What’s It Going to Take to End the Violence?

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There is a lot of violence in the world today. We see the wars between Israel and Hamas, and the Ukraine and Russia. How many mass shootings have there been recently in our Untied States? Maine, Cincinnati…

What’s it going to take to end the violence?

Tears…

Yes, Tears…

How are tears going to help?

I don’t mean a few tears here and there. I mean deep, heartful tears by a lot of people. Tears that lead us to change the channel from the news to something else aren’t going to help. We need tears that come from the very depths of who we are. These are the tears that motivate us to do something.

How do tears help? When they come from the depths of our hearts, tears can lead us to see as God sees. “But the Lord said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). These tears can help us see what we might do to help the world become a better place. What do we pray in the Lord’s Prayer? “Thy kingdom come.“

Tears can help us see that present political divisions aren’t leading to good solutions, just more division. It is time to let go of our divisions. The divisions are full of hatred. Such divisions can’t lead us to find good solutions. The hatred takes up room meant for God in our hearts. The divisions become about winning, winning that is based on pride and proofing ourselves right.

Hatred only leads to more hatred. We see this in the anti-Semitic attacks presently going on even in the United States. The war between Israel and Hamas does not just effect them. It effects the whole world. It is very unfortunate that Christianity was seen as being against the Jews for so long. The Gospel of John can be read to interpret that all the Jews opposed Jesus. Of course, many did. But not all. The Jewish faith is the origin of our Christian faith. We worship the same God. It is time to stop blaming them for things. It is our sins that led to Jesus’ Crucifixion. It is time to stop the blame game with any group that we don’t agree with. It is time to truly love our neighbor with the love from our heart that leads us to tears.

Is the present condition of the world enough to make you cry from your heart?

Some think tears are a sign of weakness. Tears are only a sign of weakness if you think it is weak to love.

Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus and the lack of faith in others regarding Lazarus’ death (see John 11:35).

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem for the last time before his Passion, “he saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Jesus then said, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42).

Jesus gave us his mother to be our mother (John 19:26-27). Mary weeps for her children when she sees the violence we commit against each other. (If you search on the internet for stories of Mary weeping, you can readily find stories of statues of Mary weeping).

Mary weeps. Jesus weeps. God weeps. God is present at each act of hatred. He weeps at what we do to one another.

Then why doesn’t God stop it?

This is the question that many people ask. So, why doesn’t God stop it? Because we loves us.

Huh?

The fact that God loves us is the very reason we think He could stop the violence. To say He doesn’t because He loves this contradicts this. Can God stop the violence? Can God stop the hatred? Yes. However, to do so He would have to take away our free will.

Given the violence and the hatred in the world, it might seem like a good thing for God to take away our free will. I desire to give my will over to God. I pray we all would. However, that is different than God taking away our free will. Our desire to hand our will over to God’s is an act of trust in God. It is an act of love. However, if God takes away our free will, then we can’t love. Love is an act of our will. It must be our free choice or it is not love.

There are many, even among those who actively live a God-centered life, who aren’t yet willing to truly hand everything over to God. Are you? Are you willing to do whatever God asks of you? Are you willing to let go of every single bit of hate that you have against anyone and everyone?

Jesus wept. Mary wept. Do you weep? Do you weep from the depths of your heart?

What can you do to make the world a better place? What can you do for the building up of God’s kingdom?

First, hand everything over to God.

Then, ask God if there is something specific He wants you to do. Trust that God has given you the gifts to do whatever He asks of you. It might be as simple as saying you disagree with someone who thinks acts of hatred and acts against life are good and/or justified. It might be alerting the police to suspicious activity you see. It might be signing a petition for life. I write this on election day. Is your faith part of your decision about who to vote for?

