Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 2/1/09 by Dawn

You can find the full Scripture Readings for this Sunday at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/020109.shtml

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
Psalm 95:7b-9

I've been thinking about the Responsorial Psalm that we'll sing at Mass this week. It's one that we hear quite often, Psalm 95. As a cantor it is often difficult to proclaim the Psalm in song. When your a lector, you can use your speech pattern and inflection to help people understand the Word, but as a cantor, you're limited to the musical setting that was selected for the Psalm. Sure, you can be louder/softer, and faster/slower, but beyond that, it's a real challenge if the setting selected isn't much help. The only thing I've found to help, is to place yourself in the Psalm, to make it a song from your heart. That's why this week's Psalm is one of my favorites, I've been there, it's a constant reminder for me.

The Psalm response is "If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart." It's so often in my life, that I feel God prompting me to do something, but it's either, in my view, too hard or too scary so I turn away and pretend I didn't hear Him. Things like forgiving and loving the person who is treating me horribly, or confronting someone who is doing damage to another, or even sharing my faith with those outside my circle, are some of the promptings I choose to ignore. I know God is asking me to listen, but instead, I turn away.

It has always been that way. Way back when the Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the people complained and hardened their hearts. Now I don't want to judge, but if I walked on dry ground through the Red Sea, walls of water on either side, I would hope that I wouldn't start moaning and complaining and then turning against God. That's what the Psalm is referring to in the last verses. The story is in Exodus 17. The Israelites have been walking through the desert fow a while and were camped where there was no water. They actually said to Moses "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" In reality, we all do this to some degree. We have a crisis in our life and pray fervently and God delivers us. Then shortly after, it's like our memory has been wiped clean, we start moaning and complaining about how much better off we were before, when, in reality, we weren't.

But God loves us. In the case of the Israelites, God tells Moses to take his staff and strike a specific rock. When he did, water came out of it. As in the Hebrew tradition, when there is a monumental occurrence somewhere, a name is given to the place. So Moses called the place Massah and Meribah. Massah means "test" and Meribah means "quarrel". That's why the Psalm says "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." It's what makes singing this Psalm easier - I have lived it. It's a vicious cycle: I'm in a crisis and pray, God delivers me, I quickly forget what God has done for me, I end up in another crisis and complain and eventually pray, God delivers me... I have many Massahs and Meribahs in my life. Hopefully I'm learning that it's easier to just listen to God and not harden my heart when He speaks.

What have been your Massahs and Meribahs?


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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 1/25/09 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/012509b.shtml

On his (Saul's) journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
Acts 9:3-8

This weekend we hear the readings for the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. Normally we don't hear these readings on a Sunday, but because it is the Year of St Paul, the Pope has given permission and actually encouraged us to use them.

I like the story of Paul's conversion because it reminds me that no matter what we've done in our past, God can always use us for his glory. Here we have Saul (who eventually becomes known as Paul), who has been going around persecuting Christians. One day he was on his way to Damascus to arrest anyone he finds that belongs to the "Way", that is, who are Christians. As he and his companions near the city he falls to the ground and hears a voice asking him "why are you persecuting me?" It is revealed that the voice speaking to him is Jesus (who, by this time, has already ascended into Heaven). Paul is directed to go into Damascus and wait for directions. When he stands up he finds that he is blinded.

How often are we like that? We're going on our own way, doing what we think is best for us, when suddenly, something causes us to fall to the ground, literally or figuratively. We then hear in our heart, God telling us that we have gone far away from him. We're given the chance to return to where we're supposed to be. It's always an offer, never forced. Just like Paul - he could have decided to return to Jerusalem or find a different doctor, but he didn't, he did what Jesus told him to. We are given the opportunity to come back home to God.

The passage goes on to say that God sent Ananias, a disciple, to go and heal Paul. Ananias was probably terrified to go to see the person that was persecuting Christians all over the country, but he did as he was instructed. After Ananias touched Paul's eyes, Scripture says that "Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight." (Acts 9:18) What is it that blinds us from seeing God's grace? For me, it's mostly the busy schedule I set for myself. For others it could be their job or their family. All of these things are not bad in and of themselves, but when they become the only thing we focus on, we become blinded to all that God has to offer to us.

Have you ever had an experience of something like Paul's? When something like scales fell from your eyes and you could again see clearly?

As we all know, Paul goes on to lead many people to the "Way". He becomes known as disciple to the gentiles, he is credited with writing a large group of letters in the New Testament and was ultimately martyred for his faith.

No matter how far away we run from God, He's always willing to take us back and use us for his glory.



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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 1/18/09 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/090118.shtml

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see."
John 1:37-39

In today's Gospel Jesus is beginning to call his disciples. When asked where He was staying, Jesus tells them to come and see. They did, and they liked what they saw and decided to stay. Isn't Jesus great? He didn't hand them a job description, or hand them a book of rules to memorize, or make them take any tests... He just told them to come and see. It's the same thing God says to all of us - come and see!

