Nov 2 - The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Reading 1 - Wisdom 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

Reflection: 

We are truly blessed - those of us who are Catholics and believe in the Resurrection and Live Everlasting!

When our loved ones die (and when we die) - those left behind are indeed sad, but even though we are sad for us - we are happy for our loved ones to passed on to God!  

Our HOPE is in our TRUST in the LORD!  Our Trust in His great mercy and Love.

The lines which jumped out at me today are these:

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

And then to follow this reading with Psalm 23!  What beautiful reassurance of God's great love and care for us!  Not only while here on earth, but in the life to come.  

Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

I am counting on DWELLING in the house of the Lord for years to come!  I want to hear "Good and faithful servant, welcome home!"  I know I may be spending some time in purgatory...but my goal is heaven!  To be face to face with my greatest Love!  My God! My Jesus!  The Holy Spirit!  To be living eternity in Praise and Glory of God!  I cannot image anything better!!!

2nd Reading:  Romans 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

And continuing this great hope I have for the everafter:  HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!  God has already made a way for me to be with him forever!  Christ already took on our sins and  made a way for us!  This is such GREAT NEWS (not just Good NEWS!)  So, we don't fear death!  We have had the father look out for us - make a way for us through the Son and with the help of the Holy Spirit - have spent our lives here on earth - learning how to love!

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Gospel:  John 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

This Scripture makes me feel so loved - "I will not reject anyone who comes to me!"  No matter our sin, no matter  our struggle - If we love God with all our imperfect hearts - He has made a way for us to come home after we leave our earthly home!   Praise be to God!  I pray for those who have gone before me!  I can only imagine what it will be like to stand face to face!   We have no fear in death because our Father walks with us and guides us Home to be with Him!  Praise God!  

Have a blessed week!  

Nancy

Oct 28, 2014 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading - Isaiah 25: 6-10a
The Lord will provide richly for His people.

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is our Shepherd

Second Reading - Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Paul tells the Philippians that God provides whatever he needs

gospel Reading - Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast.
.

Three kinds of banquet are presented to us today.  The first (Isaiah) is on a mountain, overlooking all the world in glory and majesty.

The second (psalm 23) is in a pasture, an oasis of quiet and peace within the dark variety of life's toil and pain.

The third (gospel) is at a wedding, lavish and by invitation only.

How do you envision the heavenly banquet?

I am moved by the first reading and the Psalm 23.

The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

R/ (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
 
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
 
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
 
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
 
And I agree with Paul in the 2nd reading....I have known abundance and I have known need...and I can do all things in him who strengthens me.   - It is truly only through God that I am satisfied.  How about you?

Oct 5, 2014 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 5:1-7

Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel

Phil 4:6-9
Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

This is such a beautiful Scripture.  Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, 
think about these things!

Is your cup half full or half empty?  Do you focus on the negative, the problems, the bad things that are happening in the world?  Does it make you worry?  Does it make you angry?  Does it make you HATE?  Does it give you any peace?  NO!

When I find my stomach tied up in a knot, or my blood pressure rising - I stop immediately!  Where has my mind been?   What do I want in my life?  Can I do anything about the negative?  even if it's in my own family?  Not much - I have learned (after many years) - that I control no one and nothing - except for myself!  

I want PEACE!  I want BEAUTY!  I want JOY!  I WANT GOD!  I NEED GOD!  I will think on these things of God and I will be filled with God of peace!  Period!  

Gospel - Matthew 21:33-43

The Kingdom of God will be given to a people that will produce it's fruit!  Think upon the things of God!
Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
O Lord!  God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved!

Lord, your servant is listening (finally!!!)  I am thinking upon the Words of Life!  

Have a blessed week!
Nancy

9-28-2014, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading  Ezekial 18:25-28
We can change our ways!  We can turn from Sin!

Responsorial Psalm Ps. 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

I am just hopeful that God will be merciful with me!
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
 I have made many mistakes - especially in my youth and I pray that when I stand before my heavenly Father that He will not remember those!!!!
Remember your mercies, O Lord 

2nd Reading Philippians 2:1-11
The goal is to be more like Christ and less like me:

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus.

Depending on when I am called home, may God see the path I am seeking, the journey I am on and Remember your mercies, O Lord!

Gospel  Matthew 21:28-32
How many times have I proclaimed I am a Catholic Christian and not lived it?
How many tines have I been all talk and no walk?

This scripture  reminds me to live my faith...not just talk about it!
Be transparent!  Be real!  Be honest!  Be Trust Worthy!  Do what I say I am going to Do!
God be with me!  I believe!

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
I do believe - and I have changed - at least I am in the process of changing!  With the help of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist - I am able to continue to journey in the right direction!

Have a Blessed Day!

9-21-2014- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Such a beautiful scripture....so rich and so deep with meaning.  
Let hi turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my 
thoughts above your thoughts.

I will never understand how God can possibly know each and everyone of us so intimately or how He can continuously have so much mercy on me and you.    But just knowing that He does is so comforting to me.  

Responsorial Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
R/ The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.


