September 20, 2014

Sept. 20

September 20, 2014:  "Korean Martyrs":
SS. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest,
Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs


Look
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "What you sow is ... a bare kernel of wheat" (1st reading)
  • 'Sparkling body' pin (oops, forgot; see here):  "'What kind of body will the dead have when they're raised?'  You fool!" (1st reading)
  • 'Bird' tie pin:  Birds ate the seed that fell on the path (gospel)
  • 'Rock' pin:  Seed that fell on rocky ground withered (gospel)
  • 'Roses' pin:  Thorns choked the seed that fell among them (gospel)
  • 'Apple' pin:  Seed in good soil bore abundant fruit (gospel)
  • Red in shirt:  Korean martyrs
  • Brown slacks, belt, and sandals:  wood of the Cross (Sunday and Monday readings)
Listen
Pope Francis on the Economy

To the 2nd Catholic Social Days for Europe (in Madrid):  Find ways to bring Gospel light to pressing issues like youth unemployment and popularism.  Pursue holiness through personal prayer and conversion, and offer coherent, joyful witness to awaken consciences that temporal goods and society must serve the human person and their ultimate fulfilment in God.  A Church that attends to the needs of the suffering proclaims truth and salvation to those who hunger for life and those who “call you to account for the hope in you” (1 Pet 3:15).

Read

  • 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49 You fool if you ask, "How are the dead raised?"!  The dead will be raised incorruptible, glorious, and powerful as spiritual bodies.  As we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly one.
  • Ps 56:10c-12, 13-14  "I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living."  I trust in God who rescued me and is with me.
    Wordle: Readings 9-20-14
  • Lk 8:4-15  “As a sower sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds ate it, some fell on rocky ground and withered, some fell among thorns and got choked by them, and some fell on good soil, grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.  Hear!  Meaning:  The seed is God's word.  Those on the path heard, but the Devil took away the word.  Those on rocky ground received the word with joy but have no root and so fall away.  Those that fell among thorns heard, but life's anxieties and riches choke them.  Those that fell on rich soil embrace the word with a generous heart, persevere, and bear fruit.
Reflect
    • Creighton:  The Korean Church spread mainly entirely through the agency of laypeople who heard about the Christian faith through Jesuits in China.  Only the receptive soil is fruitful.  When we align our desires and actions with Jesus, we nourishes the Seed bringing forth God’s Reign.  To do so, we must pray so the word finds a home in us.
    • One Bread One Body:  If we took Jesus' promise of the hundredfold seriously, we'd show more reverence to God's word, read it daily, share it with family, and be transformed by it.
    • Passionist:  St. Andrew Tae-gŏn is tied closely to the foundation of Christianity in Korea.  Rulers not pleased to have this "foreign" religion in Korea outlawed it and persecuted adherents.  St. Andrew's parents remained faithful to Christianity.  Andrew, first Korean to become a priest, returned home after ordination to help organize the Church and bring the sacraments to the faithful but only lasted a year before being martyred.  May the faith of him and those martyred afterwards inspire us to be faithful and give fearless witness in our daily life.
    • DailyScripture.net:  Prejudiced hearers of the Word close their minds, shallow ones don't think things out or through and so wander, and scattered/preoccupied ones don't hear what's important, but God is ready to give us understanding.  A receptive heart and mind that listens attentively, tuning out distractions, can hear God and being transformed.  What do I pay most attention to?
    • Universalis:  Korea had been closed to outside influences including contact with foreigners, but some laymen learned of Christianity and were converted.  Some 10,000 were martyred in the first century thereafter. “The death of these martyrs became the leaven of the Church and led to today’s flowering of the Church in Korea.  Their spirit sustains the Christians of the Church of Silence in the north.” –Pope John Paul II as he canonized the Korean Martyrs
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    September 19, 2014

