There is another version of today’s Gospel story…
which is not very well known.
The woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus.
Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees and to the crowd:
"Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone."
The stones of the scribes and Pharisees begin to drop… one by one…to the ground.
Jesus is bent down writing on the ground…
Then suddenly…from over his shoulder…
a stone flies by and grazes the woman.
Jesus stands up…whirls around…and in amazement He shouts…
"Mother! Stop it!"
[Pause for Laughter]
Jesus, the Son of God, became a man like us in every way…
except that He never knew sin.
Mary, His Mother, was immaculately conceived…
and so was freed from the reality and the effects of Original Sin.
For the rest of us…sin is something we all have to face in this life.
Take a moment to look around the church at one another…
You are looking at a room full of sinners…
including the one who preaches to you tonight/this morning.
I am a sinner.
None of us is without sin.
None of us is immune from the effects of Original Sin…
what Church Tradition calls "concupiscence…"
that tendency we all feel within us
to do things we know we should not do…
things which displease God…
things which separate us from the Church.
Sin separates us from authentic communion with God and the Church.
When we disobey God’s Commandments,
or the teachings revealed by God through the ministry of the Church…
we turn from God
and break the relationship that was begun in Baptism.
It is easy to talk ourselves into believing that we are mostly good people…
and to think that we don’t really commit any serious sins.
As long as we haven’t committed murder…
or robbed an armored car…
or committed adultery like the woman in today’s Gospel…
As long as we haven’t done anything that serious…
we think we’re doing well in living our Christian vocation.
But what about every time we drop the "G-D Bomb"?
What about the glances we take at another who is not our spouse.
Have we been totally pure and honest in our relationships?
What about the Sundays and Holy Days we missed Mass without a serious reason?
Missing Mass unnecessarily on the Lord’s Day and Holy Days is a mortal sin.
What about the unpleasant things we say about someone behind their back?
For the young people…
what about the disrespect you show toward your parents?
or toward your teachers?
If we are really honest with ourselves, and with the Lord…
we have to admit that we all stumble and fall in our journey of faith.
Sure, we try hard to be good.
But we’re certainly not always successful.
When we have fallen…
we Christians get back up
and once again entrust ourselves to the mercy of God, our loving Father!
The singular joy of being Christian
is that we have absolute faith in the mercy of God.
The forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary
is available to us in the Sacrament of Penance.
It is in this great Sacrament that Christ has chosen to bestow His forgiving grace…
through the ministry of the priests of the Church.
The Sacrament of Penance is a marvelous gift from God…
the splendor of which is beyond what human words can describe.
No matter how often we offend the Lord…
He draws near to us with compassion and love…
not to condemn but to forgive and to bring us back into the fold.
An illustration of the mystery of the Lord’s boundless mercy and forgiveness
is found in the Diary of Saint Faustina,
a polish nun who lived in the early 20th century.
The Lord appeared to her in a vision,
and told her to go to the priests of her town
and ask them to build a shrine there.
One of the priests asked for a sign from the Lord, to be sure it was really Him.
He said: "Go ask Jesus what I confessed in my last confession."
When the Lord appeared to her again…
she presented the priest’s question.
Jesus responded: "His sins have been forgiven. I do not remember."
All we have to do is ask…
and a fountain of incredible love and mercy is opened to us…
and our sins are totally washed away!
There is nothing to fear in the Sacrament of Penance.
As the Lord does not condemn,
so the priests of the Church stand ready as God’s instruments of mercy,
not of judgment.
Though we are only required to go to confession once a year,
it is good for our souls to experience God’s mercy often…
ideally once a month.
Frequent confession is life saving medicine for wounded souls.
Just as we have to take care of our bodies to prevent illness…
so it is critical that we take care of the spiritual well-being of our souls.
The Sacrament of Penance brings God’s mercy into the hearts of His people.
It heals wounds and brings relief to suffering souls.
One of our professors told the story of a priest in a concentration camp.
The soldiers…in order to squash the spirit of rebellion…
prepared to decimate the camp…
that is, to line up the prisoners…select every tenth one…
and send those selected to be executed.
They lined up those about to die along the side, while the others watched.
The captured priest was among the crowd forced to look on.
A few of the prisoners about to die looked the priest in the eye,
indicated that they desired absolution.
He discretely made the sign of the cross and said the prayer to himself.
Though they could only show their contrition and not verbalize their sins…
the Sacrament was celebrated, and God’s forgiveness came to them.
The mercy of God even reached into that horror and evil.
God’s mercy through the ministry of the Church can bring powerful healing…
if only we place ourselves at the feet of Christ and ask forgiveness.
When I was home a couple weekends ago,
the Deacon from parish preached the Homily.
He described Lent as a "second chance" that the Lord gives us…
a special time to wake up and realize where we need conversion in our lives.
How many more chances will we get?
How many more Lents will we have?
It is best if we grab hold of the remaining days of this Lent…
and not put off any more the deep conversion to which the Lord calls us.
Confession is a moment to be freed of the burden of sin,
to unload whatever burdens your heart,
Run to Jesus…
fall down before Him…
and encounter the fountain of mercy
that is available to us in the Sacrament of Penance!
Be not afraid!
Let the Lord love you…
Allow the unending torrent of his love to cleanse you and bring you peace!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Youngstown Church Awaits Bishop's Installation
This article appeared in The Youngstown Vindicator
Saturday, March 24th
Since Bishop Thomas J. Tobin was transferred to the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, the Catholics of the Diocese of Youngstown have longed for a shepherd for nearly two years. The Church in Youngstown now rejoices at the appointment of Bishop George V. Murry as its fifth bishop, which marks the beginning of a new chapter in our diocesan history. We pray for an abundance of heavenly blessings through the ministry of Bishop Murry.
For the faithful and the clergy, the presence of their bishop – the chief shepherd of the diocese – is a vital part of their living out of the Christian Faith. The bishop is so much more than an administrator, though the work of managing the resources of the diocese takes much of his time. As priest, the bishop oversees celebrations of worship in the diocese; as teacher he is charged with making sure the Faith is passed on completely to all the faithful; and as chief shepherd he is responsible for caring for the needs of the entire diocesan flock.
