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Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading I Hosea 6:1-6

“Come, let us return to the LORD,
    it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
    he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
    as certain as the dawn is his coming,
    and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
    like spring rain that waters the earth.”

What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
    I slew them by the words of my mouth;
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
    and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab

R.    (see Hosea 6:6)  It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
    in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
    and of my sin cleanse me.
R.    It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
    should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
    a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R.    It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
    by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
    burnt offerings and holocausts.
R.    It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Verse before the Gospel Psalm 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — 
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Prayer in the Midst of Suffering / La Oración en medio del sufrimiento

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“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” – St. Mother Teresa

How is it possible that I always find it such a struggle to pray?  While the Catholic Church offers some fundamental prayers as examples, what is most important is that we express ourselves to God from the innermost places of our hearts and listen to Him.  

However, the majority of us don’t know how to unlock our hearts, so instead we just go through the motions. To truly hear God’s Word, we must be enlightened by the Holy Spirit; we first must have awareness and clarity that He is the reason for each action we take. 

If we start teaching our children from a young age how to share our real thoughts and unfiltered feelings with Christ, both positive and negative, how empowered the world would be to trust in the Lord and change for the good! 

From today’s Gospel, we recognize that the most sincere prayers often come when we are down, when we need God the most. Like the sinful tax collector, we recognize our reliance on our Father for forgiveness and love when we make mistakes. As St. Paul declared, let us rejoice in our suffering, for through suffering, we recognize our littleness and can ask God for healing.

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“Dios habla en el silencio del corazón. Escuchar es el comienzo de la oración.” – Santa Madre Teresa

¿Cómo es posible que siempre me resulte tan difícil orar? Si bien la Iglesia Católica ofrece algunas oraciones fundamentales como ejemplos, lo más importante es expresarnos a Dios desde lo más profundo del corazón y escucharlo.

Sin embargo, la mayoría de nosotros no sabemos cómo abrir nuestros corazones, así que nos limitamos a simplemente hacer lo que hacemos. Para escuchar verdaderamente la Palabra de Dios, debemos ser iluminados por el Espíritu Santo; primero debemos tener conciencia y claridad de que Él es la razón de cada acción que realizamos.

Si comenzamos a enseñar a nuestros hijos desde una edad temprana cómo compartir nuestros pensamientos verdaderos y sentimientos sin filtro con Cristo, tanto positivos como negativos, ¡cuán empoderado estaría el mundo para confiar en el Señor y cambiar para bien!

Del Evangelio de hoy, reconocemos que las oraciones más sinceras a menudo surgen cuando estamos deprimidos, cuando más necesitamos a Dios. Al igual que el recaudador de impuestos pecador, reconocemos cuánto necesitamos al Padre para recibir perdón y amor cuando cometemos errores. Como declaró San Pablo, alegrémonos en nuestro sufrimiento, porque a través del sufrimiento reconocemos nuestra pequeñez y podemos pedirle a Dios que nos sane.

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Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of four little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.

Feature Image Credit: Jack Sharp, unsplash.com/photos/man-praying-OptEsFuZwoQ

The post Prayer in the Midst of Suffering / La Oración en medio del sufrimiento appeared first on Diocesan.

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading 1 Hosea 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
“I am like a verdant cypress tree”–
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

R. (see 11 and 9a)  I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
 nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before the Gospel Matthew 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Called to be Missionaries / Llamados a ser misioneros

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As I continue to navigate through this life, where God often writes straight with crooked lines, I never cease to see His loving hands at work. Lately, I have noticed Him blessing us by providing for our needs. An unexpected reimbursement check from our insurance company, a friend who offered me her mother’s clothes after she passed away, an anonymous donor who gifted new athletic shoes to the kids, scholarships, discounts, and random gifts. All these things have been poured out to our family from God’s loving hand through His instruments. 

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude to Him, Who never ceases to amaze me, Who cannot be outdone in generosity. The struggle for families is real in today’s economy, but I can boldly say that we have never gone without a meal. In fact, God has even allowed us to provide meals to others. 