    Sept. 19

    September 19, 2014:  Friday, 24th week, Ordinary Time

    Listen


    The trumpet shall sound, from Part III of Messiah/ Handel (1st reading)
    If Christ had not been raised from death/ Idle (lyrics+) (or to tune of I heard the voice of Jesus say) (1st reading)
    Shadow of my wings/ Fabing [full, longer than the video at left] (psalm)
    Look
    • 'Plane' tie pin:  "Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another" (gospel)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  "Lord, I call you" (psalm)
    • Green in shirt:  Ordinary Time (season)
    • Brown suspenders, slacks, sandals, and socks:  Wood of the Cross (Sunday and Monday readings)
    Pope Francis homily

    Paul corrected the Corinthians' (and Athenian Greeks') misconceptions about the resurrection of the dead; they resisted the Spirit's work of transforming us into the Resurrection.  We too resist the notion of transformation of our bodies; it's hard for us to go beyond "I want to go to heaven" to "I'll rise as Christ did."  We fear our resurrection, the transformation at the end of our Christian journey, but since the essence of Christian identity is being with the Lord in body and soul, our resurrection completes our identity.  Christian identity is a journey on which we are with the Lord.  We're called to be with the Lord all our life, in order to remain with him forever.

    Read
    • 1 Cor 15:12-20  How can you say there's no resurrection of the dead?  If not, Christ hasn't been raised, our preaching and your faith are empty, we're liars, you're still in your sins, and we're pitiable.  But Christ has been raised from the dead!
      Wordle: Readings 9-18-14
    • Ps 17:1bcd, 6-8b, 15  "Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full."  Lord, I call you; attend to my outcry, and show your mercies.  Hide me in the shadow of your wings.  I'll be content in your presence.
    • Lk 8:1-3  Jesus journeyed from one town to another, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom.  The Twelve, some women he cured, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susana, and others accompanied him.
    Reflect
      • Creighton:  About Mary Magdalene, thanks to Fr. Saunders CatholicCulture.org page:  Since 604, the Church has taught Mary Magdalene of today's gospel (7 demons cast out), the penitent woman of Lk 7:36-50, and Lazarus and Martha's sister Mary [of Bethany] are the same person, but the Eastern Church teaches they're different.  See the links for a good case for the former.
      • One Bread One Body:  Jesus' resurrection is the heart of the gospel (2 Tm 2:8).  We celebrate the risen Christ at Mass, by witnessing, and by living as his disciples.  We've been raised with him through Baptism (Col 3:1; Eph 2:6).  Rise and shine!
      • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus had freed Mary Magdalene from seven demons; Joanna was Herod's CFO's wife.  Jesus and his message transformed them both.  Am I willing to serve Jesus quietly and generously like them?  Jesus himself came not to be served but to serve....
      • Universalis:  St. Januarius, bishop and martyr?  See Catholic Encyclopedia.  St. Theodore of Tarsus (now Turkey), monk, ordained priest at 65, bishop, reformer, scholar
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      September 18, 2014

      Sept. 18

      September 18, 2014:  Thursday, 24th week, Ordinary Time

      Listen

      Look

      • 'Silverware' tie bar:  "A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him..." (gospel)
      • 'Feet' tie:  "...and began to bathe his feet with her tears." (gospel)
      • Brown suspenders, slacks, sandals, and socks:  wood of the Cross (Sunday and Monday readings)