More than all this, according to ancient tradition the bishop is in a relationship of spiritual fatherhood with his people. The Church’s document on bishops (Christus Dominus) teaches that the Lord’s flock is a family of which the bishop is the father. As the father of children, so the bishop teaches, nurtures, admonishes, and instructs, all for the spiritual well-being of his people.
The bishops are the successors of the Apostles, whom the Lord Jesus Himself chose and sent forth to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28: 19). Thus, in the person of the bishops, united with the Pope, the living tradition of Jesus is passed down to us. The Church is clearly visible whenever the bishop, together with his priests and the people under his care, gather for the celebration of the Eucharist.
As he begins his ministry as the father of the diocesan family in Youngstown, Bishop Murry will be installed in special solemn liturgies on March 27th and 28th. The official letter from the Pope announcing his appointment as bishop will be read to all the people gathered in the Cathedral of Saint Columba. The highpoint will be when Bishop Murry is invited to take his place in the cathedra, the presiding chair which symbolizes the office of the bishop.
Bishops in the Church use a variety of vestments and symbols of their office, which each hold particular significance. Whether wearing a suit or dressed in liturgical vestments, the bishop always wears a pectoral crucifix around his neck, a reminder that he is called to lay down his life for his flock, after the pattern of Jesus on the Cross. On his right hand, the bishop wears a ring, signifying the promise of faith and his spiritual marriage to the diocese. During the Liturgy, the bishop wears a miter on his head, and carries the crozier – the pastoral staff. The crozier has the shape of a shepherd’s staff with a crook at the end. As a shepherd must at times prod the sheep along with the point of his staff, and at other times draw them back into the fold with the crook, so the bishop must both encourage and admonish. All the symbols of the office of bishop speak to us of the rich tradition of the Church, which seeks through signs and symbols to make the loving presence of Jesus Christ known to all the world.
The Catholic faithful in Northeast Ohio offer thanks to God for sending us Bishop George Murry, a priest, a teacher, a shepherd – a father to our diocesan flock. As sons and daughters of God our Heavenly Father, we embrace this opportunity to step forward together, as priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians, and faithful united with our bishop, to bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ to the world in which we live.
Rev. Mr. Matthew J. Albright
Saturday, March 24th
Since Bishop Thomas J. Tobin was transferred to the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, the Catholics of the Diocese of Youngstown have longed for a shepherd for nearly two years. The Church in Youngstown now rejoices at the appointment of Bishop George V. Murry as its fifth bishop, which marks the beginning of a new chapter in our diocesan history. We pray for an abundance of heavenly blessings through the ministry of Bishop Murry.
For the faithful and the clergy, the presence of their bishop – the chief shepherd of the diocese – is a vital part of their living out of the Christian Faith. The bishop is so much more than an administrator, though the work of managing the resources of the diocese takes much of his time. As priest, the bishop oversees celebrations of worship in the diocese; as teacher he is charged with making sure the Faith is passed on completely to all the faithful; and as chief shepherd he is responsible for caring for the needs of the entire diocesan flock.
More than all this, according to ancient tradition the bishop is in a relationship of spiritual fatherhood with his people. The Church’s document on bishops (Christus Dominus) teaches that the Lord’s flock is a family of which the bishop is the father. As the father of children, so the bishop teaches, nurtures, admonishes, and instructs, all for the spiritual well-being of his people.
The bishops are the successors of the Apostles, whom the Lord Jesus Himself chose and sent forth to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28: 19). Thus, in the person of the bishops, united with the Pope, the living tradition of Jesus is passed down to us. The Church is clearly visible whenever the bishop, together with his priests and the people under his care, gather for the celebration of the Eucharist.
As he begins his ministry as the father of the diocesan family in Youngstown, Bishop Murry will be installed in special solemn liturgies on March 27th and 28th. The official letter from the Pope announcing his appointment as bishop will be read to all the people gathered in the Cathedral of Saint Columba. The highpoint will be when Bishop Murry is invited to take his place in the cathedra, the presiding chair which symbolizes the office of the bishop.
Bishops in the Church use a variety of vestments and symbols of their office, which each hold particular significance. Whether wearing a suit or dressed in liturgical vestments, the bishop always wears a pectoral crucifix around his neck, a reminder that he is called to lay down his life for his flock, after the pattern of Jesus on the Cross. On his right hand, the bishop wears a ring, signifying the promise of faith and his spiritual marriage to the diocese. During the Liturgy, the bishop wears a miter on his head, and carries the crozier – the pastoral staff. The crozier has the shape of a shepherd’s staff with a crook at the end. As a shepherd must at times prod the sheep along with the point of his staff, and at other times draw them back into the fold with the crook, so the bishop must both encourage and admonish. All the symbols of the office of bishop speak to us of the rich tradition of the Church, which seeks through signs and symbols to make the loving presence of Jesus Christ known to all the world.
The Catholic faithful in Northeast Ohio offer thanks to God for sending us Bishop George Murry, a priest, a teacher, a shepherd – a father to our diocesan flock. As sons and daughters of God our Heavenly Father, we embrace this opportunity to step forward together, as priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians, and faithful united with our bishop, to bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ to the world in which we live.
Rev. Mr. Matthew J. Albright
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Homily Second Sunday of Lent 4 March 2007
While I was in college seminary at the Josephinum in Columbus…
I used to serve at the celebration of the Tridentine Mass
at Holy Family Parish in downtown.
It was an incredibly beautiful church.
Describe…windows, images, organ, etc…
The church had a unique reredos behind its altar.
The central figure was a statue of Christ in glory,
wrapped in brilliant white robes.
On one side of Him was the statue of Moses,
holding the two stone tablets of the Law: the Ten Commandments.
On the other side was the statue of Elijah.
The Pastor explain to us that it was extremely rare
to have an altarpiece depicting the Transfiguration…
and he was certainly proud of his church.
As we reflect on the beautiful and intriguing story of Jesus’ Transfiguration…
we see the great figures of the Old Testament.
Moses represents the tradition of the Jewish Law.
Elijah represents the traditions of the Prophets.
