September 14, 2014

Triumph of the Cross

September 14, 2014:  Exaltation of the Holy Cross

  • 'Rock' tie pin:  They remembered God was their rock (psalm)
  • Crucifix:  "Jesus became obedient to death, death on a cross." (2nd reading)
  • Red shirt:  color of today's feast
  • Tie with hearts:  "God so loved..." (gospel)
  • Not shown (cropped out)
    • Brown suspenders, slacks, socks, and sandals:  wood of the Cross
    • 'Kneeling person' tie bar (see here):  At Jesus' name every knee should bend (2nd reading)
    • 'Serpent' tie pin (see here):  God sent saraph serpents; Moses made a bronze serpent (1st reading); "As Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son be lifted up." (gospel)
Music
Pope Francis
Angelus:  The Father's gift of the Son resulted in Jesus' death on the Cross, necessary because of the evil that kept us slaves.  The Cross expresses both the negative forces of evil and the gentle omnipotence of God’s mercy; it appears to declare failure but marks victory.  His mockers said, "If you're God's Son, come down," but actually he was there because he was God's Son.
When we look to the Cross, we contemplate our salvation, God's love for each of us.  The Cross is the source of the God's mercy that embraces the world.  Through it, evil is overcome, death is defeated, and we're given life and hope.  It's our hope; that's why the Church 'exalts' it and why we bless ourselves with the sign of the cross.  We don’t exalt crosses, just the Cross of Christ, sign of God’s love and our salvation and journey towards the resurrection.
Remember and pray for those persecuted for their faith.  At the foot of the Cross, there was Mary, the Virgin of Sorrows we celebrate tomorrow.  To her I entrust the Church, so we may discover and accept the Cross's message of love and salvation.
Homily at today's marriage of 20 couples:  Imagine the journey through the desert:  families, people of all ages, some struggling, as the Church making her way today.  Think of families and their experiences:  mutual help, support, developing relationships, joys, difficulties.  Families are where we're first formed and also society's building blocks.
In the story, the people became impatient, complained, and were tempted to turn back.  Think of married couples who become impatient and weary, losing matrimony's flavor and not drawing water from the Sacrament's well.  In the story, during moments of disorientation, serpents came, many people died, and people turned to Moses, who prayed to God who offered the bronze serpent as remedy; God didn't destroy the serpents but offered an antidote.  Jesus identified himself with this symbol:  out of love the Father gave his Son, and the Son became man, became a servant, and died for us, and the Father raised him up and gave him dominion.  Whoever entrusts himself to Jesus receives God's mercy and healing.  God gave his Son to save spouses who become impatient, discouraged, unfaithful, or weak.  If they entrust themselves to him, he'll heal them by the love poured forth from the Cross, with grace to renew and restore.
Christ's love, which sanctified marriage, can sustain and renew its love and joy.  Marriage is about spouses walking together, helping each other to become their true selves.  It's demanding, not smooth or easy, but it's real life!   It's the Sacrament of the love of Christ and the Church, a love which finds its proof and guarantee in the Cross. 
Read
    Words of today's readings
    Click for animation
  • Nm 21:4b-9 People to God and Moses:  “Why have you brought us from Egypt to die?  We're disgusted with this wretched food!”  The Lord sent saraph serpents; many people died.  People:  “We sinned in complaining.  Pray that God take them away.”  Lord:  “Mount a saraph on a pole, and if any look at it, they will live.”  Moses did, and so it was.
  • Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-38  "Do not forget the works of the Lord!"  They sought him, remembering God was their rock and redeemer, but lied to him and were unfaithful.  He forgave them and turned back his anger.
  • Phil 2:6-11  Christ, though in the form of God, emptied himself, came in human likeness, humbled himself, obeyed to death on a cross.  God exalted him.  Every knee shall bend at Jesus' name, every tongue confess him as Lord.
    • Jn 3:13-17  Jesus to Nicodemus:  “As Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son be lifted up.  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.  God sent the Son to save, not condemn."
    Reflect
      • Creighton:  We exalt the cross of Christ, even choosing it as our central symbol.  Paul:  Jesus’ cross becomes the occasion for his transformation; his embracing the cross restored his divine dignity and glory. / God told Moses to mount a bronze serpent and assured him that whoever looked up at it would be saved.  (BTW the bronze serpent is the symbol of medical healing professions.)
      • One Bread One Body:  At the cross, our values change, and we get in touch with reality. We humble ourselves and share in Jesus' exaltation.
      • Passionist:  An alternate view of the 2nd reading is that Jesus emptied himself of the tendency to be self-absorbed, to grasp "equality with God," and in that emptying gave his life for us.  ("The Man for Others," Robinson, in A Theology of Christ:  Sources, ed. Zamoyta, 1967)  To follow Jesus, I must empty myself of the desire to be the center of everything, the 'god' of my life, empty myself of looking at others and creation in terms of what I can get from them.  "Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do thy will" (3rd step prayer, Alcoholics Anonymous "big book"4th ed., p. 63).  The world needs the gift of Christ, and God pours out the grace we need to become people for others.  May God empty us of the desire to gratify ourselves, and give us grace to follow Jesus, so all may know his love!