      The Pharisee judged both Jesus and the woman, thinking if Jesus were a prophet, he'd know who she was.  He's not a bad man; he just couldn't understand her gesture.  Maybe he'd forgotten how to caress a baby or console a grandmother.  Jesus rebuked him with humility and tenderness; with patience and love he explained her gesture and pointed out the Pharisee’s lack of courtesy.  And he told the woman: "Your sins are forgiven...."  He said "Your faith has saved you" only to the woman who admitted and wept for her sins, not to the ones who didn't believe they were sinners.  Salvation only enters when we open our hearts to the truth of our sins.
      The privileged place to encounter Christ is in our sins.  Paul boasted only of his sins and Christ who saved him.  Acknowledging our sins opens us to the Lord’s caress, forgiveness, and salvation.  Jesus told the hypocrites, "Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom before you."  Those who feel themselves sinners encounter Jesus, who gave His blood for us all.
      Read
      • 1 Cor 15:1-11  Through the Gospel you're being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached.  Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised in accordance with the Scriptures; he appeared to Cephas, then the Twelve, then more than 500, then James, then the Apostles, then me.  I'm unfit to be called Apostle because I persecuted the Church, but I am by God's grace....
        Wordle: Readings 9-18-14
      • Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good."  His mercy endures forever.  I'll live and declare God's works....
      • Lk 7:36-50  A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him.  A sinful woman came, bathed Jesus' feet with tears, wiped them with her hair, and kissed and anointed them.   Pharisee:  "If he were a prophet, he'd know she was a sinner.”  Jesus / Simon:  “One owed five hundred days’ wages, another fifty.  Neither could repay, and the creditor forgave them both.  Who will love him more?” / “I suppose the one who owed more.” / “Right.  This woman bathed my feet with her tears and kissed and anointed them.  Her sins have been forgiven; she showed great love.  But the one forgiven little loves little.”  To her:  “Your sins are forgiven.  Go in peace.”  Others:  “Who is this who forgives sins?”
      Reflect
        • Creighton:  The Pharisee felt obliged to host Jesus but did so begrudgingly:  he didn't wash Jesus' feet, and he criticized his judgment of character.  The sinful woman, dismayed the host didn't wash Jesus’ feet (and so insulted him and disgraced the village), burst into tears, washed Jesus’ feet, and broke taboos by letting down her hair.  Jesus says the woman had been forgiven, and her loving reaction (to the host’s discourtesies) was the result.  Maybe we don't realize how we've been forgiven; otherwise we wouldn't let anything stand in the way of our serving those in need...
        • One Bread One Body:  Our identity, like Paul's, is based on God's grace, on our relationship with Jesus, not our job...
        • Passionist:  Jesus saw into the woman's heart; Simon looked at her externals and saw a sinner.  Jesus saw love; Simon, her bad reputation.  Jesus welcomed her; Simon criticized her.  We take comfort that Jesus sees our desire, not our failures or limitations.  If we love, we can hope and long for Jesus telling us, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
        • DailyScripture.net:  The woman's forgiveness- and gratitude-fueled extravagant love for Jesus motivated her action.  She spent the most precious thing she had on Jesus.  The parable of the two debtors parable is similar to that of the unforgiving official (Mt 18:23-35) where the forgiven servant was unforgiving.  Great love springs from a forgiven heart.  "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Pet 4:8).  Love motivated the Father to send Jesus to offer his life for us.  Do I accept God's mercy?
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        September 17, 2014

        Bellarmine

        September 17, 2014:  Wednesday, 24th week, Ordinary Time
        St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor

        • 'Children' pin:  "When I was a child, I used to talk, think, and reason as a child" (1st reading); "These people are like children who call, ‘We played, but you didn't dance..." (gospel)
        • Tie with guitars/basses:  "Sing a new song; pluck the strings skillfully" (psalm)
        • 'Apple' (food) tie pin:  "The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘A glutton and a drunkard!’" (gospel)
        • 'Owl' tie pin:  "Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” (gospel)
        • Brown suspenders, slacks, sandals, and socks:  wood of the Cross (Sunday and Monday readings)
        Look and listen

        • More Ps 33 hymns
        Pope Francis Audience

        The Church is "catholic" (universal) and apostolic (missionary).  The Spirit gave the Church the gift of proclaiming the Good News to all.  The Church is everywhere, teaching the whole truth.  The Church is called to show God's tenderness and power.  The Spirit compels us to encounter others, even those distant from us, and share God’s message of love, peace, and joy.  We go forth, impelled by the life-giving Spirit, who prevents us from being self-absorbed, thinking God's blessings are for us alone.  Go forth!  It's good and courageous.  May we live in solidarity with humanity, go announce Christ and his love to all, and be a sign of the Church:  holy, catholic and apostolic.