All the ancient writings and teachings of the Old Testament
prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ.
As people of faith, we read the Old Testament
and see in it the great and mysterious plan of God’s saving love,
which reaches its fulfillment in the Paschal Mystery:
the birth, life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
[PAUSE]
In this awesome and holy moment of the Transfiguration,
all three persons of the Triune God are manifest.
God our Loving Father is present as His voice is heard:
"This is my beloved Son; listen to Him."
Jesus the Son is present as He reveals His glory to the Apostles.
The Holy Spirit is present in the cloud, which overshadows Jesus.
[PAUSE]
Notice that, while He had many disciples,
and 12 Apostles, who were His close followers,
Jesus takes with Him up the mountain only Peter, James, and John.
For this moment, He includes only his most intimate companions.
These same three are with Jesus
at the moment of His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
It is John in particular who remain at the Cross.
It is Peter to whom Jesus entrusts His Church.
These are surely Jesus’ dearest co-workers, students, and friends.
[PAUSE]
Upon seeing the splendor of the transfigured Christ,
Peter is naturally a bit confused,
and does not know what he is saying.
He cries out to Jesus:
"Master, it is good for us to be here!"
We, the servants and handmaids of the Lord,
who this day are privileged to partake
of the Holy Body and Blood of the Risen Christ,
can join our hearts and voices to that of Peter,
the rock on whom our Church is built,
and ourselves cry out in joy:
"Lord, it is good for us to be here!"
In this Mass, the words of the Law and the Prophets are proclaimed to us.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
In this Mass, the Trinity is present as at the Transfiguration.
Our prayer is addressed to the Father,
as the Holy Spirit overshadows the gifts we present,
transforming them into the Body and Blood of the Son.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
In this Mass, we are surrounded by
Jesus’ intimate companions, the company of Apostles,
by His holy Mother,
by armies of martyrs,
and by the choirs of angels,
as our liturgy is united to their ceaseless heavenly worship.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
[PAUSE]
After Jesus reveals the overwhelming splendor of His glory
to the three Apostles,
they go down the mountain together
to resume their ministry among the people.
The time has not yet come for Jesus to be glorified.
Glory awaits Him.
Yet suffering faces Him first.
Before He rises to eternal and everlasting glory,
Jesus will first undergo dreadful and unimaginable suffering.
Before He goes to prepare a place for us in his Father’s kingdom,
He will first obey His Father’s will,
taking our place in the plan of redemption
bearing the weight of every human sin,
and every sorrow to which sin gives birth.
Before He rises to life on the third day,
the Author of Life will be put to death by his own creation.
Before He takes his place on the throne of His glory,
He will first wear a crown of thorns
and a mock robe of purple.
Before He sits at the right hand of His Father,
He will first grant pardon to a thief
crucified on a cross at the right side of His own.
[PAUSE]
So it is for us, who long for the joy and glory of our eternal reward.
Glory awaits us if we are faithful.
Yet suffering faces us here and now.
We endure the daily sufferings of human life…
with our hearts set on our true heavenly home…
where our bodies will be changed to be like Christ’s glorified body.
Notice that Peter wants to build three tents,
so that they may all remain together
in the glory of the mountaintop experience.
We cannot even remain here in the loving presence of Jesus,
who has come to dwell among us…
or, as the ancient Greek and Hebrew literally say…
He who has come to "pitch his tent" among us.
We go forth from this Mass as God’s people
to live the truth of our faith in the world around us…
to toil for the sake of Christ.
In our experience of living our faith,
our reading of Scripture and study of the Catechism,
our daily prayer,
our service to the poor…
in all this…"It is good for us to be here!"
For to be part of the Holy Church…
to be Catholic…
to toil for Christ…
is truly wonderful!
As our Lenten journey will reach its fulfillment in Easter glory…
so may our lives of faith bear fruit in eternal life…
when in Heaven we shall rejoice and say:
"Lord, it is very good that we are here!"
I used to serve at the celebration of the Tridentine Mass
at Holy Family Parish in downtown.
It was an incredibly beautiful church.
Describe…windows, images, organ, etc…
The church had a unique reredos behind its altar.
The central figure was a statue of Christ in glory,
wrapped in brilliant white robes.
On one side of Him was the statue of Moses,
holding the two stone tablets of the Law: the Ten Commandments.
On the other side was the statue of Elijah.
The Pastor explain to us that it was extremely rare
to have an altarpiece depicting the Transfiguration…
and he was certainly proud of his church.
As we reflect on the beautiful and intriguing story of Jesus’ Transfiguration…
we see the great figures of the Old Testament.
Moses represents the tradition of the Jewish Law.
Elijah represents the traditions of the Prophets.
All the ancient writings and teachings of the Old Testament
prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ.
As people of faith, we read the Old Testament
and see in it the great and mysterious plan of God’s saving love,
which reaches its fulfillment in the Paschal Mystery:
the birth, life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
[PAUSE]
In this awesome and holy moment of the Transfiguration,
all three persons of the Triune God are manifest.
God our Loving Father is present as His voice is heard:
"This is my beloved Son; listen to Him."
Jesus the Son is present as He reveals His glory to the Apostles.
The Holy Spirit is present in the cloud, which overshadows Jesus.
[PAUSE]
Notice that, while He had many disciples,
and 12 Apostles, who were His close followers,
Jesus takes with Him up the mountain only Peter, James, and John.
For this moment, He includes only his most intimate companions.
These same three are with Jesus
at the moment of His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
It is John in particular who remain at the Cross.
It is Peter to whom Jesus entrusts His Church.
These are surely Jesus’ dearest co-workers, students, and friends.
[PAUSE]
Upon seeing the splendor of the transfigured Christ,
Peter is naturally a bit confused,
and does not know what he is saying.
He cries out to Jesus:
"Master, it is good for us to be here!"
We, the servants and handmaids of the Lord,
who this day are privileged to partake
of the Holy Body and Blood of the Risen Christ,
can join our hearts and voices to that of Peter,
the rock on whom our Church is built,
and ourselves cry out in joy:
"Lord, it is good for us to be here!"