Last fall, we were blessed to host young adult missionaries at our house from the NET Team. They are in our county all year to be a presence in our community and help bring young people into a deeper relationship with Christ. They attend youth group meetings, community gatherings, sporting events, hold Bible studies at coffee shops, and meet people where they’re at. Jesus invites us into His heart through relationship, and they are forming just that with the youth. 

While these young men and women bless us spiritually, the community pulls together to provide for their corporal needs. Some provide meals, others vehicles, others cell phones, others gift cards and others a roof over their heads for a week or two at a time. It opens our hearts in generosity while they open their hearts to us in God’s love. There is really nothing quite like it. It reminds me of the early Christian community that pooled all of their resources and provided for one another, or of those who were sent out two by two and welcomed into the homes of complete strangers. 

These missionaries have given up the comfort of their homes and their way of life because they feel called. They are attempting to embody today’s Gospel in which Jesus commands us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. They have left their boats on the shore and followed Jesus. 

As Christians, we are all called to be missionaries in our own ways. Whatever our walk of life may be, we can evangelize through our words and actions. Whether it be testifying to God’s generosity, being a positive voice at work, or selflessly serving our family, we can all make a difference in our parishes and communities. Who knows, we might be the instrument through which God speaks compassion to others, saying: “I will heal their defection…I will love them freely.” (Hosea 14:5)

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Mientras sigo navegando por esta vida, donde Dios a menudo escribe recto con renglones torcidos, nunca dejo de ver sus manos amorosas trabajando. Últimamente, he notado que nos bendice al proveer para nuestras necesidades. Un cheque de reembolso inesperado de la compañía de seguros, una amiga que me ofreció la ropa de su madre después de que falleció, un donante anónimo que regaló zapatos deportivos nuevos para los niños, becas, descuentos y regalos al azar. Todas estas cosas han sido derramadas sobre nuestra familia de la mano amorosa de Dios a través de Sus instrumentos.

Ni siquiera puedo comenzar a expresarle mi gratitud, quien nunca deja de sorprenderme, quien no puede ser superado en generosidad. La lucha de las familias es real en la economía actual, pero puedo decir con valentía que nunca hemos faltado una comida. De hecho, Dios incluso nos ha permitido proporcionar comidas a otros.

El otoño pasado, tuvimos la bendición de hospedar a misioneros jóvenes en nuestra casa del equipo NET. Están en nuestro condado todo el año para estar presentes en la comunidad y ayudar a que los jóvenes tengan una relación más profunda con Cristo. Asisten a reuniones de grupos de jóvenes, reuniones comunitarias, eventos deportivos, realizan estudios bíblicos en cafeterías y se reúnen con la gente donde se encuentren. Jesús nos invita a entrar en su corazón a través de la relación, y ellos están formando precisamente eso con los jóvenes.

Mientras estos hombres y mujeres jóvenes nos bendicen espiritualmente, la comunidad se une para satisfacer sus necesidades corporales. Algunos proporcionan comidas, otros vehículos, otros teléfonos celulares, otros tarjetas de regalo y otros un techo durante una o dos semanas. Abre nuestros corazones con generosidad mientras ellos nos abren sus corazones con el amor de Dios. Realmente no hay nada parecido. Me recuerda a la comunidad cristiana primitiva que ponía en común todos sus recursos y se ayudaba mutuamente, o a aquellos que eran enviados de dos en dos y eran recibidos en las casas de gente desconocida.

Estos misioneros han renunciado a la comodidad de sus hogares y a su estilo de vida porque se sienten llamados. Ellos están intentando encarnar el Evangelio de hoy en el que Jesús nos manda amar a Dios con todo el corazón, alma, mente y fuerza y ​​amar al prójimo como a nosotros mismos. Ellos han dejado sus barcas en la orilla y han seguido a Jesús.

