The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"What you do to the unborn child, you do to Jesus."

- Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

Hail, day! whereon the One in Three

First formed the earth by sure decree,

The day its Maker rose again,

And vanquished death, and burst our chain.

Away with sleep and slothful ease!

We raise our hearts and bend our knees,

And early seek the Lord of all,

Obedient to the Prophet’s call:

That he may hearken to our prayer,

Stretch forth his strong right arm to spare,

And, every past offense forgiven,

Restore us to our home in heaven.

Assembled here this holy day,

This holiest hour we raise the lay;

And, O, that he to whom we sing,

May now reward our offering!

Most Holy Father, hear our cry,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord most High

Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee

Doth live and reign eternally.

Psalm 1 The two paths

The cross of the Lord is the tree of life for us.

Blessed the man who does not follow the counsels of the wicked,

or stand in the paths that sinners use,

or sit in the gatherings of those who mock:

his delight is the law of the Lord,

he ponders his law day and night.

He is like a tree planted by flowing waters,

that will give its fruit in due time,

whose leaves will not fade.

All that he does will prosper.

Not thus are the wicked, not thus.

They are like the dust blown by the wind.

At the time of judgement the wicked will not stand,

nor sinners in the council of the just.

For the Lord knows the path of the just;

but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The cross of the Lord is the tree of life for us.

Psalm 2 The Messiah, king and victor

I have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.

Why are the nations in a ferment?

Why do the people make their vain plans?

The kings of the earth have risen up;

the leaders have united against the Lord,

against his anointed.

“Let us break their chains, that bind us;

let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!”

The Lord laughs at them,

he who lives in the heavens derides them.

Then he speaks to them in his anger;

in his fury he throws them into confusion:

“But I – I have set up my king on Zion,

my holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees.

The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you.

Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance,

the ends of the earth for you to possess.

You will rule them with a rod of iron,

break them in pieces like an earthen pot.”

So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land.

Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him.

Learn his teaching, lest he take anger,

lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame.

Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

I have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.

Psalm 3 The Lord is my protector

O my God, you have come to my help.

Lord, how many they are, my attackers!

So many rise up against me, so many of them say:

“He can hope for no help from the Lord.”

But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory:

you raise up my head.

I called to the Lord,

and from his holy mountain he heard my voice.

I fell asleep, and slept;

but I rose, for the Lord raised me up.

I will not fear when the people surround me in their thousands.

Rise up, O Lord;

bring me to safety, my God.

Those who attacked me – you struck them on the jaw,

you shattered their teeth.

Salvation comes from the Lord:

Lord, your blessing is upon your people.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

O my God, you have come to my help.

May the word of the Lord find a true home in you.

– Teach and advise one another in all wisdom.

Reading	1 Samuel 28:3-25 ©

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, his own town. Saul had expelled the necromancers and wizards from the country.

Meanwhile the Philistines had mustered and pitched camp at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine camp he was afraid and there was a great trembling in his heart. Saul consulted the Lord, but the Lord gave him no answer, either by dream or oracle or prophet. ‘Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find a woman who is a necromancer for me to go and consult her.’ His servants replied, There is a necromancer at En-dor.’

And so Saul, disguising himself and changing his clothes, set out accompanied by two men; their visit to the woman took place at night. ‘Disclose the future to me’ he said ‘by means of a ghost. Conjure up the one I shall name to you.’ The woman answered, ‘Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has swept the necromancers and wizards out of the country; why are you setting a trap for my life, then, to have me killed?’ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As the Lord lives,’ he said ‘no blame shall attach to you for this business.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I conjure up for you?’ He replied, ‘Conjure up Samuel.’

Then the woman saw Samuel and, giving a great cry, she said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.’ The king said, ‘Do not be afraid! What do you see?’ The woman answered Saul, ‘I see a ghost rising up from the earth.’ ‘What is he like?’ he asked. She answered, ‘It is an old man coming up; he is wrapped in a cloak.’ Then Saul knew it was Samuel and he bowed down his face to the ground and did homage.

Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed my rest, conjuring me up?’ Saul replied, ‘I am in great distress; the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers me either by prophet or dream; and so I have summoned you to tell me what I must do.’ Samuel said, ‘And why do you consult me, when the Lord has abandoned you and is with your neighbour?” the Lord has done to you as he foretold through me; he has snatched the sovereignty from your hand and given it to your neighbour, David, because you disobeyed the voice of the Lord and did not execute his fierce anger against Amalek. That is why the Lord treats you like this now. What is more, the Lord will deliver Israel and you, too, into the power of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; and Israel’s army, too, for the Lord will deliver it into the power of the Philistines.’

Saul was overcome and fell full-length on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel had said and, besides this, he was weakened by having eaten nothing at all that day and all that night. The woman then came to Saul, and seeing his terror said, ‘Look, your servant has obeyed your voice; I have taken my life in my hands, and have obeyed the command you gave me. So now you in your turn listen to what your servant says. Let me set a little food before you for you to eat and get some strength for your journey.’ But he refused. ‘I will not eat’ he said. His servants however pressed him, and so did the woman. Allowing himself to be persuaded by them, he rose from the ground and sat on the divan. The woman owned a fattened calf which she quickly slaughtered, and she took some flour and kneaded it and with it baked cakes of unleavened bread; she put these before Saul and his servants; and after they had eaten they set off and left the same night.

Responsory

Saul paid with his life for his unfaithfulness: he disobeyed the word of the Lord, who therefore transferred the kingdom to David.

He resorted to ghosts for guidance and did not seek guidance from the Lord, who therefore transferred the kingdom to David.

Reading	From a homily by Pope Paul VI

We proclaim Christ to the whole world

Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, he was born for us, died for us, and for us he rose from the dead.

All things, all history converges in Christ. A man of sorrow and hope, he knows us and loves us. As our friend he stays by us throughout our lives; at the end of time he will come to be our judge; but we also know that he will be the complete fulfilment of our lives and our great happiness for all eternity.

I can never cease to speak of Christ for he is our truth and our light; he is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother.

He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet, while burdened with work, he is more patient. He spoke on our behalf; he worked miracles; and he founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers.

The image I present to you is the image of Jesus Christ. As Christians you share his name; he has already made most of you his own. So once again I repeat his name to you Christians and I proclaim to all men: Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it. He is the mediator – the bridge, if you will – between heaven and earth. Above all he is the Son of man, more perfect than any man, being also the Son of God, eternal and infinite. He is the son of Mary his mother on earth, more blessed than any woman. She is also our mother in the spiritual communion of the mystical body.

Remember: it is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and re-echo for all time even to the ends of the earth.

Responsory

Our Saviour Jesus Christ has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, and out of his full store we have all received grace upon grace.

The whole universe has been created through him and for him. He exists before everything, and all things are held together in him, and out of his full store we have all received grace upon grace.

Hymn	Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!

You, the Father, the eternal –

all the earth venerates you.

All the angels, all the heavens, every power –

The cherubim, the seraphim –

unceasingly, they cry:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:

heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –

The noble ranks of prophets –

The shining army of martyrs –

all praise you.

Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.

– Father of immeasurable majesty,

– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,

– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:

– You are the king of glory.

– You are the Father’s eternal Son.

– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.

– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.

– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.

– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.

Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.

The final part of the hymn may be omitted:

Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.

Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.

Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.

Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.

In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light.

Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow

but always shine with the glory of truth.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: June 27, 2010
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

RECIPES

Beef with Peppers

ACTIVITIES

Why Celebrate the Liturgical Year?

