Bible Study for the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 10/7 – Micah 6:8 – Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see through conflict and rhetoric so that I may chose leaders who follow Your precepts; who are humble, just, and kind.
  • 10/8 – Daniel 2:21 – Father, all in heaven and earth depend on You. Grant us leaders and governments that rely on You for wisdom and understanding.
  • 10/9 – Exodus 18:25 – Lord God, grant that every leader, whether over few or many, will do Your will. Grant us the grace to choose wisely.
  • 10/10 – Proverbs 29:2 – Heavenly Father, grant that righteousness and peace may abound in our country. Grant that the leaders we choose abide in Your way. Protect us from the wicked and self-serving.
  • 10/11 – James 4:17 – Lord Jesus, You have infused all people with Your image. Grant that our leaders may rule in truth, protecting life and freedom. Turn our leaders from sin.
  • 10/12 – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – Lord, I offer up my supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for our leaders and all in high positions. Grant that they may lead lives that are quiet and peaceable, godly and dignified. May they lead all to You by their example.
  • 10/13 – Colossians 1:16-20 – Father, You made all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Grant that our leaders recognize You as their head and as first before everything. Through their work and efforts may we find the peace and freedom only You can give.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me the wisdom to choose leaders rightly.

Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hey, butt out of it.
No!

“And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.’”

Is there any direct biblical quote that states Church leaders must become involved in politics? The simple answer is no. Does that mean that Church leaders and Christians in general are to turn a blind eye to government and politics? The answer is also no.

Throughout biblical history we see men and women of faith standing up to power and politics to proclaim what is right and true by God’s standard. The Lord’s prophets obediently confronted civic leaders with their sin and with their godless decisions: Samuel with Saul; Gad and Nathan with David; Elijah, Elisha, and Micaiah with Ahab; Isaiah with Ahaz; Daniel with Belshazzar; Jeremiah with Jehoiakim and Zedekiah; as well as others. At the very beginning of the New Testament we see Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist, confront Herod about his immorality.

Certainly God does not set Himself against government as an institution. Jesus tells us to pay our taxes. Paul tells us to submit ourselves to the governing authorities. Peter tells us to honor the emperor.

All that said, there is a line that cannot be crossed. When Peter was told by the authorities to stop preaching he declared that he must obey God rather than men.

Jesus reminds us today that there is a standard set by God. This is a right, just, and truth-filled standard – as perfect as God is perfect. Whenever civil governments or the whims of society run afoul of God’s standard the Church must arise, proclaim and teach the standard, and accept persecution for it.

The early church knew it, and endured suffering from the Roman emperors because they refused to bend from God’s standard.

Jesus equips and empowers with the authority of His way – the one and only right way. As we prepare to vote, as we consider the options, let us pray and exhort each other to stand with God’s standard. Let us abide by biblical principals in the vote we cast. There is no perfect candidate. There is no one that is perfect and without sin. Measure each against God’s standards and vote for the people who best hold to and strive to meet the only standard that matters.

Bible Study for the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/30 – Luke 9:11 – Lord Jesus, You welcomed all who sought You. Open my heart to see Your word in action in all those who follow You.
  • 10/1 – Luke 15:2 – Lord Jesus, You did not judge sinners but welcomed them, opening their hearts to renounce sin and follow You. Grant me the gift of Your forgiveness for the times I have judged others so that I may follow You in the community of faith.
  • 10/2 – Matthew 10:40 – Lord Jesus, grant me openness of heart and mind to receive all who follow You.
  • 10/3 – Galatians 4:14 – Lord, whenever my brothers and sisters face trials grant that I may receive them as I would receive You in Your time of trial. May I recognize the image of Your passion in them.
  • 10/4 – Luke 14:12-14 – Lord of heaven and earth, grant that I may not seek recognition or credit for opening my heart, church, or home but rather that I welcome all as a sign of Your kingdom.
  • 10/5 – Romans 15:7 – Lord Jesus, You did not count our sins and failing, but offered Yourself up to remove our burden. Grant that the glory and freedom You obtained for us may be reflected in my openness to all Your followers; sharers in Your victory.
  • 10/6 – Acts 28:20 – Lord, those in bondage call out to You. Whenever they call out may I be open to receiving, supporting, and welcoming them as You welcome me.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, teach me to welcome all who profess Your name as my family.