        Read
          Words of today's readings
          (Click here to animate)
        • 1 Cor 12:31-13:13  If I speak in tongues or have gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and faith, but not love, I'm nothing.  If I give away all I own, even myself, but don't have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, kind, not jealous, pompous, inflated, rude, self-seeking, quick-tempered.  It rejoices at the truth, bears, believes, hopes, endures, and never fails.  I used to talk, think, and reason as a child, but I grew up and put those ways aside....  Faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest is love.
        • Ps 33:2-3, 4-5, 12, 22  "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own."  Sing to the Lord a new song.  God's word is upright, his works trustworthy.  He's kind and loves justice and right.
        • Lk 7:31-35  “The people of this generation are like children who call, ‘We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a dirge, but you didn't weep.’  For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and you said, ‘He's possessed,’ but the Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘A glutton and a drunkard!’  But wisdom is vindicated...”
        St. Robert Bellarmine
        Reflect
          • Creighton:  Love gives meaning to prophecy, works of charity, and self-sacrifice.  Love takes us to greater things and full knowledge.  Jesus:  “No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  How do I respond to God's love (see Contemplatio ad amorem)?  Do my actions flow from love?

          • One Bread One Body:  Am I growing in love?  "The way we understand love:  Jesus laid down his life for us; we must lay down our lives for each other."  Love is a commitment, not a feeling.  God is Love.  Live in love.
          • Passionist:  Love is a choice, the greatest thing, the force that turns the world, but the 'tit-for-tat love' we often see leaves no room for brokenness and unconditional acceptance.  Christ calls us to selfless, inclusive, unbounded love.  Our love isn't perfect, but we can hope and strive to follow Christ's example of outpouring.  "Human love is broken.  When our broken love all we have, we can despair, but when we live our broken love as a partial reflection of God's love, we can forgive one another and enjoy the love we have." (Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, paraphrased)
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          September 16, 2014

          Cornelius & Cyprian

          September 16, 2014:  SS. Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs

          • 'Sparkling body' tie pin (forget how I've used it as a skeleton):  "The body is not a single part, but many.  You are Christ’s Body." (1st reading)
          • 'Sheep' tie bar:  "We are his people: the sheep of his flock." (psalm)
          • 'Music' tie:  "Sing to the Lord" (psalm)
          • Red in shirt:  martyrdom of SS. Cornelius and Cyprian
          • Brown suspenders, slacks, and sandals:  wood of the Cross (Sunday and Monday readings)
          Music

          Pope Francis homily

           Jesus was close to the widow.  He understood the heart and drew near to people.  "The Lord was moved with great compassion," the compassion that moved him at Lazarus's tomb and when he saw people like sheep without a shepherd.  Closeness and compassion:  this is how the Lord visits, and it's how we should proclaim the Gospel, how to bring forth Jesus' word.  The preachers in his time taught well but distanced themselves; the people didn't feel it as grace.  And when God visits, he restores hope.  If you preach but fail to sow hope, it's vanity.  May our Christian witness bring the closeness of God that sows hope.

           Read
          • 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a  As a body is one though it has many parts, so too Christ.  In one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body and drink of one Spirit.  Some people God has designated to be, Apostles, prophets, teachers, mighty deeds, healing, assistance, administration, and tongues.  Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
            Wordle: Readings 9-16-14
          • Ps 100:1b-5  "We are his people: the sheep of his flock."  Sing joyfully to the Lord; serve him with gladness.  The Lord is God; enter his courts with praise and thanks.  His kindness and faithfulness endure.
          • Lk 7:11-17  As Jesus drew near to Nain, a dead man was being carried out, son of a widow.  When the Lord saw her, he said, moved with pity, “Don't weep.”  He touched the coffin:  “Young man, arise!”  He began to speak.  They glorified God:  “A great prophet has arisen; God has visited his people.”  The news spread through Judea and beyond.
          Today's Saints, via Universalis
          St. Cornelius
          St. Cyprian
          "Roamin' Catholic" report