In this Mass, the words of the Law and the Prophets are proclaimed to us.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
In this Mass, the Trinity is present as at the Transfiguration.
Our prayer is addressed to the Father,
as the Holy Spirit overshadows the gifts we present,
transforming them into the Body and Blood of the Son.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
In this Mass, we are surrounded by
Jesus’ intimate companions, the company of Apostles,
by His holy Mother,
by armies of martyrs,
and by the choirs of angels,
as our liturgy is united to their ceaseless heavenly worship.
And so, it is good for us to be here!
[PAUSE]
After Jesus reveals the overwhelming splendor of His glory
to the three Apostles,
they go down the mountain together
to resume their ministry among the people.
The time has not yet come for Jesus to be glorified.
Glory awaits Him.
Yet suffering faces Him first.
Before He rises to eternal and everlasting glory,
Jesus will first undergo dreadful and unimaginable suffering.
Before He goes to prepare a place for us in his Father’s kingdom,
He will first obey His Father’s will,
taking our place in the plan of redemption
bearing the weight of every human sin,
and every sorrow to which sin gives birth.
Before He rises to life on the third day,
the Author of Life will be put to death by his own creation.
Before He takes his place on the throne of His glory,
He will first wear a crown of thorns
and a mock robe of purple.
Before He sits at the right hand of His Father,
He will first grant pardon to a thief
crucified on a cross at the right side of His own.
[PAUSE]
So it is for us, who long for the joy and glory of our eternal reward.
Glory awaits us if we are faithful.
Yet suffering faces us here and now.
We endure the daily sufferings of human life…
with our hearts set on our true heavenly home…
where our bodies will be changed to be like Christ’s glorified body.
Notice that Peter wants to build three tents,
so that they may all remain together
in the glory of the mountaintop experience.
We cannot even remain here in the loving presence of Jesus,
who has come to dwell among us…
or, as the ancient Greek and Hebrew literally say…
He who has come to "pitch his tent" among us.
We go forth from this Mass as God’s people
to live the truth of our faith in the world around us…
to toil for the sake of Christ.
In our experience of living our faith,
our reading of Scripture and study of the Catechism,
our daily prayer,
our service to the poor…
in all this…"It is good for us to be here!"
For to be part of the Holy Church…
to be Catholic…
to toil for Christ…
is truly wonderful!
As our Lenten journey will reach its fulfillment in Easter glory…
so may our lives of faith bear fruit in eternal life…
when in Heaven we shall rejoice and say:
"Lord, it is very good that we are here!"
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Sacred Liturgy, Nos. 20-24
20. The Communion Rites
The Mass is both the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, and the Paschal Banquet that commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper, when He gave His Body and Blood to the Apostles to be eaten. He desires the same for us, and so the Church teaches that it is desirable that the Catholic faithful receive the Eucharist when they attend Mass.
The Communion Rites are preparation for the reception of the Eucharist. In the Lord’s Prayer, the pattern given by Christ for all prayer, we together ask the Lord for “daily bread,” which the Church teaches “means preeminently the Eucharistic bread.” The priest’s prayer that follows begs deliverance from the power of evil for the entire community.
In the Rite of Peace, the Church prays for peace and unity for herself and the world. The faithful express to each other their unity and mutual charity as Christians. In the United States, the sign of peace is customarily given by shaking hands. It is only given to those nearby in a sober manner, that is, with no distracting gestures, moving through the aisles, conversations, etc. The priest is to remain in the sanctuary during the Rite.
GIRM 80-82
21. The Fraction and the Reception of Communion
After the sign of peace, the priest (and deacons) breaks the Eucharistic Bread. Jesus’ gesture of “breaking bread” at the Last Supper signifies that the many faithful are made one body by receiving the one Body of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:17). Only priests and deacons may break the Eucharistic Bread.
The priest breaks a small piece of the Host and puts it into the chalice, symbolizing the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation. During these rites, we sing the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”).
The priest elevates the Host, saying the words of John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God….” The people respond with the sentiments of the Centurion whose servant Jesus healed: “Lord, I am not worthy…only say the word….”
It is most desirable that the faithful receive Hosts consecrated at the Mass they attend, though reserved Hosts may be distributed as well if necessary. Ideally, the faithful receive from the same Host as the priest, symbolizing the unity of the one Body of Christ in the one Bread. The faithful approach the Altar to receive Communion in a procession, expressing their unity as the Body of Christ coming to receive the Lord.
GIRM 83-87
22. Dispositions for Receiving Holy Communion
Holy Communion is singularly sacred and those who approach to receive it ought to strive to worthy of so great a gift. A person must examine his or her life seriously. If one is aware of having committed a mortal sin, one should not receive the Eucharist without having first received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
An exception is made where Confession is not available, something almost never the case in the diocese of the United States, where it is offered regularly. In such a situation, a person is to make an act of perfect contrition (declaring to the Lord that one is sincerely sorry for having sinned), with the intent of going to Confession as soon as possible.
Mortal sin is defined by three elements: (1) grave matter, i.e. something serious; (2) full knowledge of what one has done; (3) full consent of the will, i.e. acting freely and not coerced or under duress. Such sins separate one from God and prevent one from receiving Communion.
As we prepare our souls for Communion by going to Confession, we also prepare our bodies by fasting one hour prior to receiving Communion.
It should never be presumed or taught that everyone at Mass must receive Communion. It is up to each person individually to decide whether or not he or she is worthy to receive, and to act accordingly.
RS 80ff
23. Distribution of Holy Communion
It is the Celebrant’s responsibility to distribute Communion, assisted by other priests and deacons. In cases of true necessity extraordinary ministers assist the priest.
The Host may be received on the tongue, or in the hand. Communion patens are to be held by the servers to catch particles of the Host that may fall. The faithful may not take Communion for themselves, or pass the vessels from one to another. A person may receive Communion again the same day only within a Mass in which he/she is participating.
Priests (con)celebrating at Mass must receive both species, and always before the people receive.
Communion may be distributed to the faithful under both species, as a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet. It must be kept in mind that the whole Christ – body, blood, soul, and divinity – exists in both the Host and the Precious Blood, so it is not necessary to receive both. Communion may be given by means of Intinction, that is, dipping the Host into the Precious Blood. The faithful may not intinct themselves. Hosts distributed by intinction may only be received on the tongue.