Philippians 1:20C-24, 27A

Sometimes I feel like Paul,  I just want to be in Heaven.  I want to be in God's presence.  But I know that God has me here for a reason.  So I must conduct myself worthy of Christ.  I want to be transparent in all I do.  Honest and a person of integrity.  So that when it is my time to join God in heaven, He will be saying "Good and Faithful Servant, Welcome Home!"

Gospel Matt 20:1-16A

This Gospel reminds me not to compare myself to other people.  What God decides to give each of us for our faithful deeds is up to Him.   The bottom line is that I just want to be with God in Heaven...
if there are layers of Heaven, I don't care which layer I am in.   If there is a legion of angels and I am in the back of the legion - I will be fine with that.  As long as I can sing my praises!  God is generous beyond measure.  His ways are above my ways.  I trust Him.

Have a blessed week!
Nancy

9-14-2014 - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Numbers 21:4B-9
We want to be free from Slavery, We want to be free from Slavery.  God please save us!
So, God sends Moses to set His people free!   Then the people, worn out by the journey, complain against God and Moses - Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?  (God did provide food for them) - But they complained about that -

God got fed up with His people...sent saraph serpents to bite his complaining people.  Many died.
Then the people cried to Moses...We have sinned against God - take the serpents from us...

God had Moses create a bronze saraph and mount it on a pole - whoever had been bitten -could look at it and they would live.

This makes me chuckle.  How fickle we humans are.  I am so much like this myself.  I complain about something....that becomes fixed and now I am complaining about something else.  Will I ever be happy?

It does seem the older I get, the more patient and content I get with my circumstances....no matter what happens, I have more trust in my God.   Perhaps I just need more experiences of His providing for me - to know that "All things will work to Good for those who love God" (Romans 8:28)

What does it take for us as humans to really Trust in Jesus total love for us?

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 78:1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

Do not forget the works of the Lord!
The fourth verse is so beautiful - But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not;
Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused.

No matter how many times I act like a spoiled brat and turn from Him....he is merciful!  How blessed am I!

Philippians 2:6-11

This is a beautiful verse, full of great meaning for me.  How could Jesus, fully human, fully God (I still cannot get my head around that one!) - totally surrender His fully God side, for love of me and all of human kind....especially seeing how ungrateful and fickle we are?   His love is so totally amazing.  It is something I can reflect on in AWE and WONDER and just Praise Him for the ultimate sacrifice and love He gave for us!   Amazing Love!  Amazing Grace!

Gospel - John 3:13-17

God is so wonderful and AWESOME!  He provided for us in our sin.  He gave us free will.  He saw that we didn't know how to handle it.  Yet, He loves us so much and YEARNS and Thirsts for us to be in Heaven with Him forever, that He would sacrifice His only Son to carry our sin, selfishness and fickleness - so that we could also be worthy of Heaven.   Amazing Grace.  Amazing God!  I am so thankful.  I Praise you, Lord for your provision for us!  We are blessed!   let us reflect on this and be thankful!

Sept 7 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Harsh reading.   We are our brothers keeper, at least to God we are.  Real Love - God's love is to help each other get to Heaven.  When we ignore each other's sin - how are we showing love?   God could hold us responsible for our neighbor's sin, because we didn't try to get him to turn away from sin and toward God.  

Responsorial Psalm
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

Rom 13:8-10
This reading reminds us again - it's all about love.  All the commandments boil down to Love.  If we are loving each other - we will not be sinning against each other.  Pretty simple!  Why do we make it so difficult?

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel reading is taken from a chapter of Matthew's Gospel, which is sometimes called the “discourse on the Church” or the “church order” discourse. In this part of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus speaks more directly about matters of Church discipline and order. In today's reading we find one of only three instances in which Jesus uses the word church in Matthew's Gospel. In Matthew's record of Jesus' teaching, we can hear echoes of the kinds of issues faced by the early Christian community.

In the first part of the "discourse on the Church" (Matthew 18:1-14), Matthew addresses the Christian community's concerns about rank. Jesus responds to the disciples' question about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus indicates that those who wish to enter the kingdom of heaven must be like children, and he cautions those leaders who might lead these "little ones" astray. He also responds with the parable of the lost sheep, indicating how God will seek out and bring back those "little ones" who have strayed.

In today's Gospel reading, Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus addresses a common occurrence in the Christian community: a dispute between two members of the Church. Jesus outlines a procedure for settling such matters fairly. The victim should privately address the offender and attempt to resolve the dispute without outside involvement. If that fails, then the victim should bring two or three witnesses and confront the offender again. If the dispute is still unresolved, the matter should be brought to the attention of the entire community. If the offender refuses to adhere to the reparations prescribed by the community, then Jesus suggests that the offender may be expelled from the Church.

Jesus does not discourage disagreement within the community of the Church; he acknowledges the reality of conflict and error and offers his disciples a means for addressing such matters. It is in the conclusion to this teaching that the message of hope is found: Jesus is present with the community and will guide the community in its relations. If decisions are taken in prayer, then the community can be assured of God's assistance.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name,  there am I in the midst of them.”