Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2024

So they said to Him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

The Apostles had gone out and ministered to the people of Galilee. They proclaimed the Gospel message, declared the Kingdom, and healed. They came back tired and alongside Jesus were soon confronted with more work, teaching a large crowd of people who were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus seeing deeply into the totality of their need miraculously fed them.

Now the rubber meets the road. What would be the reaction of these people? Would they embrace the Kingdom and its truth? Would they follow a heavenly King Who would give them Himself as food for eternal life?

We sit in a moment of anticipation. Factually, that is what the true followers of Jesus have been doing for two thousand some years. We anticipate our receiving the Bread from Heaven in sacramental word, bread and wine. We anticipate the full revelation of the Kingdom we are working for. We anticipate Jesus’ return and the exaltation of all believers.

The Gospel of St. Mark led us into a continuation of events as recorded in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. As we look at today’s passage, we sense an upcoming realization, the rubber beginning to meet the road. This will play out over the next several weeks. The truth of people’s hearts will be revealed.

The Old Testament offers a foretaste, a shadowy revelation of the coming Messiah, Jesus. In our First Reading from Exodus, we find the same events: people grumbling, unsatisfied even though they had clearly seen God’s power in saving them from the Egyptians. They focused solely on temporal, everyday needs and remained blind to God’s promise of rest, a land of plenty, and continuing provision. Today’s Introit from Psalm 78 recounts it so well: They spoke against God, and said, “Can God spread a table in the desert? Can He also provide bread, give meat to His people?”

That says it all and is an indictment down through the ages. It indicts us if we do not put our full faith in God’s saving power which we see here regularly.

God came among us to give us Bread from Heaven, the full and eternal presence of Jesus among us. We are called to believe and receive Him – and that includes receiving His great promise – life now, life eternal, a full satisfaction of all things people long for, the healing of their souls and peace. Let us truly enjoy and rejoice in His feeding, provision, and true life. Let us believe.

Bible Study for the 17th Week in Ordinary Time 2024

This week’s memory verse: If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. — Isaiah 58:10

  • 7/28 – Matthew 25:35
  • 7/29 – John 6:35
  • 7/30 – Proverbs 22:9
  • 7/31 – James 1:27
  • 8/1 – Proverbs 19:17
  • 8/2 – 1 John 3:17-18
  • 8/3 – Galatians 6:2

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, You persevered and overcame for us. Grant that I may walk in Your footsteps proclaiming the Kingdom, staying at it, and fulfilling the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of those I encounter. Amen.

Reflection for the 17th Ordinary Sunday 2024

Andrew said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.

The Apostles had gone out and ministered to the people of Galilee. They proclaimed the Gospel message, declared the Kingdom, and healed.

As we heard last week, they came back tired and were soon confronted with more work, teaching alongside Jesus to a large crowd of people who were like sheep without a shepherd.

What we have learned is that God has work for us to do and that work must be our priority. This is key. We have become so used to being overly busy that our priorities get confused, and there is so much placed on the back burner that the fire of the stove can seldom be seen.

We all know how it is when our stoves get overcrowded. It’s kind of like Thanksgiving without the theme of thanksgiving, just too much. The potatoes, veggies, squash, meat, stuffing, applesauce, and more all crowded together with nothing really coming to completion. So it is with Kingdom work.

As such, we must be tactical in ordering Kingdom priorities ahead of all other things. The Kingdom must be foremost in our lives and actions so we may bring the Kingdom to fruition and completion.

This is indeed what Jesus asks of us: to prioritize making the Kingdom known by inviting those we encounter to enter it.

Jesus asks us to go on and on in our Christian witness and evangelization no matter what. Our work for Jesus must always be front burner even when we feel worn out. Jesus expects that and He deserves our focus and attention.

Finally, Jesus expects us to feed people spiritually, intellectually, and physically. Jesus wants more than a conceptual Kingdom we just talk about or dream about. We need to make the Kingdom a felt place that feeds all the hungers men and women face.

It is indeed radical, to live this way, to see in each encounter, event, word, and action a means of growing God’s Kingdom but it is necessary so that the fire of faith is always visible, so that it is not extinguished.

