The Hidden Depths of the Mass #22

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The Eucharistic Prayers

Following the offertory at Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer follows.  There are a total of ten Eucharistic Prayers found in the Roman Missal that contains all the prayers for Mass.  The Eucharistic Prayers are trinitarian in their nature.  They are addressed to God our Father.  The prayers invoke the Holy Spirit to make our sacrifice acceptable and for the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  We also ask the Holy Spirit to transform us into the Body of Christ.

The Eucharistic Prayers vary in age.  The oldest is Eucharistic Prayer II, which dates back to third century.  The newest are the four Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs written in the 1970’s.  Eucharistic Prayer I, sometimes called the Canon, is the one Eucharistic Prayer used in the centuries leading up to the Second Vatican Council.

My Hopes for 2024

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As we begin the new secular year of 2024, I don’t want to talk about resolutions today. It’s not that I think I’m perfect such that I don’t need to make improvements in my own behavior. I know I am not perfect. I need God’s help to take better care of myself and to be a better disciple.

What I want to talk about is more important than what I need or want as an individual. I titled this article “My Hopes for 2024” but I am not writing here about hopes I have in my own life. Today I would like to reflect on my hopes for whole world in 2024 and beyond.

I Hope for no more war
At the top of my list is the end to war. War doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand the war between Russia and Ukraine. Recently, a city in Russia near Ukraine was bombed (see “Shelling kills 21 in Russia’s city of Belgorod, including 3 children, following Moscow’s aerial attacks across Ukraine” by CBS News, 12/30/23). Russia immediately blamed Ukraine and said Ukraine had no right to do this. When Russia has been bombing in Ukraine for almost two years, how can Russia say Ukraine shouldn’t attack them? It makes no sense. It’s time to end the war.

Israel continues to bomb Gaza. Recently, Israel has been bombing places they had previously told people to flee to. It makes no sense. Israel has clearly crossed the line of going beyond a just war (at the end of this article are links to past articles I have written applying just war theory to the war between Hamas and Russia). Clearly, Israel’s bombings have gone beyond any proportionate response allowed in just war theory

I pray that the drone attacks in the seas in the Middle East against private commercial ships and other attacks to land locations in the Middle East do not lead us to more war.

I hope for no more shootings and/or terrorism
What do they accomplish? Death and hatred.

I hope that people begin to actually listen to one another
Does Israel ever listen to the concerns of the non-Jewish people living in Israel? They have a right to live there. They have a right to heard.

Does Hamas ever listen to the concerns of Israel?

Whatever side of a political argument one is on, do they listen to the other side? I am not saying the other side is right. I’m saying they have a right to be listened to and may have valid points to make if someone would just listen.

I hope for genuine dialogue that helps all understand the truth
Whether we are talking about politics, morality, or faith, there is truth. One’s desire to think that there is no truth does not mean there isn’t. We must seek the truth. To understand this truth, we must understand the divine order with which God has created the world. Truth is the solution, not the problem (see John 8:32). If there is no truth, then no one is right.

I hope that people begin to understand that there are consequences to our actions
Some people think they can do whatever they want and that it doesn’t have any effect beyond what they want. They ignore the needs of others and then expect others (either the government and/or God) to fix everything. God wants to fix what is wrong with the world. Are we willing to admit what is wrong with us and what we might need to change in our own behavior?

I hope people look beyond their “self” to see and address the needs of others
We have a right to have our own needs fulfilled but we have no right to have our wants fulfilled. It’s not that our wants are necessarily bad. It’s just that they aren’t more important than the needs of others. As individuals we need to realize that if we “take” more than we need, others might not have want they need.

As groups, whether it be faith, political, or ethnic, we must realize that others have the same rights as us. Here, I think of Israel and the Palestinians. Israel claims a right to the land. They have a long history to support that right. The Palestinians have a right to live there too. I pray that they find a way to get along. War is not the answer. When has there not been conflict over that land? It’s time to for all involved to look beyond their own claims to the land and seek a path forward together.

Some people blame wars on religion. I say faith calls us to love our neighbor. War is not part of love. War lies in human desire to control the power and to have what we want. Jesus calls us to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48). Hate only leads to more hate until someone decides to love.

Humanity is fallen. Humanity is broken. Do we have any reason for hope?

Yes! Humanity is fallen. Jesus Christ comes incarnate in the flesh to redeem humanity that we may been raised up.

