Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection September 3, 2017

September 3, 2017: Twenty second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community and Participation

“Some of you said: this system can no longer be endured. We must change it; we must put human dignity again at the center and on that pillar build the alternative social structures we need. It must be done with courage, but also with intelligence, with tenacity but without fanaticism, with passion but without violence. And among us all, addressing the conflicts without being trapped in them, always seeking to resolve the tensions to reach a higher plane of unity, peace and justice.”
Pope Francis, October 28, 2014
From: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/index.cfm

Readings
First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm: 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Second Reading: Roans 12:1-2
Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods. “Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow. Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God.(2547)
From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the, Twenty second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: No references this week
For complete text visit: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

Reflection

Without God, our lives lack living water, leaving us lifeless and parched. Lifeless without vitality to live life with purpose. Parched like earth cracking, peeling back to let life flow through but unable to return goodness. Our thirsting for God emulates in our soul, the deepest longings unattainable, unanswerable from compilation of material possessions. The searching leads to an uncontainable font of God’s power and glory manifest as mercy, a balm to sooth our yearnings. The richness of a banquet with definable choices our soul clings to with praise. For God provides in abundance the way we feel His presence, see His face to know we are loved beyond a quantifiable sum. But how often do we become an obstacle to ourselves embracing God, while God never tires of embracing us. Do we trifle with obsession over culture wars, the nuances of the day in fashion, music or hairstyles instead of gravitating to renew our minds so we are holy and pleasing to God? Then we can live in the world with kindness and mercy instead of revealing in disdain by building walls of division over this age’s culture to sever paths of dialogue. For to discern the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect abandons hate for love, neglect for compassion, absolutes for mercy and vengeance for peace. The filter of rational cerebral thinking moves to allow God to open the eyes of our heart. A place where we know the essence of hope implicit in our call to no longer live our lives without God. Where we lose our life as we thought it should be formatted to surrender into the Lord’s way, we experience the paradox of finding our life. Jesus found that by surrendering into the Father by way of the cross, we too have a cross to carry. If it seems heavy, awkward, a stigma, the wood has splinters, it’s not perfect since the wood is cracked, we must ask ourselves are we living without allowing God to fashion, view our cross while we are parched and lifeless in disbelief or do we live with the Lord’s promise that He will come with His angles and Father’s glory to repay everyone according to their conduct? So what seemed like a cost of serving God, acting justly, caring mercifully, costs us nothing eternally, for we will be repaid . And we know in God’s generosity that means being repaid awesomely beyond belief.

Individual Reflection: Romans 12:1-2
As our Church reflects on the Day Prayer for Peace and of Racial Justice in Our Communities, what can you do to encourage dialogue about racial injustice at your parish and broader community? https://togoforth.org/2016/08/18/5-ways-you-can-cultivate-peace-and-work-for-racial-justice/
How can the example of St Peter Claver (His feast day is September 9th) help us to cease racial strife and renew our minds with what is good, pleasing and perfect to direct our actions in respect for all people as children of God?

Family Reflection: Matthew 16:21-27
In this season of creation what will your family do to better care for God’s creation? How will you encourage your parish to better understand that caring for God’s creation is a precept of our face? Help support your parish to include this insert in your parish bulletin and post on the parish website:
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/WDPCC-Bulletin-Insert-Final.pdf
Offer to lead the after Mass prayer opportunity each week to celebrate this season:
http://www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/resource/finding-god-in-the-wilderness-season-of-creation-prayer-service-series-2017

Prayer:
PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Let us pray . . .
O Lord our God, in your mercy and kindness, no thought of ours is left unnoticed, no desire or
concern ignored.
You have proven that blessings abound when we fall on our knees in prayer,
and so we turn to you in our hour of need.
Surrounded by violence and
cries for justice, we hear your voice telling us what is
required . . .
“Only to do justice and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8).
Fill us with your mercy so that we, in turn, may be merciful to others.
Strip away pride, suspicion, and racism
so that we may seek peace and justice in our
communities.
Strengthen our hearts so that they beat only to the rhythm of your holy will.
Flood our path with your light as we walk humbly toward a future
filled with encounter and unity.
Be with us, O Lord, in our efforts, for only by the prompting of your grace
can we progress toward virtue.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/16-056-prayer-for-peace-prayer-card.pdf

