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In case you missed it, I want to share with you a wonderful homily by Fr. Joe Krupp. It was given at the Mass of the Lord's Supper last night (Holy Thursday) at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The homily starts at 17:18 minutes. It is well-worth listening to. Enjoy! Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy  Here is the direct link on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP6wg4IPY0Q    

It's Holy Thursday of Holy Week, the day we celebrate and remember the Last Supper: when Jesus established the Eucharist and washed the feet of his disciples. It's a big deal, and I didn't get to Mass today. I'm not happy about that. What happened was a scheduling problem and — more basically — an exercise of balancing immediacy and priority.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Holy Thursday is a big deal, but I spent part of in in the local clinic. I talk about why I was there, and why Holy Thursday matters.)

      I hope you are all having a beautiful Holy Thursday, as we move into the three highest holy days of the year--Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter (known as the Triduum). Rather than focus on giving up a favorite treat for Lent this year, I tried to focus on prayer and scripture, reading and contemplating a few times throughout the day. As imperfect as I did so, I learned a very important lesson this year. Rather than centering my focus on, say, doughnuts (or my lack thereof), I found myself truly focusing on God. This caused a big shift in my focus during Lent, and it moved me closer to God (in a way sweets just can't do!)  I created a habit I hope to continue beyond Easter, but I must say, it did require me to become more self-aware of my old habits and how I spend my time. And, interestingly, it did require some self-sacrifice as I had to make some changes. I hope I do even better in the future as I continue to ask myself, "Is this moving me ...

 

 

Father Mark Botzet's talked about changes in our diocese last week, let me have a copy of his text/transcript: and added footnotes, all of which I greatly appreciate. One of those footnotes included the URL of an overview page that includes a video from Bishop Neary, links to a "guiding change document", and — well, here's that link: All Things New — Diocese of Saint Cloud The Pastoral Planning Process Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future Diocese of St. Cloud Apart from adding headings, I've kept Fr. Botzet's homily text/transcript as I received it: including punctuation and capitalization. I figure that helps retain the sound and feel of what we heard at Our Lady of the Angels last Sunday. Forgetting What Lies Behind — Working Toward What Lies Ahead Something New Engaging the Laity Called Forward to Embrace the Future Prudent Stewardship Embrace the Upward Calling of God I'll wrap up this week's post with why I don't think nos...

 

    Do you think, if you were living in the time of Christ, that you would have believed that Jesus is God? I was listening to a "Daily Reflection " by Father John M. McKenzie from the Archdiocese of Detroit (see direct link below) in which he offers us a test. We don't have to go back 2000+ years and wonder, says Fr. McKenzie: "All we have to do is look at our current lives. Do you believe by virtue of the way you live right now, that Jesus is God ?" Wow.  What a great question for us to ponder. Look around you. Does your life reveal your belief that Jesus is God? How can we know that he was, indeed, sent by the Father? Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, Chapter 5:36: "But I have testimony greater than John's [the Baptist]. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me." (Him being sent by the Father, reveals him as God.) Jesus seems to indicate in this passage ...

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Giotto di Bondone [ Web Gallery of Art ] And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road  (Luke 19:36).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the shorter form of the Passion according to St Luke, Luke 23:1-49. Gosp...

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  I came across an article about the use/return of communion rails in Catholic Churches. I read the theological reasoning around the purpose of them, as well as the necessity of distinguishing the sanctuary and the altar from the nave (where the people congregate.) The sanctuary is to be distinct and set apart, something many churches accomplish by raising it up on steps. Go into any Catholic Church and you will probably not have any trouble distinguishing the sanctuary from where the people sit, even without a rail. I read a number of arguments in favor of churches installing communion rails. I could make an equal number of solid arguments against doing so. But I won't. You see, to argue about something like that just promotes division in a place where unity is called for. When we receive Jesus, we are called to be in union with him, and it would be wrong to let an altar rail be a point of contention. You like using a rail? Then use it. You don't like it? Then don't.  But ...