What is my greatest hope both in my own life and for the world? It is what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done.” The world will reach its true potential when we all do our Father’s Will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Here are the recent articles I have written applying just war theory and other important criteria to the present conflict between Israel and Hamas:

10/10/23 – “Escalating Conflict” – https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/blog/escalating-conflict/

10/17/23 – “The Importance of Building Relationships” – https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/blog/the-importance-of-building-relationships/

10/24/23 – “Is Life Being Respected?” – https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/blog/is-life-being-respected/

10/31/23 – “Two Things” – https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/blog/two-things/

Feast of the Holy Family

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Christmas is our celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thus, it is too important to celebrate with a single day. As Catholics, we celebrate Christmas as a season that begins on Christmas day and continues until we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord (which falls on January 8th this year).

There are three other important solemnities that we celebrate during the Christmas season. On January 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (this is normally a holy day of obligation but it is not this year because it falls on Monday). Then, on the following Sunday, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord.

On the Sunday between Christmas and January 1st, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. This is the feast we celebrate today.

If you look at the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family, you can that there are various options for the first reading, the psalm, and the second reading. So, depending on where you go for Mass, you may hear different readings. Since I am not preaching this weekend (one of our deacons is), I am going to refer to the multiple options as I offer this reflection.

In the first option for our first reading from Genesis, Abram (who will become Abraham) is married to Sarai (who will become Sarah) is lamenting being childless. He recognizes that God has blessed him when he says, “what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless, and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer.”

God assures Abraham, “your own issues shall be your heir.” Abraham and Sarah have to wait a long time, well beyond Sarah’s childbearing years to have a child. This way everyone knows the birth of their child comes as a gift from God.

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham put his faith in the Lord.

God intends families consisting of a father, mother, and children to be the norm. That doesn’t mean it happens for everyone. Children normally come from sexual intimacy between the husband and wife but some couples struggle with fertility issues. We pray for them. If there are appropriate medical treatments that can help them, then we pray that the Lord lead them to them. For others, we pray that God guide them to know if adoption is his plan for them. Think of the blessing that adoption is for the child without a family. Others, like myself, are called to celibacy. We pray that everyone follow the path that God has laid before them.

The second option for the first reading comes from the Book of Sirach. There we read how God intends the family to function, “God sets a father in honor over his children, a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.” The parents are to be in charge, not the children. The readings continue to say how good things come when children follow what their parents say.

It is the parents that have the responsibility to raise their children. The government should assist them but not take over the parents’ role. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happens today. For example, there are schools who have policies prohibited teachers and staff from telling parents if their child is identifying as transgender (for one example see “Parents sue school district, allege deception in ‘gender transition’ of daughter” by Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency, 12/27/23).

I don’t understand how when a student commits a shooting, blame rushes to the parents but in a case like this, parents are denied the right to even know what is going on in their child’s life. (If you are interested in reading an extended article regarding transgenderism, you may wish to read an article I wrote in September, “Towards Dignity and Truth:  Compassionate Dialogue and Pastoral Response on Transgenderism“). We pray that all families receive the grace they need to be the family God intends them to be.

Family life is not easy. None of us is perfect. Paul writes in the second option for today’s second reading, “Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartful compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,…And over all these put on life.” These qualities are needed in our interactions with people in our lives. They are qualities that we are meant to learn from our own families. We pray that happens.

Paul also writes in that same reading from Colossians, “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.” This is not a popular passage for many. Why? Because the line, “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands” is taken out of context. It does not mean to say wives should simply do whatever their husbands want. Wives need to listen to their husbands but husbands must love their wives. Wives, husbands, and children must all act as God intends. A husband who expects his wife to be submissive to him no matter what he wants is lacking in what God intends. A wife never needs to submit to abuse.

Of course, we must not forget the gospel reading, the story of the purification in the temple. Mary and Joseph did what the “law of the Lord” said. They did this because they loved God and they loved their new son Jesus. Good parents do what is right for their children.

It might be easy to assume that life for the Holy Family was easy. It was not. In fact, Simeon speaks of the sword that will pierce Mary’s side. After the visit of the magi, Joseph will take Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape Herod (Matthew 2:13-15).

