Thirteenth Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C

26 June 2010
Comments (6)

Reflecting On Luke 9:51-62

I’ve got good news.  Those dusty archaeologists (bless them) who spend their lives digging in the scorching Mediterranean sun have given us a very plausible (and comforting) explanation of that MOST unsettling command in today’s Gospel: let the dead bury their dead. It’s simply this: the burial time for the dead in Jesus’ day was an entire year.  After burying the dead immediately (as we saw in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ own death) the sons “sit shi’va” for seven days.  (So the disciple who asks to bury his father before following Jesus wouldn’t even have been around if the death had happened within that week—he would have been at home fulfilling this responsibility.)

Ancient tomb in the Mount of Olives

But then the corpse is left in the tomb for eleven months, after which the relatives re-bury the decomposed body by taking the bones and placing them in a burial box, an ossuary, and placing it back in the tomb, along with all the other family dead who are in various stages of burial.  The tomb continues to fill with the other dead from the family, buried for the first time and then again a year later.

So…what a great relief to consider that Jesus was thinking of all those dead, buried with the other dead, whose death demands kept the sons in endless burial cycles. Let the dead bury their dead.  Be at peace.  My heavenly Father knows where all the bodies are buried.  In just a short time you will see for yourselves what God has planned for My tomb, and yours, and theirs too.  Be at peace.

So be at peace.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

What are the burial customs in your family?

What would YOU like to say about this question, or today’s readings, or any of the columns from the past year? The sacred conversations are setting a Pentecost fire! Register here today and join the conversation.

I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).

6 Comments to “Thirteenth Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C”

  1. brebis galeuseJune 26, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    I always thought “let the dead bury their dead” meant to let go of the past and look to the future. Jesus replaced the Old Covenant with the New and gave us the great commandment to love God and one another. If we love God and one another, we won’t violate any of the Ten Commandments, because acting lovingly will put us in complete compliance with all of the commandments.

  2. becky wolfeJune 28, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    I thought that meant, that those who died without knowing the the word of Christ were dead in spirit and those more cocerned with eathly matter were dead in spirit. those who chose to follow Jesus at any cost were saved and would be alive eternaly. We are told through this reading that God provides us with the means we need to live now and in eternity. For instants when we go into debt to bury someone in a costly funeral we are really doing it for show. many of our Popes have been buried in pine boxes. we put a great price on showmanship and forget that the living need help with their daily needs like food and shelter, or a place to worship and talk to God about the burdens of their hearts. why bury our mony and more so our souls in everyday trivia.

  3. Carol SullivanJune 29, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Since mass, my husband and I have debated “let the dead bury their dead,” which he insists has never been adequately explained by the church. I reply that the words of Christ are, like many of his remarks, paradoxical. He retorts with a pun: “Paroxical is simply a pair of docs.” So now comes this wonderful discussion initiated by Kathy McGovern. Ah, this statement can be taken literally as well as metaphorically…we must not engage in “endless burial cycles” if they impede us from following Christ. Nor must we grieve endlessly. The interpretations above also add a richness to the scripture. Yes, we must “let go of the past.” And yes, we “need to live now and in eternity” His words resound: “be at peace.”

  4. BobbieJune 30, 2010 at 12:38 am

    The concept of the resurrection of the dead has always fascinated me. It takes not only faith but also religious imagination to think how we will come back in a glorious state after having been buried. Though I don’t plan on using it for a long while, I purchased my little box to house my remains after being cremated. I want to avoid the expense of a coffin. Thinking that God knows where every ash is as well as every bone is even more amazing to me. It brings me back to a sense of everyday life and to the realization that the God I believe in knows not only the sparrows and me, but every fiber of who I am. And then, when there is nothing left of my body God still knows my soul and can “knit me together” forming me once again as God “formed me in my mother’s womb.”

  5. Jen RadosevichJune 30, 2010 at 4:45 am

    I just saw a NOVA on this! How cool that even NOVA follows the Church calendar (or maybe I DVRed it!) Either way, the Holy Spirit lined it up!

    I knew that Jewish tradition asked for family to morn for a year but I didn’t realize that the bones were reburied in communal family ossuaries. This gives us all kinds of things to think about . . . Elijah’s “dry bones,” Lazarus, Mary, even Jacob’s bones coming out of Egypt. We were so focused on death and the ritual of it that Jesus knew we needed to change our focus to life and the living of it!

  6. GloriaJuly 2, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    It’s wonderful to read the thoughts on this difficult reading. Thankfully we have God’s plan and, even though it’s hard, if we follow Him and act with love we will be at peace!

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Twelfth Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C

19 June 2010
Comments (8)

Reflecting on Luke 9:18-24

Kathleen, you wouldn’t care so much what people think of you if you knew how seldom they do. That was my Irish father talking, telling his self-absorbed adolescent daughter one of the hardest facts of life: people aren’t really paying any attention to you. Oh.  Good to know.

But it turns out that Jesus cares what other people think of him too, and asks out loud, who do the crowds say I am? Is he John the Baptist, somehow come back from the dead? Or maybe Elijah, who went to the heavens in a chariot of fire and hasn’t been seen since?  Their answers reveal the kind of Mediterranean chatter and interest in the outsider that now seems to belong only in the past.

But Jesus (the Christ) wants us to think about him, to pay attention to him, to have an opinion about him, to gossip with our friends about him.  He knows that the more attention we pay to someone the more space in our lives that person will take.

Let’s revive the lost art of spiritual chatter.  Let’s gossip with the whole Church about this Jesus, and who we say he is.  Let’s breathe on the smoldering wicks of the Scriptures and see if we can start some fires.  One billion Christians heard this Gospel today.  What’s the buzz?

Let’s get talking, Church.  Because, as five-year-old Elliott said to God, I think of you sometimes even when I’m not praying.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

Who do you say he is?