Como cristianos, todos estamos llamados a ser misioneros a nuestra manera. Cualquiera que sea nuestro camino de vida, podemos evangelizar a través de las palabras y acciones. Ya sea dando testimonio de la generosidad de Dios, siendo una voz positiva en el trabajo o sirviendo desinteresadamente a la familia, todos podemos marcar una diferencia en nuestras parroquias y comunidades. Quién sabe, tal vez seamos el instrumento a través del cual Dios hable con compasión a los demás, diciendo: “Yo perdonaré sus infidelidades…los amaré aunque no lo merezcan”. (Ver la primera lectura de hoy de Oseas 14,5)

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Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.

Feature Image Credit: Elianna Gill, unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-people-standing-around-each-other-Q588c92mWEI

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Called to be Missionaries / Llamados a ser misioneros appeared first on Diocesan.

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading 1 Jeremiah 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
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.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Verse Before the Gospel Joel 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Give Me a Sign / Dame una señal

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You might wonder where in the world these guys talking to the Lord came from in today’s Gospel. They are standing right there in front of Jesus and witnessed Him healing a mute man. The Gospel says, “they were amazed” and in the next breath says they “asked him for a sign from heaven.” Wait a minute here, they had just witnessed a miracle and now they are asking for a sign? It would seem that what they had just seen and heard was enough to blow them away. But it wasn’t enough. “Give me more and more,” they appear to say.

Now in my golden years, I tend to look at some of the biblical stories somewhat differently. I mean that in a positive way. Now that my life is a bit quieter and calmer and closer to the Lord, I am awakened to many little things that would have gone unnoticed in the past. My wife has always loved nature, especially flowers. One of our daughters has a gift for cut flower arrangements. She also loves the beauty of flowers and has a great gift for arranging them. God has given both of them a sign to the beauty He places before them.  Thanks to them, I now have a greater appreciation for the beauty and the miracle of flowers as well.

One of the signs I have received of the beauty of God and that He really exists is children, especially babies. My sister is 12 years younger than me. When she was born, I saw something heaven sent. When she was an infant, I would sit on the edge of the bed in her room and stare at her in the crib. I would meditate on how God could do such marvelous work. As she got a little older and I turned 16, I took her everywhere in my brand old 1954 Buick. We would go cruising and I didn’t care what people thought when they saw that little girl sitting next to me. 

Do we also need a sign? What hasn’t God done to help us realize that He really exists? We don’t need a sign to help make us believe in Him. Why? Because He shows us every day how much He loves us and really does care for us. I challenge you to pay attention throughout your day and see all the little things He does for you. You will be amazed!

Why don’t we try to open our hearts a little more and give them to Him. He is waiting and waiting and waiting for us to do that. He wants us to be “all in” and to bring us unto Himself. Take a look at your current prayer time and ask yourself if it can be improved. Chances are it can, and with small sacrifices you will get even closer to the Lord. Then, His voice will get louder!

Serving With Joy!

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Quizás te preguntes de dónde salieron estos hombres que hablan con el Señor en el Evangelio de hoy. Están de pie frente a Jesús y fueron testigos de cómo sanó a un hombre mudo. El Evangelio dice que la multitud quedó “maravillada” y, a continuación, dice que “le pedían una señal milagrosa”. Esperate, ¿acaban de presenciar un milagro y ahora piden una señal? Parecería que lo que acababan de ver y oír fue suficiente para dejarlos atónitos. Pero no fue suficiente. “Dame más y más”, parecen decir.

Ahora, en mis años dorados, tiendo a ver algunas de las historias bíblicas de una forma un poco diferente – lo digo en plan positivo. Ahora que mi vida es un poco más tranquila y calmada y más cercana al Señor, me doy cuenta de muchas cosas pequeñas que habrían pasado desapercibidas en el pasado. A mi esposa siempre le ha gustado la naturaleza, especialmente las flores. Una de nuestras hijas tiene un don para los arreglos florales. A ella también le encanta la belleza de las flores y tiene un gran don para arreglarlas. Dios les ha dado a las dos una señal de la belleza que Él pone delante de ellas. Gracias a ellas, ahora tengo una mayor apreciación por la belleza y el milagro de las flores también.