Reflection for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I’m locking up Jesus.
Hey, wait a minute…

“John said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.’”

We meet someone, and find out that they are doing amazing things in Jesus’ name what do we think. Maybe they are drawing dozens of people into their Church. Maybe they are really effective at serving others, helping them find God’s forgiveness and healing through their words and actions. Maybe they are a really great preacher. What’s is our reaction especially if they are not members of our parish or our Holy Church?

Today’s gospel shows us that the disciples’ reaction is jealousy, anger, and a desire to stop that person. Better yet, they want to use the power of God (that’s Jesus) to stop them. It sort of reminds us of how petty the disciples could be at times.

Remember, in Luke 9, after a town had rejected Jesus the very same disciple, John, came to Jesus and asked if he could call down fire from heaven to destroy the town.

Jesus tells us today that our reaction to our brothers and sisters who bear His name should be one of joy, happiness, thankfulness, and fellowship. The person the disciples saw, and the people we find, doing great things in Jesus’ name all belong to Him. Jesus isn’t claiming exclusivity for His followers, or creating one human boss over all.

Jesus did not create one human boss over all because He well knew human weakness. If the disciples couldn’t rejoice in the wonderful things being done in His name, if their first reaction to anyone who didn’t get Jesus was to destroy them, how could He trust any one of them to be the “one over all?”

It is sad and unfortunate when one Church claims such things. It makes all Christians look bad because those that do not know Jesus see a sign that says Church is a closed community – a gated community with Jesus locked up inside. It speaks of exclusivity rather than openness.

Jesus left us a sacred and holy way of life. He gave us His word. He provided us with the nourishment of His sacraments. He showed us love and welcome. He expects all that follow Him to do just that – follow Him as the “One in charge.”

When we get the urge to lock Jesus up in a gated community, to claim Him exclusively, remember today’s example. He says: You cannot lock me up. There is no “one in charge” but rather “One in charge.” All who follow the “One in charge” are blessed and welcome.

Bible Study for the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/23 – Matthew 23:11 – Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see opportunities to be of service and so to become more like You.
  • 9/24 – 1 Kings 8:58 – Lord, soften my heart and draw me close to Your word so I may walk in Your way and follow Your precepts, serving and not demanding service.
  • 9/25 – Luke 22:27 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may serve at the table of Your altar, bringing Your word and grace to all. Draw others to open their hearts to Your call to serve.
  • 9/26 – Daniel 4:30-34 – Heavenly Father, when I fail to heed Your way and count my successes as my own, grant that I may be humbled and praise You for every grace.
  • 9/27 – Philippians 2:3-11 – Lord Jesus, You gave up everything to save us, humbling Yourself to the point of dying on the cross for us. Grant that I may constantly recall Your example and live to follow in serving and sacrificing for others.
  • 9/28 – James 4:6 – Father, You give Your blessings to those who are humble. Help me to reject pride and arrogance and so to abound in Your love.
  • 9/29 – 1 Peter 5:3-5 – Lord Jesus, grant every blessing to those charged with shepherding Your flock. May they live as humble servants with a heart for Your people, and so draw many to You.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, renew my humility and openness so to receive You in my life.

Reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Key kids.
You get it.

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Why did Jesus compare receiving a child to receiving Him?

The key in this verse is the word “receive.” It actually means to take by the hand. It means to take up. It means to befriend. It means to receive in hospitality. It means to accept into one’s life.

Whoever does these things isn’t just receiving a child, but they are also receiving Jesus because they no longer care about being pretentious, pompous, high-and-mighty, or arrogant. They are open, not just the innocence or a child, but to becoming small themselves.

We all know that we can’t act like big shots around children. They see right through it and will call us on it. In relating to a child we have to let down our guards, open up, and soften ourselves.

We have to do the same to accept Jesus, and to accept and welcome His Father as our Father.

Jesus was showing the disciples, who were arguing about who’s first that they had to let go of that attitude. They had to stop pretending after greatness because the only place they could find greatness, find heaven, was in being the servant to each other.

Jesus loved children because they weren’t competing. They were open to love and plain teaching. They recognized Jesus’ love – they got Him. While the men and women around Him, even His disciples were blinded by their own goals, children clearly saw God’s goals for their lives – and they accepted God’s goals as their goals.