RS 88-106
24. The Concluding Rites
After the distribution of Communion, the priest, deacon, instituted acolyte, or extraordinary minister purifies the sacred vessels – Chalices and Ciboria (this name for the vessel containing Hosts is from the Latin cibus, meaning “food”).
A time of silent prayer is always be observed after Communion. It is good to make a Thanksgiving after Communion, a prayer thanking Jesus for the tremendous gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. In the Post-Communion Prayer, the priest prays for the fruits of the Eucharistic mystery just celebrated. This prayer brings to completion the whole celebration of the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Concluding Rites include the announcements, which are meant to come after the Prayer and in no other place. The priest then gives the blessing, either in the usual form or the Solemn Blessing on special feasts and holy days. The Solemn Blessings are good to reflect upon because they express the spiritual meaning of the feast. Then the priest or deacon dismisses then people. The very name of the Mass comes from the Latin word Missa, which is derived from the word meaning “sent forth.” We are sent forth to love and serve God, and one another, and proclaim our faith in all we do!
GIRM 89-90
The Mass is both the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, and the Paschal Banquet that commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper, when He gave His Body and Blood to the Apostles to be eaten. He desires the same for us, and so the Church teaches that it is desirable that the Catholic faithful receive the Eucharist when they attend Mass.
The Communion Rites are preparation for the reception of the Eucharist. In the Lord’s Prayer, the pattern given by Christ for all prayer, we together ask the Lord for “daily bread,” which the Church teaches “means preeminently the Eucharistic bread.” The priest’s prayer that follows begs deliverance from the power of evil for the entire community.
In the Rite of Peace, the Church prays for peace and unity for herself and the world. The faithful express to each other their unity and mutual charity as Christians. In the United States, the sign of peace is customarily given by shaking hands. It is only given to those nearby in a sober manner, that is, with no distracting gestures, moving through the aisles, conversations, etc. The priest is to remain in the sanctuary during the Rite.
GIRM 80-82
21. The Fraction and the Reception of Communion
After the sign of peace, the priest (and deacons) breaks the Eucharistic Bread. Jesus’ gesture of “breaking bread” at the Last Supper signifies that the many faithful are made one body by receiving the one Body of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:17). Only priests and deacons may break the Eucharistic Bread.
The priest breaks a small piece of the Host and puts it into the chalice, symbolizing the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation. During these rites, we sing the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”).
The priest elevates the Host, saying the words of John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God….” The people respond with the sentiments of the Centurion whose servant Jesus healed: “Lord, I am not worthy…only say the word….”
It is most desirable that the faithful receive Hosts consecrated at the Mass they attend, though reserved Hosts may be distributed as well if necessary. Ideally, the faithful receive from the same Host as the priest, symbolizing the unity of the one Body of Christ in the one Bread. The faithful approach the Altar to receive Communion in a procession, expressing their unity as the Body of Christ coming to receive the Lord.
GIRM 83-87
22. Dispositions for Receiving Holy Communion
Holy Communion is singularly sacred and those who approach to receive it ought to strive to worthy of so great a gift. A person must examine his or her life seriously. If one is aware of having committed a mortal sin, one should not receive the Eucharist without having first received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
An exception is made where Confession is not available, something almost never the case in the diocese of the United States, where it is offered regularly. In such a situation, a person is to make an act of perfect contrition (declaring to the Lord that one is sincerely sorry for having sinned), with the intent of going to Confession as soon as possible.
Mortal sin is defined by three elements: (1) grave matter, i.e. something serious; (2) full knowledge of what one has done; (3) full consent of the will, i.e. acting freely and not coerced or under duress. Such sins separate one from God and prevent one from receiving Communion.
As we prepare our souls for Communion by going to Confession, we also prepare our bodies by fasting one hour prior to receiving Communion.
It should never be presumed or taught that everyone at Mass must receive Communion. It is up to each person individually to decide whether or not he or she is worthy to receive, and to act accordingly.
RS 80ff
23. Distribution of Holy Communion
It is the Celebrant’s responsibility to distribute Communion, assisted by other priests and deacons. In cases of true necessity extraordinary ministers assist the priest.
The Host may be received on the tongue, or in the hand. Communion patens are to be held by the servers to catch particles of the Host that may fall. The faithful may not take Communion for themselves, or pass the vessels from one to another. A person may receive Communion again the same day only within a Mass in which he/she is participating.
Priests (con)celebrating at Mass must receive both species, and always before the people receive.
Communion may be distributed to the faithful under both species, as a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet. It must be kept in mind that the whole Christ – body, blood, soul, and divinity – exists in both the Host and the Precious Blood, so it is not necessary to receive both. Communion may be given by means of Intinction, that is, dipping the Host into the Precious Blood. The faithful may not intinct themselves. Hosts distributed by intinction may only be received on the tongue.
RS 88-106
24. The Concluding Rites
After the distribution of Communion, the priest, deacon, instituted acolyte, or extraordinary minister purifies the sacred vessels – Chalices and Ciboria (this name for the vessel containing Hosts is from the Latin cibus, meaning “food”).
A time of silent prayer is always be observed after Communion. It is good to make a Thanksgiving after Communion, a prayer thanking Jesus for the tremendous gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. In the Post-Communion Prayer, the priest prays for the fruits of the Eucharistic mystery just celebrated. This prayer brings to completion the whole celebration of the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Concluding Rites include the announcements, which are meant to come after the Prayer and in no other place. The priest then gives the blessing, either in the usual form or the Solemn Blessing on special feasts and holy days. The Solemn Blessings are good to reflect upon because they express the spiritual meaning of the feast. Then the priest or deacon dismisses then people. The very name of the Mass comes from the Latin word Missa, which is derived from the word meaning “sent forth.” We are sent forth to love and serve God, and one another, and proclaim our faith in all we do!
GIRM 89-90
Homily First Sunday of Lent 25 February 2007
N.B. This week, for the first time, I delivered a homily without a full text. It went well but there is not a text to publish. I share with you my notes.