It might be to offer a day of fasting for peace. What difference will fasting make? Who’s going to notice? It would be easy to say no one in Israel will ever know I am fasting. People may not notice. Who does notice? God notices. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:16-18, “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.“

The spiritual benefit of fasting is not about not eating as a physical act. It is about the love with which we sacrifice. The psalmist writes in Psalm 51:17-19, “Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.“

What’s it going to take to end the violence? Tears, tears that flow from the depths of our “contrite, humbled hearts” to God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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Jesus says, “Call no one on earth your father.”

His words are pure, simple, and clear. So, why do Catholics call priests “father”? Doesn’t this go against what Jesus said? Taken at face value, it would. We need to look at the context in which Jesus speaks.

This gospel passage begins, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.” They are leaders in the church. By the nature of their position, they have God-given authority. That’s why Jesus says, “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you.” What they teach is real.

So, what’s the problem?

Jesus continues, “but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not not practice.” On another occasions Jesus will call them hypocrites. They know what they say but they choose not to follow it themselves. As we read in the first reading, the priests were not listening and taking the Lord’s words to heart, even causing others to falter.

Here I would like to make a very important distinction. These particular scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus is speaking about have made a conscious choice in the way they live. Preaching one thing and choosing doing another is what makes them hypocrites. That doesn’t make everyone who falls short of doing what they are supposed to is a hypocrite.

We are human. We are weak. At times we fail to live up to the standard we teach. I know at times I don’t live up to what I preach. It’s not that I don’t try. I fall short. That’s why I go to confession myself. It’s also what makes it so that I can sympathize with those who come in need of God’s forgiveness.

The scribes and the Pharisees “tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” They elevate their own status. They think their position puts them above helping others.

What does all this have to do with Catholics calling priests ‘father”?

Titles are often used to bestow honor upon a person. The word “rabbi” means teacher. We call some people today “teacher” and we see nothing wrong with that. They are teachers. However, the people who Jesus is speaking about sought the titles for honor. They sought the prestige of the title. That is pride and pride is a deadly sin.

They sought “places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi’ out of pride. This is why Jesus said call no one “rabbi.”

The Jews still use the term “rabbi” today. No one faults them. We call our dads “father.” No one objects to that. So what’s the problem with calling Catholic priests “father”? Because some have sought it as an honor.

Protestants often call their ordained leaders “pastor.” The title signifies their role and can be fitting. However, one might seek for the honor. That would be no different than a Catholic priest wanting to be called “father” for the honor.

Is it an honor to be chosen by God to serve as a priest? Yes, but it is not an honor based on my own greatness. I am weak. I am not perfect. I can only be a priest because God bestows grace on me to do so.

When I hear the term “father” used, what I think of is responsibility. Being a priest is a huge responsibility. I am called to lead people to Jesus. I must not mess up and led them astray (see Ezekiel 3:17-21). I must not be a bad shepherd (see Ezekiel chapter 34).

If calling a priest “father” is not about honor, then why do we call them “father”? Why do we call someone a teacher? Because they teach us. It is their role to teach us. Why do we call our dads “father”? Because it is their role to care for us. Why do we call priests “father”? Because they are to watch over, protect, and teach their people like a father does for his children. Priests serve as our spiritual fathers.

Pray for your priests. Pray for me to do God’s Will in all things.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Mass of Remembrance

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Mass of Remembrance
Wisdom 3:1-9
Psalm 23
Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40
November 2, 2023

Tonight we gather to offer this Mass of Remembrance for our loved ones who died in the last year.  Some died as the result of an accident.  Some died of old age.  Some died of long-term illness.  Some died of a short-term illness

The constant in all of these is that they have passed from this world.  Without faith, “their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.”

That’s without faith.

Faith changes that.  With faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus we do not see earthly death as “utter destruction.”  With faith in Jesus our hope is “full of immortality.”

Christian hope is a source of strength in our grieving but we still grieve.  We know that “chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed” in Heaven. 

However, that doesn’t change the fact that we miss them.  The loss may be temporary until we share with them in the Resurrection but it is real. 