Una de las señales que he recibido de la belleza de Dios y de que Él realmente existe son los niños, especialmente los bebés. Mi hermana es 12 años menor que yo. Cuando nació, vi algo enviado del cielo. Cuando era bebé, me sentaba en el borde de la cama en su habitación y la miraba fijamente en la cuna. Meditaba sobre cómo Dios podía hacer una obra tan maravillosa. Cuando ella fue creciendo un poco y yo cumplí 16 años, la llevaba a todas partes en mi Buick viejo del año 1954. Salíamos a pasear y no me importaba lo que la gente pensara cuando veía a esa niñita sentada a mi lado.

¿También necesitamos una señal? ¿Qué no ha hecho Dios para ayudarnos a darnos cuenta de que realmente existe? No necesitamos una señal para ayudarnos a creer en Él. ¿Por qué? Porque Él nos muestra todos los días cuánto nos ama y realmente se preocupa por nosotros. Te invito a que prestes atención durante todo el día y veas todas las pequeñas cosas que Él hace por ti. ¡Te vas a sorprender!

¿Por qué no tratamos de abrir un poco más el corazón y entregárselo a Él? Está esperando y esperando y esperando que lo hagamos. Quiere que estemos totalmente entregados y que nos acerquemos a Él. Echa un vistazo a tu tiempo de oración actual y pregúntate si se puede mejorar. Es probable que se pueda, y con pequeños sacrificios te acercarás aún más al Señor. Y así, Su voz se escuchará más fuerte.

¡Sirviendo con alegría!

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Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 55 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty-one grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002.  He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Give Me a Sign / Dame una señal appeared first on Diocesan.

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading 1 Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Verse Before the Gospel John 6:63c, 68c

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Freedom’s Fence / La valla de la libertad

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Thousands of years of salvation history were fulfilled with the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. The long-awaited Messiah had come. So that’s it? Show’s over? Hardly.

The arrival of our Savior ushered in the last chapter of salvation history where all that was promised to God’s chosen people was fulfilled in his Son. His followers then embark on a new journey to share the Good News. We do not throw out the old for the new. Rather, the old provides a firm foundation on which to build the new. As Fr. Thomas Weinandy explains, “By contemplating Scripture within the living apostolic tradition, the Church grows, throughout the ages, in its understanding of what has been divinely revealed. Development of doctrine is this growth in understanding and expression of what has been revealed.” (Weinandy, Fr. Thomas, O.F.M. CAP. “What Does it Mean for Doctrine to Develop?” Catholic.com. May 2, 2020 para 20)

Some aspects of the Church have developed over the years in order to reflect greater wisdom and understanding of revealed Truth, but nothing new in the Church replaces or contradicts what came before it. Just as a parent’s rules for her children adapt as the child grows up, but the foundational basis of those rules remains the same – to help the child develop conscience and a moral compass. The expression of God’s guidance for us has also evolved over time, but the foundational Truth of those rules has not changed, nor can it. Our perfect Heavenly Father put His commandments in place not for His good, but for ours, and they are not ours to change.

God’s rules, His commands, His demands of us, can be seen as limits to our freedom, but they are quite the opposite. Those perfect fences actually expand our freedom. Playground builders found that in playgrounds designed without fences, children tended to stay near the center of the play space, close to their caregivers. In playgrounds that included fencing, though, children explored much a broader space, feeling safer and freer within the defined limits. God provides the playgrounds of our lives with similar limits – not barriers to our freedom, but defining how we can most fully explore that freedom. 

Throughout history there have been grumblings that the Church must pull down those fences, must get with the times and accommodate shifting cultural mores. The parable of GK Chesterton’s fence reminds us that before we do away with a particular barrier, it is important to understand why it was put in place. Before any of us “relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so” in the name of well-meaning but misplaced compassion or progress, perhaps we need to have the humility to explore why God built those fences in the first place. Ultimately, when we put our trust in God’s design, our freedom will be fuller.

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Miles de años de historia de la salvación se cumplieron con el misterio pascual de Jesucristo. El Mesías tan esperado había llegado. ¿Así que ya estuvo? ¿Se acabó el show? Para nada.