        • DailyScripture.net:   "The Son of Man must be lifted up" like Moses lifted the bronze serpent to restore those bitten by serpents (because of their refusal to follow God).  Jesus' death on the cross proved God's love for us, brought decisive victory, canceled our debt, released us from condemnation, and brought us new life.  God's love is limitless:  "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love." (St. Augustine)  God's love, rooted in truth, goodness, and mercy, frees us to love and serve.  Do I allow God's love to shape how I treat others? to transform my mind? to conquer whatever would enslave me?
        • Universalis:  We rejoice that God transformed something at terrible as the cross to the means of our redemption.  Christianity is not abstract:  God intervened in human affairs with a historical event involving real people and a real execution.
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        September 13, 2014

        John Chrysostom

        September 13, 2014:  St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor


        • 'Golden calf' tie pin:  "Avoid idolatry."  (1st reading)
        • 'Wheat' pin:  "The bread we break is a participation in Christ's Body" (1st reading)
        • 'Grapes' pin:  "The cup we bless is a participation in Christ's Blood" (1st reading); "People don't gather grapes from brambles" (gospel)
        • 'Tree' and 'fruit' pins:  "Good trees don't bear rotten fruit" (gospel)
        • 'Rock' tie pin:  "One who listens to and acts on my words is like one building on rock" (gospel)
        • 'Cups' tie:  "I'll take up the cup of salvation..." (psalm)
        • 'Phone' tie bar:  "...and call on the Lord's name" (psalm)
        • 'Medical' pin:  St. John Chrysostom, Church 'doctor'
        • Gold-colored accoutrements:  St. John "Goldmouth"
        • White shirt:  color of St. John's memorial
        Music
        Pope Francis homily at WWI memorial
        War is madness.  We're called to participate in God's work of creation, but war destroys, ruining human beings and fraternal bonds.  Distorted passion, greed, intolerance, and lust for power lead to war.  It's justified by an ideology, or merely, like Cain, “What does it matter to me?  Am I my brother’s keeper?”  War doesn't look directly at anyone.  Each had plans and dreams, but their lives were cut short.