Blogs to Visit:
http://marynow.wordpress.com/
As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her. For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.
https://peaceonjustice.wordpress.com/
Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.
https://cst74life.wordpress.com/
Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.
http://idocst.wordpress.com/
How we do Catholic Social Teaching.
https://csmresources.wordpress.com/
Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.
https://smrep.wordpress.com/
Social Ministry Resources Engaging Parishes: Monthly and liturgical seasons resources for use with parish websites, bulletins and newsletters

Involvement Opportunities
List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

By Barb Born August 26, 2017 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.

 

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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection

July 27, 2014: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Look at the downloadable resources for The Two Feet of Love in Action:

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/two-feet-of-love-in-action.cfm

“The pilgrimage of love is an ongoing, life-long journey of growth.  This journey is not taken alone, but together with others as we seek God’s kingdom of justice.”

 

Readings

First Reading:1^st Kings 3:5, 7-12

Psalm: 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-1130

Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere “to the end” and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for “all men to be saved.” She longs to be united with Christ, her Bridegroom, in the glory of heaven:

Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end. (1821)

 

From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Matthew 13:52

This document is proposed also to the brethren of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to the followers of other religions, as well as to all people of good will who are committed to serving the common good: may they receive it as the fruit of a universal human experience marked by countless signs of the presence of God’s Spirit. It is a treasury of things old and new (cf. Mt 13:52), which the Church wishes to share, in thanksgiving to God, from whom comes “every good endowment and ever perfect gift” (Jas 1:17). It is a sign of hope in the fact that religions and cultures today show openness to dialogue and sense the urgent need to join forces in promoting justice, fraternity, peace and the growth of the human person.

The Catholic Church joins her own commitment to that made in the social field by other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, whether at the level of doctrinal reflection or at the practical level. Together with them, the Catholic Church is convinced that from the common heritage of social teachings preserved by the living tradition of the people of God there will come motivations and orientations for an ever closer cooperation in the promotion of justice and peace

Romans Chapter 8

The salvation offered in its fullness to men in Jesus Christ by God the Father’s initiative, and brought about and transmitted by the work of the Holy Spirit, is salvation for all people and of the whole person: it is universal and integral salvation. It concerns the human person in all his dimensions: personal and social, spiritual and corporeal, historical and transcendent. It begins to be made a reality already in history, because what is created is good and willed by God, and because the Son of God became one of us. Its completion, however, is in the future, when we shall be called, together with all creation (cf. Rom 8), to share in Christ’s resurrection and in the eternal communion of life with the Father in the joy of the Holy Spirit. This outlook shows quite clearly the error and deception of purely immanentistic visions of the meaning of history and in humanity’s claims to self-salvation.

 

Romans 8:29

Christian realism sees the abysses of sin, but in the light of the hope, greater than any evil, given by Jesus Christ’s act of redemption, in which sin and death are destroyed (cf. Rom5:18-21; 1 Cor 15:56-57): “In him God reconciled man to himself”. It is Christ, the image of God (cf. 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15), who enlightens fully and brings to completion the image and likeness of God in man. The Word that became man in Jesus Christ has always been mankind’s life and light, the light that enlightens every person (cf. Jn 1:4,9). God desires in the one mediator Jesus Christ, his Son, the salvation of all men and women (cf. 1 Tim 2:4-5). Jesus is at the same time the Son of God and the new Adam, that is, the new man (cf. 1 Cor 15:47-49; Rom 5:14): “Christ the new Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling”.  In him we are, by God, “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren” (Rom 8:29).