La llegada de nuestro Salvador marcó el comienzo del último capítulo de la historia de la salvación, donde todo lo prometido al pueblo elegido de Dios se cumplió en su Hijo. Luego sus seguidores se embarcan a una nueva aventura para compartir la Buena Nueva. No desechamos lo viejo por lo nuevo. Más bien, lo viejo proporciona una base firme sobre la cual construir lo nuevo. Como explica el Padre Thomas Weinandy: “Al contemplar la Escritura dentro de la tradición apostólica viva, la Iglesia crece, a lo largo de los siglos, en su comprensión de lo que ha sido divinamente revelado. El desarrollo de la doctrina es este crecimiento en la comprensión y expresión de lo que ha sido revelado”. (Weinandy, Fr. Thomas, O.F.M. CAP. “What Does it Mean for Doctrine to Develop?” Catholic.com. 2 de mayo de 2020, traducción de una parte del párrafo 20)

Algunos aspectos de la Iglesia se han desarrollado a lo largo de los años para reflejar una mayor sabiduría y comprensión de la Verdad revelada, pero nada nuevo en la Iglesia reemplaza o contradice lo que vino antes. Así como las reglas de un padre para sus hijos se adaptan a medida que el niño crece, pero la base fundamental de esas reglas sigue siendo la misma: ayudar al niño a desarrollar la conciencia y una moral rectora. La expresión de la guía de Dios para nosotros también ha evolucionado con el tiempo, pero la Verdad fundamental de esas reglas no ha cambiado, ni puede hacerlo. Nuestro Padre Celestial perfecto puso sus mandamientos en su lugar no para su bien, sino para el nuestro, y no son nuestros para cambiarlos.

Las reglas de Dios, sus mandamientos, sus demandas para nosotros, pueden verse como límites a nuestra libertad, pero son todo lo contrario. Esas vallas perfectas en realidad expanden nuestra libertad. Los constructores de parques infantiles descubrieron que en los diseñados sin vallas, los niños tendían a permanecer cerca del centro del espacio de juego, cerca de sus cuidadores. Sin embargo, en los que sí tenían vallas, los niños exploraban un espacio mucho más amplio, sintiéndose más seguros y libres dentro de los límites definidos. Dios proporciona a los parques infantiles de nuestra vida límites semejantes: no barreras a la libertad, sino que definen cómo podemos explorar esa libertad al máximo.

A lo largo de la historia ha habido quejas de que la Iglesia debe derribar esas vallas, adaptarse a los tiempos y adaptarse a las costumbres culturales cambiantes. La parábola de la valla de GK Chesterton nos recuerda que antes de eliminar una barrera en particular, es importante entender por qué se puso en ese lugar. Antes de que cualquiera de nosotros “relaje uno de estos mandamientos más pequeños y enseñe a los hombres a hacer lo mismo” en nombre de una compasión o un progreso bien intencionados pero fuera de lugar, tal vez debamos tener la humildad de explorar por qué Dios construyó esas vallas desde un principio. Al final, cuando ponemos la confianza en el diseño de Dios, nuestra libertad será más plena.

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Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.

Feature Image Credit: James Coleman, https://unsplash.com/photos/green-grass-field-during-daytime-bJAeszSaiTY

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Reading 1 Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us!”

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11

R.    (8a and 9a)  Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2 Hebrews 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters:
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats
take away sins.
For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”

First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in.”
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.”
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this “will,” we have been consecrated
through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Verse Before the Gospel John 1:14ab

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us;
and we saw his glory.
 

Gospel Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Word Became Flesh / El Verbo se hizo carne

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Today we bow down before a great mystery: the Incarnation. The simple words of the Gospel convey a Truth that would be unbelievable if it were not revealed to us so clearly. This mysterious truth is that the omnipotent, infinite God leapt down from the heavenly throne (Wisdom 18:15) and became man within the womb of a young virgin in an obscure village, in order to set us free for life in Him forever.

Gabriel’s announcement expresses something and someone absolutely unique: the Davidic King whose reign will have no end, the Messiah who will save humankind from their sin, the One who will fulfill every prophecy about the House of Jacob, will be conceived by this grace-filled virgin.

