People everywhere ‘hunger’ for wholeness:What exactly does it mean to be “whole”?Is it having multiple degrees, a loving partner, or simply being filled with the Spirit? Hunger can mean one of two things; it can mean the need or desire for food or the great need or desire for something.It can be interpreted both ways- one is hungry to fill his or her soul by receiving the gift of the Holy Eucharist.It is also translated as a soul-searching need to fill a void.It can also lead to greed and envy.Any way that it is interpreted; we are always hungry for more.
As many of you know, I graduated with my MA in Pastoral Theology on Mother’s Day.Coincidentally, it was also Pentecost, or the Feast of the Holy Spirit.Earlier in the Lenten Season, Fr. John asked if I would be one of the 12 to have my feet washed, I thought I was being Punk’d.I went and had a manicure and pedicure done (as if it mattered) and really lost the whole symbolism behind why I was “Called.”The Spirit had been guiding me throughout my studies, through the discernment and doubt, and what better day to have graduated than on Pentecost.Going to a Catholic University, they released 100 doves into the air, symbolizing two things- our graduation from LMU and the Spirit guiding us wherever we go.
So I leave you with this, what do you hunger for?Life is not about how many commas you have after your name, or about how much money one has in their bank account, hunger for Christ and you will always be full. A person can have all the money in the world, but without faith-has nothing.One is rich in FAITH alone.
Prayer and Work… together, hand in hand. Fr. David shared this at Mass yesterday and I share it with you… ‘Pray as if everything depended on God, work as if everything depended on you.’ In parallel, imagine being on a boat with a paddle on each side, one for ‘prayer’, one for ‘work’. You need both to get somewhere. Using only one would cause you to move, but only in circles, stuck on the same spot. I read this illustration somewhere a long time ago. I close with last night’s reading,
(James 2:14-24, 26)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
You believe that God is one.
You do well.
Even the demons believe that and tremble.
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works,
and faith was completed by the works.
Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,
and he was called the friend of God.
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
For just as a body without a spirit is dead,
so also faith without works is dead.
From today’s Gospel reading… “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
We are always reminded at work that when we give instructions to our kids, to say what they need to do and NOT what they should not do. A common example is when there is a puddle along our walkway, instead of saying ‘Don’t walk in the puddle,’ which could be interpreted as ‘Jump in the puddle’ or ‘Run in the puddle,’ we would simply say ‘Walk around the puddle.’ Or if someone is hitting, instead of saying ‘No hitting,’ which would still keep the aggression open to kicking or biting, we would simply say ‘You need to have safe hands.’
I want to share from Mark Hart’s ‘Blessed Are The Bored in Spirit’ a parallel interpretation of what we are called to do, and not as much as what we should not do from the Ten Commandments. This is in no way meant to disregard the Ten Commandments.
‘I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me.’ – Be single-hearted towards me. ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.’ – Be reverent in speech and conduct. ‘Take care to keep holy the sabbath day as the LORD, your God, commanded you.’ – Keep priorities.
‘Honor your father and your mother’ – Be respectful and obedient.
‘You shall not kill.’ – Defend life, womb to tomb.
‘You shall not commit adultery.’ – Be faithful to vocation, future spouse. ‘You shall not steal.’ – Be trustworthy.
‘You shall not bear dishonest witness against your neighbor.’ – Be honest in word and deed.
‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.’ – Have only pure admiration.
‘You shall not desire your neighbor’s house or field, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything that belongs to him.’ – Be grateful for what you possess.
There is an analogy that Christ is in the tomb three times: in the womb, in the tomb, and in the body. This past Sunday, we heard the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. These disciples experience all three. They are pregnant with faith and experiencing the preaching and teaching of Jesus, their faith burst forth into the world. They continue to follow Jesus, but then they experience the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus. In a sense, they enter the tomb with Jesus as they believe him to be dead forever. They thought Jesus was going to redeem Israel, this was their hope that was obliterated. Eventually, they encounter Jesus in the breaking of the bread, and so they take the whole person of Jesus (revealed) into themselves. Their faith renewed, the memory of the Passion, but the truth of the resurrection burst forward in them and they go on to teach others what Jesus shared with them. They go out to have Jesus burst forward into the world through them. Isn’t this our story too! Are we ready for Jesus the Christ to burst forward into the world through us. When we receive the Eucharist, are we putting Jesus in a tomb to stay there, or are we receiving the whole person of Jesus, ready to have him burst forward into the world through us? In the womb, in the tomb, and in the body!
That Catholic Show - You Are A Priest Forever
duration: 5 minutes 59 seconds
Jesus is the “one mediator between God and men.” He is the mediator for all of us, in, with, and through him, we are brought to the salvation of communion and being with God. - 1Timothy 2:5
The Priesthood Debate
Highly recommended, Jim Aiken is a convert to Catholicism and here are some of his notes from a debate he was in. Thus it is concise and offers a starting point of discussion.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
1545 The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all; yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ’s priesthood: “Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers.” Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by tisamay
There is an analogy that Christ is in the tomb three times: in the womb, in the tomb, and in the body. This past Sunday, we heard the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. These disciples experience all three. They are pregnant with faith and experiencing the preaching and teaching of Jesus, their faith burst forth into the world. They continue to follow Jesus, but then they experience the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus. In a sense, they enter the tomb with Jesus as they believe him to be dead forever. They thought Jesus was going to redeem Israel, this was their hope that was obliterated. Eventually, they encounter Jesus in the breaking of the bread, and so they take the whole person of Jesus (revealed) into themselves. Their faith renewed, the memory of the Passion, but the truth of the resurrection burst forward in them and they go on to teach others what Jesus shared with them. They go out to have Jesus burst forward into the world through them. Isn’t this our story too! Are we ready for Jesus the Christ to burst forward into the world through us. When we receive the Eucharist, are we putting Jesus in a tomb to stay there, or are we receiving the whole person of Jesus, ready to have him burst forward into the world through us? In the womb, in the tomb, and in the body!