We might come tonight feeling like our faith must be weak or we would not be grieving.  That’s not true.  If you didn’t have faith, you won’t be here now.

We may find ourselves dealing with denial about how they died.  We may feel anger about the circumstances of their death.  We may find ourselves depressed because they are no longer with us.  These are real feelings.  They are natural as part of the “dark valley” that the Lord speaks of in the 23rd Psalm.

We come tonight to pray that our loved ones who were baptized in the name of Jesus may be “united with him in the resurrection.”

We come tonight to offer this Mass for them.  Why?

We know they have died.  We believe in the resurrection but before they can enter Heaven one thing remains, Purgatory. 

Some Catholics no longer believe in Purgatory.  I’m not sure why.  They seem to think Purgatory is a bad thing.  I don’t think that.  In fact, I see Purgatory as a gift (see my paper “Purgatory as a Gift That Gets Us in Shape for Heaven”).

It is a gift because it is something we need but don’t merit on our own.  We need it because in order to enter Heaven, we cannot have any remnant of sin in us.  Blessed are the clean of heart for they will see God.  However, we are not perfect.  At times, we sin.

Our sins are forgiven as soon as we confess them.  However, they have their effect on us.  Purgatory is the place where God “fixes us.” 

Thus, without Purgatory, we won’t be able to enter Heaven.  God made Purgatory for us.

Tonight we pray for them.  It is good to pray for them.  Tonight we pray for them in a special way in our celebration of the Eucharist.

We are in the midst of a Eucharistic Revival in our country.  The revival calls us to think about the significance of the Eucharist. 

What we celebrate in the Eucharist is not simply a series of prayers.  What we celebrate at the altar tonight is the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is the price Jesus pays so that we may be with him in Heaven.  We offer this sacrifice for our loved ones who have died in the last year.

Likewise, any time we have a Mass said for a deceased loved, we are praying for them in Purgatory.  A Mass intention is not just remembering them on their birthday, anniversary, or another date of significance.  In offering a Mass for them, we are offering the sacrifice of Jesus for their time in Purgatory.

This Mass also offers us something.  It reminds that Jesus’ love for us is absolute.  No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend (John 15:13).  Jesus loves you.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).

We receive strength in what we celebrate.  The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus.  It feeds us.

We may mourn the loss of our loved one but we are never alone.  Jesus is always with us.  God never abandons us.

Glory be to the Father, to the son, and to the Holy Spirit…

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #13

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The Liturgy of the Word – How the Readings Are Selected

Last week, we read about the importance of the Word of God.  Today we take a look at how the Sunday readings are chosen.  Every Latin Rite Catholic Church in the world uses the same readings each Sunday.

During the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter the readings are selected to correspond to the themes of the season.  In Ordinary Time, selected passages from one of the gospels is read in order.  Then, the first reading is picked to correspond to an idea presented in the gospel passage.  In turn, the psalm is selected to correspond with the first reading.  This helps us see the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In Ordinary Time, the second reading is selected independent of the other readings.  Letters from the New Testament are selected and read in semi-continuous sequence.

(Previous articles in this series can be found online at The Hidden Depths of the Mass #13)

All Saints Day – Homily

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All Saints
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a
November 1, 2023

Do you want to be a saint?

The first saints were all martyrs. 

They sacrificed their earthly lives for their faith.  The martyrs become powerful witnesses to the faith.  They serve as inspiration for us.  Their faith was publicly known and we venerate them for the example they are for us.

Over time the Church’s understanding of saints expanded to include all those we believe to be in Heaven. 

By the 7th century, the Church had come to speak of three types of martyrdom, red (what we normally think of as martyrdom, the giving of one’s early life), white, and green (see “3 Types of Martyrdom That Lead to a Heavenly Reward” by Philip Kosloski, 10/31/17, online at https://aleteia.org/2017/10/31/3-types-of-martyrdom-that-lead-to-a-heavenly-reward).