The very Word of God will become flesh to dwell among us (Jn 1:14).

How? Invisible to human eyes, the Holy Spirit will come upon this young girl, and she will be overshadowed by the power of the Most High – a power that does things that seem impossible to us, but that does not annihilate us. A gentle omnipotence, ever working with mighty calm to save us, heal us, set us free, and draw us into His love and life.

Mary, “full of grace” from her own conception, understands her role in God’s plan of salvation. In the name of and for the sake of all humanity, her heart – bursting with love and humility and desire for all to be saved and for God’s will to be done in all things – says yes to this plan and all it will demand of her. She cannot see all the details, but she knows the Scriptures well enough to know that it will cost her much to be the mother of the Suffering Servant who comes to save us. But she cannot say no to the One her heart loves.

Her courageous and generous “yes” reversed Eve’s selfward “no” and opened the way for Christ to undo all the damage done by Original Sin. Her yes was spoken for all of humanity, to make it possible for each and every person to be set free from the ancient curse of sin and death. As we hear her humble fiat, we rejoice that God keeps His Promises, that Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother, and that Jesus came to save us.

Let us ask Mary, the perfect model of complete openness and the one who gives a ready “yes” to whatever the Spirit moves within her, to go before the Throne of Grace and intercede for us, that we too might give our courageous and generous “yes” to whatever God asks of us.

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Hoy nos inclinamos ante un gran misterio: la Encarnación. Las sencillas palabras del Evangelio nos transmiten una Verdad que sería increíble si no nos fuera revelada con tanta claridad. Esta misteriosa verdad es que el Dios omnipotente e infinito descendió del trono celestial (Sb 18,15) y se hizo hombre en el seno de una joven virgen en un pueblo oscuro, para liberarnos para poder vivir con Él para siempre.

El anuncio de Gabriel expresa algo y alguien absolutamente único: el Rey davídico cuyo reinado no tendrá fin, el Mesías que salvará a la humanidad de su pecado, Aquel que cumplirá todas las profecías sobre la Casa de Jacob, será concebido por esta virgen llena de gracia.

El mismo Verbo de Dios se hará carne para habitar entre nosotros (Jn 1,14).

¿Cómo? Invisible a los ojos humanos, el Espíritu Santo descenderá sobre esta jovencita, y será cubierta por el poder del Altísimo, un poder que hace cosas que a nosotros nos parecen imposibles, pero que no nos aniquila. Una omnipotencia dulce, que siempre trabaja con poderosa calma para salvarnos, sanarnos, liberarnos y atraernos hacia su amor y su vida.

María, “llena de gracia” desde su propia concepción, comprende su papel en el plan de salvación de Dios. En nombre de y por el bien de toda la humanidad, su corazón – rebosante de amor, humildad y deseo de que todos se salven y de que se haga la voluntad de Dios en todas las cosas – dice sí a este plan y a todo lo que le exigirá. No puede ver todos los detalles, pero conoce las Escrituras lo suficiente como para saber que le costará mucho ser la madre del Siervo Sufriente que viene a salvarnos. Pero no puede decir no a Aquel que su corazón ama.

Su valiente y generoso “sí” revirtió el “no” egoísta de Eva y abrió el camino para que Cristo deshiciera todo el daño causado por el pecado original. Su sí fue pronunciado para toda la humanidad, para hacer posible que cada persona sea liberada de la antigua maldición del pecado y la muerte. Al escuchar su humilde fiat, nos regocijamos de que Dios cumpla sus promesas, de que María sea la Madre de Dios y Madre nuestra, y de que Jesús haya venido a salvarnos.

Pidamos a María, modelo perfecto de apertura total y la que da un “sí” inmediato a todo lo que el Espíritu mueve dentro de ella, que vaya ante el Trono de la Gracia e interceda por nosotros, para que también nosotros podamos dar nuestro valiente y generoso “sí” a todo lo que Dios nos pida.

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com

Feature Image Credit: RDNE Stock project, pexels.com/photo/stained-glass-mural-inside-the-church-8675093/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post The Word Became Flesh / El Verbo se hizo carne appeared first on Diocesan.