This set of readings holds particularly special meaning for me because they were proclaimed at the first Mass I ever attended at St. Teresa's, and participating in that community through my four years of college had an enormously transformative effect. There, I experienced a community that was passionate about living out faith by supporting college students in the walk of faith.
Joshua makes clear to the people of Israel what God has done. Jesus has spoken the truth about Who He is as the Bread of Life. And St. Paul writes about how God has shown us sacrificial love through Jesus Christ Who handed Himself over for the Church.
Standing before these realities calls us to respond and choose whether or not we will commit and entrust ourselves to the God Who has given us so much, and to be willing day in and day out to abide in Him, even when it's tough.
Like the people of Israel, and St. Peter, may we respond as we recognize that God is the One Who has done so much for us, and Who alone is the Holy One that makes the way for us to Eternal Life.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Sunday, August 19, 2018
August 19, 2018: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
God has provided the way for us to Eternal Life. As in the spirit of the words offered at Mass at St. Joseph in Springfield, which I attended this morning, let us live in the wisdom that embraces Jesus Christ as the One Who alone provides for us, because in partaking of His flesh and blood, we are truly nourished and experience Eternal Life even now. Indeed, God provides for us physically, but even more so, He provides spiritual nourishment that enhances our life even now.
Certainly I've been enhanced reflecting on the words proclaimed at Mass, and have been delighted to share my reflections from the start until now, in this 300th post on this blog.
Certainly I've been enhanced reflecting on the words proclaimed at Mass, and have been delighted to share my reflections from the start until now, in this 300th post on this blog.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
August 15, 2018: Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Christ has given us hope by His Resurrection. By faith, we know that by joining Him in dying and rising to new Life, we will one day experience the fullness of Life Eternal with Him, both body and soul.
Christ is the firstfruits from the dead, and we will follow as His disciples, after Mary, the first disciple.
Indeed, this occasion is reason for us to rejoice in the reality of the Resurrection becoming ours.
Christ is the firstfruits from the dead, and we will follow as His disciples, after Mary, the first disciple.
Indeed, this occasion is reason for us to rejoice in the reality of the Resurrection becoming ours.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
August 12, 2018: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I was at Mass at St. Teresa's to celebrate the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Dan and Ann Ruggaber.
Father Chris said something astounding in his homily: We were made by God for not just a personal relationship with Him, but, more so, for intimacy with Him.
That is why God came to us in flesh through Christ. And He continues to be present with us in the Eucharist, so that can experience great intimacy with Him.
It is this intimacy that nourishes and strengthens us for the work He grants us as His people, to share faith with one another, to bring one another alive, as we come to truly know God's love through the ways that other people reveal that Love to us.
And so truly Jesus is the Bread of Life given in Love to bring us alive.
Father Chris said something astounding in his homily: We were made by God for not just a personal relationship with Him, but, more so, for intimacy with Him.
That is why God came to us in flesh through Christ. And He continues to be present with us in the Eucharist, so that can experience great intimacy with Him.
It is this intimacy that nourishes and strengthens us for the work He grants us as His people, to share faith with one another, to bring one another alive, as we come to truly know God's love through the ways that other people reveal that Love to us.
And so truly Jesus is the Bread of Life given in Love to bring us alive.
Monday, August 6, 2018
August 6, 2018: The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
God has granted us a vision of His very Glory. Because of this vision, we know we can count on God, because He is real, and He is mighty. May this reality strengthen us in our lives.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
August 5, 2018: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The people of the Hebrews, and crowds that follow after Jesus, are hungry for something to satisfy them physically. But Moses, and Jesus, point them toward a greater reality: food from Heaven that satisfies them deep down inside.
This Heavenly food is about growing in relationship with Jesus Christ, living as anew in holiness and righteouness, as St. Paul speaks of in Ephesians. We live for what really counts, because we are fed with food from Heaven, the very Presence of God, and that is enough to satisfy us, and to draw us closer to God, even as we bring what satisfies to others as part of living out that relationship.
This Heavenly food is about growing in relationship with Jesus Christ, living as anew in holiness and righteouness, as St. Paul speaks of in Ephesians. We live for what really counts, because we are fed with food from Heaven, the very Presence of God, and that is enough to satisfy us, and to draw us closer to God, even as we bring what satisfies to others as part of living out that relationship.
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