recall her talking too much about God or religion, but I knew that her faith was of the utmost importance to her. She always went to Mass and prayed the Rosary, but there was much more. She had a wonderful sense of humor, but at the same time, such a sense of reverence when the time was appropriate. I think that I first learned what it meant to be holy be being at Monnie's side. Little comments she made, or things she did taught me the difference. Every Sunday there would be a priest or two over to her house for dinner. It wasn't unusual for her to have a whole houseful of religious men and women when you stopped by. Monnie was a woman who "feared the Lord" and everyone knew it.

Monnie was the best cook I knew. Whenever you walked in her house you could smell something delicious. But it wasn't all for her family. She was generous beyond belief. Whenever you visited her, you left her house with an armful of some wonderful treasure - from homemade jam to some delicious cookies - it was awesome. She also freely gave of her time. She took care of her aging mother, who wasn't the easiest person to get along with, and would give anything she could to those in need. The people of St Vincent de Paul Church in Churchville were very fortunate to have her as a volunteer.

This passage from Proverbs refers to the woman who puts her hand to the distaff - I had to look up what that was - a distaff is a tool used in spinning wool into yarn. While Monnie didn't spin, she was a magnificent seamstress. I still have a few of the clothes she made for me when I was a child, they are more well made than anything you could buy in the store. She and her sister would spend hours sewing and, again, what they were making was not usually for them, but for someone else who could benefit from them.

I remember thinking of this passage at her funeral. The church was full of people who had loved and been loved by Monnie. As the last line of the reading says: "let her works praise her at the city gates". In life she would have never allowed the tribute that was given to her, but there, members of the community and people from all walks of life praised her for all the good she had done.

All this is not to say that if you don't do what is described in the passage, that you are a failure (I know just as many wonderful women who are not married and who don't know the first thing about sewing!). But it does have value in showing that if we're willing to share them, God uses all of our gifts and talents (see Gospel), for the building of his Kingdom.


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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/9/08 by Trixie

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/110908.shtml

[Jesus'] disciples recalled the words of scripture,

"Zeal for your house will consume me."

(John 2:17)

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord”. These words were on the big archway going into the Sunday School room in the church I attended as a child. These same words, from Psalm 122, were used at the funeral a few years ago of Helen Morrissey, a lady who played keyboard in local Catholic churches for many years. I can understand why Helen chose them for her funeral. Ever since I started taking organ lessons at age twelve I have spent many hours each week in a church practicing. As a young student it was an hour every morning before school in the local Presbyterian Church. As I moved on to college, a job, marriage, and my own family the particular church changed, but there always was a church. For the past 14 years it has been St. Mary’s in Canandaigua. For me, being in church feels like home, and it is very rare that I am not glad to be there. At St. Mary’s especially, I notice I am not the only one who likes being in the church when it is empty of people. When I am practicing I often see folks slip in quietly for a few minutes of prayer. For all of us there is something very special about being in God’s house.

This week we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the Pope’s church, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. I actually saw this church when I went to Rome a few years ago, and it is quite impressive! All our readings this weekend speak to the place of God’s dwelling. The Old Testament reading, of course, speaks of the temple where our Jewish ancestors would go to worship God. The beautiful part of the reading to me is the image of a river flowing forth from the temple, blessing and giving life to everything it touches on its way to the sea. Should we, as God’s people, be like this river as we leave Mass each week, going out into a world which so desperately needs our fresh water? The Psalm continues the image of water and the unshakable city of God.

St Paul, in our New Testament reading, takes the idea of a temple one step further. We, all of us, are God’s temple. We build one on another, from generation to generation, with Jesus Christ as our foundation. What an awesome responsibility – to be the dwelling place of God!

The Gospel shows us a side of Jesus we don’t see too often. Instead of a loving, kind, shepherd, we see a man full of righteous indignation striding into the temple in Jerusalem. With a whip made of cords he drives the money changers out of the temple. “Zeal for your house will consume me.” That’s what the Old Testament Scripture said. At this point Jesus goes on to foretell his own death, saying that the temple of His Body will be destroyed, but raised again in three days. Can we strive to be like Jesus and make our bodies, like our churches, the dwelling place of God?

Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.

Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/2/08 by Deacon Claude

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/110208.shtml

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,

and no torment shall touch them.