White martyrdom involves making great sacrifices for our faith but without dying.  I only learned of the “green martyrdom” yesterday.  Kosloski writes, “Green martyrdom consists in this, that by means of fasting and labor he frees himself from his evil desires, or suffers toil in penance and repentance.”

How much are you willing to sacrifice for your faith?

We are marked with the Sign of the Cross on our forehead at Baptism, an indelible mark is placed on us as we are made children of God.  We are sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.

The question is do we live what we believe.

Throughout the year we celebrate feasts of various saints.  Some are well-known while others we don’t know much about.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints.  Everyone who is in Heaven is a saint.  There are thousands of saints known by name.  There are millions, if not billions, of saints that we do not know by name.  Today we venerate them and ask them to pray for us.

Do you want to be a saint?

It is not easy. 

It requires faith.  Faith to do what?  We find the answer in the Beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Do not strive to make a name for yourself.  Surrender yourself in faith to God.

Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.

Ask for the grace to be “meek” so that you might persevere.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Seek not worldly ways.  Rather, seek what is righteous in God’s eyes.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Seek forgiveness for your sins so that your heart is clean.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Do not worry when the world rejects you for your faith.  God sees what is in your heart and has a place for you in Heaven.  We ask the saints to intercede for us, that we may follow their example in becoming like Christ.

A Response to a Question About Greed in Generous Situations

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The following is my response to Linda’s comment that she posted on my blog.  Here is her comment.

A topic I would like your opinion on is that of greed.  Although I know what I think greed is, maybe I’m just judging people which I know is wrong! 

At our parish we have a free clothes closet, frequent rummage sales which are by donation only, a blessing box and an active Christmas program with free gifts for children to choose and share with family members.

 I find it very “annoying” when a person comes and takes large amounts.  For example, people will come and literally take all the food in the blessings box instead of a few items.  Another example is parents pushing the child to take up to 11 gifts for a sibling instead of one.   Is this greed or need and am I judging or just reacting?

As volunteers we have discussed this but have no real solutions.

I am glad to hear that your parish has ministries to help the poor.  Jesus calls us to Corporal Works of Mercy in Matthew 25:31-46. 

It is natural for us to want to see our corporal works of mercy to be put to good use and to help the greatest number of people.  When we see people take more than what we think is reasonable, we might be “annoyed” because we think they don’t really need that much. 

Of course, the first thing I’m going to say, and Linda knows this because she asked, “am I judging,” is that it is not for us to judge.  We don’t know what they need is or what their background is.  Perhaps this hypothetical (but very real for some people) situation will put things into perspective.  Linda said sometimes parents push a child to take up to 11 gifts for a sibling.  If one has always been poor, one or two gifts can seem very generous.  However, imagine a family that had been well-off financially.  To them, 11 gifts might seem typical.  Now, the parents have lost their jobs and can’t afford what they used to.  So, they would be taking what seems normal to them.  I am not saying they should take 11 gifts.  I’m just suggesting another possible perspective.  I pray that they would come to a new perspective of how many gifts are reasonable, but their intent is not to be greedy.  They simply don’t know better.  Pray for them.

I would also pray that they come to think about what they need versus what they want in general.  I asked Linda what a blessing box is.  She sent me this link – https://www.chsblessingbox.org/who-we-are).

I like the rule they list, “One simple rule applies – Leave what you can, take what you need.”  I assume the “leave what you can” is directed to those who give items for others to take, but I wonder if it could help those who are in need of help to reflect on to remember not to take more than they need.  This might be the person taking 11 gifts or it might be the person who takes more food than we think warranted.

If the person is “new” to being poor, they may be used to purchasing large amounts of groceries.  This is what is normal for them.  I can’t imagine that the originators of the blessing box idea ever thought it would provide all the groceries that someone would need.  However, if the person is “new” to being poor, they may not know where else to go.  They may not know about the food pantry down the street that is designed to give them food for a couple of days.  Has anyone ever thought of putting brochures by the blessing box directing people to other places they can go for help?