What would YOU like to say about this question, or today’s readings, or any of the columns from the past year? The sacred conversations are setting a Pentecost fire! Register here today and join the conversation.

I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).

8 Comments to “Twelfth Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C”

  1. brebis galeuseJune 19, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    He is the best role model for life! In trying to be “other-absorbed,” the Gospels provide the best manual for living a counter-cultural life. Our society is so self-absorbed that we are quickly losing our way. A culture in which individuals look inward for their own good rather than looking outward for the good of the entire people will self-destruct in a short period of time. We lose our moral compass, and we are done. Only following Jesus’ way will keep us from ruining ourselves. The last verse of the Gospel reading today says it all:

    “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

  2. TeresaJune 20, 2010 at 4:31 am

    Love your suggestion to get talking about the scriptures, Jesus, spiritual things. My kids, like most I’m sure, ask so many questions about faith. They think about these things more often than I would have ever imagined children would. Some questions are deep and require a lot of reflection on my part and some are funny – but all of them good. I suppose this faith isn’t easy – not always easy to understand, not easy to live, not easy to talk about…but I’ve got to give it so much more effort than I do.

    Thank you “The Story and You” for helping me on the way!

  3. Betsy LillisJune 21, 2010 at 3:23 am

    Time and time again, when I gaze upon a Crucifix, I think — “But, who do you say that I am?” I see you God, in the person of Jesus, and how much You love me. Although I see the nails in your hands and feet, they are actually my sins and the sins of the whole world which hold You to the cross. Each thorn in the crown of thorns represents a sin. Yet, You asked the Father to forgive all of us. As the Host is raised during the consecration at Mass, these words come to my mind, “But, who do you say that I am?” and I utter to myself, “My Lord and my God!”
    A Prayer — My Jesus, Son of the Every-Living God, You are our refuge and our rock of courage. Never let us be afraid or hesitate to proclaim who You are. Let us see You in the poor, the hungry and the lonely. And, give us the strength to continue to be Your hands, and Your feet. Let us love as You love, forgive as You forgive, and offer help to all in need. We dedicate every breath in adoration to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

  4. Carol SullivanJune 21, 2010 at 4:26 am

    Jesus is with us in our sorrows and in the deepest, darkest pits, and in the oil spills, the summer solstice, and both the fears and hopes that we cannot even name. Today let us rejoice in the spirit of the Lord. And yes, let us chatter, gossip, and pay attention to the living Christ.

  5. BobbieJune 23, 2010 at 1:16 am

    Lately my prayer has been, “reveal yourself to me.” Reveal yourself to me in the everyday moments of joy and frustration. Reveal yourself in my struggle to find employment. Reveal yourself in my community of faith, in the breaking of bread. As you reveal yourself, I will know you more deeply.
    Today I looked through an office window upon a still pond which beautifully reflected stately green leafed trees. It was one of those “reveal yourself to me” moments. Looking at the pond, I could see an image of what is. I knew that if the sun weren’t shining just so, and if the pond weren’t so quiet, there would be no picture on which to gaze. i wanted to linger but had only a few minutes so I carried the image home with me.
    In my own stillness and pondering, I know that sometimes I have to create the conditions for Jesus to show me who he is. I have to be willing to hang out with him, to be listen to what he says and gaze with new eyes at what he does. This way I can discover something new about him and about the God to whom he leads me. When he asks me who he is today, I can say, “You are the God who speaks to me in lingering stillness, in trees that reach toward the heavens and in the depths of my soul.” –Bobbie Bonk

  6. ChrisJune 23, 2010 at 3:48 am

    Great reflection. Great reminder that we need to communicate. I’m reminded of St. Francis of Assisi.

    “Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words.”

  7. vivianJune 23, 2010 at 4:55 am

    When I got married all those years ago, my Aunt Donna gave me a pair of wall plaques she had purchased in Mexico on one of her many visits, they are clay, painted, of Mary and Jesus. I had taken them down to clean them, my granddaughter, Marisabel saw them on my dresser and she asked, why is His head bleeding? I told her it was Jesus and that He had died. She asked why, I told her because he died for all of us because He loves us so very, very much. She asked if I think of Him, and I said yes, she asked does he think of me too? Absolutely I told her, He thinks of each and every one of us because He loves us so much, she was happy with my answers…

  8. JohnnyJune 24, 2010 at 2:57 am

    Crowds all over the world are certainly saying lots of things about who Jesus is. And depending on the crowd you’re hanging out with will determine what you will hear concerning who Jesus is. I used to say that Jesus was this and that much more than I do now. I had more opinions about Jesus earlier in life. Now, it the fellowship and journey of discovering and experiencing Jesus in all things, in all persons and in all situations that leaves me speachless. It’s the discovery and fellowship of being in Jesus and the miracle of life that continually manifests the Love of God that captures my attention beyond words.

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Eleventh Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C

12 June 2010
Comments (6)

Reflecting on Luke 7:36-8:3

Only a person who has messed up as many times as I have can really remember the great love that washes over the person who is forgiven. Here’s a story that kind of makes me shudder every time I think of it:

One bitter January afternoon I was rushing to leave for a weekend retreat seventy miles away.  Of course I was late, and of course I locked all my retreat materials in the trunk of the car and threw the car keys in for good measure.

ARGH!!  It was getting later and darker and colder.  I drove our second car to the nearby Safeway where my husband worked.  Quick!!  Give me your keys!!  I don’t have time to explain! And as I was rushing out I sort of heard him say, Don’t lock me out!!

And it wasn’t until hours later, as I was settling into my cozy bed at the retreat house, that I realized that I had done exactly that.  I had left Ben’s keys in the house and used mine to lock the doors.  And of course neither of us had a cell phone.