Pray about and for all we do here to make Jesus’ charges a reality right here at Holy Name of Jesus: Holy Mass, Worship and Devotion, fellowship, CarePortal, Food Pantry, the Women’s Empowerment Group, the upcoming Altamont Fair, Back to Church Sunday and more. Then listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and respond to it.

Bible Study for the 16th Week in Ordinary Time 2024

 
This week's memory verse: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31
  • 7/21 – Matthew 11:28-30
  • 7/22 – Galatians 6:9-10
  • 7/23 – Jeremiah 31:25
  • 7/24 – Psalm 34:17
  • 7/25 – Philippians 4:13
  • 7/26 – Matthew 11:28
  • 7/27 – Romans 12:11

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, You know me well. You know when I am exhausted and troubled by all that must be done for the Kingdom. Grant me perseverance and strength to bear up and do Your work in all times and places. Amen.

Reflection for the 16th Ordinary Sunday 2024

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.

Last week Jesus sent out His twelve Apostles as disciples for some on-the-job training in every village and town. They were to proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins as well as the immanence of the Kingdom which was at hand. They had also been empowered to heal.

Today we hear of the Apostles return. They were filled with real joy from all they experienced, and the amazing results realized through the grace of God that accompanied them. They were also exhausted.

To set context, the Apostles were sent out when they were at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. In today’s account they regather at the northern end of the Sea and then sail across it.

While no specific timeline for the Apostles mission is given, we could posit that it probably lasted about six months.

Now imagine that we are on that mission from Jesus. We have walked the highways and byways of Galilee. We have also covered the thirteen miles from the south to the north of the Sea. We have done this with no visible means of support or supplies, relying completely on the kindness of those we are evangelizing. About two thousand square miles of Galilee, heights from one to four thousand feet. We would be completely exhausted. They were.

We should also remember that Jesus was not sitting still. He traveled on His own to preach, teach, and heal. Now came the moment, rest was ahead.

We know what scripture tells us, but better for us to understand what Jesus and His Apostles were feeling.

Here they are, sailing cross the Sea, ready to rest, pray, refresh themselves. We can imagine the anticipation, the thoughts in their minds, the feelings in their heart – and there they are, huge crowds; large numbers of people spiritually lost and alone and seeking guidance. Sheep without a shepherd.

The fact is, we all face this conundrum. We work hard, volunteer, care for family and friends, run, shop, do chores and as soon as that moment of rest comes – here’s the next thing. The old saying: ‘No rest for the weary’ comes from those experiences.

This is not just a lesson on daily life and perseverance, it is a call to go on and on in our Christian witness and evangelization no matter what. People remain hungry and need us to feed them now. People need us to be like Jesus for them, to see their need and set ourselves aside to bring them to Christ and His salvation. Remember that the sheep will not know where to go unless we shepherd them.

Bible Study for the 15th Week in Ordinary Time 2024

This week’s memory verse: And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Mark 16:15
  • 7/14 – Matthew 28:19
  • 7/15 – Matthew 5:16
  • 7/16 – Philemon 1:6
  • 7/17 – 1 Peter 3:15
  • 7/18 – 1 Timothy 4:13
  • 7/19 – John 14:6
  • 7/20 – Psalm 66:16

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, You endowed us with the gifts and skills needed to build Your Kingdom. Grant that these gifts grow in us and that we use them each day to draw many into the Kingdom life. Amen.

Reflection for the 15th Ordinary Sunday 2024

In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor

Today Jesus sends out His twelve Apostles, who at the time were still disciples (they were learning, not teaching). They were to go to every village and town and proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins as well as the immanence of the Kingdom which was at hand. They were also empowered to heal.

Indeed, this experience was a learning. Today we would call it on-the-job training. Overall, the disciples learning was concentrated on internal discovery as to whether they would trust in God or not. That is why they were instructed to take nothing, to go forth with courage and determination. That is why they were told to also hold responsible those they encountered.

For ten or so days I have worked with young people who were learners. Certainly, some were open to learning, others were not. We spent our time documenting our gifts, those received, those given, those we have in us, and those that will grow in us as time progresses.

As we covered the gifts yet to grow in us, we discussed how they might be built up. That takes recognizing them and then practicing with them – on the job training. We talked about making our gifts bigger, better, and how we might add unto them. Finally, we spoke about taking those gifts and wrapping them up to make them really beautiful. This is what Jesus did with His disciples. He knew what they had in them, and He wanted it to grow. This is also what Jesus wants from us.