        It's the opposite of what Jesus asks of us:  he's in the least; he's the one who hungers and thirsts, the stranger, the prisoner, the sick person....  Those who care for others enter into the Lord's joy; those who don't—who say, “What does it matter to me?”—are excluded.  The greedy, the power-hungry, arms manufactures and sellers, plotters of terrorism, schemers of conflicts, say, “What does it matter to me?”
        The wise must recognize errors, feel pain, repent, beg for pardon, and cry.  Merchants of war have lost the capacity to cry; “What does it matter to me?” prevents the tears.  Cain didn't cry, and Cain's shadow is here now.  Move from “What does it matter to me?” to tears for the fallen, for all victims.  Weep.
        Read
          Wordle: Readings 9-13-14
        • 1 Cor 10:14-22  Avoid idolatry.  Isn't the cup we bless participation in Christ's Blood and the bread we break participation in his Body?  We are one Body for we all partake of the one loaf....
        • Ps 116:12-13, 17-18  "To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise."  How shall I make a return to the Lord for the good he's done for me?  I'll take up the cup of salvation, call on the Lord's name, and pay my vows to the Lord.
        • Lk 6:43-49  “A good tree doesn't bear rotten fruit, nor a rotten tree good fruit.  Every tree is known by its fruit.  “Why do you call me Lord but not do what I command?  One who listens to and acts on my words is like one building a house on rock, but one who doesn't act is like one who built without a foundation....”
        St. John Chrysostom,
        Archbishop of Constantinople
        St. John Chrysostom ("Goldmouth")

         Reflect
          • Creighton:  It's not enough to listen to Jesus or even be in relationship with him; you must act.  When we are in a real love relationship with Jesus, the response can come naturally; “from the heart's fullness the mouth speaks.”  Consider that after each of the four points of The Contemplation on God's Love from the Spiritual Exercises (God’s gifts to me, God’s self-giving to me, God’s labors for me, God’s unceasing giving and gifting), St. Ignatius proposes my love response to be the Suscipe (see July 31). 
          • One Bread One Body:  If we're one as Jesus and the Father are, then the world will believe the Father sent the Son, God's plan will be fulfilled, and God's kingdom will have come.  Our unity is essential.  In one Spirit, we've been baptized into one body.  Because unity is necessary, so is Communion.
          • Passionist:  The trees/fruits analogy is in reference to false prophets who couldn't produce good fruit (Jer 23:9-40), true in Jeremiah's time, Luke's, and ours.  From the parable of the two houses:  Only if God is our foundation will we produce good fruit and be equipped for challenges.  Along the same lines, Paul asks whether eating meat sacrificed to idols builds up or tears down the body of Christ.  How do my actions affect my community?
          • DailyScripture.net:   The fig tree was the favorite (symbol of fertility, peace, and prosperity), grapes produced wine (symbol of joy), but thorns and brambles were only good as fuel for fire.  Charles Read:  "Sow an act and you reap a habit.  Sow a habit and you reap a character.  Sow a character and you reap a destiny."  Character grows over a lifetime.  Sound living produces good fruit.  Do I cultivate good fruit in my life?
          Proverb inspiring parable:  "After the storm, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm" (Pr 10:25).  The foundation we build on determines how we'll survive storms.  Our character is revealed in our choices.  Only practice proves sincerity.  How am I before God, myself, and others?
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          September 12, 2014

          Mary's holy name

          September 12, 2014:  Friday, 23rd week, Ordinary Time
          Holy Name of Mary