We will all be called to account for our approach to life – how closely our lives follow Jesus’ way.

Did we treat our faith as something complex and hierarchical? Did we treat our faith as based on community and service to each other and the wider world?

Do we dwell on disputes and the competition to be greater than others? Do we focus on humility and self-denial so as to be most like Jesus?

St. James, having learned from Jesus during these days, points out that we tend to seek for ourselves, we focus only on our passions, we ask wrongly. We need to listen to the child’s voice. When we hear, “May I please have a glass of water?” our hearts should melt to become the servant who fulfills that child’s need – for the water that brings both physical and spiritual life. Be a humble believer, accept that child, and receive Jesus.

Veteran’s Day Scholarship Contest for High School Students

The Polish American Journal is sponsoring a Veteran’s Day Scholarship Contest for high school students honoring Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban, the most decorated soldier in United States military history. Six awards will be made to winners and runners-up. Students must submit an essay entitled “Why I Think the United States Postal Service Should Issue a Stamp Commemorating Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban.” Entries must be submitted no later than November 11, 2012. Download the rules, eligibility, and submission criteria by clicking on the picture below.

Bible Study – Back to Church
  • 9/16 – Romans 12:5 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may look beyond denomination and religion as a practice, and rejoice in the common faith of Your Church. May I see all as a brother or sister in Your body.
  • 9/17 – 1 Corinthians 12:12 – Lord Jesus, thank You for joining us together in Your body, the Church. Grant that I may work wholeheartedly and without desire for recompense in my role and position in Your body.
  • 9/18 – Ephesians 4:2 – Dear Lord, Your Holy Church has taught me to desire only to love, to be humble, patient, and gentle. May I reach out to all, inviting them into that same love.
  • 9/19 – 1 Peter 4:10 – Lord, Your Church has given me so many gifts, but most particularly the gift of salvation. Grant that I may share that gift with all I meet.
  • 9/20 – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Lord, Your Church is the perfect community in which I am encouraged and built up. Grant that I may do likewise with all I meet, sharing with them the gift of community.
  • 9/21 – James 5:16 – Lord Jesus, You left the power to heal and reconcile with Your Church. Grant that I may work for the good of all by praying for them and bringing them to reconcile in You.
  • 9/22 – 1 Corinthians 12:27 – Lord, in baptism I was regenerated into a new person, a member of Your body, the Church. Grant that I may always live the promises of my baptism.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me into Your Church, to live and love with You.

Reflection for Back to Church Sunday

I am listening.
What should I say?

“The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Did you ever wonder what the Word of God is all about? Scripture, the Bible, whatever term we use, what is its purpose, why should we read it, study it, reflect on it, or even act on it?

For many people, the bible might be something handed down from parents and grandparents, a cherished memento. For some it may have been a gift they received for their first communion, baptism, on their wedding day. Certainly, most people have access to a bible in their home, and even if they do not, it is easily accessed via the Internet, on your iPod or iPad.

It comes in handy. We tend to reach for that bible when an issue or problem confronts us, when we are not well or when someone we love is sick. We look for those words of comfort and guidance.

Some people really focus on scripture and use the bible as their guide for life. It becomes a procedure manual and a guide for everyday living. I need to go to the store – what does the bible have to say? I dropped my groceries, my car is making an odd noise, and my husband or wife isn’t talking to me — what does God have to say on the issue?

That is all well and good and has merit. Anytime someone picks up that bible God’s word goes to work in his or her life, but the Word is not really about us.

If God’s word, His revelation is not a revelation about our lives, what does it reveal?

Scripture is this – it is God’s revelation about Himself, His self-revelation. Everything in scripture points out something about God’s personality, His thoughts, His power, His mercy, His Fatherhood, and His love.

The single most important thread in God’s self-revelation is that He wants to live with us, in relationship with us. This is so important that He sent His only Son Jesus to break down the barrier of sin that separated us from God. He broke down that wall; He wiped away sin and the consequence of sin – death. He offered His life to accomplish this mission.

God wants to be in a relationship with us that much. We are that important to Him. Because of that He is with us every minute, listening to us. So when problems or issues confront us, and we reach for that bible, God opens Himself to us. He says, here I am, for you, for whatever you need, even if it is only comfort. This is who I AM. I am listening to you. Say or ask for anything because you are that important to me.