Category: Parish News & Events

The Glory of Heaven

“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward of faith is to see what you believe.” -St. Augustine of Hippo

Today’s readings are glorious! They share with us the good news of salvation and instill within us a beautiful hope of that which is to come. In the first reading from 1 John, we hear what we must do in order to love God fully. Then, we hear what our reward will be if we truly love God and sincerely believe in Him. John reminds us that when we follow the commandments, we are able to love others and be witnesses of the goodness of God through our actions. It is in following God’s commandments and loving one another that the faith will be victorious: “The victory that conquers the world is our faith.” This victory of which John speaks is eternal life with God in Heaven; it is God’s desire for each and every one of us. And, through John, He is telling mankind exactly how to conquer the world: with love.

In the Gospel today, Jesus literally brings the Good News to the people of God. The passage that Jesus reads from Isaiah tells us what He was sent into the world to do and what we, in turn, are called to continue doing in Christ’s name. Christ also makes clear who He is and what His mission is: “Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Not everyone who heard Jesus’ proclamation accepted Him as Lord. In fact, many rejected Him. I think my favorite thing about this Gospel is that it occurs in Nazareth–in the place where Jesus grew up–thereby showing us that we, too, should begin at home. Faith begins at home, with the family, with the people we are surrounded by on a daily basis. Christ shows us the importance of evangelizing at home and living the Gospel through action, regardless of the possibility of rejection.

As we enter into the new calendar year, may we remember the Good News of Salvation and invite others to share in the Good News as well.

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Dakota currently lives in Denver, CO and teaches English Language Development and Spanish to high schoolers. She is married to the love of her life, Ralph. In her spare time, she reads, goes to breweries, and watches baseball. Dakota’s favorite saints are St. John Paul II (how could it not be?) and St. José Luis Sánchez del Río. She is passionate about her faith and considers herself blessed at any opportunity to share that faith with others. Check out more of her writing at https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com.

Thursday after Epiphany

Reading 1 1 JN 4:19–5:4

Beloved, we love God because
he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,”
but hates his brother, he is a liar;
for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
 
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 14 AND 15BC, 17

R. (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,
and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
May they be prayed for continually;
day by day shall they bless him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

– – –
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.

God is with Us

The reading from the first letter of John speaks of God’s love for us; as we are loved by God, so must we love one another. The love of God is brought to perfection through us because He is with us, in this world. Because of His love, there is no fear; perfect love drives out fear. As I was praying with this reading, a memory came to me from many years ago.

It had already been a long day at the hospital by the time we arrived at the Audiology and ENT department. “He’s afraid. He’s had several surgeries and is just six years old. Maybe if you let him hold the instrument, he’ll see that it won’t hurt,” I remember saying to the medical personnel while we spoke about the removal of an ear drainage tube that was lying in my son’s ear canal. My little boy had already gone screaming from the waiting area when his name was called. I’d calmed him down, reassuring him that taking the tube out of his ear wouldn’t hurt as I led him back to the examination room. He had undergone four major surgeries and several sets of ear tubes during his six years.

The intern was hesitant, but agreed to let my youngster hold the very expensive instrument. My son did calm down, took a big breath and started to move his hand toward his ear, thinking we were asking him to take the tiny tube out of his own ear. My heart broke as I was filled with pride, awe and love at his courage, trust and willingness. Fortunately, the nurse took the instrument from his hand. The tube was quickly and expertly removed, one hundred percent pain-free.

The above scene illustrates to me the faith, trust and love between a child and parent. The child believes in the love of the parent. The gospel reading today continues in this vein. Jesus has gone off to pray after the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The disciples mistake Jesus walking towards them on the water for a ghost and were terrified. Jesus tells them not to be afraid and take courage, but they were astounded. They didn’t understand the miracle of the loaves. They didn’t understand the perfect love of God the Father (or Jesus the Son). 

The first reading today ends with, “God is love[…] In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love” (1Jn 4:16-18).  

As we age, we lose our childhood trust; we become jaded and fearful. We don’t see the perfect love that is all around us, just like the disciples in the boat from the gospel. 

Listen to this song from Casting Crowns, to help you rely on God in this new year. He is always with us, to lift us, to guide, to console, and to love us unconditionally.

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Beth is part of the customer care team at Diocesan. She brings a unique depth of experience to the group due to her time spent in education, parish ministries, sales and the service industry over the last 25 yrs. She is a practicing spiritual director as well as a Secular Franciscan (OFS). Beth is quick to offer a laugh, a prayer or smile to all she comes in contact with. Reach her here bprice@diocesan.com.

Wednesday after Epiphany

Reading 1 1 JN 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R. (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia 1 TM 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them. 
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

– – –
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.

Out of Love

Love is complicated — end of story. 

Okay, not really end of story. But love IS complicated – that statement shouldn’t surprise anyone. It’s complicated enough that I went through several different intros for this blog post. Nothing I wrote seemed strong enough to convey the right sentiment. And yet, love and movements of the heart are all over today’s readings. 

We have all experienced love in our lives – the love of parents for their children, a husband’s love for his wife, mutual affection and sharing between friends, and more. Whether we realize it or not, we have loved and been loved. It’s been both painful and beautiful, tender and deep. 

Yet, it pales in comparison to the love the Heavenly Father has for His children. Praise the Lord for that! Original holiness saw Adam and Eve walking with the Lord in the Garden of Eden, living in union with Him in His love. And even when they screwed up, God still loved them. He didn’t leave His most beloved creation in chaos but planned to redeem and reconcile them to His love. 

John 3:16 is one of the most quoted lines of Scripture; however, I believe it’s one of the least understood. Or maybe it’s understood on a very basic level, in our minds but not in the depths of our hearts. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This point is repeated again at the end of today’s first reading – a reminder we all need. 

Love is also a subtle theme of the Gospel, the Feeding of the Five Thousand. The whole miracle came as a direct result of Jesus’ heart being moved “with pity for them.” He saw that they were lost, needing some love and attention and direction. Out of love, Jesus began to teach them and, only after attending to their spiritual needs, did He nourish their physical hunger in the form of a miracle. All out of love. 

So, whether or not we have been able to acknowledge and receive love here on earth, we can rest in knowing the depth of our Heavenly Father’s love – a love that sent His Son for our salvation and a love that will nourish our bodies and souls.

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Erin is a Cleveland native and graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. Following graduation, she began volunteering in youth ministry at her home parish of Holy Family Church. Her first “big girl” job was in collegiate sports information where, after a busy two years in the profession on top of serving the youth, she took a leap of faith and followed the Lord’s call to full-time youth ministry at St. Peter Church. She still uses her communication arts degree as a freelance writer and statistician, though. You can catch her on the Clarence & Peter Podcast on YouTube as well as follow her on Twitter @erinmadden2016.