          • 'Wood block' tie pin:  plank/beam/log... (gospel)
          • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  ...in my eye (vs. speck/splinter in my brother's) (gospel)
          • 'Runner' tie pin [or is he holding a shot or bowling ball?]:  All the runners run, but only one wins (1st reading)
          • 'Car' tie pin:  "I 'drive' my body and train it" (1st reading) (would have used locomotive for 'train' if I had one :-)
          • 'Birds' tie:  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest (psalm)
          • Blue and green in shirt and suspenders:  blue for the Blessed Virgin Mary, green for Ordinary Time
          Music
          Pope Francis
          Homily:  Don't reprimand without love and charity.  You can't do surgery without anesthesia; charity is like an anesthetic.  Speak of another's defects privately with gentleness and love.  We must also speak truth.  Gossip hurts; it's a slap in the face, an attack on the heart.  Truth may not be nice to hear, but when spoken with charity, it's easier to accept.  We must also reprimand with humility:  remember you have more and bigger flaws!
          Fraternal reprimand heals the Church, mends a tear in its fabric.  If you can't do it with love, charity, truth, and humility, you'll offend, destroy hearts, add to gossip, and be a hypocrite.  When you feel delight when you see something wrong, be careful because that's not from the Lord; the Cross, the difficulty of doing a good thing, love, and meekness are.  A Christian who doesn't do things—even reprimand—in love, truth, and humility, is disqualified from the race, having failed to mature.  May God help us do this painful but beautiful service with love, truth, and humility, to help others.
          Read
          • 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27  Woe to me if I don't preach the Gospel!  I 've made myself a slave to win people over.  I've become all things to all, to save at least some.  All runners race, but only one wins.  Run to win.  Athletes exercise discipline to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
            Wordle: Readings 9-12-14
          • Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12  "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!"  I yearn for your courts.  I cry out for God.  Blessed they who dwell in your house!  Blessed those whose strength you are!  You bestow grace and glory and withhold no good thing from those who walk in sincerity.
          • Lk 6:39-42  “Can the blind guide the blind?  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but not the beam in yours?  How can you tell him, ‘Let me remove that splinter’ when you don't notice your beam?  Hypocrite!  Remove the beam first; then you'll see clearly to remove the splinter.”
          Holy Name of Mary
          • Holy people on Mary's holy name (paraphrased)
            • Alphonsus:  After Jesus' name, Mary's is so rich in good things, that from no other flow so much grace and hope.  Her name will cure all evil; every disorder yields to her name's power.
            • Richard of St. Laurence:  From no name after Jesus flows more power and salvation.  Invoking it leads to grace in this life and glory in the next.
            • Raymond Jordano:  Pronouncing the Virgin's name softens the hardest heart and gives strength to overcome temptation.
            • Methodius:  Your name is filled with grace and blessing.
            • Bonaventure:  If you pronounce her name devoutly, you'll receive grace.  Blessed those who love her name.
            • Thomas à Kempis:  Jesus' and Mary's names go together; keep them in your heart.  They're a short, sweet, easy, and powerful prayer.  When devils hear her name, they fly as from fire.
            • Bridget:  If you invoke her name and repent, the devil flies and angels approach.
            • Ephrem:  Mary's name is the key to heaven's gates.
            • Bernard:  Call on Mary in danger, perplexity, and doubt.
            • Germanus:  May my last word be Mary's name; sweet and safe the death so accompanied and protected.
            • Camillus de Lellis:  Remind the dying to utter the holy names.
            Reflect
              • Creighton:  How quick we are to note others' failings!  Insecurity may drive us to compare ourselves to others.  Pope Francis:  “Those who judge or speak ill of others are hypocrites because they lack courage to look to their own shortcomings.”  Rather than gossip, pray and do penance.
              • One Bread One Body:  We're all partially blind spiritually.  Because Jesus has saved us from spiritual blindness:  thank Him, accept his grace to overcome temptation, preach the gospel, become slave of all to win people over, do everything for the sake of the gospel, and discipline yourself so as to persevere.
              • Passionist:  Today:  "Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary."  We're begotten by the same Spirit that conceived her.  Allow her to speak to you.  And in that name, "I write your name on every common object, on the top flame of the fire / On my friend's forehead, on each body I love / On every outstretched hand, on absence without loving / On loneliness behind bars, on the stairway to heaven / On health won back, on danger passed, on baseless hope / I write your name/ And by the weight of one word I start my love all over again / I was born to know you and call you by name / Peace..." (Peace; see music section).  "Be it done according to Your will."
              • DailyScripture.net:   Bad eyes and blind guides lead to misery and disaster!  We need a physician to help us overcome our blindness.  Luke, a physician himself, portrays Jesus as the good physician and shepherd who seeks out those who desire healing and pardon.  Like a skillful doctor, the Lord exposes our sin so we can be freed and restored.  To be healed, submit to the healer.  The Lord wants us to be his instruments of healing.  It's easy to find fault in others, but a critical spirit crushes, oppresses, and repels.  Think the best of others.  What you give others will return to you.  Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace?  Flood me with Your love so I may show charity, forbearance, and kindness.
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              September 11, 2014

