Bible Study for the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 10/6 – Revelation 11:19-12:1 – Blessed Virgin, you did not love your own life, but gave me an example of sacrifice for love of my Lord and God. Through your intercession help me to remain faithful in the face of evil and temptation.
  • 10/7 – 2 Samuel 6:2 – Blessed Virgin, like David you rose and carried the Lord to me by your yes to God. Through your intercession help me say yes to all God asks.
  • 10/8 – Luke 1:39 – Blessed Virgin, through your example and intercession help me to rise up and go to my brothers and sisters in haste; to give of myself as you did.
  • 10/9 – 2 Samuel 6:9 – Blessed Virgin, like David you were astonished when the Lord came to you. Help me, through your intercession, to remain in awe of God’s favor to me, to be humble in His presence.
  • 10/10 – Luke 1:43 – Blessed Virgin, your cousin Elizabeth recognized that you bore the Lord to her. Help me, through your intercession, to bear the your Son to all I meet.
  • 10/11 – 2 Samuel 6:11 – Blessed Virgin, you bore the new covenant, the Ark of the Covenant. Through your intercession, help me to recognize that all salvation is found in your Son, Jesus Christ, the New Covenant.
  • 10/12 – Luke 1:56 – Blessed Virgin, you are my example of faithfulness. Through your intercession, help me to be faithful in all times and places.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, grant me the grace to carry You into the world revealing Your love.

Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God's-Promise-thumb

Lord, increase my…
faith, soften my heart!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Francis began his life as a confirmed sinner. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant who owned farmland around Assisi. Francis wanted for nothing and was spoiled. He indulged in fine food, wine, and women, and left school at the age of 14. By this time, he was well known as a wild teenager who partied and broke the city curfew. He was also known for his charm with women and for being a great dresser.

Francis did learn the skills of archery, wrestling and horsemanship. While expected to follow his father into the family textile business, he dreamed of other pursuits. Instead of planning a future as a merchant, he daydreamed of being a knight; and if Francis had any ambition, it was to be a war hero like the knights he admired. In 1202, war broke out between Assisi and Perugia, and Francis eagerly took his place with the cavalry.

People aren’t very good at softening their hearts. We are, unfortunately, pretty good at hardening them. Think of someone who holds a grudge, hasn’t spoken with a family member in years, or has closed their heart to the needs of others. We don’t often see them have a change of heart, a softening, unless someone intervenes…

Francis and the men of Assisi came under heavy attack by superior forces and ran. Many were killed. Most of the surviving Assisi troops were put to death. Dressed like an aristocrat and worthy of a decent ransom, Francis was captured. Francis spent nearly a year in a miserable prison cell waiting for his father to ransom him. It was there that he first heard God’s call…

The One who can soften our hearts, who intervenes, is Jesus. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls us to listen, to repent, and to soften our hearts – to have deeper faith. Like Francis, we have to listen for God’s call. We have to accept Him in faith and allow Him to soften our hearts and build our faith. Today’s psalm speaks of the life Francis went on to live once his heart was softened:

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. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds…

The Holy Spirit worked to plant the seed of faith in Francis. We all have that seed of faith in us, the whole world does, but like Francis we have to open our ears to God’s call. We have to let Him soften our hearts, build our faith, so that like Francis we can serve Him in joy.

October 2013 Newsletter

Family, family, family – it is all about family, plus craft fairs, coffee hours, our School of Christian Living, welcoming the newly baptized, and those who have joined us at the table of the Lord — that and more all in our new newsletter. Check it out, stay informed and see our action packed schedule. You may view and download a copy right here — October 2013 Newsletter.

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Bible Study for the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/29 – Jeremiah 29:11 – Lord, in love You have provided me a future filled with hope, good, and promise. Help me to live in accord with Your plan for me.
  • 9/30 – John 16:33 – Lord Jesus, through Your suffering, death, and resurrection You have overcome the ways of the world and have given me more than the world can promise. Help me to keep my eyes on the future You have given me.
  • 10/1 – Psalm 138:8 – Lord, You are my sole hope. Protect me from all evil.
  • 10/2 – Jeremiah 17:10 – Lord, I stand before You sinful, accused by my failings. Grant me the grace of Your forgiveness. Help me to do better in Your eyes each day.
  • 10/3 – Psalm 37:37 – Lord, in Your mercy grant me a peaceful heart and mind. Assist me in setting aside the anxieties of today. Help me to live in the promise of Your life.
  • 10/4 – Romans 8:28 – Lord, thank you for calling me to faith in You. Help me to love You more and more each day.
  • 10/5 – Ephesians 2:8-9 – Lord, all that is good comes from You. Protect me from pride.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to live in Your way and realize the destiny You have called me to.

Reflection for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lazarus and the Rich Man

Where are you
going?

They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Did you ever drink wine out of a bowl? Did you ever really feast without caring? Have you partied, partied, partied without thought of the consequences?

The situation in Israel was like that. They were living large, lying on beds of ivory, stretching comfortably on couches, eating tender lamb and veal, playing music they improvised, drinking wine from bowls, and anointing themselves with the best oils. They gave no thought to their suffering kinsmen.

Jesus was drawing on this parallel in His parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man lived large, enjoyed his life, went from success to success, and ignored Lazarus as he walked by him every day. He was indifferent, inhuman. On the other hand, Lazarus begged, but while begging he did not bemoan his situation. He was humble and even the dogs tried to comfort him. In his poverty he maintained his humanity.