Family life is not always easy. Families need the grace of God. God is ready to give grace to those who come to him. We pray for the families who come to church and we pray even more for the families who don’t, that they may turn their hearts to God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #21

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The Liturgy of the Eucharist – “My Sacrifice and Yours”

As we transition from the offertory to the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest says, “Pray my brothers and sisters,, that my sacrifice and yours, may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”  Of course, there is no greater sacrifice than that of Jesus willingly sacrificing his life for us on the Cross.  This is the sacrifice we celebrate in the Mass.

We are called to unite the sacrifices we may in our own lives with Jesus’ sacrifice.  What sacrifices do you make?  For example, what have you given up to care for a loved one?  What have you missed out on to be there for something important to a loved one?

What sufferings do you have to offer up?  Are you suffering an illness that you could offer up to the Lord?  A difficult relationship? 

Christmas Homily 2023

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The Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)
Isaiah 9:1-6
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
December 25, 2023

We come today to celebrate something very special and we do so with “abundant joy and great rejoicing.” 

We come into church from a world with darkness and gloom.  How many shootings have there been this year?  How much senseless violence?  Terrorism continues.  The war between Ukraine and Russia continues.  Even in the Holy Land this Christmas we see war between Israel and Hamas.  There is much polarization and division.

These things weigh upon our hearts.  It casts darkness on the world.

Yet, there is a great light that can overcome the darkness.

There is much sin in the world but today we come with “abundant joy and great rejoicing” because one has come who can smash the yoke of sin and brings light to the darkness “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.”

He has dominion.  Do we let him rule our lives?  Do we follow his ways?

He will be called “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” 

We need a hero to rescue us from sin and darkness.

Today we celebrate the birth of a hero who can do just that.

His birth fulfills God’s promise of a Messiah and redeemer.  He was born in Bethlehem just as the prophecies foretold.  He is of the house of David just as God promised.  He was born of a virgin just as was prophesized.

However, the circumstances of his birth were not what one might expect for one destined to be a hero and save his people.

He was not born in a palace.  He wasn’t even born in his home.  His parents, Mary and Joseph had to travel because of the census.  He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger “because there was no room for them in the inn.”

His name was Jesus.  It was God’s will that his Son would be born into our world in humble circumstances to be born and live like us.

He was laid in a manger.  A manger is a food trough for an animal.  Jesus is food for our souls.

The first to receive the “good news of great joy” of Jesus’ birth were not the rich and the powerful.  It was shepherds to whom the angel delivered the news, “For today in the city of David a savior has been for you who is Christ and Lord.”

“The grace of God has appeared, saving all.”

Jesus’ birth brings “abundant joy and great rejoicing.”  It is his death on the Cross that saves us.  Before his death He would train us “to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly.”

Devoutly – do we give God time in our lives, not just today, but every day?

Justly – do we live as Jesus has taught us or do we go our own way?

Temperately – are we greedy or do we live modestly like Jesus?

Jesus came to give himself “to deliver us from all lawlessness.”  He came to bring light to the darkness. 

God knows the darkness that is in our world.  He knows we live in gloom at times.  God is ready to change it all.  God wants to fill our hearts with peace and joy.

He wants to start by changing you.  Are you ready to let God change you? 

God stands ready to change the world.  He will do so one heart at a time.

Jesus came to rule the earth.  Are you willing to let him rule in your heart?

Jesus is “Prince of Peace.”  His peace is peace in our hearts.  The more people who accept Jesus in their hearts, the more peace there will be in the world.

Isaiah spoke of the son who was to be born as “God-Hero.”  If we call someone our hero, we follow the example they set for us.

Make Jesus your hero.  Follow him.

Making a Home for Jesus

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We are about to start a very busy weekend in the Church. This Sunday (December 24th) is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then Christmas arrives on Monday. That means there will be the normal Sunday Masses. Then, at 4 pm in the afternoon we start our Christmas Eve Masses. (Please be aware that some parishes are modifying their normal Sunday schedules to allow time to prepare for the Christmas Masses.) We are doing our normal schedule here at St. Mary’s and St. Benedict’s. And, yes, you do need to go to Mass twice this weekend. For more on this check out Catholic News Agency explanation in their article, “Yes, You need to Go to Mass Twice This Weekend – For Sunday and For Christmas.”

So, I will be very busy along with our Pastoral Minister and the volunteers who decorate the church. Some of our musicians and ushers are also doing double duty. We thank all of them. I am fortunate that we have deacons here. I am preaching the Masses for Christmas while one of the deacons will be preaching the Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

So, I haven’t spent as much time as I usually might reflecting on the Sunday readings when of our deacons is preaching. This has allowed me to focus on my homily for Christmas. I do want to share with you one thought from the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B.

