Archives for June 2013

From the Pastor – June 30, 2013

Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1) As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day next week, we might reflect a little bit about what it means to be “free.” In the context of the Fourth of July holiday, freedom means being separated from the political control of a king as had been the case prior to the American revolution. But “freedom” means many things. Webster’s Dictionary has a very lengthy definition of freedom. In part it reads: “a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous.” In all of these … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – June 16, 2013

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.  (Lk 8:1) This Sunday’s Gospel recounts one story in the life of Christ.  It’s one visit to a household, one sinner anointing the feet of Jesus, one lesson taught, and one sinner forgiven.  When Jesus was on earth in the flesh, He limited Himself to being in one place at a time, and those encounters – so beautifully recounted in Sacred Scripture – reveal him reaching out and touching and healing specific individuals through the power of His love.  And Jesus was accompanied by the Twelve Apostles and some women who were witnesses to His love. After the Ascension and Pentecost, the Apostles obeyed the commands of Christ to go out to preach, sanctify (by the … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – June 9, 2013

As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Lk 7:12-13) This brief gospel story is filled with strong visual images.  There’s a large crowd, the gate of a city, a weeping mother, and the widow’s dead son.  It’s not something foreign to most of us who have experienced the untimely death of a young man. I experienced a similar experience Friday at the funeral of a friend, Rufus Brown who died of cancer at 57; his mother was present for the burial. So what are we to make of the scene with Jesus?  Much is expressed in one word in the Gospel.  The word is translated in … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – June 2, 2013

Brothers and sisters, I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." (1 Cor. 11:23-26) In terms of a feast in the Catholic Church, today’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ  (“Corpus Christi” in Latin) is a fairly recent one.  We all know that the Body and Blood of Christ are present at each Mass, but the addition of this special feast to … [Read more...]