(Wisdom 3:1)

My mother died just over a month ago. She was almost ninety-three. She lived a long life, that by some people’s standards, was a hard life. Yes, she suffered much physical pain and she lived through multiple human tragedies. But that is not what I will remember her for.

Her utter, complete trust in God is her legacy. It was expressed in so many ways that I am sure will only be understood with the passing of time. She had a level of understanding and care for the poor that knew no bounds. Perhaps it was her living through the Great Depression which gave her some of that insight. Whatever it was, it did not make her bitter; it merely gave her a point of reference to live her life by.

Our Scripture readings on this Feast of All Souls calls us to trust and be faithful. They call us to accept the world’s beatings and defeats as minor. They speak of the hope which is ours, to get us through the hard stuff, to be united with Christ’s resurrection through our Baptism. And that we who have died with Christ will also live with him.

She was a great mom. She provided a smile and encouragement when it seemed the world could provide only scorn. She baked a chocolate cake that could take most of the day’s cares away. But most of all, she had a tear for our sorrows, a tear for our joys and a tear of just being so proud of us that you could feel that God was on your side, no matter what.

This Feast gives us the opportunity to give thanks to God for those who have profoundly touched our lives through their example of faithfulness. It bids us to be strengthened in our own faithfulness. And it urges us to help faith grow in others. There may be sadness in remembering the dead, but the sadness is really a way of paying tribute to the persons who have helped us realize God among us and within us. THANKS, MOM.

Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.

Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 10/26/08 by Dawn

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/102608.shtml

You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

(Matthew 22:37-39)

Life sure would be a lot easier if Jesus told us that we needed to love only the people we want to, instead of saying that we needed to love our neighbor as our self. Loving is not always easy: people rarely live up to our expectation; even our best friends sometimes let us down; and sometimes people are just mean.

I guess God could say the same about us: we rarely are the person that God created us to be; we are constantly sinning and falling short; and often we're just plain mean. I'm pretty sure that if I were in Jesus' place I would say something like: "You want me to die for these people?". Yet God is so awesome that in the midst of our failings He continues to love us. He probably isn't happy with some of the choices we've made, but no matter how horrible they were, He's waiting with open arms to welcome us back. All we need to do is to turn back to him and ask for forgiveness.

It's a huge challenge to love our neighbor. Our "neighbor" includes those who cheat in school, those who cut us off in traffic, the one who profits off our misfortune... We're called to love all of them. Even when our neighbor doesn't love us, we need to be there to love them. What prejudices block God’s love from flowing out from you to others?


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Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 10/19/08 by Dawn

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/101908.shtml

...[Jesus] said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
(Matthew 22:21)

What an appropriate time to hear a reading about taxes! It is definitely a hot topic - from politicians purporting various tax plans, to the government settling on a tax "bail out" plan. Everyone's been hearing about taxes. But what is Jesus saying in this passage? The Pharisees have been plotting on how they could trap Jesus. They wanted Jesus either to say it wasn't lawful to pay the tax, which would upset the Romans, or for him to say the Torah said it was lawful to pay taxes, which would upset the nationalists who hated the Romans. Instead, Jesus turns the tables around. Pointing out that it is Caesar's head on the coin, Jesus tells them to give to "Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." How straight forward, an answer the Pharisees would never have expected him to give.

In today's world what exactly, though, is the dividing line between what is Caesar's and what is God's? Well, I guess the things that belong to Caesar have his image on them - things like taxes. But what is it that I'm supposed to give to God? In next week's Gospel someone asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is, and Jesus answers: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). If that is how we are supposed to love God, it seems to me that everything I do should be offered to God. From what I do in life, to how I spend my free time, to where I spend my money. This doesn't mean that I need to spend every waking moment in church, on my knees, but it does mean that I need to examine what I do with my life and live in a way that reflects that commandment. Hmmm... I suppose that if I look at it that way, living a life that reflects loving God with my heart, soul and mind will have God's image on it. I would be giving to Ceaser that which has his image and to God that which has His image on it.

How and what are you giving to God?


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Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 10/12/08 by Dawn

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/101208.shtml

Then he said to his servants,
'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found,
bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.
(Matthew 22:8-10)

I love this part of this week's Gospel parable. Jesus is telling the crowd about a king who had a son who was getting married. The king invited a bunch of guests, but they didn't show up. So he sends his servants out into the streets to invite anyone they find - "the bad and good alike" - and they all show up for this wedding reception. I like this passage because it's not just the really good people that are invited - it was everyone. The wedding feast that Jesus is talking about here is really Heaven. It's not just the really, really good people who are invited to go to Heaven, we're all invited to go - the good and the bad.