So out of bed I flew, into the dark night and dark roads of the Colorado mountains.  I pictured Ben shivering in the garage or sleeping on the neighbor’s couch.  And here’s the moment of forgiveness:  I walked up to our front porch and opened the (unlocked) door.  A cozy warm fire was burning in the fireplace.  A sleepy voice called to me from the bedroom.  I knew you’d be back.

Thank God for hide-a-keys. And all the opportunities a lifetime provides us to grow in the kind of love and gratitude that only comes from being let off the hook.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

 

What stories can you remember about being forgiven much?

What would YOU like to say about this question, or today’s readings, or any of the columns from the past year?  The sacred conversations are setting a Pentecost fire!  Register here today and join the conversation.

I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).

6 Comments to “Eleventh Sunday – Ordinary Time Cycle C”

  1. BobbieJune 12, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    What a wonderful story of forgiveness and the love that reached out for it.

  2. brebis galeuseJune 14, 2010 at 4:47 am

    I was raised nominally Methodist and converted to Catholicism as an adult. When I was about eleven years old and in the sixth grade at Columbine Elementary School in Boulder, I made an unkind comment about one of the sixth grade teachers — not my teacher. I began to feel so guilty about the comment. (I truly don’t remember what it was now, but I do know that it was unkind). Nobody told me to do it, but I clearly remember going into the teacher’s room before school one morning and apologizing. She was shocked, I think, but she forgave me. When I walked out of her classroom, I felt so relieved of the burden, and I promised myself that I would never say anything about anyone behind their back that I hadn’t already said to them, or that I wouldn’t be willing to say to their face.

    I now believe that the Holy Spirit prompted that little Protestant girl to do the right thing. The teacher must have been similarly prompted. This is my first recollection of a reconciliation process. I think it says something about how powerful is forgiveness when I can remember the feeling 50 years later but have long forgotten the unkind comment!

  3. thelionandthelambJune 15, 2010 at 12:13 am

    I immediately thought about a true story in our life. My husband was a senior in medical school. We had three children and graduation was approaching. We went out on a limb and bought a second car, brand new, for him. One night I was driving to a women’s group meeting and I was alone in the new car. I hit a curb very hard and flattened the TWO tires on the driver’s side. I came to a stop in the street and a truck came over the crest of the hill and hit the rear of the car. I was uninjured but devastated. His new car was now an old car. My husband arrived to rescue me with three little ones in tow and a bouquet of roses in his hands. He said, “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.” To this day he has never made an issue over that incident. To me that was true forgiveness.

  4. Gloria A. VarelaJune 16, 2010 at 4:52 am

    (What a wonderful site)
    Talk about needing forgiveness! I think the worst thing I have ever done was when I vowed, at 15, not to show any emotion. Needless to say, I effectively buried myself when I buried my truth. I hadn’t been able to love God, or my neighbor, as I hadn’t been able to love myself in that emotionally dead state. It has taken a lifetime to allow God to resurrect her. The truth has indeed set me free. So often we are blind to God’s faithfullness to forgive us our foibles, and to the miracles God wants to work in us. Praise be to God!

  5. ChrisJune 16, 2010 at 4:53 am

    The thing our priest reminded us of this weekend is the Grace that is given to the one who forgives as much as the one who was forgiven.

  6. TeresaJune 17, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I love your story Kathy!

    I can think of so many times when I have lamented over not receiving forgiveness from another and later realizing I was the one witholding grace. More grace freely given!

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Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

6 June 2010
Comments (13)

Reflecting on Luke 9:11b-17

Mosaic found in Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish - Tabgha, Galilee, Israel

It must have been hot at that deserted place in Bethsaida when the crowds came out to see Jesus—to hear him—to be touched and healed by him.  And when the day was drawing to a close they must have started to feel uncomfortable. They were hungry, but they wouldn’t leave the place where Jesus was. They couldn’t take the chance that he might be gone when they came back.

These days it’s the Job Fairs that draw the huge crowds.  The sad numbers of unemployed form a line that snakes around the block and up the stairs and out into the parking lots.  They wait in the cold and the heat for a chance to fill out still another job application.  And even when it rains they won’t leave their precious place in line—they can’t take the chance that others will stay and get the few jobs left.

I think I saw Jesus standing with them the other day.  He and some of his friends had put together some sandwiches and coffee and were passing them around.  The crowd was huge, but it looked like they’d all received more than they needed.

I saw him again last week at the Cancer Center.  One of the patients there had just received a poor prognosis.  Everyone around her—the doctors, the nurses, the patients—rallied around to comfort and strengthen her.

And I saw him in the news, working in Haiti and Chile, comforting the afflicted and holding them close.  And, always, I see him in the breaking of the bread.

Happy Feast Day, Church.  He is Really, Really Present.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

On this Feast of the Eucharist, in what ways do you see Christ Really Present in the world?

What would YOU like to say about this question, or today’s readings, or any of the columns from the past year?  The sacred conversations are setting a Pentecost fire!  Register here today and join the conversation.

Photo of ancient mosaic on the floor of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish in Tabgha, Israel.  How many loaves are in the basket?  Go to the archives for 18th Sunday Ordinary Time B to read more.

13 Comments to “Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ”

  1. ColetteThompsonJune 6, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Wonderful discussion today with Nicole and her Morman frined, Tiffany regarding all of the ways we see Christ in the world…these 15 year old young ladies had an extensive list of where Christ is that extended well beyond boundaries of all religions..so much joy in this reflection…thank you, dear Kathy!

  2. brebis galeuseJune 6, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians stresses the transubstantiation that takes place at every Mass. As a successor to the apostles, the priest has the power to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Sometimes, I get complacent about receiving the Eucharist and forget to remember that it truly is Christ. I am so blessed to be able to receive the Lord every day of the year and to pray that receiving Jesus will help me to become more like him to the people around me. We don’t have a “representation” of Christ in the Eucharist, we have Christ! It’s what makes the Catholic Church the First Church of Christ, period!