When I was confirmed, I chose the name John…
Not John the Evangelist or John the Baptist…
John Mary Vianney, patron saint of parish priests
Story of Saint John Vianney's ministry.
His struggle with temptations and assults by the Devil.
Tempted by the Devil
Tossing and turning at night
Bed set ablaze
Tempted to run away from his parish, ministry
He persevered, converted his people back to Jesus Christ in a remarkable way.
Today’s Gospel recounts to us how even Jesus Himself experienced temptations.
Devil tempts Jesus to use His power to make stones into bread.
Tempts Him to use his power for Himself, because He is hungry.
Devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.
Devil promises Jesus power and glory if He will worship him.
Tempts Him to worship someone other than God.
Devil tempts Jesus to throw Himself down from the Temple,
and see if the angels catch Him.
Tempts him to test God.
Each of us experiences temptation in our own lives.
To misuse the gifts and talents we have been given for our own advantage
To worship something or someone other than God.
To test God, to give Him an ultimatum,
or to say “if you do this for me…then I will love you.”
Temptation faces us always.
From what we see on TV
From peers
We experience the tension between good and evil within us.
In moments of temptation…grasp onto the Lord and His Mother Mary.
Saint John Vianney:
"If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted,
she will come at once to your help,
and Satan will leave you."
Season of Lent
As Catholics, traditional practices:
Fasting
Prayer
Almsgiving
May we make this Lent holy…
that we may celebrate Easter with joy and great thanksgiving.
When I was confirmed, I chose the name John…
Not John the Evangelist or John the Baptist…
John Mary Vianney, patron saint of parish priests
Story of Saint John Vianney's ministry.
His struggle with temptations and assults by the Devil.
Tempted by the Devil
Tossing and turning at night
Bed set ablaze
Tempted to run away from his parish, ministry
He persevered, converted his people back to Jesus Christ in a remarkable way.
Today’s Gospel recounts to us how even Jesus Himself experienced temptations.
Devil tempts Jesus to use His power to make stones into bread.
Tempts Him to use his power for Himself, because He is hungry.
Devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.
Devil promises Jesus power and glory if He will worship him.
Tempts Him to worship someone other than God.
Devil tempts Jesus to throw Himself down from the Temple,
and see if the angels catch Him.
Tempts him to test God.
Each of us experiences temptation in our own lives.
To misuse the gifts and talents we have been given for our own advantage
To worship something or someone other than God.
To test God, to give Him an ultimatum,
or to say “if you do this for me…then I will love you.”
Temptation faces us always.
From what we see on TV
From peers
We experience the tension between good and evil within us.
In moments of temptation…grasp onto the Lord and His Mother Mary.
Saint John Vianney:
"If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted,
she will come at once to your help,
and Satan will leave you."
Season of Lent
As Catholics, traditional practices:
Fasting
Prayer
Almsgiving
May we make this Lent holy…
that we may celebrate Easter with joy and great thanksgiving.
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Sacred Liturgy Nos. 16-19
16. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
“Let us turn towards the Lord God and Father Almighty, and with a pure heart let us give him abundant thanks as well as our littleness will allow.”
These words from the end of a homily by Saint Augustine express the spirit of the liturgy as the Mass transitions from Liturgy of the Word to Liturgy of the Eucharist, the second half of the Mass. The faithful gathered for worship (the members of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ) and the priest (who stands in the person of Christ the Head of the Body) together turn toward the Lord to give thanks to God (“Eucharist” is from a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”). Despite our littleness, Christ who is present in the proclamation of His Word becomes substantially present in his Body and Blood in the Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine.
At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His Body and Blood to the Apostles, and so instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Church, through the ministry of the priest, who represents Christ, carries out in every Mass what Jesus Himself did and gave to the Apostles.
GIRM 72, U.M. Lang Turning Towards the Lord
17. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The actions of the Liturgy of the Eucharist correspond to the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper. As Jesus took bread and wine into His hands, so at the Preparation of the Altar and Gifts, bread and wine are brought to the Altar and offered by the priest. As Jesus gave thanks to the Father, so the priest prays the Eucharistic Prayer, the very name of which means “thanksgiving” (eucharistia in Greek). As Jesus broke the bread and shared the bread and cup with His disciples, so we come to the Altar during the Communion Rite to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the Altar and all that is necessary for the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice: the Sacramentary (book of prayers), chalice and paten, and linens.
The Gifts of bread and wine are brought forward by the people. They are offered by the priest, and may be incensed, as a symbol of the Church’s prayer and offering ascending to God.
The priest washes his hands as an expression of his desire for interior purification.
GIRM 72-76
18. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Eucharistic Prayer is the center and summit of the entire celebration of the Mass. It is a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification: thanksgiving for God’s gracious work throughout the history of the world, especially for sending His Son, who died and rose for our salvation, and gives us Himself as our spiritual food and drink, and sanctification of bread and wine, which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The priest celebrant prays this prayer in the name of the entire community. He prays to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit.
This greatest of all prayers demands that the faithful listen to it with attentiveness, reverence, and in silence. As the priest prays in the name of all, so all the faithful join their prayers to those of the priest. As the priest offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the faithful offer a sacrifice of their lives to the Lord.
The Sacramentary contains several options for the priest for the Eucharistic Prayer: four prayers which may be used at any Mass, two for Masses of Reconciliation (e.g. during Lent, a penitential season), and three for Masses with Children.
GIRM 78
19. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The various Eucharistic Prayers all contain the same essential elements.
1. Thanksgiving: expressed especially in the Preface, in which the priest, in the name of all, gives thanks to God. The words of the Preface correspond to the season or feast. Listening to the Preface carefully brings our minds and hearts in tune with the liturgical season or event.
2. Acclamation: the clergy and people join in the Sanctus, the song of the angels: “Holy Holy Holy…”
3. Epiclesis: the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine and calls down the Holy Spirit to sanctify the gifts.
4. Institution and Consecration: the priest takes bread and wine as Jesus did, and says the words of Jesus. At that moment the bread and wine become Jesus’ Body and Blood.