For complete text visit:http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

 

Reflection

Before we garner the pearl of great price, the decision must be made to sell all we have to purchase the treasure.  A time of letting go, of joyfully embracing life-long conversion in realization life has found ultimate fulfillment,   To fully experience the treasure, the past must be sold, for it would hinder appreciation of what was found.  Idealized dreams of success, comfort, affluence of possessions, status, must be sold for recycling into a new reality.  For those experiences caused us to realize what we were missing, leading us to search and find the treasure of joy and peace, knowing hope is greater than our sins of action or omission.  Experiences of knowing all things work for good, for those who love God.  God’s love instills in us the uncomfortableness with the status quo in our lives to see the treasure in loving God’s commands and observing His decrees more than worldly golden idols, crafted of plastic, metal or wood and the golden idols of our emotions. A comforting kindness embedded in the promise of the treasure, which manifests as understanding more precious than riches, more powerful than oppression of others, for it has the power to continually transform our hearts.

How will you write your parable about finding the treasure in a world beyond yourself, in a life rooted in keeping the Lord’s words of not seeking riches in status, labeling others as enemies to oppress or gilding your persona with possessions?  How will you share your parable?  The joy of your conversion, the freedom from living under the burden of trying to maintain an identity without purpose and the ongoing, unfolding story of grace.  Let your parable be manifest in your actions, your kindness, your generosity of time and your heart for understanding the needs of society, so we respond YES to be the literal and physical scribes of our time.

 

 

Individual Reflection:

July 29^th is the memorial for St Martha.  Read the Gospel for that day, John 11:19-27, of her confession of belief.  Reflect on your conversion, from accepting faith to belief.  Pray in thanksgiving for your conversion and ask for the ongoing grace to live in the depth of belief.

 

Family Reflection: Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130

Look at resources for the Feast of St Francis from the Catholic Climate Covenant and prayerfully plan to share them with your parish.

FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS 2014 From St. Francis, to Pope Francis, to YOU! Creating a Climate for Solidarity From St. Francis to Pope Francis to You! Creating a Climate for Solidarity is a 90 minute multimedia presentation combining short video testimonials with group reflection processes that highlight the impacts of climate change on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people and communities. Each program will be offered in Parish, College, and Youth versions and in both English and Spanish. All materials will be FREE of charge! Free, downloadable resources will be available by Sept. 1.  We’ll offer a detailed discussion guide as well as promotional materials to help announce your event and to encourage faithful engagement on caring for Creation and poor people. DOWNLOAD PROMOTIONAL FLYER HERE. BEGIN PLANNING NOW for your parish, school, campus ministry or other group to participate in this nationwide effort.  Sign up HERE to register your interest. For more information contact: info@catholicclimatecovenant.org

Prayer

Write your parable and use it as words of prayer for the next week.

 

Blogs to Visit:

http://marynow.wordpress.com/

As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her.  For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.

https://peaceonjustice.wordpress.com/

Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.

https://cst74life.wordpress.com/

Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.

http://idocst.wordpress.com/

How we do Catholic Social Teaching.

https://csmresources.wordpress.com/

Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.

 

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

 

By Barb Born    July 15, 2014  The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern

 

 

October 7, 2012 and Feast of St Francis Lectionary Reflection

October 7, 2012: 27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Catholic Social Teaching: Care for God’s Creation

“We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.  Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith…This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.”

 

First Reading:  Genesis 2:18-24

Psalm: 128

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Genesis 2:8-24

“…The Book of Genesis indicates moreover that the human being was not created in isolation but within a context, an integral part of which are those living spaces that ensure his freedom (the garden), various possibilities for food (the trees of the garden), work (the command to cultivate) and above all community (the gift of someone who is like himself)…Throughout the Old Testament, the conditions that ensure the fullness of human life are the object of a divine blessing.  God wants to guarantee that man has what is necessary for his growth, freedom of self-expression, success in his work and a wealth of human relationships.”