Of course, I am posing hypothetical situations that provide reasons why a person/family might be justified in taking more than might seem reasonable.  It is entirely possible, especially with the Christmas gift box, that they are simply being greedy. 

What does it mean to be greedy?  The Catholic Culture Dictionary provides the following definition of greed, “Avarice or cupidity. It implies a controlling passion for wealth or possessions and suggests not so much a strong as an inordinate desire and is commonly associated with the lust for power” (found online at https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=33817#:~:text=Avarice%20or%20cupidity.,with%20the%20lust%20for%20power, Based on Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission, my emphasis).  Here I would like to distinguish between being “greedy” and “greed” as one of the Seven Deadly Sins.  Paul writes to Timothy, “For the love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Timothy 6:10).  When our desire for money, or in this case – gifts, becomes our “controlling passion,” we have allowed our greed to become deadly (mortal) sin.  On the other hand, to be “greedy” could involve venial sin but if one simply doesn’t know better, it would not be mortal sin.  It’s something to work on.  It is something to pray for guidance on but it is not meant to hurt others in need.

I hope this helps put things into perspective.  It is the unfortunate reality that some people do abuse the generosity of others and knowingly and willingly take more than they should.  Pray for them!

If you would like more on the idea of how much we might reasonably seek for ourselves versus remembering there are others in need, please read my article, “The Right to Private Property and Loving Our Neighbor.”  It helps provide an understanding of balance between the right to private property and the “universal destination of goods.”  You might also check out my blog article, “Greed and Envy.”

If you have more than enough, to motivate you to give, check out my article, “What Do You Have That You Don’t Need.”

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Two Things

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Once again, I will begin this week’s article with a brief discussion of the ongoing the conflict between Israel and Hamas (see my previous articles “Escalating Conflict,” 10/10/23, “The Importance of Building Relationships,” 10/17/23, “Is Life Being Respected” 10/24/23).

Israel has now begun sending ground troops into Gaza. They are attacking specific Hamas targets. They have rescued one hostage. With this next phrase in the “war”, I put forth the same question as before, is Israel’s response justified? There are more deaths, injuries, and destruction. Is it justified? I don’t know.

Some people may want to say it’s no different than what we did in Afghanistan and Iraq (the second time). I know I wonder that. This leads me to wonder about the “probability of success” criteria for just war (see my article “Just War Theory”). Were our efforts in Afghanistan successful? Who is in power now in Afghanistan? The Taliban.

I don’t know the answer. I do know we are called to learn from the past. I know the attacks by Hamas must be stopped. I ask the Lord to guide those involved to know how to bring peace to a very troubled situation.

That’s all I have to say for today. I’ve run out of ideas to write about. Is there something you would like me to write about in future articles? Is there something you have heard about in the news that you would like to know what the Catholic Church says about? Is there some Catholic teaching that you don’t understand? Now is your opportunity to ask a question.

At the end of this article, you will see a line of smaller print. In that smaller print you will see the word “comment.” If you click on that, it will give you the opportunity to post a comment. You may enter your comment or question there. Please note that your comment or question will not be publicly visible until I approve it (protection against spam). I’ll approve your comment and provide a response by either replying to your comment or by writing a new article if the length of my response warrants it.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 (2)
1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10
Matthew 22:34-40
October 29, 2023

“Thus says the LORD: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.”

The topic of immigration is a controversial one.  Opinions range from closing our borders to an open-door policy.  Questions arise about what we do with those who have already entered illegally. Who do we let in?  How many do we let in?

These questions are beyond the scope of what I feel called to preach on today but what is clear from our first reading is that we must care about immigrants.  Why?  Because almost all of us are descendants from immigrants.  Our ancestors came for various reasons.  We need to be mindful of the needs of immigrants today.

From immigrants, our first reading turns to widows and orphans. 

“You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.”