5. Anamnesis: remembering the events of the life of Jesus, especially His Passion, death, and Resurrection.
6. Offering: as the priest offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we offer ourselves to God.
7. Intercession: we pray for the pope, bishop, the whole Church, and the faithful departed.
8. Doxology: final acclamation in praise of God (“Through him, with Him in Him…”) to which the people respond “Amen.”
GIRM 79
“Let us turn towards the Lord God and Father Almighty, and with a pure heart let us give him abundant thanks as well as our littleness will allow.”
These words from the end of a homily by Saint Augustine express the spirit of the liturgy as the Mass transitions from Liturgy of the Word to Liturgy of the Eucharist, the second half of the Mass. The faithful gathered for worship (the members of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ) and the priest (who stands in the person of Christ the Head of the Body) together turn toward the Lord to give thanks to God (“Eucharist” is from a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”). Despite our littleness, Christ who is present in the proclamation of His Word becomes substantially present in his Body and Blood in the Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine.
At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His Body and Blood to the Apostles, and so instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Church, through the ministry of the priest, who represents Christ, carries out in every Mass what Jesus Himself did and gave to the Apostles.
GIRM 72, U.M. Lang Turning Towards the Lord
17. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The actions of the Liturgy of the Eucharist correspond to the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper. As Jesus took bread and wine into His hands, so at the Preparation of the Altar and Gifts, bread and wine are brought to the Altar and offered by the priest. As Jesus gave thanks to the Father, so the priest prays the Eucharistic Prayer, the very name of which means “thanksgiving” (eucharistia in Greek). As Jesus broke the bread and shared the bread and cup with His disciples, so we come to the Altar during the Communion Rite to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the Altar and all that is necessary for the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice: the Sacramentary (book of prayers), chalice and paten, and linens.
The Gifts of bread and wine are brought forward by the people. They are offered by the priest, and may be incensed, as a symbol of the Church’s prayer and offering ascending to God.
The priest washes his hands as an expression of his desire for interior purification.
GIRM 72-76
18. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Eucharistic Prayer is the center and summit of the entire celebration of the Mass. It is a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification: thanksgiving for God’s gracious work throughout the history of the world, especially for sending His Son, who died and rose for our salvation, and gives us Himself as our spiritual food and drink, and sanctification of bread and wine, which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The priest celebrant prays this prayer in the name of the entire community. He prays to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit.
This greatest of all prayers demands that the faithful listen to it with attentiveness, reverence, and in silence. As the priest prays in the name of all, so all the faithful join their prayers to those of the priest. As the priest offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the faithful offer a sacrifice of their lives to the Lord.
The Sacramentary contains several options for the priest for the Eucharistic Prayer: four prayers which may be used at any Mass, two for Masses of Reconciliation (e.g. during Lent, a penitential season), and three for Masses with Children.
GIRM 78
19. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The various Eucharistic Prayers all contain the same essential elements.
1. Thanksgiving: expressed especially in the Preface, in which the priest, in the name of all, gives thanks to God. The words of the Preface correspond to the season or feast. Listening to the Preface carefully brings our minds and hearts in tune with the liturgical season or event.
2. Acclamation: the clergy and people join in the Sanctus, the song of the angels: “Holy Holy Holy…”
3. Epiclesis: the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine and calls down the Holy Spirit to sanctify the gifts.
4. Institution and Consecration: the priest takes bread and wine as Jesus did, and says the words of Jesus. At that moment the bread and wine become Jesus’ Body and Blood.
5. Anamnesis: remembering the events of the life of Jesus, especially His Passion, death, and Resurrection.
6. Offering: as the priest offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we offer ourselves to God.
7. Intercession: we pray for the pope, bishop, the whole Church, and the faithful departed.
8. Doxology: final acclamation in praise of God (“Through him, with Him in Him…”) to which the people respond “Amen.”
GIRM 79
Homily Seventh Sunday of the Year 18 February 2007
Church tradition holds that
on the 14th of February…
sometime in the late Third Century…
the Bishop of modern-day Terni, in Italy, was martyred for the faith.
The Bishop’s name was Valentine.
The date of his death, and of his passing into eternal life…
coincided with the date that Europeans in the Middle Ages
believed began of the mating season of birds.
I presume you’ve all heard about “the birds and the bees?!”
(hopefully laughter...)
So, the day became a special day dedicated to lovers.
And popular romantic customs developed…
like people sending love-letters to each other.
Hence the traditions of Valentine’s Day.
[PAUSE]
We have just celebrated Valentine’s Day this past week…
Surely many of you sent cards, and flowers, and chocolates to the ones you love…
small tokens of how much you care for them,
and how your life would not be complete without them.
The love we give and receive in our lives…
the love shared among family in each of your homes…
the embrace of a husband and wife…
or of a mother and her infant child
the friendship of schoolmates and colleagues…
the love a pastor and his flock…
all the ways in which we experience the tender, peaceful presence
of another’s love…
is a sign of the love of God at work in our souls.
Wherever true love is found…
it is a sign of the peaceful and holy presence of God.
To truly love…
completely for the sake of another…
is to be like God!
Today the Church continues the theme of love for us in the Sacred Scriptures
The Psalmist declares to us:
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
God’s love does not always make sense to us.
We sometimes take issue with God’s love…
and we certainly find it difficult to love as He does.
God’s unconditional love extends to people whose lives do not merit such kindness…
to prisoners and death row inmates…
to terrorists.
God loves the people who we think are not deserving of love…
those who hate us and mistreat us…
those who strike us on the cheek and take what belongs to us.
God also loves those whom society casts aside…
the elderly, the poor, and the unborn.
This kind of love is not comfortable for us.
What is more disconcerting is that God asks us to love this way, too.
As children of God…
created in the image of Him who, as St. John tells us, is Love itself…
we are made to be people who love as passionately as He does.
Many times this means loving those we would rather hate…
loving in a way that is uncomfortable or unpopular.
[PAUSE]
In today’s First Reading,
David and Abishai go among the enemy troops at night,
and find Saul asleep…and vulnerable.
Abishai asks David to allow him to kill Saul in his sleep,
but David forbids it, saying:
“Who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?”