Lots of the time people think that they don't deserve to come to church because they've done something so horrible that God could never forgive them. Nothing could be further from the truth - there is nothing that God does not want to or can not forgive. That reminds me of a homily Fr Mark Brewer once gave in which he said if there were sin detectors at the doors of church, only letting the sin-free inside, the church would be empty. It's just like this parable - the good and the bad alike were invited to come, and the good and bad showed up - just like Sunday morning.

So often I feel I just don't have it all together. That God won't love me until I'm a better person. But that's not true. God could not possibly love me (and you) any more than He does at this precise moment in time. Now this doesn't give me a "get out of jail free" card. If I want to be at the banquet feast in Heaven, I need to be striving to live in right-relationship with God, but that doesn't mean I have to be perfect. We all sin, but thankfully we have a forgiving God who welcomes us back every time we ask for forgiveness.



Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.

Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 10/5/08 by Dawn

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/100508.shtml

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
(Matthew 21:42)

In today's Gospel Jesus is talking to the chief priests and elders, the very same people who want to get rid of him, when He quotes what would be to them, a very well known Psalm: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-23). In this passage the word cornerstone can be translated as keystone. I'm not sure if you are a builder, but in the event you are not, let me give you an explanation of what a keystone is. A keystone is a central wedge-shaped stone of an arch that locks its parts together.
Think of a Roman Archway. Two columns of carefully selected stones are built, edging towards each other. Close to where they will meet, a triangular-ish shaped stone is placed in the middle and balances the two sides of the arches against each other. The triangular-ish shaped stone is the keystone. If you removed that stone, the entire archway would fall down.

This is how I think of Jesus in my life. From one perspective, he seems to be just another stone in the building - made of the same stuff as the rest of me. Yet, He is more central than any other "stone". If He is removed, the entire building (me!) will collapse.

To get back to the passage, Jesus refers to himself as a stone that was rejected by the builders. If you think of it in literal terms - someone building an archway is delivered a load of stones and discovers one that doesn't look like the others, being inexperienced, he decides it is useless and discards it. Jesus was different, He didn't fit the image that people had of a king coming to save the Jewish people, so the leaders of the day set him aside, wanted to discard him. I wonder how many times in our lives we come across God and decide that it doesn't look like He will fit, so we set him to the side, or discard him - in our family, in our choice of vocation, or over scheduling our lives.

Before placing the keystone/cornerstone that is Jesus in our lives we may feel that the stone is the wrong shape, wrong color, too difficult or too demanding. The fact is we will never know how it actually fits until we put the stone in place. When we do we will find that allowing God to be the rock on which everything else rests is actually freeing. It is marvelous in our eyes.

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Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 9/28/08 by Trixie

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/092808.shtml

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not, '
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?"
(Matthew 21:28-31a)

Which type of person are you? I know where I fit into today's Gospel! My initial response to anyone asking me to do something is usually "No". I can always think of a dozen reasons why I don't want to take on another project or commit to another activity. I don't have time and I don't want to be bothered. My life is already too busy. To be honest, these excuses often mask the fact that I either feel inadequate to the suggested task or I'm too lazy to stretch and grow in the ways necessary to complete the work.

But, many times I find myself going back to the request and changing my answer. This might be after a good night's sleep, a lunch out with friends - something to give me new energy and confidence. It might be after some prayer and reflection. I might even lay a guilt trip on myself, asking if I don't do the requested work who will?

It sure is easy for me to identify with the son who, when asked by his father to go out and work in the vineyard, gave a negative reply but later repented and did as he was bid. When I choose to accept the work God asks of me my life seems to fall into place.

We all meet both types of people. How much easier it is to say "Yes" right away when you are asked to do something. It pleases the person doing the asking. It makes you look and feel good. But afterwards you are faced with the reality of following through on the promise. How many times this is difficult, and we slide away from the commitment.