              Sept. 11

              September 11, 2014:  Thursday, 23rd week, Ordinary Time




              • 'Sandwiches' tie:  Meat is meat (1st reading)
              • 'Ruler' tie bar:  "The measure you measure will be measured to you" (gospel)
              • 'Penny pincher' button (oops, under jacket; see Aug. 16):  Lend expecting nothing back (gospel)
              • 'Car' tie pin:  "Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way?" (psalm)



              Music
              Pope Francis
              Homily:  Christian life is unconditional love in action.  Go on Jesus’ way, the way of mercy; we can only with a merciful heart.  We must get out of ourselves to give ourselves to others.  It's a gift, it's love; love is self-giving.
              The Lord asks us to not judge.  We're judging when we gossip or talk behind people’s backs.  The Christian life is the foolishness of the Cross of Christ; we need to renounce the cunning of the world to do what Jesus tells us.  He teaches us the way of magnanimity, of generosity. He came into the world not to judge, gossip, or pass judgment but to give and to forgive.  Being Christian isn’t easy; we need God's grace.  Lord, give me the grace to become a good Christian.
              "Roamin' Catholic" report
              We had family plans, so I attended a Sunday 7:30am Mass even though the parish website billed it as "quiet Mass."
              • Music:  I was surprised to see an organist, open piano, and about 10 sitting in the choir section, but nobody actually sang.  The keyboardist played All are welcome (entrance) and Praise to the Lord (exit) on organ, and Only this I want on piano (after Communion).
              He also accompanied a violinist who played something I didn't recognize at the preparation of the gifts) and the Air from Handel's Water Music Suite #1 in F (sheet music; see Bonus below) at Communion. (She was a bit off-pitch for the first but redeemed herself on the Handel.) I was a bit distracted because he went into and out of a door to the right of the sanctuary a few times during Mass; too bad he couldn't stay or find a less conspicuous way to duck out.
              • Irony:   I found it ironic that the "quiet Mass" had loud organ music and also bell-ringing.  (I'm no fan of bells during the Eucharistic Prayer, though GIRM 150 permits them; to me they highlight "magic moments" to the detriment of the Eucharistic Prayer's unity.)  Is "quiet Mass" code for "Mass with no singing"?  As one who loves assembly singing at Mass not just for the good reasons in Sing to the Lord:  Music in Divine Worship (e.g., 10-14, 24-27 including references), I prefer more opportunities to sing out but understand there may need to be other options.
              • Attaboy:   Presider chanted the Per ipsum/Through him, and everyone chanted Amen.  I appreciate this because the Great Amen is one of the key acclamations, and if you had to limit singing to one word, this is the one to pick.
              • Homily:  We received the commandments so we may pursue right relationships.
              (More Roamin' Catholic reports)
              Bonus:  Music search
              I recognized Handel's Water Music but didn't remember the suite or movement so looked for it online.  I found some music search sites, not like Shazam where you play a tune into your smartphone to get matches but rather sites where you can play an onscreen piano, whistle, or enter notes (A4C5FAGAC5F4AGC5...) or codes (UDUDUUDUDU...).  Music search has a long way to go to catch up with web search engines:  many sites gave errors or just didn't yield results even for common melodies like the beginning of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, but if you need to name that melody in your head, try these:
              If you know of another music search engine, please comment!
              Read
              • 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13  Knowledge inflates, but love builds.  Re eating meat sacrificed to idols:  there are no idols, so it's just meat.  But former idolaters weak consciences could be defiled, and if you wound them, you sin.  So I won't eat meat again so as not to cause my brother to sin.
              • Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24  "Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way."  Lord, you know my actions and thoughts.  You formed me from the womb, and your work is wonderful.
              Wordle: Readings 9-11-14
              • Lk 6:27-38  “Love your enemies; do good to and pray for those who hate or mistreat you, Offer your other cheek to one who strikes you on one, and your tunic to one who takes your cloak.  Do to others as you'd have them do to you.  Lend expecting nothing back; your reward will be great.  The Lord is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful like your Father.  Stop judging, forgive, and give; the measure you measure will be measured out to you.”
              Reflect
                • Creighton:  Paul:  Would eating meat slaughtered for pagan worship build the community's faith, or would Christians eating the meat be seen as lukewarm?  Think what would be most loving. / Jesus challenges his disciples to expand their notion of love:  let God’s generosity, forgiveness, and integrity show through; e.g. forgive and seek justice vs. take vengeance.  Who knows what transformation might occur if I allow God’s grace into my conflicts, struggles, and relationships?
                • Passionist:  Paul re meat sacrificed to idols:  there are no idols, so it's just meat, but if eating it causes scandal, forgo it.  Choose love.  St. Augustine: "In essentials, unity.  In non-essentials, freedom.  In all things, charity."
                • DailyScripture.net:   Treat others not as they deserve but as God wants, with mercy. God who seeks our good teaches us to seek others' good.  St. Augustine:  "Forgive and be forgiven; give and you'll receive:  two wings of prayer flying to God.  Pardon the offender, and give to one need.  Graciously and fervently perform this almsgiving (giving and forgiving), for we pray the Lord give to us and not repay our evil" (Sermon 205.3, 206.2, paraphrased).
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                September 10, 2014