God is always calling us. Recently I was listening to a Busted Halo podcast in which Fr Dave Dwyer interviews the former Brian "Head" Welch, lead guitarist from the heavy metal rock band Korn. He has recently written an autobiography called "Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs and Lived To Tell My Story". This guy seemed to have everything - he won Grammy Awards, had tons of money, houses, cars, etc. He was also heavy into drugs. One day, being high on meth he went into a church and heard someone talking about Jesus. He recognizes that is the point in his adult life that he started hearing God call him. Within weeks Brian responded to the call and turned his life around, quit the band and all drugs and is now seeking after God to the best of his ability. You may have a dramatic story like this, or you may have one like mine: when I was younger I realized that God was real and decided that each day I would do my best to do what He was asking. Either way - it's all about responding to God's call to "come and see".

It's not a one time call either - God is always calling us to new things. He wants us to become the person He created us to be. I think it's getting harder to hear God's call in our culture today, though. We have so many things that can distract us: busy schedules, constant media opportunities, cell phones, etc. The great thing is that God never stops. Even while sleeping, like Samuel in today's first reading, God calls us. It's up to us, though to respond.

What is God calling you to "come and see"?


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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 1/11/09 by Marie

You can find all of this week's Scripture at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/090111.shtml

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:9-11

Today, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. We also transition from the much anticipated and spirit-filled Christmas season to the more sedate ordinary time. However, we make this transition after three manifestations of God. Christmas celebrates Jesus, Son of God, becoming human, becoming the son of Mary and step-son of Joseph. Epiphany celebrates Jesus being revealed to the world and the Wise Men were directed to follow the star which led to Jesus. Once there, they bestowed gifts worthy of a king and foreshadowing the life that Jesus would lead. Through Baptism the Gospel writer, Mark, recounts the voice of a loving Parent taking pride and delight in His Son and together they reveal the Spirit which moved Jesus from private life to public service, from being given human life to human life being taken and ultimately experiencing life being transformed – again.

Many of our parents took such delight in us, that they gifted us not only with human life, but so loved God, that they wanted us to bask in the love of God through the waters of Baptism. For others, the choice to be Baptized was - or will be soon – a graced moment to be a cherished touchstone experience – similar to Jesus.

Most relatives and friends who celebrated the holidays with us have gone home. The decorations are being put away for another year. Reflectively, like Jesus in today’s Gospel, and Mary as she gazed upon her son, we can ask ourselves, what difference did this Christmas season make? What difference does Baptism make in my daily living? What new revelations or insights did we glean from being gleamed upon? How might we approach this new year differently?

Perhaps, one indicator of where we begin this year is found in the First Letter of John. He begins by greeting the community as “Beloved”. How special it is to be called “Beloved” or some other name that reveals a special, unique relationship. Another indicator is by our behavior and attitudes. As one hymn says, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love….” We, too, share in the strong bond that Jesus does with His Father through the waters of Baptism and ultimately, through the Cross. And so, how is our love of God, family, friends, co-workers and strangers as daily life impinges upon us?

As in our first reading, Isaiah observed that people get discouraged from the grind of daily living. So many demands and challenges – not so unlike today. Perhaps, economic hardships, illness, or death of a loved one were recent experiences. The prophet reminds that we too need to be frequently renewed by love. And while we may have fallen short in the past year, we are still loved and embraced by our God. That’s our covenant relationship with God. We were promised help – and were given that help through the Promised One.

Now we have come full circle, It’s appropriate today, that we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Jesus asked His Father for support as he moved from private life to a public life of self-less love and service. And we can do the same - keeping alive our new revelations or insights- as we move from the holiday high points to the more routine, hopefully calmer, daily living.

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Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 1/4/09 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/090104.shtml

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
Matthew 2:1-2

All week long I've been thinking about the Wise Men. At St Mary's they travel the width of the Sanctuary beginning with the Christmas liturgies, and arriving at the creche on the Feast of the Epiphany. An altar server pointed them out to me on Christmas Eve - they were underneath the table that holds the Sacramentary. By the Feast of the Holy Family (last weekend) they had made it to the right side of the Main Altar. When I went to Mass on January 1st they were at the left side of the altar. As I write this, it is Friday, and although I haven't been in church today, I would guess they are in front of the Ambo. I am confident by the time I arrive for the 5pm Mass tomorrow they will have made it. It's a long journey for those folks!

All kidding aside, the real journey they made was long and arduous. I'm fairly certain that when they set out in the beginning, they did not expect their final destination to be at the home of a poor Jewish family.

I've also been thinking about the word "homage" this week. I went to the dictionary to look up exactly what it means. The transitive verb definition states that homage is to pay reverence to by an external action. That's what the Wise Men did - they prostrated themselves, laid face down on the ground, to show their reverence for Jesus. This got me thinking - how do we do homage to God today? It's clear to see how our culture pays homage to movie stars, athletes, and the very wealthy, but what do we do for God? Do we come to Mass solely out of a sense of obligation or do we go with the intent of homage? I think one of the best ways we can do homage to God is to live the life that He intended us to live. Not that it's easy, or that we'll end up living what we expect - just like the journey of the Wise Men.

How do you do homage to the newborn king?


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