  3. defensorJune 7, 2010 at 12:17 am

    I am so excited for this web site two reason’s. the reading so we can comprehend the word.you were also my teacher at the bibical school.God Bless and am looking forward to reading all your material.

  4. Betsy LillisJune 7, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Yesterday, nine of our home Bible Study group went to the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado Springs. There I sat in front of a copy of the Shroud of Turin. John Jackson and his wife Rebecca have done many years of research on the Shroud of Turin and he gave a lecture as to why it is believed that this was truly the burial shroud of Jesus. I sat there and saw on the Shroud the face of Jesus with the bleeding wounds from the crown of thorns, the scrouge marks, the nail marks and bleeding from them and bleeding from the spear thrust. I was so glad I went because it makes this feast day so much more touching and vivid. Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever.

  5. TeresaJune 7, 2010 at 5:36 am

    Love your style Kathy! I see Christ pouring out of our church whenever we sing at Church. His presence in music is such a big part of my experience that it’s hard for me to branch out sometimes. “I received the Living God and my heart is full of joy”!

  6. DonnaJune 7, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Thank you Kathy for reminding me how we forget it is Christ that we see everyday in our brothers and sisters when they love one another!
    Donna

  7. SharonJune 7, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    Sometimes when I see people receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, I am struck by the power of His presence in them, and am led to worship Him within each person and give thanks that He is willing to come to us in this way.

  8. thelionandthelambJune 7, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    I see Jesus in our 29 year old son who has Down Syndrome and he is so happy to be a sacristan at our church. He tells people that he “works for God”! Shouldn’t we all be saying that?

  9. ChrisJune 8, 2010 at 2:55 am

    Lovely reflection. Helps me to remember that *I* need to act more like Christ.

  10. mamidecincoJune 8, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Sharon’s comment resonates with me. One of the most poignant times for me to see Christ is as I am sitting after communion and watching people return to their seats after receiving the Eucharist. That our Lord is present in each person..young, old, happy, sad, tired, energetic, etc… And then to realize that this is happening in the Church every day all over the world. It is nothing short of miraculous and we are blessed beyond measure to partake!

  11. KarenJune 9, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    Hi Kathy,
    Thanks for your lovely reflection of Jesus’ Presence with us always! Recently I heard a taped presentation of Fr. Ron Rolheiser from earlier this year in Anaheim… He spoke of this reading, of the “Fishes and the Loaves” and the blindness of the disciples who missed the Presence of “the Bread of Life” right in their midst! I think too of your reflection on Peter’s fear in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, when he had the Presence again with him right there in the boat! How could he be afraid? It gives me hope that all of us too can have our eyes and hearts opened, probably in the most unexpected times, to the “Presence” of Jesus in our midst. Thank you for the gift of your presence too!

  12. MichaelCarlosJune 10, 2010 at 5:03 am

    Once more, my reflection is in two related parts, one of which answers the direct question in this week’s column, and one that is simply a response to the scripture passages themselves.

    First, the words that spoke to me in the readings. I was struck by the insistence in both the gospel and the epistle that the bread was BROKEN by Christ before sharing it. This must be significant, but what do I know about first-century sociology and the customs surrounding meals? I have to look at my own experience for insight. Though sit-down family meals are rare, I was fortunate to have one this past Sunday when our niece was home from grad school for a visit. We had in-laws, grandchildren, a new fiancé, brothers and sisters. Most restaurants serve individual dinner rolls, but this one had those heavenly rosemary loaves that are dipped in olive oil and have to be pulled apart and shared. So there we were, gathered to celebrate the bonds of love that join us, telling stories of our shared history that make us a family, remembering those we have lost, welcoming new members to our circle, looking forward to the wedding feast next spring, and sharing a meal. Sounding familiar? Ok, I get it about breaking bread. There’s an intimacy about taking a chunk from the same loaf and passing it to someone else. How lovely to think of Christ doing the same: not only for his disciples but also for a great crowd of people who started that day as strangers but were joined together by his act of generosity. Beautiful. But how impoverished that symbol has become in our modern liturgy. We are reduced to observers watching someone snap a gluey disc into pieces and then consume them by himself before we are invited to partake. Still, we have rich, beautiful traditions around the Eucharist, and I shouldn’t complain.  

    Kathy asks where we find Christ really present, and because I was meditating on the breaking of the bread, I have to say that for me, it is in our brokenness that I see Christ near us. In the places where we are human, yearning, hurting, that is where Christ can enter into our lives and fill us with his presence, if we are just open to his grace. He is present in the people who hold us up, who encourage, comfort, and challenge us. In the ones who love us as we are and still want us to become our best selves. In the ones who help us remember who we are to ourselves and to each other. In the community, the family, the church that recognizes him in the breaking of the bread.  

  13. BetsyJune 10, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    Thank you, Sharon for your comment about being moved in seeing other people after receiving the Eucharist. It reminded me of when I was first a Eucharistic minister and saw the miracle I wasn’t expecting, when I noticed something in the people coming forward, opening their hands to receive. I could see their humility and the reverence they came with…in their eyes was the desire for Jesus. I thought of how many times most of them had received; it was almost as if, as long as they had been receiving, it was something they couldn’t live without. Of course! Our spirits do show on us, through our eyes, and other ways…we may not realize what we are showing others. Maybe we are not always aware of the tremendous hunger we have for Jesus.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

29 May 2010
Comments (12)

Reflecting on Proverbs 8:22-31

Based on an icon by Andrei Rublev in the Tretyakov Museum, Moscow

Who are the people who decided the first reading for this Sunday?  I want to thank them personally for choosing that beautiful passage from the book of Proverbs (8:22-31) as the best section of the entire Old Testament to portray the work of God the Creator.  Did you hear it?  The creator of the universe had a playmate, a friend who played on the surface of the earth, who was with God at first, before the earth.  And of course that playmate was the Holy Spirit.