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Ying wasn't the most nervous cat I've known. That'd be Twitches, a cat my oldest daughter had, some years back now. She tells me Twitches was even twitchy in her sleep. My folks got Ying at the pound in Fargo. This was many decades back now. We'd decided that we wouldn't get a male cat, since they're even more prone to kidney problems than their female counterparts. We wouldn't get a Siamese, given that breed's reputation for being loud. And we wouldn't get a longhair because of all the shedding. That's the day we got Lady: a big, quiet, calico cat. She'd been at the very back of her compartment, tucked into a catloaf. We might not have seen her, if she hadn't been so large and had so much long white fur. As it was, I could only tell which end was her head — because that end had a nose. We also got Ying: a male Siamese. He had a crew cut, the last bit of his kitten coat — and was at the very front of his compartment, reaching out to ...

From   The Gospel of John   (2003) directed by Philip Saville Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 8:1-11  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said t...

    I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts that was created years ago, and the priest who does it is always very enthusiastic. He always encourages his listeners to go to Mass and he starts his podcast by giving praise to God. Today he was focused on the Gospel of John (Chapter 5: 31-47). As the podcast continued, the priest went on to ask, over and over again, "Do you believe Jesus is God?" If we do not, he said, then we have nothing. This led me to think about the Eucharist, where at the Catholic Mass we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. That led me to think, "What would be the point of receiving communion, if it is not the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus?" Think about it.   Do you know what you are receiving in your church?  I encourage you to explore the answer to that question, maybe even beyond your church leaders, using historically, authentic sources.  I want to share a couple of articles for those of you who want to know more a...

                                          Credit: © Hero Images/Hero Images/Corbis Years ago, when we were in San Francisco, we went into a fast food place that had a happy man standing outside the business holding the door and greeting customers. I actually thought they had hired him to do this because he did such an exceptional job. Turns out, he was one of the many, many homeless people in the city who was simply hoping for a tip in exchange for his "service." I was impressed that they allowed him to do it, likely seeing him as an asset to the business, rather than an annoyance to the customers. During Lent, almsgiving is highlighted, but if you happen to be someone without money in your pocket to share, I have an idea for you. Practice generosity of words. Yes, generosi...

I'm a huge fan of science, but by training I'm an historian. Or a historian. Either way, as it turned out, the closest I came to being a professional historian was working as a researcher/reporter for a regional historical society in the 1970s. For a few months. And that's another topic. My background and interests help me appreciate the excitement experienced by a grad student who was focusing on the history of science.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A student found the first of two scrapbooks from the 1883 American Astronomical Society. My take on professionals, amateurs, and attitudes.)

T he Return of the Prodigal Son Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 15:1-3, 11- 32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that co...

    "Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21) Now you might be thinking, "I love everybody."  Or you might be thinking, "That is impossible." It's pretty hard to love an abuser, a liar or a cheater. For some, loving the President can be pretty hard. It can also be hard to love people that do not share your values, or live differently. I have not read in the bible where Jesus said we are to just love people who look, think and live like we do. I've never seen where he made a "people to love" and "people to not love" list. He didn't seem to make exceptions when he commanded that we love one another.  But, there are a lot of people today who have made an "exceptions to love" list, who think they are being righteous when they are actually just being judgmental. We must keep in mind that loving someone does not mean accepting and allowing their behavior. It doesn't mean keeping the...

    Do we see that the Lent that we are "doing" right now is in preparation for our role in the mission?  Do we get this?  Whatever you are doing for Lent should be preparing you for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will send us out on mission. Two things:  First, make sure your Lenten sacrifice is purposeful, and second, pray for an awareness of your role in the mission of the Church. For those of you who struggle to understand why we do what we do during Lent, hopefully this will help you. I became more aware of the direct Lent/Mission connection when Fr. James Mallon (Divine Renovation) was talking about the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. Scripture tells us that following his 40 days, Jesus went on mission. If you are stuck asking, "How is giving up candy connected to all of this," this is your answer:  It's not about the candy. Lent is about renewing our practice of self-discipline/self-sacrifice, generosity towards others (which assumes we...

The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Meteor Crater aren't on the obvious and shortest route from San Francisco to the Upper Midwest. But in 1979, with no reason for staying in San Francisco — that's another topic, for another time — and good reasons for returning to Minnesota, going out of my way to see them seemed like a good idea.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Two Thai tourists at the Grand Canyon. A military jet in the Petrified Forest. Two popes, two poems, and the civilization of love: a very long-haul project.)

  Moses removing his sandals (detail) Byzantine Mosaic Artist [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then [the Lord] said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground  (Exodus 3:5; First Reading). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 13:1-9  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) There were some present at that very time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were wor...