How often do we wish we could discover our enemies vulnerable…
or catch them in a trap…
so that we can nail them to the ground
with the pointed spear of a well-crafted plot.
Of course, we must remember that as David revered Saul and would not harm him…
so we ought to respect and show honor to every human person.
For all of us bear the image of the God who created us…
and of His Son who redeemed us.
As human persons we all have a dignity that is to be respected.
Who can lay hands on the children of God and go unpunished?
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us:
“love your enemies…
do good to those who hate you…
pray for those who mistreat you.”
“For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”
In other words, it is not good enough to love when it is easy!
For the Christian, true love means taking the next step…
to love when we would rather turn away…
after the pattern of our Heavenly Father,
who “is kind” even “to the ungrateful and the wicked.”
Violence is not to have a place in our lives.
“Getting even” with our enemies is not the solution.
In love beyond all telling…
Christ triumphed over sin
and trampled death by his own death on the Cross.
So it is in our lives: the answer to evil is not evil.
The only victor over evil is love!
[PAUSE]
Every day we see on the news the devastating effects
which come when violence has taken over a whole region of the world.
This week’s news included a story more disturbing.
In a Target store…
a woman shopping accidentally bumped into 10-year-old girl,
accompanied by three other girls.
Allegedly because she did not apologize,
the girls tore off the woman’s clothes…
and beat her senseless.
This violence is not a continent away…
and it was not perpetrated by men with guns and tanks.
It happened on our fruited plains…
and was done by a 10-year-old girl!
[PAUSE]
Our society is in need of a deep conversion.
The world needs us to shower it with prayers and with living examples of love.
By loving in a radical way…
loving and praying for our enemies…
doing good to those who hate…
loving those who seem to be unlovable…
we can make real for those around us the presence of God.
Transforming the world begins here. It begins now.
It begins with us, who have come to know Christ in the Eucharist.
My the love we celebrate...the love we share with one another...
be for the world a sign of God's holy love!
on the 14th of February…
sometime in the late Third Century…
the Bishop of modern-day Terni, in Italy, was martyred for the faith.
The Bishop’s name was Valentine.
The date of his death, and of his passing into eternal life…
coincided with the date that Europeans in the Middle Ages
believed began of the mating season of birds.
I presume you’ve all heard about “the birds and the bees?!”
(hopefully laughter...)
So, the day became a special day dedicated to lovers.
And popular romantic customs developed…
like people sending love-letters to each other.
Hence the traditions of Valentine’s Day.
[PAUSE]
We have just celebrated Valentine’s Day this past week…
Surely many of you sent cards, and flowers, and chocolates to the ones you love…
small tokens of how much you care for them,
and how your life would not be complete without them.
The love we give and receive in our lives…
the love shared among family in each of your homes…
the embrace of a husband and wife…
or of a mother and her infant child
the friendship of schoolmates and colleagues…
the love a pastor and his flock…
all the ways in which we experience the tender, peaceful presence
of another’s love…
is a sign of the love of God at work in our souls.
Wherever true love is found…
it is a sign of the peaceful and holy presence of God.
To truly love…
completely for the sake of another…
is to be like God!
Today the Church continues the theme of love for us in the Sacred Scriptures
The Psalmist declares to us:
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
God’s love does not always make sense to us.
We sometimes take issue with God’s love…
and we certainly find it difficult to love as He does.
God’s unconditional love extends to people whose lives do not merit such kindness…
to prisoners and death row inmates…
to terrorists.
God loves the people who we think are not deserving of love…
those who hate us and mistreat us…
those who strike us on the cheek and take what belongs to us.
God also loves those whom society casts aside…
the elderly, the poor, and the unborn.
This kind of love is not comfortable for us.
What is more disconcerting is that God asks us to love this way, too.
As children of God…
created in the image of Him who, as St. John tells us, is Love itself…
we are made to be people who love as passionately as He does.
Many times this means loving those we would rather hate…
loving in a way that is uncomfortable or unpopular.
[PAUSE]
In today’s First Reading,
David and Abishai go among the enemy troops at night,
and find Saul asleep…and vulnerable.
Abishai asks David to allow him to kill Saul in his sleep,
but David forbids it, saying:
“Who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?”
How often do we wish we could discover our enemies vulnerable…
or catch them in a trap…
so that we can nail them to the ground
with the pointed spear of a well-crafted plot.
Of course, we must remember that as David revered Saul and would not harm him…
so we ought to respect and show honor to every human person.
For all of us bear the image of the God who created us…
and of His Son who redeemed us.
As human persons we all have a dignity that is to be respected.
Who can lay hands on the children of God and go unpunished?
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us:
“love your enemies…
do good to those who hate you…
pray for those who mistreat you.”
“For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”
In other words, it is not good enough to love when it is easy!
For the Christian, true love means taking the next step…
to love when we would rather turn away…
after the pattern of our Heavenly Father,
who “is kind” even “to the ungrateful and the wicked.”
Violence is not to have a place in our lives.
“Getting even” with our enemies is not the solution.
In love beyond all telling…
Christ triumphed over sin
and trampled death by his own death on the Cross.
So it is in our lives: the answer to evil is not evil.
The only victor over evil is love!
[PAUSE]
Every day we see on the news the devastating effects
which come when violence has taken over a whole region of the world.
This week’s news included a story more disturbing.
In a Target store…
a woman shopping accidentally bumped into 10-year-old girl,
accompanied by three other girls.
Allegedly because she did not apologize,
the girls tore off the woman’s clothes…
and beat her senseless.
This violence is not a continent away…
and it was not perpetrated by men with guns and tanks.
It happened on our fruited plains…
and was done by a 10-year-old girl!
[PAUSE]
Our society is in need of a deep conversion.
The world needs us to shower it with prayers and with living examples of love.
By loving in a radical way…
loving and praying for our enemies…
doing good to those who hate…
loving those who seem to be unlovable…
we can make real for those around us the presence of God.
Transforming the world begins here. It begins now.
It begins with us, who have come to know Christ in the Eucharist.
My the love we celebrate...the love we share with one another...
be for the world a sign of God's holy love!
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