Genesis 2:19-20

“…The Book of Genesis teaches that human dominion over the world consists in naming things.  In giving things their names, man must recognize them for what they are and establish with each of them a relationship of responsibility.”, 113

Psalm 128:6

“…Thekingdom of the Messiah is precisely the kingdom of peace…, 491

 

Reflection

Created from one origin, we should not be ashamed to call anyone our brother and sister.  This perspective requires us to heed Jesus’ call to accept the kingdom of God like a child. A mind directed by inquisitive thoughts, a spontaneous agenda lead by the Spirit and  welcoming hospitality for everyone to dine at the table.  For that is the demeanor receptive to the embrace and blessing of Jesus permeating our handiworks. Then we reap the fruits of not possessing and dominating, but seeing our relationship to all creation. May the Lord bless us to live in His kingdom – not a kingdom of our own design—all the days of our lives and peace will be upon our lives.

 

Reflection for St Francis Memorial October 4, 2012

St Francis robed himself in excess, only to find that lifestyle lacked authenticity.  Whether he fought for power or lived in the echelons of the elite, emptiness prevailed.  Only in embracing simplicity, each petal of creation to the marginalized living outside the walls of society’s acceptance, was he able to unravel the door to his soul absorbed in the radiance of peace, hospitality and compassion.  The embrace of simplicity –found in the ordinary — changed St Francis from dwelling on himself,  to the needs of others.  How can we journey in the footsteps of St Francis and shed one selfish attitude or possession?  Will we stop gazing in the mirror of self- absorption and lock our sight on the defilement of creation, leading to action? In faith, will we venture to tame wolves of mistrust in challenging dialogue?

St Francis, thank you for being our mentor. Pray for us.

Collect Memorial for St Francis: “O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and through joyful charity, come to be united with you…”

 

Prayer

Lord, dispel arrogance and install humble, childlike sincerity in our hearts to accept your kingdom.  May we not divorce ourselves from the world, but affirm the interrelationships of all God’s creation.

 

Individual Reflection Psalm 128

Visit the blog, for the Creation Sustainability Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:

csmresources.wordpress.com

In the spirit of the St Francis Pledge, select activities to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate in caring for God’s creation.

 

Family Reflection: Mark 10:2-16

Have family discussion time, where the children  share  perspectives on their  image of God and faith in Jesus.

 

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

 

By Barb Born Sept 2012  The reflections may be used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for discussion groups without copyright concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Francis Resource Guide

Creation Sustainability Ministry: Office of Justice and Peace, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

St Francis of Assisi 2012 Resource Guide and Bulletin Announcement: Feasting on Simplicity

Each liturgical season, we plan to offer resources and a bulletin announcement for individuals and parishes to integrate the St Francis Pledge into their lives and see the relevance of caring for God’s creation as a precept of faith.

 

PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

 

Individuals: Prayerfully, live simply one day in your food, transportation and consumer decisions. Reflecting on the day, select one lifestyle change that your will integrate into your life, on a permanent basis, to live more simply.

Parishes: Schedule a Mass or prayer service to celebrate St Francis during October (October 4^th is the memorial day) Highlight his life attuned to creation and marginalized in society.  Afterwards, host a reception serving locally grown food   with sustainable utensils, plates and cups. Invite several local outreach organization that help raise awareness to preserve creation and empower the marginalized in your community, so your parish can network with them.

At Sunday Masses near October 4^th, ask that music reflecting St Francis’ message be included in the liturgy, such as Sacred Creation or Canticle of the Sun.

Children: At Sunday Masses  on October 7^th, ask children to bring their favorite stuffed animal to carry in the entrance procession and place at the base of the altar in thanksgiving for God’s gifts of creation, in the spirit of St Francis.  It also reflects the first reading from Genesis, “…God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them…”

 

LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change and our responsibility towards God’s creation.