PRAYERS

Blessing of Travelers

27th

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Old Calendar: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

"As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:57-58).'" Today, Jesus calls us to follow him as he makes his way toward Jerusalem, where the mystery of death and rebirth is to be accomplished to follow these requires wholehearted commitment, the commitment of love. Nothing less is fit for the reign of God.

The Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Doing God's Will Is True Freedom

In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Galatians that they were called for freedom. He then makes an important distinction that needs to be reiterated often in our world, and that is the distinction between freedom and license. St. Paul says "do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love." Many people seem to have the idea that freedom is all about doing what I want, when I want, how I want, etc. This is not freedom, but license. License is selfish, the opposite of the love to which St. Paul exhorts us.

The problem is that most people do not know what true freedom is. True freedom is found in doing God's will. This may strike us as sounding like a contradiction because we have the idea that doing the will of another is slavery, not freedom. There are two important differences: First, God does not force us to do His will, rather, we must choose to do His will and, second, He only wants what is the very best for us. Because God only wants the best for us, the better we do His will, the greater will be the freedom that is ours. The opposite is also true: The further we stray from His will, the more we are enslaved to things that violate our dignity. This is why St. Paul tells us to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. The former brings freedom and life while the latter brings slavery and death.

When we consider our Lord's words in the Gospel reading, it would seem that God's ways are harsh and even mean. After all, the two people asked good and legitimate things: to bury the dead and to kiss the family farewell. However, when we look at the context of the first reading, we will see that what the Lord is saying is not what it might seem to be on the surface.

The man in the Gospel asks for essentially the same favor asked by Elisha in the first reading: to kiss his parents goodbye. Elijah allows Elisha to go to his parents. Jesus, on the other hand, tells the man that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks to what is left behind is not fit for the Kingdom of God.

What appear to be two contradictory courses of action are really the same when we find that Elisha slaughtered the oxen, burned the yokes to cook the meat, and fed his family with the meat from the oxen. In performing these actions, the Prophet effectively cut off any possibility of returning to his former way of life. The words of Jesus are a play on what Elisha did when he took his hands off the plow in his field and put his hands to the plow in the Lord's field.

This same thing has to happen with each of us. So many people keep looking back at some past sin or at other circumstances wondering about what might have been. Sometimes married people wonder what it would have been like as a priest or a nun or, even worse, what it would have been like if they had married another person. Priests and religious fall into similar pitfalls. These are all temptations. Once we have put our hands to the plow of doing God's will in a vocation or some other work within our vocation, we cannot look back. We have to simply look at the Lord and seek to discern His will as we continue to move forward. This is true in all aspects of our lives. Unless we are looking back to reminisce or to pull up a lesson learned, it is useless and, sometimes, even harmful to look backward.

In the case of the man in the Gospel who wanted to follow Jesus but only after he buried his father, the problem is putting off seeking or doing the will of God. Who knows how long his father may have lived. The Lord was calling the man now; he was willing to follow on his own terms and at some time in the future. It cannot be so with us. We need to earnestly seek the will of God for us in general (vocation, direction for our life) but also in particular questions (what does God want of me today or in the immediate future?). In each situation in the readings, the people had free will and could exercise it. The same is always true for each of us. As we see in the Gospel, the Lord will not force us to do anything, but He does call us. We can use our free will to do whatever we wish, but we will only find true freedom when we choose to do the will of God.

— Fr. Robert Altier

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Cyril's importance for theology and church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorious.

Cyril, presiding as the Pope's representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the "God-Bearer" (The Mother of the one person who is truly God and truly human). In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria as a second Athanasius (The Champion against Arianism).

Quoting from Cyril He said: "Only if it is one and the same Christ who is consubstantial with the Father and with men can He save us, for the meeing ground between God and man is Flesh and Christ."

St Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444. Doctor of the Incarnation, Feast June 27th.

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

Father, we praise thee, now the night is over,

Active and watchful, stand we all before thee;

Singing we offer prayer and meditation:

Thus we adore thee.

Monarch of all things, fit us for thy mansions;

Banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending;

Bring us to heaven, where thy saints united

Joy without ending.

All-holy Father, Son and Equal Spirit,

Trinity blessed, send us thy salvation;

Thine is the glory, gleaming and resounding

Through all creation.

Psalm 62 (63) Thirsting for God

O God, I watch for you from the dawn, to see your mighty power.

O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn.

My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.

I came to your sanctuary,

as one in a parched and waterless land,

so that I could see your might and your glory.

My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,

and raise my hands in prayer to your name;

my soul will be filled as if by rich food,

and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.

I will remember you as I lie in bed,

I will think of you in the morning,

for you have been my helper,

and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

O God, I watch for you from the dawn, to see your mighty power.

Canticle	Daniel 3

All creatures, bless the Lord

The three youths in the fiery furnace shouted with one voice: ‘Blessed be God, alleluia.’

Bless the Lord, all his works,

praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens;

all his angels, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens;

all his powers, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, sun and moon;

all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, rain and dew;

all you winds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, fire and heat;

cold and warmth, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, dew and frost;

ice and cold, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, ice and snow;

day and night, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, light and darkness;

lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth,

praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;

all growing things, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;

springs and fountains, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, whales and fish;

birds of the air, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame;

sons of men, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O Israel,

praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, his priests;

all his servants, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the just;

all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.

Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord,

praise and exalt him for ever.

Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

praise and exalt them for ever.

Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven,

praise and glorify him for ever.

The three youths in the fiery furnace shouted with one voice: ‘Blessed be God, alleluia.’

Psalm 149 The saints rejoice

Let the sons of Zion delight in their king.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its maker,

and the sons of Zion delight in their king.

Let them praise his name with dancing,

sing to him with timbrel and lyre,

for the Lord’s favour is upon his people,

and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory,

rejoice even in their beds,

the praise of God in their throats;

and swords ready in their hands,

to exact vengeance upon the nations,

impose punishment on the peoples,

to bind their kings in fetters

and their nobles in manacles of iron,

to carry out the sentence that has been passed:

this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Let the sons of Zion delight in their king.

Short reading	Apocalypse 7:10,12 ©

Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Short Responsory

Christ, Son of the living God, take pity on us.

– Christ, Son of the living God, take pity on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father.

– Christ, Son of the living God, take pity on us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Christ, Son of the living God, take pity on us.

Canticle	Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ the Lord is our day and our sunlight, shining on all men and never setting. Let us praise him, saying:

– O Lord, you are our life and our salvation!

Creator of the stars, we offer you in gratitude the first-fruits of this day,

and we commemorate your resurrection.

– O Lord, you are our life and our salvation!

May your Spirit guide us today to do what is pleasing to you:

may your Wisdom lead us always.

– O Lord, you are our life and our salvation!

Let us join together with joy at our Sunday gathering,

around the table of your word and your body.

– O Lord, you are our life and our salvation!

Our souls give you thanks

for your immeasurable kindness.

– O Lord, you are our life and our salvation!

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light.

Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow

but always shine with the glory of truth.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

AMEN

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Galatians 5:1,13-18

For freedom Christ set us free. (Galatians 5:1)

What have we been set free from? And what are we free for? And even more important, how can we experience this freedom?

Jesus has set us free from selfishness. Especially with those we know best, it’s easy to get stuck in self-?centered patterns that inhibit the flow of his love. This can only lead to sniping and resentment because we feel that we are underappreciated. But Jesus can teach us to go out of our way for each other and not stand on what we think we deserve.