          Two colleagues told me last week about a Mass they attended they considered outstanding, so I attended it Sunday (a week before our choir and ensemble return to our 9am Mass).  As I parked, many were leaving the school, presumably after religious education, so my hopes were high for an engaged community at Mass.  I was not disappointed:

           Music ministry
          • Who, what, and where:  The choir of about 15 was in the loft with organ and director; the cantor was at the podium.  All were appropriately audible, not overpowering.  Cantor had good gestures and made good eye contact; too bad he was late to the podium a few times.  We were also blessed with a singing presider who stayed on pitch almost everywhere.  Assembly singing was generally strong.  I spoke with cantor and organist after Mass, both long-timers at the parish; they said it took years to happen and they thought it really helped that the presider sang along.  (At some parishes the presider's mike is set high and never adjusted, so his singing overpowers assembly and choir alike; fortunately that wasn't the case at this Mass.)
          • Heritage Mass/ Alstott (Gloria, Sanctus, Mystery of Faith):  easy-to-sing parts, except that the assembly got lost during the Gloria, likely because of the complementary part the choir was singing)
          • Kyrie and Agnus Dei from Missa L'hora Passa/ Viadana (choir only) [lovely I prefer assembly singing for the Lamb of God, but this was lovely
          • Psalm:  Gelineau-style supplanted by choir descant at the end.  [I just wish it had been proclaimed from the ambo to link it more tightly with the other readings, instead of from podium; they're equidistant from the choir loft.]
          • The Our Father was well chanted.  It was also accompanied on the organ (with chords), a practice they might have considered necessary so we don't go flat, but I prefer a cappella here.
          • Choir-sung Communion antiphon ("Per signum Crucis...")
          • "Order of worship" A 5½-by-8½" sheet in the pew identified the ministers and music. (Good thing, since I didn't recognize the Viadana :-)

           Other ministries/ministers:  The readings were excellent; lector kept a natural pace, honored texts' phrases, and even made eye contact with us.  Homily was on-point and included some humor (e.g., the Israelites complained there was bad Wi-Fi—funnier in context then than here).  He referred to St. Alphonsus Ligouri's Way of the cross ("We adore you, O Christ...").  I appreciated his introducing the Pregnancy Counseling Center volunteer and practically cried hearing the wonderful work she shared about; I would've appreciate it even more if it were after the homily or during announcements instead of at the beginning.  On this "liturgical dress" blog I'd be remiss in omitting that the ministers were well-dressed, in line with their responsibilities.  Children were invited up before the final blessing for pastor's personal greeting and a handout.  (To pick a nit, the table beside the presider's chair was "busy" with binders and papers; it was a bit jarring when contrasted with the relatively plain sanctuary.)  More reports

           Reflect
            • Creighton:  We have an obligation to use our gifts in the service of the one body, and we need to encourage and accept others' gifts.  What can I do to become more aware of and develop my gifts?  How can I better share my gifts?  How do I encourage others to share theirs?
            • One Bread One Body:  According to the law of Moses, Jesus became unclean by touching the dead man, but he touched him and gave him life.  Jesus without being asked had mercy on the widow and raised her son to life, foreshadowing his saving death on the cross.  No one asked God to send his Son to die for us, but he looked on us with mercy.
            • DailyScripture.net:   The widow lost her loved ones and her future security; Jesus was moved with compassion and restored the son's life; it happened near where Elisha raised another son back to life (2 Kgs 4:18-37).  Jesus promises abundant life to all who believe.
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            September 15, 2014