The first reading happens just the Kingdom of Israel has been established with King David settled in a palace. He realizes that he is living in a great house “while the ark of God dwells in a tent.” He speaks to Nathan the prophet who concurs that David should build a house for God. However, God stops the building before it ever begins. God tells David that it is not for him to build a house for God. It is David’s heir who will build a house for God. David’s son Solomon will build a great temple but, ultimately, it is Jesus who builds a house for God that will endure forever.

David was not wrong to desire a house for the Lord. He knows how much God has done for his people and he wants God to have a house worthy of him. God himself speaks of all He has done. We must never forget what God has done for his people and we must share it with others.

Many prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Isaiah 7:10-14 speaks of the sign that God gives – a virgin shall bear a child. Mary’s pregnancy fulfills this. Jesus is an heir to the throne of David as the prophecies said the Messiah would be. Mary says to being the mother of Jesus.

With the above in mind, I have a question. Do you make a home for the Lord? We have great churches where Jesus lives in the Tabernacle but that is not the home of which I speak.

Do you make a home for the Lord in your heart?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #20

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The Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 3

When the gifts of bread and wine have been placed on the altar, water is used twice.  The first is as the priest or deacon pours wine into the chalice followed by a drop of water while silently saying “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”  The wine symbolizes Jesus’ Divinity while the water symbolizes humanity.  The two brought together symbolizes the divine Jesus becoming human in the Incarnation.  In the Incarnation we are brought to union with God.

The second use of water is when the priest washes his hands.  This has its origins in Exodus 30:20 where the priest would wash before the sacrifices.  The priest needs to be cleansed before offering the sacrifice.

Why the Genealogy of Jesus is Important

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As we approach Christmas, there are specific readings for daily Masses on the final eight days before Christmas. The gospel readings focus on the events just before the birth of Jesus including the announcements of the pending births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

It begins on December 17th (which was a Sunday this year, so we heard the Sunday readings at Mass) when the genealogy of Jesus is read from Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 1:1-17). Together with the story of Joseph accepting the role of Jesus’ foster father, it can be the gospel for the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve (Matthew 1:1-25).

Why is the genealogy of Jesus read for the time leading up to Jesus’ birth? We might also ask why the Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. It’s a long list of names (three sets of fourteen generations) that we don’t know how to pronounce or know much about who many of them are. Why bother to read it?

Because it says something about who Jesus is.

It also says something about how we might fit into God’s plan of salvation.

Today there is interest by many people to have their genes tested to know where their families came from. Genetic testing can tell what countries one’s families are from.

For the Jews of Jesus’ time on earth it was important to know one’s ancestry as it pointed to their identity as Jews. Abraham was their father in faith. The long-awaited Messiah was to be a descendant of David.

The genealogy of Jesus tells us that Jesus is both a son of Abraham and a Son of David. Without this ancestry, He could not be the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew places great importance on showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of a Messiah. Thus Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus.

The genealogy is broken down into three sets of fourteen generations. For us as Christians, three is an important number representing God as Trinity. Fourteen is seven doubled, seven signifying completion/whole (seven days of creation). Fourteen is also the numerical value in the Hebrew counting of the letters in the name of David.

The three sets begin/end with key figures or pivotal moments in Jewish history. It begins with Abraham who in faith was a righteous man, doing whatever God told him, even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Because of Abraham’s faithfulness, God promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The first set of three generations ends with David. David was the greatest king Israel ever had.

The second set of fourteen generations begins with David, a high point in the history of Israel. It ends on a low point, the Babylonian Exile. Because of their sins, God allowed their enemies to defeat them. The nation of Israel fell.

The third set of fourteen generations begins at the low point of Israel’s history, the Babylonian Exile. It ends with the culmination of Salvation history, the birth of the Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ.

The genealogy of Jesus is very important for us to know that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, our father in faith, and is a Son of David. It is also important for us to know who is part of the genealogy of Jesus.

If one knew nothing of Old Testament history, one might assume that Jesus’ ancestors were all devout Jews who always lived as the Lord instructed. From that, one might assume that sinners do not have a place in God’s plan. These assumptions would be completely incorrect.