                Sept. 10

                September 10, 2014:  Wednesday, 23rd week, Ordinary Time

                Apparel
                • 'Clock' tie bar:  "Time is running out" (1st reading)
                • 'World' tie:  "The world in its present form is passing away." (1st reading)
                • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "See and bend your ear" (psalm)
                • Gold-colored tie bar:  "Her raiment is threaded with spun gold." (psalm)
                • 'Bitten apple' pin:  "Blessed you hungry; you'll be satisfied" / "Woe to you full; you'll be hungry." (gospel)
                Music for the gospel
                Pope Francis

                Audience:  Mercy is essential to being Christian:  God sent his Son to save us, to give us his mercy.  "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."  Mercy brings us to seek the face of the person.  Mercy changes hearts and lives.  Mother Church acts like Jesus, teaching by example.  She teaches us to:
                • give to the hungry and thirsty, to clothe the naked—with the example of saints, and families that make an extra place at table and spare bed for those who need it.
                • be close to the sick:  So many assist the sick today in a hospital, nursing home, or their own home!
                • be close to prisoners:  They're no worse than we; each of us is capable of what they did.
                • stay close to the abandoned.  Blessed Teresa did on the streets of Calcutta, and many do when they shake hands with those about to leave this world and open Heaven's gate for them.  Mercy gives peace to those who leave and those who remain.  Blessed Teresa took dying people home so they'd die clean, in peace; she bade them farewell!
                We thank God, who gives us Mother Church who teaches us the path of mercy, the path of life.  She learned this essential path from Jesus.  We must do good to those who can't reciprocate.  How much did we pay for our redemption?  Our Father did good without waiting for a return; so must we.  Go do some good!

                Read

                • 1 Cor 7:25-31  My opinion re virgins:  because of the present distress, it's good to remain as you are.  If you're bound to a wife, don't seek separation.  If you're free of a wife, do not look for one; if you marry you don't sin but will experience affliction....  The world in its present form is passing away.
                • Lk 6:20-26  “Blessed are you:  poor; the Kingdom is yours.  ...hungry; you'll be satisfied.  ...weeping; you'll laugh.  ...when people hate, exclude, insult, and denounce you...; your reward will be great.  But woe to you:  rich; you've received your consolation.  ...full; you'll be hungry.  ...laughing; you'll grieve.  ...when all speak well of you....”

