Author: admin

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Gospel: Luke 10: 13-16

Jesus said to them,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me. 
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The religious practice of living as a monk started in the late 3^rd century. Some Christians in Egypt and Syria moved out of the cities, into the desert, dedicating their entire life to prayer. 

Slowly, they started forming small monasteries.

It was a terribly difficult existence. There was no running water, food was scarce, and the monks left nearly all of their possessions behind. On occasion, Christians would journey from large cities to seek the Sacraments or advice from them.

Some of their writings have been compiled into a book called, “The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers.”

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I remember a simple vignette from that book: one monk was complaining to his abbot about another monk. It seems the first believed the second had stolen his pen. 

To us, it seems insignificant. If you lose a pen – or if someone borrows it and fails to give it back – then buy another one.

But the abbot saw deeper into the monk’s heart. He reminded him, “You left almost everything behind in order to live in the desert. It seems the one thing you’ve taken with you is your ego.”

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Pride can be the hardest thing in life to master. 

Often, doing so isn’t on the top of our list. Things like earning a paycheck, staying committed in a marriage, caring for the kids, or finding rest are.

This is why living a life of solitude can be so difficult. The only thing the monks need to master is themselves. In both the Jewish and Christian faith, the heart is seen as the seat of all intention. As Jesus says, “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Bruno, who carried forward the tradition of the Desert Fathers, founding a religious order in the 11^th century known as the Carthusians. They continue to follow the strictest rule of life in the Church, living in near total silence.

Although you and I may not be called to do the same, they remind us that one of the best ways to humble ourselves and to begin mastering the desires of our heart is in silence.

It may be more difficult than it seems. Try it for a few moments each day. Slowly, you’ll see the difference it makes.

Maybe someone stole your pen.

What difference does it make?

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Image credits: (1) (2) (3) Courting the Muses

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Gospel: Luke 10: 1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you, 
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today’s Gospel presents a model for discipleship that our parish is learning how to follow, but there’s always more to be done.

Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples, in addition to the Twelve Apostles, and he sends them out to heal the sick, to cast out demons, even to raise people from the dead.

After they’re sent out, the disciples return. They gather with Jesus and with one another to pray, to “break bread,” and to share their experience in ministry. 

It’s this action of returning that is essential.

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So many of you go out on mission.

You’re sent to bring communion to the homebound; you visit the sick; you prepare food for the hungry; you teach in our faith formation program; you’re on staff, the parish pastoral or finance council; you’re involved in planning a variety of parish activities.

Like the disciples, you go out.

But now we must develop a culture of return.

Meaning, we return to pray for one another, to “break bread,” and to share our experience of working in the Lord’s vineyard.

We did this recently with members of our Outreach Ministry. We held a prayer service with Eucharistic Adoration, faith-sharing, and fellowship to follow. This is a practice that should continue for all ministries.

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The second-step is witnessing. This is how the Gospel message began spreading to the ends of the earth – and it’s how our parish will continue to grow.

I’m encouraging parishioners to speak about their experience in ministry at the conclusion of Sunday Mass. It should be “normal” to hear from our fellow workers in the vineyard. Faith sharing breaks down walls and inspires others to get involved.

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“The harvest is abundant,” Jesus says, “but the laborers are few.”

Two ways we will increase the number of laborers are to: develop a culture of “return” and to normalize faith sharing at Mass. So, if you were asked to speak about your ministry involvement and faith at Mass or in public, would you do it?

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Image credits: (1) CrossPointe Church, Tyler, TX (2) Your Daily Inspiration, Tumblr (3) St. John’s University

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Gospel: Luke 9: 57-62

As Jesus and his disciples 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.”
Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Someone once said to me, “Father, you may be the only bible a person ever reads.”

People often learn about Christianity through its followers – the way we speak, the way we live, and the way we treat others.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, a man who lived his life by the bible he read.

Born into a wealthy Italian family in the 13^th century, Francis left everything behind in order to follow Jesus. 

Literally.

One sunny afternoon, in the middle of the public square, a teenage Francis stood before his bishop and declared his desire to spend his life in service of the Church. So, the bishop instructed Francis to renounce his father’s fortune and to promise obedience to him and the Church.

On the spot, Francis removed his clothing and placed all of his money on top.

Naked, he professed his faith – and lived it out for the rest of his life.

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On his deathbed, Saint Francis said to his followers, the first Franciscans, “My brothers, I have done what was mine to do. Now you must do what is yours to do.”

While that looks differently for each of us, the call is the same: live out your faith, not only in word, but above all by action.

You may be the only bible a person ever reads.

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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Saint Francis, DeAgostini, Getty Images (3) Forget Him Knot