Jesus has set us free to love and serve each other—and to do it in new and creative ways. Think of how creative God has been in setting his people free. Who would have imagined city walls falling down with a trumpet blast or God coming to earth as a baby? Who can imagine as well the unexpected ways he can inspire us to reach out to each other?

Now look at the creativity of his servants over the years. Think of Elijah pouring water on the sacrifice to heighten the drama when God set it on fire (1 Kings 18:30-38). Imagine the man whose friends let him down through the roof or the Philippian jailer treating his prisoners to a meal (Acts 16:23-34).

Christians are still exercising creative freedom today. A group of young people have moved into a rundown neighborhood and won the trust of their neighbors by offering to do projects to help them improve their homes. Two families tore down the fence between their houses so that they could share life more easily. A family decided to help deliver Christmas food baskets rather than just donating canned goods.

These are just a few examples of the creative freedom Jesus can pour out when we move away from selfishness and seek instead to “serve one another through love” (Galatians 5:13). How free do you want to be?

“Jesus, you have set me free. Show me how to use that freedom to serve others so that they can experience you more fully.”

Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion

(1 Kings 19:16,19-21; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; Galatians 5:1,13-18; Luke 9:51-62)

1. In the first reading, Elisha followed God’s inspiration in spite of what the costs might be. We are often afraid of following God because we think he will ask too much of us. We even use it as an excuse not to try. What are the “small things” God is asking of you that you have been struggling to carry out? What steps can you take to be more responsive to God’s call on your life?

2. God our Father is not a demanding taskmaster. He is full of love and kindness toward you. The responsorial psalm says he promises us “fullness of joys” and “delights”. How do you view God the Father – as a loving, kind, and merciful Father or as a demanding taskmaster? Why should having the correct image of our heavenly Father be a source of “joy” and “delight” to you and to others?

3. In the letter to the Galatians, St. Paul asks us to “serve one another through love.” What practical steps can you take to respond to God’s call by serving your brothers and sisters in Christ in your parish community?

4. St. John of the Cross wrote that when the evening of this life comes, we will be judged on love. Imagine you have only a few months to live. Are you satisfied with your progress in loving God and the people in you life? What are some ways that you can increase your participation in God’s call to love?

5. The Gospel reiterates a point from the first reading, i.e., obeying God’s call to follow his will rather than our own. In practice, however, we often act as if God needs to accommodate himself to what we have already decided. What are some things you can do allow God, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to become more involved in your decision-making? For example, asking God his will first rather than just deciding on your own.

6. The meditation begins by asking these questions: “What have we been set free from? And what are we free for? And even more important, how can we experience this freedom?” How would you personally answer these questions?

The Cost of Discipleship

Pastor’s Column

13^th Sunday Ordinary Time

June 27, 2010

And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim

the kingdom of God.”

From this Sunday’s Gospel: Luke 9: 51-62

Jesus’ words certainly sound harsh! But things are not what they seem here. This man’s father was almost certainly not dead or even dying. What this person was asking for was time to go home and think about the Lord’s offer. Perhaps this man intended to put off being a follower of Christ for many years to come. He was undecided. But time was the one thing that this man did not have. He did not have years to make up his mind for Jesus was going to his death. Jesus was passing this way for the last time. So, for this would-be follower, it was now or never.

A real vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or indeed a call by the Lord to a genuine conversion or re-conversion to the faith almost always has a sense of urgency to it; that sense that one has to get going, one has to begin, one has to persevere and not dally too long! This is always the mark of the Holy Spirit – get going!

C.S. Lewis has a great quote that I refer to often:

“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.”

In every opportunity there is a critical moment; and if that moment

is missed the thing will never likely be done at all!

Haven’t we all had opportunities that we have missed—that have never come again? Well, at least we can learn from them! What Jesus was saying to this man (and to us) is that the time for action is now. The time to begin to follow Jesus is now. Every one of us receives the call to follow Christ more closely every single day. We receive it when we wake up and are given the gift of one more day. Perhaps it will be the last day of my life. Will God offer me an opportunity today that will never come again? What will my response be? To put him off yet again? Or to finally say yes?

Father Gary

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 9
51.	And it came to pass, when the days of his assumption were accomplishing, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.	Factum est autem dum complerentur dies assumptionis ejus, et ipse faciem suam firmavit ut iret in Jerusalem.	εγενετο δε εν τω συμπληρουσθαι τας ημερας της αναληψεως αυτου και αυτος το προσωπον αυτου εστηριξεν του πορευεσθαι εις ιερουσαλημ
52.	And he sent messengers before his face; and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him.	Et misit nuntios ante conspectum suum : et euntes intraverunt in civitatem Samaritanorum ut parerent illi.	και απεστειλεν αγγελους προ προσωπου αυτου και πορευθεντες εισηλθον εις κωμην σαμαρειτων ωστε ετοιμασαι αυτω
53.	And they received him not, because his face was of one going to Jerusalem.	Et non receperunt eum, quia facies ejus erat euntis in Jerusalem.	και ουκ εδεξαντο αυτον οτι το προσωπον αυτου ην πορευομενον εις ιερουσαλημ
54.	And when his disciples James and John had seen this, they said: Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?	Cum vidissent autem discipuli ejus Jacobus et Joannes, dixerunt : Domine, vis dicimus ut ignis descendat de cælo, et consumat illos ?	ιδοντες δε οι μαθηται αυτου ιακωβος και ιωαννης ειπον κυριε θελεις ειπωμεν πυρ καταβηναι απο του ουρανου και αναλωσαι αυτους ως και ηλιας εποιησεν
55.	And turning, he rebuked them, saying: You know not of what spirit you are.	Et conversus increpavit illos, dicens : Nescitis cujus spiritus estis.	στραφεις δε επετιμησεν αυτοις [και ειπεν ουκ οιδατε οιου πνευματος εστε υμεις]
56.	The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save. And they went into another town.	Filius hominis non venit animas perdere, sed salvare. Et abierunt in aliud castellum.	[ο γαρ υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ ηλθεν ψυχας ανθρωπων απολεσαι αλλα σωσαι] και επορευθησαν εις ετεραν κωμην
57.	And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee withersoever thou goest.	Factum est autem : ambulantibus illis in via, dixit quidam ad illum : Sequar te quocumque ieris.	εγενετο δε πορευομενων αυτων εν τη οδω ειπεν τις προς αυτον ακολουθησω σοι οπου αν απερχη κυριε
58.	Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.	Dixit illi Jesus : Vulpes foveas habent, et volucres cæli nidos : Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet.	και ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη
59.	But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father.	Ait autem ad alterum : Sequere me : ille autem dixit : Domine, permitte mihi primum ire, et sepelire patrem meum.	ειπεν δε προς ετερον ακολουθει μοι ο δε ειπεν κυριε επιτρεψον μοι απελθοντι πρωτον θαψαι τον πατερα μου
60.	And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou, and preach the kingdom of God.	Dixitque ei Jesus : Sine ut mortui sepeliant mortuos suos : tu autem vade, et annuntia regnum Dei.	ειπεν δε αυτω ο ιησους αφες τους νεκρους θαψαι τους εαυτων νεκρους συ δε απελθων διαγγελλε την βασιλειαν του θεου
61.	And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house.	Et ait alter : Sequar te Domine, sed permitte mihi primum renuntiare his quæ domi sunt.	ειπεν δε και ετερος ακολουθησω σοι κυριε πρωτον δε επιτρεψον μοι αποταξασθαι τοις εις τον οικον μου
62.	Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.	Ait ad illum Jesus : Nemo mittens manum suam ad aratrum, et respiciens retro, aptus est regno Dei.	ειπεν δε ο ιησους προς αυτον ουδεις επιβαλων την χειρα αυτου επ αροτρον και βλεπων εις τα οπισω ευθετος εστιν εις την βασιλειαν του θεου

51. And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55. But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, you know not what manner of spirit you are of.
56. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

CYRIL; When the time was near at hand in which it behoved our Lord to accomplish His-life-giving Passion, and ascend up to heaven, He determines to go up to Jerusalem, as it is said, And it came to pass, &c.