                Reflect
                • Creighton:  Feel the “blessings” that come with our reliance on God.  If we feel content with our earthly wealth, how can we develop dependence on God?  Hunger/weeping implies need.  When we overcome poverty, sorrow, hunger, or insults, through relying on God, we'll find joy.
                • One Bread One Body:  Paul tries to keep single people free to devote themselves to Christ in stressful times.  Time is short...
                • Passionist:  Paul was convinced the world ending soon so thought marriages wouldn't have time to grow, but St. Peter was married, as were many disciples, priests, bishops, deacons, and other ministers in the Church's first millennium.
                • DailyScripture.net:   How do I respond to misfortune, grief, or loss?  Jesus gave us a way to transcend difficulty, but it demands transformation from within to empty ourselves of what would shut God out.  Do I know the joy of hungering for God alone?
                St. Ambrose:  "See how Luke encompassed the eight blessings in four.  There are four cardinal virtues:  temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude.  One who is poor in spirit is not greedy.  One who weeps is not proud but submissive and tranquil.  One who mourns is humble.  One who is just does not deny what he knows is given to all.  One who is merciful gives away his goods.  One who bestows his goods does not seek another's.  The virtues are interwoven.  Where virtue abounds, so too the reward.  Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice compassion, patience peace, and endurance gentleness." (St. Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 5.62–63, 68, paraphrased).
                • Universalis:  St. Ambrose Barlow OSB, priest, martyr:  “Let them fear that have anything to lose they're are unwilling to part with.”  St. Egwin, bishop; Bl. Agnellus of Pisa, Franciscan priest
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                September 9, 2014

                Peter Claver

                September 9, 2014:  St. Peter Claver, Priest

                • 'Scales of justice' tie:  courtroom analogy (1st reading)
                • 'Phone' tie bar:  Jesus 'called' the Apostles (gospel)
                • 'Medical' pin:  Jesus healed all the sick (gospel)
                • White shirt:  color of St. Peter Claver memorial

                Music (note the contrast re psalm settings)
                Pope Francis

                Homily:  Moments in Jesus' life:
                • Praying:  He's before the Father now praying for us.  This is our strength: to be able to say to the Father, ‘But if you, Father, will not consider us, consider your Son who prays for us.’ From the first moment Jesus prays: He prayed when He was on earth and He continues to pray now for each one of us, for the whole Church.”
                • Choosing the Apostles:  The Lord chose and called me on my day of Baptism.  Paul:  "He chose me, from my mother’s womb."  Jesus loves and chooses sinners; he even chose Judas!
                • Close to people:  He's not a distant professor, teacher, or mystic; he lets people touch and speak with him.
                Trust our Lord:  he prays, chose us, and is close.

                Read
                  Wordle: Readings 9-9-14
                • 1 Cor 6:1-11  It's a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another.  Instead of putting up with injustice and letting yourselves be cheated, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers.  The unjust won't inherit the Kingdom!  You've had yourselves washed and were sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and in the Spirit.
                • Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b  "The Lord takes delight in his people."  Sing praise to the Lord; rejoice in your maker and king.  The Lord loves his people and adorns the lowly.
                • Lk 6:12-19  After Jesus spent the night in prayer to God, he called his disciples, whom he named Apostles:  Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.  A crowd of disciples and others came to hear him and be healed.  Everyone sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.
                St. Peter Claver, S.J.
                St. Peter Claver and more, thanks to Universalis
                • St. Peter Claver, "slave of the Negroes forever," attending to their spiritual and material needs.  He brought food to the ships, instructed and baptized slaves, followed their progress, and tried to defend them. He organized catechists and worked in hospitals and prisons.  Many inside and outside the Church opposed him.
                More saints:  St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise; St. Osburg, abbess.
                Reflect
                  • Creighton:  Jesus descends to the people awaiting him below as Moses descended from Sinai to the Israelites (Ex 19-20), but he calls others first and names them Apostles, expecting service and growth from them.
                  • Passionist:  Today's gospel precedes Luke's version of the Beatitudes.  Jesus calls the Apostles, unformed, without giving details of their work. / St. Peter Claver worked 40 years among slaves, meeting their ships in Columbia.  He described his vocation as ‘slave of the slaves.'  What's my calling?
                  • DailyScripture.net:  People heard what Jesus did and came to him, hungry for God and healing, and he healed them.  Jesus offers freedom from sin and oppression to all who seek him.  How do I respond to Jesus?
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                  September 8, 2014