Why?  Because the same thing, the loss of a parent or spouse can happen to anyone.  We must be mindful of the needs of widows and orphans.

The first reading then offers thoughts on how we conduct our business.

“If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him.”

We should not extort people.  We shouldn’t demand their cloak as collateral. Why?  The Lord says, “for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body.”

If we want to be good Christian disciples, we need to think about how we treat immigrants, widows, orphans, and how we conduct business.

Why?

Because the way we do these things says something about our faith.

Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?

Hearing this we think of ten commandments.  The Jews thought in terms of 613 commandments.  Which one does Jesus say is the greatest?

Jesus does not point us to one of the Ten.  Jesus points us to Deuteronomy 6:5 when He says, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and will all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.”

We are to love God.  Loving God stands are the heart of the first three commandments to worship only one God, not taking his name in vain, and keeping the Sabbath holy.

Jesus continues, “The second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Commandments 4-10 are about loving others.  Honor thy parents.  Don’t kill.  Don’t keep adultery.  Don’t steal.  We don’t do these things to people we care about. 

Even if they are strangers to us, we should care about immigrants, widows and orphans.  We should care about those we do business with.

If you want a human reason why we should care, it is because we could end up in the same situation as them.

If you want the spiritual reason, even if they don’t know it, they are children of God.  They are our neighbors in God’s eyes and so we are called to love them.

Jesus tells us the greatest commandments are to love God and our neighbor.  I am not sure we know what it means to “love” today.

We love God as our strength, our fortress, our deliverer.  We can love God because in sending his Son Jesus to die for us, He delivers us from our sins.

But love is not just about getting.  Kathryn Hepburn once said, “Love have nothing to with what you are expecting to get – only what you are expecting to give – which is everything.”

Jesus died for us.  So, we have good reason to love him.

Our neighbors?  One might ask what they have done for us.  True Christian love does not start with what they do for us.  True Christian love starts with how care for them.  If you want to change the world, love your neighbor, care for their needs.

It isn’t always easy to love. Sometimes we need to tell people things they don’t want to hear. When that seems to be the case, first ask God to be sure you are thinking and seeing what is going on as He does. Then ask God if He wants you to say something and what to say. If God wants you to say it, it is the loving thing to do.

Paul preached Jesus to others because Paul wanted them to be saved.  Paul cared for others because he loved them as his neighbors.  We do well to imitate Paul.

In “imitate” I do not mean we should just “act” like him.  It means to become what he is an example of – what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to be like Jesus.

In becoming good Christians, we become a model for others.  Conversion is possible.  Love is possible.  Love is what we are created for.  May God grant us what we need to love him and our neighbor.

Updated – New Video – Made for Discipleship Part I

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I started my new series on discipleship, Made of Discipleship, yesterday. The video and slides for Part I are now available online at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/madefordiscipleshippart1 .

If you view it in the next couple of days, you can give me feedback by completing an online evaluation at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1RB6tN3yySwFvp9aQ2JN90BomDZ9WMnxT1vIk0IH2s_-mRQ/viewform?usp=sf_link .

You can register for Part II (Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 6:30 pm) at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e0WLAvAmTaCS1mAvn19FGQ . Part II will cover our relationship with God, Sacraments in relationship to discipleship, and the thresholds of discipleship.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #12

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The Liturgy of the Word
After the Collect (opening prayer), we begin the Liturgy of the Word.  This includes all the readings, the homily the Creed, and the Prayers of the Faithful (aka General Intercessions).  The readings we share are the inspired Word of God.  They were written down by human hands and thus are influenced by the humans but ultimately they deliver God’s message.  The Bible tells us the story of Salvation History.  It includes human sin.  Sin is the rejection of what God has taught us.  The Word of God tells us how over and over humans have turned away from God.  The good news is that every time we sin, God forgives us when we repent.  The gospels tell us that Jesus dies for our sins.  This starts at the heart of our faith.

(All previous articles in this series can be found online at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/bulletinmass).