TIT. BOST. Because it was necessary that the true Lamb should there be offered, where the typical lamb was sacrificed; but it is said, he steadfastly set his face, that is, He went not here and there traversing the villages and towns, but kept on His way straight towards Jerusalem.

THEOPHYL; Let then the Heathen cease to mock the Crucified, as if He were a man, who it is plain, as God, both foresaw the time of His crucifixion, and going voluntarily to be crucified, sought with steadfast face, that is, with resolute and undaunted mind, the spot where He was to be crucified.

CYRIL; And He sends messengers to make a place for Him and His companions, who when they came to the country of the Samaritans were not admitted, as it follows, And sent messengers before his face; and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him.

AMBROSE; Mark that He was unwilling to be received by those who He knew had not turned to Him with a simple heart. For if He had wished, He might have made them devout, who were undevout. But God calls those whom He thinks worthy, and whom He wills He makes religious. But why they did not receive Him the Evangelist mentions, saying, Because his face was as if he would go to Jerusalem.

THEOPHYL. But if one understands that they did not receive Him for this reason, because He had determined to go to Jerusalem, an excuse is found for them, who did not receive Him. But we must say, that in the words of the Evangelist, And they did not receive him, is implied that He did not go into Samaria, but afterwards as if some one had asked Him, He explained in these words, why they did not receive Him. And He went not to them, i.e. not that He was unable, but that He did not wish to go there but rather to Jerusalem.

THEOPHYL; Or the Samaritans see that our Lord is going to Jerusalem, and do not receive Him. For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans, as John shows.

CYRIL; But our Lord, Who knew all things before they came to pass, knowing that His messengers would not be received by the Samaritans, nevertheless commanded them to go before Him, because it was His practice to make all things conduce to the good of His disciples. Now He went up to Jerusalem as the time of His suffering drew near. In order then that they might not be offended, when they saw Him suffer, bearing in mind that they must also endure patiently when men persecute them, He ordained beforehand as a land of prelude this refusal of the Samaritans.

It was good for them also in another way. For they were to be the teachers of the world, going through towns and villages, to preach the doctrine of the Gospel, meeting sometimes with men who would not receive the sacred doctrine, allowing not that Jesus sojourned on earth with them. He therefore taught them, that in announcing the divine doctrine, they ought to be filled with patience and meekness, without bitterness, and wrath, and fierce enmity against those who had done any wrong to them.

But as yet they were not so, nay, being stirred up with fervid zeal, they wished to bring down fire from heaven upon them. It follows, And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, &c.

AMBROSE; For they knew both that when Phineas had slain the idolaters it was counted to him for righteousness; and that at the prayer of Elijah fire came down from heaven, that the injuries of the prophet might be avenged.

THEOPHYL; For holy men who well knew that that death which detaches the soul from the body was not to be feared, still because of their feelings who feared it, punished some sins with death, that both the living might be struck with a wholesome dread, and those who were punished with death might receive helm not from death itself but from sin, which would be increased were they to live.

AMBROSE; But let him be avenged who fears. He who fears not, seeks not vengeance. At the same time the merits of the Prophets are likewise shown to have been in the Apostles, seeing that they claim to themselves the right of obtaining the same power of which the Prophet was thought worthy; and fitly do they claim that at their command fire should come down from heaven, for they were the sons of thunder.

TIT. BOST. They thought it much juster that the Samaritans should perish for not admitting our Lord, than the fifty soldiers who tried to thrust down Elijah.

AMBROSE; But the Lord is not moved against them, that He might show that perfect virtue has no feeling of revenge, nor is there any anger where there is fullness of love. For weakness must not be thrust out; but assisted. Let indignation be far from the religious, let the high-souled have no desire of vengeance. Hence it follows, But he turned and rebuked them, and said, you know not what manner of spirit you are of.

THEOPHYL; The Lord blames them, not for following the example of the holy Prophet, but for their ignorance in taking vengeance while they were yet inexperienced, perceiving that they did not desire correction from love, but vengeance from hatred. After that He had taught them what it was to love their neighbor as themselves, and the Holy Ghost also had been infused into them, there were not lacking these punishments, though far less frequent than in the Old Testament, because the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. As if He said, And do you therefore who are sealed with His Spirit, imitate also His actions, now determining charitably, hereafter judging justly.

AMBROSE; For we must not always punish the offender, since mercy sometimes does more good, leading you to patience, the sinner to repentance. Lastly, those Samaritans believed the sooner, who were in this place saved from fire.

57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said to him, Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.
58. And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head.
59. And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead, but go you and preach the kingdom of God.
61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62. And Jesus said to him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

CYRIL; Although the Almighty Lord is bountiful, He does not grant to every one absolutely and indiscriminately heavenly and divine gifts, but to those only who are worthy to receive them, who free themselves and their souls from the stains of wickedness. And this we are taught by the force of the angelic words, And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said to him, Lord, I will follow you. First indeed there is much tardiness implied in the manner of his coming. It is next shown that he is filled with too great presumption. For he sought not to follow Christ simply as several others of the people, but rather caught at the honor of the Apostleship. Whereas Paul says, No one takes the honor to himself but he that is called of God.

ATHAN. He dared also to match himself with the incomprehensible power of the Savior, saying, I will follow you wherever you go; for to follow the Savior simply to hear His teaching is possible to human nature, as it directs itself towards men, but it is not possible to go with Him wherever He is; for He is incomprehensible, and is not confined by place.

CYRIL; In another respect also our Lord deservedly gives him a refusal, for He taught that to follow the Lord, a man must take up his cross, and renounce the affection of this present life. And our Lord finding this lacking in him does not blame him, but corrects him.

It follows, And Jesus says to him, The foxes have holes, &c.

THEOPHYL. For having seen our Lord drawing much people to Him, he thought that he received reward from them, and that if he followed our Lord, he might obtain money.

THEOPHYL; Therefore it is said to him, Why do you seek to follow Me for the riches and gain of this world, when so great is My poverty that I have not even a place of rest, and take shelter under another man's roof.

CHRYS See how our Lord sets forth by his works the poverty which he taught. For him was no table spread, no lights, no house, nor any such thing.

CYRIL; Now under a mystical signification He applies the name of foxes and birds of the air to the wicked and crafty powers of evil spirits. As if He said, Since foxes and birds of the air have their abode in you, how shall Christ rest in you? What fellowship has light with darkness?

ATHAN. Or herein our Lord teaches the greatness of His gift, as if He said, All created things may be confined by place, but the Word of God has incomprehensible power. Say not then, I will follow you wherever you go. But if you would be a disciple, cast off foolish things, for it is impossible for him who remains in foolishness to become a disciple of the Word.