The genealogy of Jesus does include faithful Jews. There is Abraham. Then comes Isaac followed by Jacob. Jewish heritage gave primacy to the first born son but Jacob was not Isaac’s firstborn. Esau was but Jacob is the one through whom the ancestry flows. God’s plan is for all, not just the firstborn sons.

There are also sinners in the lineage. Yes, David was a great king but even he was a sinner. Verse 6 of the genealogy specifically reminds us of David’s sin with the mother of Uriah who would become the mother of Solomon through whom the lineage flowed.

Solomon then took the throne and asked for God’s blessing in the gift of wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15). This passage is immediately followed by 1 Kings 3:16-28 where the wisdom of Solomon is demonstrated in how he decides who the real mother of a child is.

Solomon began as a great king. Unfortunately, by the end of his time, things were not so good. He allowed human ways to take over. After his death, the kingdom divided and eventually fell. The lineage from David to Jesus continued but with many bad kings.

Why is this important? It shows that God keeps his promises even when humans do not. It shows that God can work through sinners. Thus, God can work through us. Jesus comes to save us from our sins.

One last note on the genealogy. The genealogy was through the male line. However, the genealogy of Jesus includes women. Women have a crucial place in God’s plan. Without women, there would be no men.

We celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas with great joy. For now, we wait to hear the angel proclaim the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) that, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Gaudete Sunday! 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B

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In our present season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming of Jesus. This means we need to make a thorough examination of conscience. The color violent is a color that symbolizes penance and sorrow for our sins. We need to recognize our sins and ask God to help us change or ways. Still, reflecting on our sins can be depressing.

This Sunday, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. The color “rose” is a color of warmth and rejoicing. The name “Gaudete” comes from the first four lines of the second reading for today, “Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” We may be sinners but we can rejoice that God our Father sent Jesus to die for our sins on the Cross.

Yet the “always” part in “rejoice always” might confuse us. Likewise, “to give thanks” in all circumstances might sound like we should thank God for the bad things that go on. It doesn’t mean that. We can face suffering in our lives. In times of suffering, we rejoice because we have a God who, in Jesus, knows what it is like to suffer and never leaves us alone. God is always with us. For this we rejoice.

The reading does not say give thanks for all circumstances. It says “in all circumstances.” We give thanks even in the midst of our suffering because we know that God is with us.

Our first reading from Isaiah speaks of what God does that we can be thankful for. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He has anointed us. Every Catholic is anointed with the Holy Spirit at Baptism and sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. The Lord brings “glad tidings to the poor.” He heals the brokenhearted and proclaims “liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.“

He is the joy of our souls and He clothes us “with a robe of salvation.” He brings justice to the world.

We have much to be thankful for.

Normally our responsorial psalm comes from the Book of Psalms. Today, it does not. It is from the Gospel of Luke. It is Mary’s words after she learns that she has been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus and has gone to visit her relative Elizabeth.

Mary’s words begin, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” It may sound like Mary is boasting with pride. That is not her intent. She speaks these words to give praise to God. She knows that from that day forward she will be called “blessed.” Yet, she knows this is not because of her own merit. Let’s hear the words of the first stanza together, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoice in God my savior for he has looked upon his lowly servant.“ She acknowledges and accepts her status as “blessed” but she knows she is blessed not by her own merit but because the Almighty has done great things for her.

We can be thankful to God for what He has done for us through Mary.

As Mary’s words of praise continue, she reminds us what we can be thankful for. We can be thankful for the mercy He shows us when we follow his way. We can be thankful when He fills “the hungry with good things.” We can be thankful for when He comes to the help of his servants, meaning us, as He remembers his promise of mercy.

We can be thankful that He sent John the Baptist to “testify to the light” and to call us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” We give thanks to God for the grace He gives us to do this.

Let us never “quench the Spirit” or despise “prophetic utterances.” We must test what we hear today to make sure it is in accord with God’s Will. When it is, we can rejoice in all that God does for us.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #19

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The Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 2

After the gifts of bread and wine have been brought to the altar, the priest holds up first the bread and then the wine and says (silently if music is being played), “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread (wine) we offer you:  fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life (our spiritual drink).”

We recognize that we have these gifts to offer only because of what God has given us.  We receive not in selfish greed but with the love God intends.  The seed God has given us must be planted and nourished until harvest.  This requires human work.  Then, we offer to God our best from what He has given us.