Ah, Wisdom (Holy Spirit).  You were God’s partner when the mountains settled into place, and when the limits of the sea were measured out you were there, delighting God day by day.

The other two readings today give us the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity as we usually think of them:  Jesus, the peace-giver, and the Holy Spirit, the truth-giver.  But oh, how lovely to think of the First Person through the poetry of Proverbs—the delighted, artistic, musical, wondrous creator of all that is.  Our universe is shot through with Wisdom, and we live in its endless mysteries.

Of course, our beloved dead whom we remember and honor this Memorial Day weekend know that Wisdom now in a much richer way than we who wait in joyful hope for the day we are reunited with them.  They know the Trinity intimately, as the never-ending love of God drawing us home.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

 

Do you feel a special closeness to one of the Persons of the Trinity?

12 Comments to “Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity”

  1. TeresaMay 29, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    What a wonderful place to connect with the readings! Thank you!

    I feel a closeness with God the Creator. My children are young and they are still so close to their moment of creation. Their delight in EVERYTHING they see, helps me reconnect to the wonder of creation. Every moment is an opportunity for play, discovery, a little art project, creating a new game, singing a song…they do it so easily. What a wonder!

  2. leehemmingerMay 31, 2010 at 12:25 am

    Wow, what a question! It’s taken me over 24 hours of contemplation, wondering if there is ONE person of the Trinity I feel closest to at all times. Early on in my life it was definitely God….He was always my refuge during a somewhat tumultuous childhood; I knew that He was the one I could count on to love me and look out for me. And, even now, when I’m outside and look at the trees, flowers, mountains, any part of creation, I am awed and filled with wonder and gratitude. Other creatures, domestic and wild, fill me with the same sense of wonder. But, when it comes to trying to live my life, Christ is clearly the model I wish to emulate..poorly as that may be. Once it became possible for me to believe that Christ lived in me then He took a high place in my awareness also. The Holy Spirit came into my consciousness later in life, and I trust in Her presence and guidance for all the rest. So, it depends where my head and heart are at the moment, but I can’t imagine being separated from any part of the Trinity.

  3. Carol SullivanJune 1, 2010 at 4:33 am

    Today I hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit, calling me to let go of fear and to trust that she is always here, especially when I doubt or despair. I appreciate anew Father Pat’s emphasis on the triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the shimmering sun, in the dark night, I seek to connect to those I love as well as those who feel alien from me. We are one body, one body in Christ. Thank you, Kathy McGovern, for this beguiling invitation to enter The Story.

  4. laurasisJune 1, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    It’s hard to pick just one part of the Trinity because they bring us so many riches and they are all one. what a mystery! I find that I call on all of them for different reasons. I always speak to God in thanksgiving for his son and in Jesus I always call on God’s promises through him, but the Holy Spirit because through the Spirit we are inspired and guided I always pray for that guidance and inspiration and I feel that at this particular time in my life i really need that Spirit of God to guide and protect me.

  5. BetsyJune 1, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Teresa, your comment about your young chidren reminds me of my grandson. It is so beautifully put; that he is “so close to the moment of his creation.” When I am with my grandson, sometimes I imagine a quality that I could never find words for; right in front of my eyes. It’s a flexible, unpredictable, dancing kind of thing. Remember the expression, “carried me away”, well that indescribible quality does that to us when we’re playing.
    Besides not having words for it, I can’t feel enough of the feeling the quality evokes; it spills over because it is so much bigger than what I can feel. I’m learning about the Holy Spirit, and His nature is just beyond words.
    Although I know Jesus lives in my heart, God the Father is whom I turn to most readily. My words to the Father come most easily. For some reason, I feel the Father is there when I need Him. Ps 103 helps me to praise God the Father: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” This image from that psalm says worlds to me: “Who…raises your life from the pit; and CROWNS YOU with love and compassion.” Who would not feel undeserving of being gently lifted up by Almighty God and tenderly crowned with the utmost love, who has been living in a pit?
    I know that everything I say about the three Persons refer to One. What a mystery to ponder; the Trinity. You never feel that you’ve got a handle on saying what you mean to say. But that’s OK!

  6. clm1127June 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

    The Holy Spirit is my favorite person of the Trinity. Perhaps it is because it is most difficult to understand a Ghost, it has held a special fascination. And I always trust the Spirit to bring a special grace, answer a special prayer. The Holy Spirit really became visible to me in viewing the Bernini window at the Vatican, and then to see the Holy Spirit window in my own church home, in the center of the nave of St. Peter, each time I attend Mass there. The windows remind me that the Spirit not only descends to us, it ascends to heaven, carrying all our needs for God’s discernment.

  7. BetsyJune 2, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Yesterday I meant to share this mysterious thought, which I once read from Henri Nouwen: He said that the Father and Jesus are so close that they share one breath: The Holy Spirit. I don’t have the actual quote or the name of the book. But I remember clearly those few words which he had written that gave me pause.

  8. brebis galeuseJune 2, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    Kathy,

    Congratulations! I hope you have many readers and reflectors sharing their experiences with scripture each week.

    Paul’s letter to the Romans was the reading that struck me at Mass Sunday morning. It is only in times of difficulty (afflictions) that I grow. When things are going smoothly, I tend to relax in satisfaction and try not to rock the boat. Life’s challenges have made me look for the graces God offers to help me. When I accept and welcome those graces, I realize how wonderful is the love of God for all of us, and I can then hope in eternal salvation. I look forward with great anticipation to that which is to come!

  9. tmiozzoJune 2, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    Kathy, how exciting for you and for the rest of us. This will be a big success,
    God Bless
    Maggie I

  10. BetsJune 3, 2010 at 2:37 am

    Kathy,
    So good to hear of your new venture. Thank you so much.
    I feel close to each Person of the Trinity at different times as needs arise in my life. But if I had to choose just one Person it would be Jesus.