AMBROSE; Or, He compares foxes to heretics, because they are indeed a wily animal, and, ever intent upon fraud, commit their robberies by stealth. They let nothing be safe, nothing be at rest, nothing secure, for they hunt their prey into the very abodes of men. The fox again, an animal full of craft, makes no hole for itself, yet likes to lie always concealed in a hole. So the heretics, who know not how to construct a house for themselves, circumscribe and deceive others. This animal is never tamed, nor is it of use to man. Hence the Apostle, A heretic after the first and second admonition reject. But the birds of the air, which are frequently brought in to represent spiritual wickedness, build as it were their nests in the breasts of the wicked, and as long as deceit reigns over the affections, the divine principle has no opportunity to take possession.

But when a man has proved his heart to be innocent, upon him Christ leans in some measure the weight of His greatness, for by a more abundant shedding of grace He is planted in the breasts of good men. So then it does not seem reasonable that we should think him faithful and simple, who is rejected by the judgment of the Lord, notwithstanding that he promised the service of unwearied attendance; but our Lord cares not for this kind of service, but only purity of affection, nor is his attendance accepted whose sense of duty is not proved. For the hospitality of faith should be given with circumspection, lest while opening the interior of our house to the unbelieving, through our imprudent credulity we fall a snare to the treachery of others. Therefore that you may be aware that God despises not attendance upon him but deceit, He who rejected the deceitful man chose the innocent.

For it follows, And he said to another, Follow me. But He says this to him, whose father He knew to be dead. Hence it follows, But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

THEOPHYL; He did not refuse the discipleship, but his wish was, having fulfilled the filial duty of burying his father, to follow Christ more freely.

AMBROSE; But the Lord calls those upon whom He has compassion. Hence it follows, And Jesus said, Let the dead bury their dead. Since we have received as a religious duty the burial of the human body, how is it thus that the burial even of a father's dead body is forbidden, unless you are to understand that human things are to be postponed to divine? It is a good employment, but the hindrance is greater, for he who divides his pursuits, draws down his affections; he who divides his care, delays his advances. We must first set abort the things which are most important. For the Apostles also, that they might not be occupied in the office of distributing alms, ordained ministers for the poor.

CHRYS. But what more necessary than the burial of his father, what more easy, seeing that there would not be much time given to it? We are then hereby taught that it becomes us not to spend even the slightest portion of our time in vain, although we have a thousand things to compel us, nay to prefer spiritual things to even our greatest necessities. For the devil watchfully presses close upon us, wishing to find any opening, and if he causes a slight negligence, he ends in producing a great weakness.

AMBROSE; The performance of a father's burial is not then prohibited, but the observance of religious duty is preferred to the ties of relationship. The one is left to those in like condition, the other is commanded to those who are left. But how can the dead bury the dead? unless you here understand a twofold death, one a natural death, the other the death of sin. There is also a third death, by which we die to sin, live to God.

CHRYS. By thus saying, their dead, he shows that this man's father was not his dead, for I suppose that the deceased was of the number of the unbelieving.

AMBROSE; Or because the throat of the ungodly is an open sepulcher, their memory is ordered to be forgotten whose services die together with their bodies. Nor is the son recalled from his duty to his father, but the faithful is separated from the communion of the unbelieving; there is no prohibition of duty, but a mystery of religion, that is, that we should have no fellowship with the dead Gentiles.

CYRIL; Or else, his father was borne down with years, and he thought he was doing an honorable act in proposing to pay the kind offices which were due to him, according to Exodus, Honor your father and your mother. Hence when calling him to the ministry of the Gospel, our Lord said, Follow me, he sought for a time of respite, which should suffice for the support of his decrepit father, saying, Permit me first to go and bury my father, not that he asked to bury his deceased father, for Christ would not have hindered the wish to do this, but he said, Bury, that is, support in old age even till death. But the Lord said to him, Let the dead bury their dead. For there were other attendants also bound by the same tie of relationship, but as I consider dead, because they had not yet believed Christ. Learn from this, that our duty to God is to be preferred to our love for our parents, to whom we show reverence, because through them have we been born. But the God of all, when hen as yet we e were not, brought us into being, our parents were made the ministers of our introduction.

AUG. Our Lord spoke this to the man to whom He had said, Follow me. But another disciple put himself forward, to whom no one had spoken any thing, saying, I will follow you, O Lord; but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at home, lest perchance they look for me as they are wont.

CYRIL; Now this promise is worthy of our admiration and full of all praise, but to bid farewell to those who are at home, to get leave from them, shows that he was still somehow divided from the Lord, in that he had not yet resolved to make this venture with his whole heart. For to wish to consult relations who would not agree to his proposal because one somewhat wavering. Wherefore our Lord condemns this, saying, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. He puts his hand to the plough who is ambitious to follow, yet looks back again who seeks an excuse for delay in returning home, and consulting with his friends.

AUG. As if he said to him, The East calls you, and you turn to the West.

THEOPHYL: To put one's hand to the plough, is also, (as it were by a certain sharp instrument,) by the wood and iron of our Lord's passion, to wear away the hardness of our heart, and to open it to bring forth the fruits of good works. But if any one, having begun to exercise this, delights to look back with Lot's wife to the things which he had left, he is deprived of the gift of the kingdom to come.

GREEK EX. For the frequent looking upon the things which we have forsaken, through the force of habit draws us back to our past way of life. For practice has great power to retain to itself. Is not habit generated of use, and nature of habit? But to get rid of or change nature is difficult; for although when compelled it for a while turns aside, it very rapidly returns to itself.

THEOPHYL; But if the disciple about to follow our Lord is reproved for wishing even to bid farewell at home, what will be done to such as for no advantage-sake frequently visit the houses of those whom they have left in the world?

Catena Aurea Luke 9

Christ in the Desert

Ivan Kramskoy
1872
Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Sunday Scripture Study

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

June 27, 2010

Opening Prayer

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21

Psalm: 16:1-2,5,7-11

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-18

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:51-62

The Gospel reading from two Sundays ago ended with Jesus making the first prediction of the suffering, death, and Resurrection awaiting him in Jerusalem (Luke 9:22). Then in Luke’s Gospel, with Peter and John present, he discusses his Passion with Moses and Elijah during his transfiguration (9:28-36), and predicts it a second time after this (9:44).

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we see that Jesus is now “resolutely determined” (literally translated, has “set his face”) to complete his journey to Jerusalem.

Jesus determines to pass through the region of Samaria on his way, but the Samaritans, with which the Jews had a historic animosity, rebuff his advance party since he was traveling to Jerusalem, whose Temple worship they did not accept. James and John, recalling what the prophet Elijah had done in similar circumstances (2 Kings 1:9-14), counsel retaliation. Jesus rejects their advice.

As he journeys onward toward his destiny, many come to him and vow to be his followers. Jesus, who knows all men’s hearts, makes it clear that anyone who would be his disciple must commit to be so on Jesus’ terms and not their own.

QUESTIONS:

Why does Luke point out that Jesus was “resolutely determined” (“set his face”) to make his way to Jerusalem? What did he expect to find there? Who else “set his face” against the rebellious inhabitants of this city (Jeremiah 21:10, RSV-CE translation)?

Why does Jesus respond differently toward his enemies from Elijah, who James and John suggest he imitate? What is the difference between Jesus and Elijah?

Elijah’s disciple was Elisha (see the First Reading). What does the story of Elisha’s call teach you what the response of a disciple should be?