 

Visit the Creation Sustainability Ministry blog: csmresources.wordpress.com

Lear about the impact of plastic on the ocean environment  at: http://www.algalita.org

On October 7^th, 2012 3pm to 5pm, Mary and Joseph Retreat Center 5300 Crest Road Rancho Palos Verdes, will host an afternoon Readers Theater Play by David Hoover on  “St Francis: Face to Face” –come for a contemporary conversation with St Francis.  Cost $20 till September 28^th, or $25   Call 310-377-4867 ext 234 for reservations.

 

ASSESS how we as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations contribute to climate change and environmental degradation by our own energy use, consumption and waste.

 

From visiting Algalita’s website, identify ways you, your family and parish can work to minimize  the use of plastic.

Read Archbishop Gomez’s article in the July 27, 2012 edition of The Tidings   http://www.the-tidings.com/index.php/viewpoints/cardinals-archbishop-gomez/2455-for-the-beauty-of-the-earth

Assess your relationship to creation and use of resources in the context of his comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the way we contribute to degradation of the world.

 

At your home and parish show the DVD, Sun Comes Up, on climate change in the South Pacific and the lifestyle changes residents’ face in relocating.  View a preview of the DVD  on the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change website: catholicclimatecovenant.org

After viewing the DVD discuss what actions you can take to minimize your carbon foot print to decrease the impact of global warming.

 

 

ADVOCATE for Catholic principles in climate change and creation sustainability discussions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

 

Host a letter writing evening, asking restaurants, businesses and corporation to use eco-friendly packaging and decrease dependence on plastic.  Research facts to include in the letters and share your thoughts on the need for consumers and businesses to work together for the common good in caring for creation.  Some examples might be asking retailers to sell refill cartridges for pens, instead of disposing of the whole pen when only the ink cartridge needs replacement.  Restaurants might be asked to use eco- friendly cartons to dispense food.  Grocery stores could be encouraged to provide more food selections in bulk bins to reduce excess packaging.

 

If you live in a neighborhood where numerous advertisements are distributed on your porch, put a sign on your door asking that advertising materials are not left.  When you get unwanted advertising in the mail, contact the company and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list.  Let them know you are concerned about the inability of most advertising material to be recycled.

 

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT:  ST FRANCIS MEMORIAL OCTOBER 4, 2012

St Francis robed himself in excess, only to find that lifestyle lacked authenticity. Whether he fought for power or lived in the echelons of the elite, emptiness prevailed.  In embracing simplicity, each petal of creation to the marginalized living outside the walls of society’s acceptance, was he able to unravel the door to his soul.  Removing the clutter of excess possessions, elitist mentality and indifference to God, his soul absorbed the radiance of peace, hospitality and compassion.  The embrace of simplicity — found in the ordinary — changed St Francis from dwelling on himself to the needs of others.  How can we journey in the footsteps of St Francis and shed one selfish attitude or possession? Will we stop gazing in the mirror of self-absorption and lock our sight on defilement of creation, leading to action?  In faith, will we venture to tame wolves of mistrust in challenging dialogue?

St Francis, thank you for being our mentor. Pray for us.

Collect Memorial for St Francis: “O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and through joyful charity, come to be united with you…”

 

CONTACT INFO

Please share with us activities you take to care for creation at your parish and your individual actions.

Please let us know what resources you would like to see on our blog: csmresources.wordpress.com 

What could we do to help you live the St Francis pledge?  Please contact the Creation Sustainability Ministry, Faith Formation Subcommittee at csmfaithformation@googlegroups.com The St Francis Pledge, as adapted by the Creation Sustainability Ministry, is available on the website as a Word document for use in bulletins and parish resources.  Our brochure is also available to download and share with your parish at creationsustainabilitycommittee.org

St Francis Resource Guide

CSM October 2011 –Final Draft

Click on above link to download file

Feast of St Francis Resource Guide in caring for God’s creation