            Our Lady of Sorrows

            September 15, 2014:  Our Lady of Sorrows


            • 'Abacus' tie pin:  "I hear that when you meet there are 'divisions' among you" (1st reading; you can divide on an abacus)
            • 'Wheat' pin:  "Jesus took and broke bread" (1st reading)
            • 'Grapes' pin:  "This cup is the new covenant in my Blood....  As often as you... drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." (1st reading)
            • 'Signs' tie:  “This child is... to be a sign that will be contradicted,..." (gospel)
            • 'Sword' tie pin:  "...and a sword will pierce through you" (gospel)
            • White shirt:  color of today's memorial
            • Brown suspenders, slacks, sandals, socks:  wood of the Cross (gospel, plus yesterday)
            Our Mother of Sorrows icon
            Hours of Music
            Pope Francis Homily
            We're shown the glorious Cross, then the humble Mother.  Jesus "learned, obeyed and suffered," the opposite of what happened to Adam.  Jesus, though God, humbled himself and became a servant.  He came here to learn how to be a person and walk with people.  He came to obey, learning obedience from suffering.  Adam left Paradise with a promise; today, through Jesus' obedience, the promise becomes hope.  We walk with hope.  Mary learned, suffered and obeyed to participate in her Son’s journey.
            Jesus told John, "Behold your mother."  This is our hope:  not orphans, we have Mothers:  Mary and Mother Church, anointed when it takes Jesus and Mary's path of obedience and suffering and when she learns the Lord's path.  Both women carry on hope, give us Christ, and bring forth Christ in us.  Without Mary, there would be no Christ; without the Church, we can't go forward.  Two women, two mothers, and our soul, which is "feminine" and like "Mary and the Church" (Bl. Isaac of Stella).  Looking at Mary, steadfast in following her Son in suffering to learn obedience, we see the Church and our Mother.  We'll never be lost if we stay close to Mary and the Church.  And just as our ancestors left Paradise with a promise, we can go forward with the hope our Mothers give us.
            Read

            • 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33  Your meetings are doing harm; there are divisions among you.  Jesus took bread, broke it, and said, “This is my Body, for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  He also took the cup:  “This is the new covenant in my Blood.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  As often as you do, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  Wait for one another.
            • Ps 40:7-10, 17  "Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again."  You wanted obedience, not oblation.  “I come to do your will."  May all who seek you exult in you.
            Wordle: Readings 9-15-14
            • Jn 19:25-27  Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, he told his mother, “Behold, your son,” and the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”  The disciple took her into his home.
            • Lk 2:33-35  Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.  Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “This child is destined for the fall and rise of many, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you a sword will pierce so the thoughts of many may be revealed.”
            Reflect
              • Creighton:  Jesus' death is the supreme example of God’s love, so to "proclaim the Lord’s death" proclaims his love.  We can only proclaim it to the extent we've received it.  Once God's mercy pierces our hearts, it opens up a river can flow to others in need.  Recall when God's mercy has touched you so you can proclaim it.
              • One Bread One Body:  When hurt, we can close ourselves to the one who hurt us and to others, but when Mary was hurt, she opened herself up to others even more (Acts 1:14).  When she was pierced with sorrow, she opened others' hearts too, so that "the thoughts of many hearts were laid bare."  With God's help we too can react to hurt with openness instead of unforgiveness, resentment, anger, or fear....
              • Passionist:  Paul's letters don't name Mary; probably she alive and in her 60's and they never met.  Maybe the 1st reading (about the Lord's Supper) is to remind us how Mary participated in it after Jesus died.  We can ask her to help us appreciate the Eucharist better.
              • DailyScripture.net:  The cross brings us face to face with Jesus' suffering.  Most deserted him, but Mary and three other women stayed; love overcomes fear and gives hope in grief.  When Jesus was presented in the temple, Simeon predicted Mary would suffer.  Bernard of Clairvaux:  Jesus "died in body through a love greater than anyone had known.  [Mary] died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his."  Mary's faith and hope were sustained by her trust in God and her love for her Son.
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