Why does Jesus take such a “hard line” toward those who profess an interest in him? How does he respond to the excuses offered by the three men (verses 57, 59, 61)? In your own words, what do each of Jesus’ sayings mean? What is his point?

Of the issues listed here (comfort, social obligations, family concerns), which one would tempt you to not follow Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 557, 544

Our labor here is brief, but the reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the world which passes like a shadow. Do not let the false delights of a deceptive world deceive you.

-St. Clare of Assisi

Saturday, June 26, 2010

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: "Go proclaim the kingdom of God."

The other day as I sat in a meeting which concerned finances and available resources, a mixed blessing for any Pastor, when the thought of this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 9: 51-62) came briefly to mind. Jesus demands an unconditional response from his disciples: “Let the dead bury their dead . . . you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” So I wondered about the power that money has over us and how that power can be used for the good of the whole – to build the kingdom of God here.

During a conversation in that gathering, which concerned finances for the Archdiocese, a list of potential major donors was presented. The Archbishop himself was present and he wondered about how to ask respectfully for substantial donations to the financial health of this local Church. We came across one name on the list that was identified as being able to contribute significantly. However, one of the priests present for the meeting, who apparently knows this person, looked up with a mild grimace on his face and said, “Good luck. I think its worth asking, but it would be with conditions.”

Money is perceived as power. Those who have little feel powerless. Those who have much, feel powerful. Unless we are motivated by higher values of altruism or self-sacrifice, we may feel that if I have a lot, I can demand a lot.

By contrast, I ran across a name on that same list of one of my parishioners. I know these people well and the amount of the ask was even larger than the other person. However, while I know these folks can give the suggested amount, and likely will, I can easily see them doing so without conditions. They may question the direction and purpose of the money but in the end, they will give and entrust the use of that money to the Church. They have done so in the past and I see no reason why they would not do so again. They love their faith and their Church and have bought in to what Jesus demands this Sunday about those who would be his followers.

This Sunday we hear a contrast of views about discipleship and we are challenged to see where we stand. In the first reading from 1 Kings 19: 16, 19-21, the prophet Elijah hears from the Lord: “You shall anoint Elisha . . . as prophet to succeed you.” Don’t you love the ancient Hebrew names – Elijah/Elisha. So, Elijah goes and finds Elisha plowing in the fields; doing what he knew best. Elijah, “. . . threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Not an unreasonable request.

However, when placed in contrast with what Jesus demands in similar fashion from the Gospel of Luke we find both a challenge and a moral dilemma. Don’t I have a responsibility to my family? I just can’t leave my work to others and take off! That would be irresponsible.

Jesus is on journey with his disciples. He is “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” The passage has a near processional quality. Jesus is not just on a daily hike. His face and whole mission is turned towards Jerusalem. Why – because Jerusalem will be the place of his glorification in the moment of his passion, death and resurrection. As the single minded, determined Jesus travels, others approach him with far less commitment. The contrast between Jesus’ dedication and the lesser level of the same, who have the best of intentions but lack the strength, is a sermon in itself.

So, Jesus is approached: “I will follow you wherever you go. . . I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home . . .” In response to this hail of “but firsts,” what is Jesus response? “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” In other words, if you want to follow me, prepare to move on, to be mobile without the security of creature comforts and a home of your own.

Then we hear what may on first glance seem harsh. Jesus invites, “Follow me.” And he hears, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father. . .” “Let the dead bury their dead . . .” Jesus responds. OUCH! While much of what we hear is hyperbole, not unusual, the theme is the same.

While personal commitments are important, they should never distract from the greater good which Jesus demands of us – to carry on his work of healing, love, reconciliation, conversion and the transformation of society around us to see things as God sees them. Jesus demands more of his followers, for we see in those who approached him our own resistance, our own “but first.” Yet, we too are on a journey. It is for this reason the Church refers to itself as a “Pilgrim Church.”

Along that journey I have learned over years of ministry that there is always another way to accomplish one’s task. There is always a “plan B.” We humans are like water. We find the path of least resistance and flow down hill as smoothly as we can. We want to move around obstacles and in the most direct manner possible.

In the same manner, Jesus could have invited us to a more efficient, less demanding way of life. He might have aligned himself with the more powerful and influential; with the zealots of his time and enlisted a more violent way to accomplish a change. As James and John suggest in the Gospel, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” (The opposing Samaritans). That would certainly enlist fear in your enemies and make them think twice before trying that again!

Instead, Jesus takes the higher road; the more challenging path but the one that will bring ultimate freedom for those who seek to put their priorities in order to be his disciples. This way led Jesus to the cross but brought humanity and the world salvation.

Yes, Our Lord asks much. Those who live the married vocation know that anyone can get married. That’s not the commitment. Faithfulness and life long loyalty is where discipleship comes in. My vocation of priestly service is no less a promise and a challenge. Culture does not support long term stability but Jesus promises that if we take the higher ground and put his way first, then all else will find its rightful place in our lives. What is holding me more than my attachment to the Lord? Am I loyal to my brothers and sisters in the faith and do I participate fully in what God offers us (sacraments, prayer, support) as I bring my faith to others? What do I offer: half-hearted, lukewarm, watered down Gospel?

The Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar said it very well in alluring imagery:

God is dangerous. God is a devouring fire. God has cast his eyes on you . . . Take care, he is crafty, he begins with a little love, a small flame, and before you can realize it for what it is, he catches hold of you and you are taken . . . He whisks you toward the heights like a cyclone, he whirls you around like a typhoon. Take care man is created for measure and limit; and finds rest and happiness only in the finite; but God knows no measure.”

Fr. Tim

Insight Scoop

Sunday, June 27, 2010

All must choose to either follow or walk away

Carl E. Olson | A Scriptural Reflection on the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor)

Readings:

• 1 Kgs. 19:16b, 19-21
• Psa.16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
• Gal. 5:1, 13-18
• Lk. 9:51-62

Today’s readings, especially the Old Testament and Gospel readings, describe the call and work of God’s prophets. As good fortune would have it, I set out to write this column after having read the first several pages of Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Jesus of Nazareth.The Holy Father explains how the prophets of Israel were different from the soothsayers of the ancient world. The task of the prophet of the one true God, he writes, “is not to report on the events of tomorrow or the next day in order to satisfy human curiosity or the human need for security. He shows us the face of God, and in so doing he shows us the path that we have to take. … He points out the path to the true ‘exodus,’ which consists in this: Among all the paths of history, the path to God is the true direction that we must seek and find.”

False prophets, whether ancient or modern day, attempt to explain what will happen next week, month, or year. True prophets did the same, but always within the larger context of God’s work—both here and now and in the great panorama of salvation history. The false prophet lives for himself, tickling the ears of those who engage his services; the true prophet dies to himself and challenges his listeners with a message that can often sound harsh, even impossible.

The basic message of the prophet is, “Follow God. Obey Him. No matter what.” And the prophet didn’t simply say so—he lived so, often in dramatic fashion. And so Elisha not only left the field and yoke but also slaughtered his oxen. Answering the call of God means realizing and demonstrating there is no going back.

That difficult message is uttered and reiterated by Christ in today’s reading from Luke. The third evangelist, as we’ve seen before, emphasized the prophetic nature of Jesus’ life and ministry, often presenting Him as the New Moses. Here Jesus is compared to Elijah, beginning with the phrase, “When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,” pointing back to 2 Kings 2:1: “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven…”

The end of the ninth chapter of Luke marks a key transition, for Jesus was setting forth to Jerusalem with a steely resolve, having, the Greek text states, “hardened his face to go” on His exodus, spoken of at the Transfiguration by Moses and Elijah (Lk. 9:31). Like Ezekiel, Jesus was resolved to “prophesy against the land of Israel” (Ezek. 21:7-8). Having spent the first part of His ministry performing miracles, His work from that point forward consisted mostly of preaching to three different groups: the disciples, the crowds, and the Pharisees.