                  Mary's birth

                  September 8, 2014:  Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary


                  Apparel
                  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  "He shall shepherd his flock" (1st reading)
                  • 'Clocks' tie:  Time passing during genealogy (gospel)
                  • 'Dove' necklace:  “It's through the Holy Spirit that [Jesus was conceived in Mary].” (gospel)
                  • Blue shirt ("Blessed Mother blue")
                  Music
                  Pope Francis
                  Homily:  When we read Genesis, we can think God was a magician, but he's the Creator!  God made things and allowed them to develop to fullness.  The Lord gave autonomy but not independence.  When he created us, he gave us freedom and made us responsible for creation.
                  In Jesus' genealogy, there are saints and sinners, but history continues because God willed our freedom.  God walks patiently with saint and sinner alike.  God wants us to be conformed to his Son.  From the hour he gave us freedom—not independence—he walks with us.  God was in Bethlehem with Joseph and Mary because he wants to walk with everyone.  "Do not fear the great things, but also have regard for the small, this is divine" (Thomas Aquinas).
                  Look at the story of Mary, the baby to become the Mother of God, and ask:  "Do I let God walk with me, or do I walk alone?  Do I let Him caress, help, and forgive me and carry me to encounter Christ?  Do I let God be patient with me?"...
                  Read
                  • Mi 5:1-4a  From you, little Bethlehem, shall come the ruler in Israel; he shall shepherd his flock by God's strength, in God's name; his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.
                  • Rom 8:28-30  All things work for good for those who love God.  Those he foreknew he predestined to be conformed to his Son's image, called, justified, and glorified.

                  • Ps 13:6  "With delight I rejoice in the Lord."  I sing, “The Lord has been good to me.”

                    Wordle: Readings 9-8-14
                  • Mt 1:1-16, 18-23  The genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and his brothers, Perez and Zerah (Tamar's sons), Hezron, Ram, Amminadab.  Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz (Rahab's son), Obed (Ruth's son), Jesse, David the king.  Solomon (son of Uriah's wife), Rehoboam, Abijah, Asaph.  Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah.  Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah.  Manasseh, Amos, Josiah.  Jechoniah and his brothers.  After the Babylonian exile:  Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud.  Eliakim, Azor, Zadok.  Achim, Eliud, Eleazar.  Matthan, Jacob, Joseph (Mary's husband), Jesus.

                  Before Mary and Joseph lived together, she was found with child.  An angel told Joseph,“Don't be afraid to take Mary; she conceived through the Spirit and will bear a son to save people from their sins.”  This fulfilled the prophecy, The virgin shall bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, “God with us.”
                  Bonus
                  Reflections
                    • Creighton:  In difficulties, may we trust and ponder as Mary did.
                    • Passionist:  Church history teaches Mary was born of Anne and Joachim who thought they wouldn't be able to have children. / We don't like to wait, but let's follow the example of the Israelites who throughout the genealogy waited for the Messiah.
                    • DailyScripture.net:  Mary and Joseph are models of faith for us:  she trusted in God's promises; he believed the angel's message. / The genealogy is arranged in three sections:  father Abraham to King David, then to the shame of the Babylonian exile, then to Jesus.  God fulfilled his promises to Abraham and David to send a Savior.  Do I recognize your spiritual genealogy and accept God as Father and Jesus as my Lord?
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