All of these readings speak to the issue of response to God's commands. The Old Testament reading talks about turning from wickedness to doing what is right and just. The Psalm asks God to teach us right ways and have compassion on us when we make wrong choices. (If you come to the 11:30 Mass on Sunday you will hear the adult choir sing a beautiful anthem setting of this Psalm.) And the New Testament reading from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians contains the beautiful passage telling us that Jesus said "Yes" when asked by his father to go out in the vineyard to work AND he followed through on that promise. To me that is the ultimate goal - to say "Yes" when God asks us to do His work, and then to go out and do it!


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Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 9/21/08 by Dawn

You can find all the readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/092108.shtml

"My friend, I am not cheating you.

Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?"

(Matthew 20:13-15)

I am a rule follower. I purchase all my music legally. I cross in cross walks. I don't talk on my cell phone when driving. I don't even talk on my cell phone when filling my gas tank. For me rules and guidelines make life safe. I think everyone should play by the rules: you obey the rules, you achieve the goal... no short cuts.

Perhaps that's why today's Gospel reading can be challenging for me. The landowner pays the workers the same amount - whether they worked 10 hours or 2 hours. This does not go according to the unwritten "rule" that if you do more work you get more money. In this case there is nothing illegal being done - just someone who is being generous. I can guarantee, though, if I were one of the people that worked all day long, I would feel cheated. I guess you could relate it to waiting at the toll booth (not having an ez pass). Imagine you had to wait in line for ten minutes to pay and just before you reach the booth, two more lanes open up. The people behind you didn't have to wait nearly as long as you did, it might seem unfair - those people didn't have to wait as long as you did, and now some of them are ahead of you! In reality, those people just happen to be in the right spot at the right time - it has nothing to do with justice.

At the end of the parable the landowner says to the grumbling workers "Are you envious because I am generous?" That thought stops me. Am I jealous because someone else receives what I consider to be unmerited gifts and/or forgiveness? Unfortunately I have to admit that I am almost always jealous. That sense of injustice then results in a stumbling block to my living a content life. I would guess that happens to most of us - something in us reacts negatively when it seems that life isn't as harsh on someone else as it is on us.

If we think of this parable in terms of grace and forgiveness, instead of in terms of money, we are challenged even more. We need God's grace and mercy, but if it's true for us, is it true for our biggest enemy? Does the murderer and terrorist deserve to be forgiven by God? The answer is yes. God is the generous landowner who freely forgives and offers grace and mercy to all who turn to Him.

Here's another piece that makes this parable even more challenging: we are called to do the same. We need to offer forgiveness instead of revenge; love instead of hatred; mercy instead of vengeance.

I am called to love the person who seems to win, even though they didn't follow the rules.



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Reflection on the Sunday Readings for 9/14/08 by Dawn

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“... just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

(John 3:14-15)

I once read somewhere that Nicodemus could be considered the Patron Saint of Seekers. In today's Gospel Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, who was a prominent Jewish teacher in the time of Jesus. Nicodemus had come to Jesus in the middle of the night to ask him questions.

Here he was - Nicodemus was supposed to have it all together as a big-time teacher, but after hearing what Jesus had to say, he probably stood there more confused than ever. He knew well the story Jesus referenced, of the rebellion of the Israelites in the desert that we read in this Sunday's first reading (NM 21:4b-9). Nicodemus knew that as the Israelites wandered the desert they started complaining and whining about their journey. As a result of their disobedience God sent deadly snakes into their camp. When the people cried out for mercy, God told Moses to put a figure of a snake on a pole and to hold it up. Whoever looked at that serpant would be helad. Not only did Nicodemus know this story - he probably taught other people about it, but what Jesus tells him must have left his head whirling: "...just as Moses lifted up the serpant in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." With our hind-sight bias, we know what Jesus meant: when people look with faith upon Jesus who has been "lifted up" (referring to both his crucifixion and resurrection), their judgment is averted and they are brought into life with God. But what must Nicodemus have thought? It was probably tempting to write off Jesus as a fanatic, but insted the seeker in Nicodemus sticks with Jesus. We see him show up in John's Gospel again in chapter seven, trying to protect and defend Jesus to the Pharisees, and then finally in chapter 19 after Jeus has died, helping Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus' body for burial.

Somewhere between the beginning of chapter three and the end of chapter 19, Nicodemus moves from being a seeker to being a believer. Yes, I think that I would agree, Nicodemus could be the Patron Saint of seekers.




You can find all the readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/091408.shtml
Please share with us your thoughts about these readings by posting a comment.