Encountering difficulties from the Samaritans—who claimed to have preserved the original, authentic Mosaic religion—the disciples referred back to Elijah, who had called down fire upon his enemies (2 Kgs. 1:10). Jesus rebuked them; His work is not to kill or destroy, “but to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk. 19:10). Yet this doesn’t mean the call to discipleship is easy to understand and embrace. On the contrary, Jesus’ responses to three anonymous interlocutors are demanding, even bewilderingly so, stressing the all-or-nothing nature of following Jesus.

The hyperbolic nature of Jesus’ responses is meant to shake up those who think they are ready to follow. “Let the dead bury their dead,” has often been interpreted to mean that those who are spiritually dead will deal with the physically dead. Some must choose between their earthly families and the family of God; all of must choose to either follow Jesus or walk away from Him. There are no other options.

“Becoming a disciple of Jesus,” the Catechism states, “means accepting the invitation to belong to God's family, to live in conformity with His way of life” (CCC 2233). The Prophet has shown the way to God. Will we walk it?

(This “Opening the Word” column originally appeared in a slightly different form in the July 1, 2007, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)

Faith and Family Live!

When God Calls, Follow

User's Guide to Sunday

by Tom and April Hoopes in Faith on Saturday, June 26, 2010 6:00 AM

Sunday, June 27, is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Liturgical Year C, Cycle II). Tuesday, June 29, is the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (not a holy day of obligation).

Papal

Pope Benedict XVI will say two Masses for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul so that he can honor both saints.

On Monday, June 28, the Holy Father will celebrate the vigil Mass and first vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at 6pm.

On Tuesday, June 29, he will celebrate 9:30am Mass for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul at St. Peter’s Basilica. At that Mass, he will bestow the pallium on newly appointed metropolitan archbishops.

The pallium is a band of white wool decorated with six black crosses, worn over the chasuble. It represents the authority of a metropolitan archbishop and unity with the Holy Father. The wool used in weaving the palliums comes from baby lambs that are blessed by the Pope each year on the Jan. 21 feast of St. Agnes.

Readings

1 Kings 19:16-21; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62

Our Take

At first glance, today’s first reading from the Old Testament and today’s Gospel reading seem opposed to each other.

In the reading from Kings, Elijah chooses Elisha to be a kind of “coadjutor” prophet. Elisha will accompany him with the understanding that he’ll succeed him. Elijah calls him as he is plowing, and Elisha leaves his plow to follow Elijah. But he says, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah lets him go.

In the Gospel, when Jesus calls disciples who want to take care of family business first, he doesn’t let them go.

“Lord, let me go first and bury my father,” says one.

The reply: “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”

Another says, “First let me say farewell to my family at home.”

Jesus replies with what could be a reference to Elisha: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Each of these requests seems as compelling as “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye.” Why doesn’t Jesus allow his followers the courtesy the prophet did?

The answer lies in what Elisha did next — and in the difference between what people say and what they mean.

Elisha said he wanted to kiss his parents goodbye, but his actions show what he really intended to do: He intended to destroy his plow and oxen, and use them to provide food for his family. In other words, he wanted to give all he had to the poor and follow God.

In the Gospel, one gets the sense in the would-be disciples’ replies to Jesus that they are simply making excuses. And Jesus’ advice to them is essentially to do what Elisha did: He asks one to leave his family behind and preach God’s will. Elisha preached God’s will by his actions and left his family behind. Jesus tells another that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back isn’t worthy. Elisha did that and more.

What does all this mean for us? We can easily give the same reply to Jesus that these disciples did: I’ll pray more. When the kids are older. I’ll do more for the parish. When soccer season is over.

The message of today’s Gospel is to treat our family as a means for Christian action rather than an excuse for Christian inaction. Is God asking you to pray more? Wake up early and offer a 10-minute morning meditation for your family. And pray with your family — though be sure to make it family-friendly rather than difficult and off-putting. You want to do more for the parish? Find a way to involve the kids so that they learn to do more for the parish, too.

These stories, after all, are about vocations. When God calls, he wants us to listen and follow. Jesus has given us each a vocation. The point of today’s readings is simple: Put that vocation first, not last, in your list of priorities.

—Tom and April Hoopes write from Atchison, Kansas. This article originally appeared in our sister publication, the National Catholic Register.

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

O blest Creator of the light,

Who mak’st the day with radiance bright,

And o’er the forming world didst call

The light from chaos first of all.

Whose wisdom joined in meet array

The morn and eve, and named them day;

Night comes with all its darkling fears;

Regard thy people’s prayers and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin and ’whelmed with strife

They lose the gift of endless life;

While thinking but the thoughts of time,

They weave new chains of woe and crime.

But grant them grace that they may strain

The heavenly gate and prize to gain;

Each harmful lure aside to cast,

And purge away each error past.

O Father, that we ask be done

Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son,

Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,

Doth live and reign eternally.

Psalm 109 (110) The Messiah, king and priest

The Lord will send a mighty sceptre from Zion, and he will rule for ever. Alleluia.

The Lord has said to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand

while I make your enemies your footstool.”

From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,

and you will rule in the midst of your foes.

Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,

among the sacred splendours.

Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:

“You are a priest for ever,

a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”

The Lord is at your right hand,

and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will drink from the stream as he goes –

he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The Lord will send a mighty sceptre from Zion, and he will rule for ever. Alleluia.

Psalm 113A (114) Israel set free from Egypt

The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord. Alleluia.

When Israel came out of Egypt,

Jacob’s people from a land of strangers,

Judah became his sanctuary

and Israel his domain.

The sea saw it, and fled;

the Jordan flowed backwards at the sight;

the mountains leapt like rams;

the hills, like yearling sheep.

Sea, what was it, what made you flee?

And you, Jordan, why did you flow uphill?

Mountains, why did you leap like rams?

Hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, Earth, at the presence of the Lord,

the presence of the Lord of Jacob,

who has turned the rock into a pool of water

and made a fountain out of the flint.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord. Alleluia.

Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)

The wedding of the Lamb

God reigns: our Lord, the Almighty. Alleluia.

Alleluia.

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

because his judgements are true and just.

Alleluia.

Praise our God, all his servants,

and you who fear him, small and great.

Alleluia.

For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:

let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.

Alleluia.

The marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his spouse has made herself ready.

Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

God reigns: our Lord, the Almighty. Alleluia.

Short reading	2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ©

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves.

Short Responsory

Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.

– Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.

Praise and glory are yours for ever.

– Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,’ says the Lord.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,’ says the Lord.

Prayers and Intercessions

We worship Christ the Lord: he is our Head and we are his body. In triumph we cry:

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

Our Saviour, make your Church more and more a sacrament of human unity:

and an ever more effective road to salvation.

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

Stand next to the college of Bishops, and our Pope,

and give them the gifts of unity, love, and peace.

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

May Christians be more closely united with you as their Head;

may the way they live proclaim your kingdom.

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

In your kindness, give peace to the world:

make peace and security flower everywhere.

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

Give the deceased a glorious resurrection at the end of time,

and allow us to share their blessedness.