  11. EyermanJune 3, 2010 at 3:31 am

    Kathy,

    Thank you so much for establishing this website. I liked the links to other sites offering reflections on the daily and weekly readings. My favorite person in the Trinity has, for years, been the Holy Spirit. I think this was fostered by exposure to open teachers in the seminary, such as Bob Lechner, C.PP.S., and then the influence of Teilhard de Chardin, Ed Hays, Henri Nouwen, Mary Luke Tobin, and others who see life as a process, ever changing, ever new, full of surprises. Again, Carol and I thank you and Ben for all you do in bringing God’s word to our minds and hearts.

  12. SharonJune 4, 2010 at 3:54 am

    Thanks, Kathy, for this website. Even though my pastor didn’t seem interested, I can now access your reflections on the web. You are always such an inspiration, making the Scriptures seem more meaningful and applicable to what’s going on in every day life.

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Pentecost Sunday – Easter Cycle C

22 May 2010
Comments (13)

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

A PENTECOST SEQUENCE

Come, oh Holy Spirit, come!

And make our timid hearts your own.

In Juarez, blow your mighty wind.

In Haiti, Spirit, enter in.

In war zones here and far away

Let your healing love hold sway.

Change our hearts, our hates, our lives.

Touch the place where meanness thrives.

Come, oh Spirit, open wide

The doors we like to hide behind.

The wounds we hold, the hurts we feed―

Help us, Spirit, to be freed.

And on this Feast Day, give us light

To feel His presence in the night.

Our sadness gone, our faith restored

Proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Can you remember a time when the Spirit let you see that God was near?

13 Comments to “Pentecost Sunday – Easter Cycle C”

  1. CandleginnyMay 23, 2010 at 12:24 am

    May we be open to the Spirit, that he may make a big difference in our lives and help us to grow toward our loving God.

  2. TeresaStoneMay 23, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Beautiful, unique and completely needed website! I love it.

    Today I was complaining a lot about the unrelenting wind in Colorado. It took me nearly half the day to remember that this weekend is Pentecost. Then I remembered the title of one of the songs we would sing today, “Spirit Wind” by Scott Soper. I moved from being annoyed by the wind to gratitude for the reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit. While the wind ravaged our back-yard, it created an opportunity for our family to spend time together on a project cleaning and freshening up our home. God is always near, but I forget that sometimes. The wind, your website and Pentecost reminded me to always look for God’s presence everywhere. Thank you!

  3. cdmaschkaMay 23, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    I felt the same way about the Colorado wind yesterday, until I, too, made the connection between the wind and the Holy Spirit. It was such a blessing, then, to be at Tending the Scriptures yesterday afternoon and allow the Pentecost Scriptures come to life in our sharing. Thanks all for a powerful beginning to the celebration of Pentecost! “Blaze Spirit, Blaze!”

  4. leehemmingerMay 23, 2010 at 5:19 pm

    How fitting these winds have been, the Holy Spirit breathing forcefully to arouse our awareness of Her ever-presence in our lives; filling us with the Wisdom only She can impart to strengthen our faith and spirituality. I am so thankful for the annual Pentecost celebration that serves to revitalize the Spirit among us. God bless all!!

  5. leehemmingerMay 23, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Well, now that I’ve read your instructions on how to comment, the Spirit moves me to comment on the Corinthians reading. This is one of my favorite readings, as it reminds us how much we are interdependent; we need each other to function in this world and in the Church. My analogy comes from my health care background….the brain is the control center of the entire body, and the body can’t function without an intact brain. Yet, despite having all the power to control the body it is useless, nay, powerless, without the limbs to respond to the commands to move and perform their actions. Without the response of the lungs to exchange oxygen, the heart to pump blood through all the organs, the bone marrow, kidney an liver for blood component production, the kidney, liver and spleen to filter out toxins….you get the idea. Without a collaborative operation of all the components, the body is not whole and does not function effectively…in fact, may die. To consider oneself independently capable of living life fully is as inane as considering the body whole and healthy without one of its parts. I wonder why it is so difficult for us to open ourselves completely to others and admit our need? It is so difficult to be vulnerable, and yet it is essential characteristic if we want the kind of connection with others we are called to. It requires a sacrifice of safety and willingness to accept the pain that may result from being misunderstood or, rejection as a member of the body. With the divine grace of the Holy Spirit we will continue to improve our understanding of one another and ourselves.

  6. jlradMay 23, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    Our deacon preached today about the Holy Spirit in the context of the family of the Trinity. I love that we are called to image God in a community of love. If we did that–constantly–how much could we change the world? May it begin with me and my family!

  7. MichaelCarlosMay 23, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    There are two great defining moments in the story of my life as a lover of the written word and its power to transform and awaken our own spirit, which is after all what happens when we recognize the presence of God’s Spirit. The first is a memory of a childhood encounter with the word and the second is a similar encounter with the Word as a young adult. 

    Books were ubiquitous in our childhood, from before we could even speak. I memorized all my favorite picture books and knew all the words that went with each page. In my way, I thought this was reading because I could “read” entire books from start to finish and I could recognize separate words if they appeared in another place. But I remember with perfect clarity a day in kindergarten when we were flipping through our letter books. Remember these? There was a picture on each page for a word that started with that letter. The first few pages, it was the same as always: I could ‘read’ the word because of the picture on the page and my familiarity with the book. But something different happened that day when we got to the J page. There was a drawing of a green jeep, a capital and lower-case ‘j’ and the word ‘jeep.’ At that exact moment, I understood for the first time that the letter by itself represented a sound and not just a part of that whole word. It was a revelation. I knew then I could read anything, not just the familiar stories with pictures, not just the prayers from the missalette I had memorized. Anything. It was like being struck by lightning. This was the real beginning of a lifelong passion for reading that has rewarded me with so many rich gifts. It is only upon reflection later in life that I recognize the presence of the Spirit in that moment, of course, but I have no doubt this gift of understanding and possibility and power could come only as pure grace from God. 