The conclusion of Jesus’ parable is the outcomes for Lazarus and the rich man. This should prompt us to consider our humanity, where will our way of life lead us?

Today’s Psalm begins: Blessed he who keeps faith forever. This is what we are called to do, to keep faith and to keep it forever. Listen again to Paul’s call to Timothy:

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called.

The question isn’t whether doing a “bad thing” will send us to eternal damnation or punishment. It is bigger than that. Jesus’ parable and the story of Israel are stories of people who have lost their humanity. They didn’t just do “bad things,” they lived lives that totally alienated them from life in God. They wiped the idea of God from their minds and hearts. They made themselves cold, self-centered, selfish and self-righteous, inhuman.

We know we fall in sin, but we have taken hold of the salvation Jesus offers us. We listen to His call to be more and more human, to repent of our sin, to make amends, to accept His grace and live lives in tune with His way. We see our humanity as a gift – and we focus on living humanly as God’s people.

It is not up to us to judge anyone’s destination. We must simply remember that lives lived habitually away from God will lead to an eternity away from Him.

Free Lunch on Sunday – September 29th

Please come and join us for Free Lunch on Sunday, this Sunday, September 29th, from 11:30am till 1:30pm. This event is always free and open to all. Enjoy family friendly foods, dessert, coffee/drinks, and more. Free Lunch on Sunday is held at Holy Name of Jesus in our parish hall located at 1040 Pearl St., Schenectady (CDTA Route 353 – Pearl Street stop).

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Blessing of Pets – Next Sunday, October 6th

October 4th is the Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi. If you wish, please bring your pets to church on Sunday, October 6th during our regular worship at 9:30am. We will hold a special blessing for our furry, feathered, and scaled friends. If you wish, you may also bring in some pet supplies for donation to local pet shelters.

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Blessed are you, Lord God, Maker of all living creatures, On the fifth and sixth days of creation you called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this animal. By the power of your love enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

God Bless Emjai Rose

Yesterday, Saturday, September 21st, we welcomed Emjai Rose into the family of Christ through the sacrament of baptism. It was a wonderful occasion made extra special by the presence of family who were in town. In baptism Emjai joins us in living God’s compelling over-arching story – a story in which we love, honor, serve, and sacrifice, supporting each other in living the life, the story, God calls us to live. God bless you Emjai.

Bible Study for the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/22 – Matthew 10:16 – Lord Jesus, give me Your protection as I do Your will. Grant that I may be both shrewd and gentle before the world.
  • 9/23 – 1 Corinthians 14:20 – Lord, help me to repent of my failings. Protect me from habitual sin. Grant me maturity, understanding, and shrewdness in faith.
  • 9/24 – Matthew 7:24 – Lord, grant me the wisdom and shrewdness to build my life upon You as my rock.
  • 9/25 – James 1:25 – Lord, help me to do more than listen, to not only think, but to carry out Your will.
  • 9/26 – Matthew 25:1-4 – Lord, grant that I may be shrewd and aware, always ready for Your coming. Come Lord Jesus!
  • 9/27 – 1 Timothy 6:12 – Lord, grant me perseverance. Renew the joy of my regeneration each day so I may serve You with great joy.
  • 9/28 – Titus 3:14 – Lord, grant me the grace of good management and shrewdness so that I may better share of the gifts You have given me.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to be shrewd in seeking the treasures of heaven and in doing Your will.

Reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

parable of the shrewd manager the_t

We are called to be
shrewd stewards

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”

Today’s story is an intriguing tale of master and servant, and money and sly dealing. A steward who is about to be fired curries favor with his master’s debtors by forgiving some of their debts. Jesus seems to be commending dishonest behavior.

Jesus’ target audiences are two groups of people who he had been addressing over the three passages from Luke we have listened to over the past three weeks – one that was despised and frowned upon by society and another that enjoyed much honor and respect. Both shared this common love– amassing wealth.

The openly corrupt tax collectors Jesus had been spending time with are referred to as ‘children of this world;’ the Pharisees who fanatically kept the Law, believing it to be the ‘Light of Life,’ are described as ‘children of light.’

The taxmen had no qualms about adopting dishonest means but were known for their liberal spending habits and for using ill-gotten wealth freely to gain favors and friends. The Pharisees amassed wealth through legally right ways but were known to be tightfisted with their hard-earned money.

The tax collectors are commended for their worldly shrewdness. Jesus is speaking to them about giving up dishonest ways – to be shrewd in a new way, so they would receive heavenly treasures. The latter are commended for their honesty and advised to freely use money to gain the friendship of saints who would welcome them into ‘eternal dwellings,’ when their legalistic righteousness fails to gain them salvation.

Jesus calls both groups to break free from the love of money and seek God with an undivided heart. The Pharisees who loved money heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. Though there is no mention of how the taxmen responded, we have reasons to believe that the likes of Matthew and Zacchaeus, both tax collectors, were converted by this teaching.

The lesson is clear. The servant who is about to lose his job knows exactly what he needs to do to get himself into another job and a secure his future.

The steward was shrewd in taking care of himself. Jesus commends his shrewdness to us.

We are to be shrewd in taking care of our faith. We need to reflect on our failings, our sin, and be shrewd in doing what is necessary to gain heavenly treasure. We need to avoid legalism and scrupulosity and truly live generously in the light of Christ.