Brothers and sisters, for us it starts with recognizing what Jesus wants from us and the gifts He has instilled in us to make His requirements come to reality. It is no more than this: That we proclaim the Kingdom to those we encounter. 

Our on-the-job training is to find the gift God has given us then grow it and use it. The gifts we have are specifically for building His Kingdom.

Of course, trust is required, but an amazing thing that happened to the disciples and will happen to us is that we will be successful in doing Jesus’ work.

It is simple: Do you know Jesus? I do and He has done remarkable things in my life. Do you have a church? No, then I know a great one where you can get to know Jesus. 

The words and actions and gifts must be our own, the trust must be ours, and the work and learning, the OJT, must be how Jesus intends it to be.

Today and every day I will use my God given gifts to show His Kingdom. Then I will watch and see people entering the Kingdom, also sharing their gifts and rejoice!

Bible Study for the 14th Week in Ordinary Time 2024

This week’s memory verse: “The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

Luke 10:16
  • 7/7 – 1 Peter 5:7
  • 7/8 – 1 Peter 2:4
  • 7/9 – Psalm 27:10
  • 7/10 – Psalm 94:14
  • 7/11 – Psalm 34:17-20
  • 7/12 – John 15:18
  • 7/13 – Romans 8:31

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, those who should love You often reject You and those You send. Grant us perseverance in the face of push back and give us strength to witness to You at all times and in all places. Amen.

Reflection for the 14th Ordinary Sunday 2024

They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!” And they took offense at Him.

Today we encounter Jesus getting a lot of push back. His hometown people hated Him. Jesus was so offensive to them that they revolted. The text of our Opening Hymn came to life:  Ah! sinful nation, people laden with wickedness, evil race, corrupt children! They have forsaken the Lord, spurned the Holy One of Israel, apostatized. If you abandon Him, He will abandon you.

And, that is what Jesus did, He left them because of their lack of faith and trust. It was beyond His power to move their hearts because they refused His grace, they rejected the love of God and God’s gifts placed before them.

This experience of Jesus is much like our own, isn’t it? His experience tells us something about ourselves and what we can do in the face of push back. It is Jesus’ revelation of our likeness to Him and a call to His service even when we are faced with challenges.

We have many gifts. We are not really different from Jesus because we share in His gifts and in our ability to use them for the Kingdom. He calls us to grow our gifts through faith, trust, and confidence in Him and He lets us know that if we are part of His life, if we are with and in Him, He has us, is with us, and in us.

Jesus knows all the gifts we have. God, through the Holy Spirit, fills each of us with the gifts He wants us to have, those that will best build His Kingdom. God’s gifts are never pointless. Some gifts we hold in common; some are unique to each of us. Some of the gifts we have are fully present in us right now and others will emerge in the future, in God’s time and according to His plan.

For our part we must be open to using the gifts God has given us for His glory and praise. We must do that in practical ways that build His Kingdom.

Some of those practical ways are giving God the credit for the gifts people see in us, our talents and intellect, our smile and joy, our seriousness and concern, our charity and compassion. We are to call people into the Kingdom and bring them into the Church. We are to show them the way to life by our witness to our friends, parents, and relatives. We are to accept Jesus and all the gifts He offers. We are to let people know we said yes to Jesus, yes to His grace.

Like Jesus, we will get ignored, people will push back. It is not that they do not see our gifts, but their sin corrupts their view of the gifts we offer and Who and what we work for. That push back doesn’t really matter because in the end, like Jesus, we will have victory! In the end the Kingdom will be built through our gifts.

Bible Study for the 13th Week in Ordinary Time 2024

This week’s memory verse: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5
  • 6/30 – James 3:17
  • 7/1 – James 3:13
  • 7/2 – Matthew 7:24
  • 7/3 – Proverbs 1:7
  • 7/4 – Job 28:28
  • 7/5 – Ephesians 5:15-17
  • 7/6 – Romans 12:2

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, in You is all wisdom. Grant that Your teaching and way may be the mark of my life so that others might also grow closer to You through me. When I shudder grant me insight to overcome. Amen.