    The second experience is similar. As a cradle Catholic, I was raised and nourished by daily mass and Catholic school. As such, I “knew” the stories of the gospel intimately, understanding their role as the animating force of the liturgical year, but I knew the gospels only as an undifferentiated whole and as a completely episodic collection of stories. That all changed for me in the course of one class session. This was in the incomparable early days of the Catholic Biblical School of the Archdiocese of Denver. My heart had been prepared in the first year where we learned to read with care and with respect for the integrity of each inspired book of the bible. In this particular class, we were introduced to the technical meaning of the title Christ/Messiah. For me, the two words “Jesus Christ” had always formed simply one of the names of the Son; it was not a proclamation of his identity and role in our salvation. Recognizing the enormity of a gospel writer applying this term to Jesus at a specific moment in the text was truly like having a new revelation of God’s work in history. I was ‘hearing’ the gospel again but for the first time, and I knew the Spirit was in that room, in our hearts, in MY heart. This realization opened my heart to understand the power of the gospels in a new way. To know the urgency of these four very different messages about the revelation of Jesus the Christ, the one who came into the world. All the stories had new richness of meaning: the centurion’s proclamation, Martha’s staggering profession of Jesus as the Christ (the first person in all the gospels to proclaim him as such, and before he had even resurrected her beloved brother), the soaring prologue of John’s gospel. This second epiphany of the Spirit was like the first: making me aware of a new horizon, revealing my former understanding to be so provisional, so incomplete, and filling me with hope and a hunger for the new possibilities. 

    And now there is this wonderful web site, the gift of love from a person who has been my constant companion in the journey of faith. The Spirit has richly blessed her and filled her with a need to proclaim the good news, and we are all the richer for it. Pentecost, indeed.

  8. clm1127May 24, 2010 at 12:45 am

    I love the image of always moving toward Christ! The Pentecost homily today was on relativism….finding ways to deviate from the true teachings and justify those actions! I had the opportunity to speak with the priest later in the day, and he stressed the continued teaching of virtue. By teaching virtue, we are always moving toward Christ, and he will always be there for us. We just need to keep our eyes open!

  9. donnatuttleMay 24, 2010 at 2:22 am

    Kathy,
    Your website is beautiful and driven by the Spirit. May the Spirit continue to move in you and all of us. Mighty wind, mighty spirit, mighty change. We all need it – and our church needs it the most.

  10. hubertMay 24, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Kathy,

    Congratulations on your wonderful new website. It is a blessing for all who are interested in deepening their experience of the weekly liturgy.

    I clipped your Pentecost sequence and put it on my refrigerator.

    Angeline

  11. BetsyMay 25, 2010 at 1:19 am

    I prayed for 2 specific gifts of the Holy Spirit to be renewed in me, after reading last week’s column. I knew only a tiny fraction of how much I would and will need each of those gifts.
    The ONLY way I’ll keep from falling back, after the gifts of Pentecost, is to keep walking, and talking.
    Thank you for the website. It’s much-needed support!

  12. vivianMay 25, 2010 at 3:28 am

    Dear Kathy,
    You have always been a blessing in my life.
    Love,
    Vivian

  13. JgfelsMay 25, 2010 at 6:10 am

    Though I suppose I might be approaching the text from a slightly different perspective, I can’t help but be moved by the phrase of the reading from Acts: “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” What does it mean to truly be “all in one place together”? Yes, surely it refers to location, but does it not also call us to move beyond the spiritual materialism of ego into the broader understanding of shared “oneness”? Could it be that we are able to fully realize the spiritual gifts bestowed in us only when we authentically take the time to encourage and support others in their gifts, thus, negating the fear of our own storylines? Is that what it means for the time of Pentecost to be fulfilled…to transcend the enslavement of attachment that comes from the delusion of separateness? Oh dear, how easy it is to hide oneself within one’s own shadow.

    Thank you, Kathy, for providing this beautiful website of inspiration. You are a blessing to us all!

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Seventh Sunday – Easter Cycle C

16 May 2010
Comments (2)

Reflecting on Luke 24: 44-53

To be honest, we still don’t really know what happened.  We saw him crucified on that tree.  We watched the whole terrifying thing from a distance.  People are saying that he turned to the thief next to him and told him that he would be with him that very day in Paradise.  And then of course we all saw the eclipse of the sun, and even those of us at a safe distance heard him cry out, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. And then he breathed his last.

And as they were looking on, he was lifted up

But I’m sure you’ve heard what happened next.  People are talking about it all over Jerusalem and even up in Galilee.  His body is gone from the tomb.  He has appeared to two of our number as they were returning to Emmaus.  Cephas saw him too, and then he came to us while we were hiding in the same room where we had our last meal with him.  And he wasn’t a ghost, he was really alive!  And we are still incredulous with joy!  Somehow he opened our memories and our understanding.  Life as we knew it is completely different now.

Today we were with him again.  He led us out towards Bethany and said the most beautiful words to us.  We are to be his witnesses, even to the ends of the earth.  And he promised to send us power from the Holy Spirit in just a few days!  We don’t know what that means, but we won’t leave the city until it happens.  What will the spirit do?  How will we be changed?  Is it possible that, once again, a great miracle will happen here?  We wait in joyful hope.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

As we anticipate the great feast of Pentecost, what gifts of the Spirit would you most like to experience in a more powerful way?

2 Comments to “Seventh Sunday – Easter Cycle C”

  1. davidlMay 21, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    I read somewhere that Pentecost and Ascension could be the same event. Does anybody understand that? I thought they waited in the city for nine days before the Holy Spirit came.