– Lord, may your kingdom come.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light.

Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow

but always shine with the glory of truth.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

AMEN

Regnum Christi

God – Above All Else

INTERNATIONAL | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Sunday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time

June 27, 2010
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Father Matthew Kaderabek, LC

Luke 9: 51-62

When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." (To him) Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I wish to put aside all distractions and to give you my total focus. I will do nothing more important today than to meditate prayerfully on your goodness and your active role in my life. Though I am unworthy to be in your presence, I trust in your mercy and love. Through this moment of prayer I want to draw closer to you and learn to live more like you.

Petition: Lord, may the enticements of the world pale in comparison with you.

1. Making the Proper Choice Temptation is a choice between good and evil. But sometimes what is harder than making the choice between these two opposites is choosing between two goods. Such is the situation in which the would-be disciples in today’s Gospel passage find themselves. In such cases, we could say that a good occasionally becomes the enemy of what is best. Sometimes we need to say no to a good option in order to embrace the one thing necessary. In today’s Gospel, as well as in tomorrow’s, we encounter people who might have become Christ’s close followers, who might have even been chosen to be one of his Apostles, but who were held back by other concerns or motives. Is my own heart open to Christ and his ways or do I lack detachment in some area of my life?

2. God is Second to None The first incident is the encounter between the messengers of Jesus and the Samaritan villagers. It is likely that the Samaritan villagers had heard of Jesus the miracle worker and were anxious to see a sign or to hear him preach. But the concern that holds them back and keeps them from following Jesus is their patriotism. The Samaritans and the Jews had been bitter enemies for centuries and systematically avoided all unnecessary contact with each another. When they learned that Jesus and his disciples were Jews and were headed for Jerusalem, their interest became opposition. We would have to agree that patriotism and devotion to the national cause are both good things in themselves. But when nationalism or ethnic sentiments become the eyes through which one sees all reality, including spiritual and eternal reality, one is in danger of losing the proper perspective.

3. Never Look Back Let us consider the man who wants to follow Jesus, but wants to go and say farewell to his family first. We cannot help but feel that we would have done the exact same thing as this would-be disciple. Didn’t our parents teach us when we were young to inform them about when we were leaving the house and when we would be back, and where we were going, and with whom? This man has high social and family values. One could only hope that all men could be this sensitive to let their families know their whereabouts at all times. Yet, before the urgent call of the Kingdom of God, social and family concerns take a back seat. “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am distracted by so many things in life. Even though many of them are legitimate, I must learn to keep my eyes focused on you and trust in you. Half-way surrenders do not interest you. You want all of my heart. Help me to give it to you willingly and joyfully.

Resolution: I will recommit to living wholeheartedly for God today, even though certain members of my family are likely to call me a “fanatic” or tell me that I’m “getting carried away.”

A quote to ponder:

“It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another.” ( Inaestimabile Donum, April 17, 1980, sec. 9).

Homily of the Day

Put Your Hand to the Plough and Don’t Look Back!

June 26th, 2010 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21 / Gal 5:1, 13-18 / Luke 9:51-62

A high-powered executive was waiting to board an airplane when suddenly, without warning, his flight was canceled. He was furious, so he shoved his way to the head of the ticket line and demanded a first-class seat on the very next flight. The agent explained courteously that they’d be happy to help, but he’d just have to stand in line and wait his turn.

“Young man, do you have any idea who I am?” shouted the man.

The agent looked him up and down carefully, then picked up his microphone and said, “Attention, please. There’s a gentleman at the ticket counter who doesn’t know who he is. If anyone can identify him, please step forward.”

+ + +

It’s so easy to forget who we are, and where we’re going. At certain points in our lives, it’s all very clear. The young couple standing at the altar, the priest about to be ordained, the bright young man walking into his first class at law school: They know where they’re going; they know there’ll be a price to pay and they’re ready to pay it. It’s all very clear and very simple.

Then time passes, and the price begins to be paid — and paid, and paid! And the pay-off isn’t as perfect and as consistent at they’d expected. The beautiful baby turns into a difficult teenager; the handsome groom loses his hair and his waistline; and after 10,000 sermons, the spirited preacher ponders the delights of taking the vow of silence!

Doubts and painful questions force their way to the surface: I didn’t know it was going to be like this. Did I make the wrong choice back there? Is this going to go on forever? How do I get out of here?

Jesus understood this part of our human experience very well, this mid-course weariness that tempts us to look backward instead of forward, that blinds us to the new and deeper joys and possibilities that are within our reach here and now, this mid-course weariness that tempts us to give up, abandon our “plough,” and walk away.

To hold to course and go forward without looking back involves letting go of many things — some of them very fine — but things we no longer need. That letting go can hurt, but it can make room for something more, something better. It can allow us the space to grow into entirely new ways of living and loving, and to do that right here inside our vocations as spouses, parents, friends, and pastors, to which we committed ourselves so long ago.

Like any good parent, God our Father wants to see us grow big and strong, especially on the inside. And He wants to see us happy. That will happen if we remember where we’re headed and why we made our central commitments in the first place. It will happen if we let the Lord take our hand as we march forward with Him and don’t look back.

Don’t look back. It will only freeze you in place and embitter your soul. Instead, look forward, and look deep. You’ll be amazed at what’s waiting there for you!

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, June 27, 2010 >>

13th Sunday Ordinary Time
Saint of the Day

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21
Galatians 5:1, 13-18
View Readings

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Luke 9:51-62

ALL OF ME

"As they were making their way along, someone said to Him, 'I will be Your follower wherever You go.' " —Luke 9:57

Throughout this year and throughout our lives, the Lord has repeatedly challenged us to make a total commitment to Him. We thought we had already given Him everything, but then once again circumstances indicated that we were still seeking to get our own way instead of His will. This time let's surrender all of the all. Let's burn the bridges behind us (see 1 Kgs 19:21) and have nothing and no one to turn to except Jesus. When we put our hand to the plow this time, we'll have nothing to look back to (Lk 9:62).

If we have given "all of our all" to the Lord, the devil will give us some new carnal pleasures to compete with Jesus for our attention. But the Spirit will fight against these selfish desires (Gal 5:17), and we will continue in our total commitment to the Lord.

"I am going into this with you for your own good. I have no desire to place restrictions on you, but I do want to promote what is good, what will help you to devote yourselves entirely to the Lord" (1 Cor 7:35). John Wesley said that if he had fifty people who loved no one more than Jesus, feared no one more than Jesus, and served no one more than Jesus, he would win the world for Christ. The Lord gave His all for us on Calvary. Let's respond accordingly.

Prayer: Jesus, at the foot of Your cross, I realize Christianity is all or nothing.

Promise: "Let the dead bury their dead; come away and proclaim the kingdom of God." —Lk 9:60

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus! "My Lord are You. Apart from You I have no good...my heart is glad and my soul rejoices" in You (Ps 16:2, 9).

Office of Readings

Daily Readings for: June 27, 2010(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Old Calendar: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

AMEN

Meditation: Galatians 5:1,13-18

Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

Opening Prayer

Closing Prayer

Saturday, June 26, 2010

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: "Go proclaim the kingdom of God."

Sunday, June 27, 2010

All must choose to either follow or walk away

When God Calls, Follow

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

AMEN

Homily of the Day

Put Your Hand to the Plough and Don’t Look Back!

One Bread, One Body

ALL OF ME

Daily Readings for: June 27, 2010
(Readings on USCCB website)