    Pentecost is my favorite feast day. I was just confirmed three years ago at Easter and the Holy Spirit has been my best friend ever since.

    I’d love to talk with other people who love this time between Ascension and Pentecost.

  2. CandleginnyMay 23, 2010 at 12:23 am

    the assention must have been the most astounding thing. God just took him up in the clouds. It’s really fun tho think waht that must have been like!

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Sixth Sunday – Easter Cycle C

9 May 2010
Comments (1)

Reflecting on the journeys of Paul and Barnabas

Don’t you hate it when people misquote you or mislead other people about you?  Think how infuriating it must have been for Paul and Barnabas when those “brothers” from Judea showed up in Antioch and tried to upset the peace of the Gentiles there who had received Christ.  What? You were baptized but not circumcised? No, no, that’s not what Jesus demands.  He expects all Gentile men to behave like Jews if they want to be saved.  We know what Jesus wants.  We’re the authorities.  Don’t listen to Paul.  What does he know?  He never even knew Jesus.

Journeys of Paul

It’s scary to think about what would have happened to the world if Paul had caved into that.  If he hadn’t trusted completely in the Spirit’s guidance to open the way of salvation to the Gentiles, the Jesus Movement would certainly have died out before the end of the first century.  Instead, the Holy Spirit inspired him to ask an entirely revolutionary thought: could it be that Jesus is for all of us? And once he knew the answer to that, nothing could stop him from bringing Christ to the Gentiles of the ancient world, and so to us.

I guess that’s the Spirit’s signature work―to open our hearts wide enough for Jesus to do something wonderful and new.  Something new.  I like the sound of that.  Pentecost awaits.

Sharing God’s Word at Home

Can you sense the Spirit urging you to do something new and wonderful?


One Comments to “Sixth Sunday – Easter Cycle C”

  1. CandleginnyMay 23, 2010 at 12:21 am

    I love how the early church, run by Jews opened up so that all people could belong. It would have been so easy to say if you want to be one of us, then act like one of us. What a wonderful example for us to follow as we build community around us.

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Fifth Sunday – Easter Cycle C

2 May 2010
Comments (2)

Reflecting on Revelation 21:1-5

Ah…May.  Is there a more delicious celebration of the senses?  And how on earth does it all happen?  The bush outside our window has been empty and barren and boring for months and months, and just in time for Earth Day last week it popped open with the most gorgeous pinks and whites. And now all the trees on the block are clapping their hands and saying, Ha!!  Look what we’ve been getting ready for all winter!  And we did it right in front of your eyes and you didn’t even notice!! Surprise!!!

Colors of Spring

But these days my husband Ben, whose carbon footprint is nearly undetectable, is staring with astonishment as I start up the car for the one-mile drive to church.  Uh oh.  I guess the world’s resources aren’t mine alone.  Even the ancient author of the Book of Revelation knew that someday the former heaven and earth would pass away, but why should I contribute to that event before God’s own time?

Listen to Pope Benedict XVII in his address for the World Day of Peace 2010:  We must ensure that human activity does not compromise the fruitfulness of the earth, for the benefit of people now and in the future…If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation… As we care for creation we realize that God, through creation, cares for us.

I love that.  I remember all those long talks I had with God as I rode my Schwinn through the apple-blossomed Mays of my youth. God was caring for me then, mediating grace through the exquisite beauty of nature.

Okay, maybe just this once I’ll try biking to church.

Google World Day of Peace 2010 to read the entire papal address.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

In what ways do you experience God’s care for you as you care for creation?

2 Comments to “Fifth Sunday – Easter Cycle C”

  1. davidlMay 21, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    I feel guilty when I drive my car for short trips, especially when it’s warm outside. ANy suggestions from anybody out there on how to be better?

  2. CandleginnyMay 23, 2010 at 12:18 am

    David, how about doing your running around chores on the way home from work that should help.

    As for me there is nothing that I love more then taking care of the earth. Weather I’m trimming a tree, planting something or mowing, I’m always rewarded. He gives us flowers. fruit & veggies and the wonderful smell of mowed lawn.

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Fourth Sunday – Easter Cycle C

25 April 2010
Comments (1)

Reflecting on Acts 13:14, 43-52

What profoundly Good News the Gospel is for those who are poor in spirit.  Listen to the stories of those who stepped into baptismal fonts at Easter Vigils all around the world this year:

The Good Shepherd

I was hungry for more in my life, and learning about Jesus fed me.

No one ever exposed me to the spiritual life when I was growing up. When my friend talked to me about his faith, I knew how much I wanted that for myself.

My soul craved the beauty and depth of the Catholic faith.  For example, no one ever gave me saints before.  Now I have all of them as my friends.  And, of course, there is the Eucharist.

Sometimes I wonder if we “cradle Catholics” are like the Jews whom Paul and Barnabas encountered on their missionary journeys.  Nobody could give them anything new and wonderful because they were already the “experts” on how God works.  And so they missed Jesus, the fulfillment of everything they had longed for!  But the soul-starved Gentiles, empty in a Roman world of gods and goddesses, recognized their Savior and rejoiced that they could be part of him.   What good shepherds those early Christians were for those who were outside the sheepfold.

Listen to the stories of those who have just joined us.  They are wake-up calls for all of us who were carried to the font as babies and have never truly appreciated the faith for which others have longed.

Sharing God’s Word at Home:

Who are the people who have shepherded you in the faith?

Above: Anonymous French painter c 1970’s painted this scene for the Jesus Mafa project in North Camaroon.

 

 

One Comments to “Fourth Sunday – Easter Cycle C”

  1. CandleginnyMay 23, 2010 at 12:15 am

    My Aunt was a nun. I think her prayers did so much for me. And she was always asking questions about our faith. She has alzheimers now, she doesn’t know me, but she still remembers hymns and now our conversations all all sung.

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