catholic family faith

Who Are Your Lepers?

My deacon husband preached a touching homily this past weekend. He began by pointing out how Jesus looked beyond the proscribed law and reached out to touch the unclean leper. Rather than seeing the disease, Jesus saw the human.

He pointed out how we tend to label people based on their conditions or dis-eases, such as alcoholic, drug addict, homeless, the 1%. We do often attach labels to people based on our impressions of their actions. These labels, then, color how we respond to them.

Then he shared a story about a girl he knew in school. She didn't fit in. Her parents were poor and didn't care well for her. She had tape on her glasses. Because her house was the last stop on the bus route, she stood in the back because there were no seats. When my husband's friends moved and his seat opened up, his sister pointed out to this girl that she could sit with him. As time went on, he began to talk to her and get to know her a bit. It was then that he began to see her not by her label, but as a human, a child of God.

My husband's homily has challenged me - and others in our parish - to consider who are my lepers. I do tend to label people based on my first impressions. And those impressions influence how I respond to them.

I have a lot of praying to do this week. I need to pray for all of my "lepers" of whom I need to change my way of seeing. I need to pray for myself so that I may stop labeling people based on how they look or act and respond to them as children of God.

Parents have a great responsibility for teaching their children how to see people as children of God rather than by their labels. Consider how you can help your children respond to others with compassion rather than judgment. Pray for them, for yourself, and for the "lepers" in your life.

Happy Feast of St. Lucy!

Today, December 13, is the Feast of St. Lucy.  I have grown to appreciate St. Lucy more over the years.  For her story, go to http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=75.

Light a candle and ask St. Lucy to pray that you will see the Light of Christ in your life.

Online Advent Resources

It's the end of the first week of Advent.  Are you still looking for something to inspire you in this season of preparation and anticipation of Christ's coming?  Check out some of these websites:

• Loyola Press - http://www.loyolapress.com/liturgical-year-advent.htm?ftm=ocf - Advent calendars, wreaths, and activities  (I really like their on-line Advent experience - a reflection or activity for each day of Advent.)
• CatholicMom.com - http://catholicmom.com/advent_kids.htm - coloring pages, word puzzles, and other activities for Advent
• Homeschooling Countdown to Christmas - http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/advent125.htm - each day of this Advent calendar offers a recipe, a game, a coloring page, an activity page, and a craft
• Catholic Icing - http://catholicicing.com/category/adventchristmas/ - this is a "sweet" website filled with crafts and recipes

Whatever you do this Advent, make sure you make time just to simply enjoy the season.  If you need some rest, take it.  Too often we try to cram too much into the season - baking, shopping, wrapping, church, get-togethers with family and friends - to the point where we get sick or feel depressed.  When God became human through the Incarnation, God didn't intend for us to feel overwhelmed with having to do all kinds of stuff.  God really wants us to be filled with joy and peace.

I pray that whatever you do this Advent, you are able to experience God's abundant joy and peace and love in a profound way.

 

 

We Wait in Joyful Hope - Advent 2012

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.   (Mark 13:33, NAB)

Ominous and gloomy? Perhaps not. 

Why do we so often contemplate the coming of the Son of Man with fear and dread?  Isn't it going to be a glorious return?  Will we not rejoice when we see His face?

Fear and gloom?  I think not.

Yes, we need to stay alert and be watchful, but aren't we alert and watchful even when we're enjoying ourselves?  God created us to be happy.  We can prepare for Christ's coming with joy and loving anticipation.  We can prepare to look upon His face by practicing love and having a positive attitude.  Jesus didn't say we had to be watchful in a state of dread and gloom.  He simply said, "Be alert!"

We can look forward to the return of the Son of Man with joyful hope.

How is your family celebrating this season of Advent this year?  Are you enjoying this first week of the season?  What are you doing to prepare for and celebrate the Incarnation? 

Forgive Unceasingly - Lord's Day Faith Chat - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 11, 2011

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  (Matthew 18:21-22, NAB)

Every time we pray the Our Father, we say "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  But do we really mean what we say?  Do we forgive others as we wish to be forgiven by God?

Today's reading reminds us that we need to practice living in God's mercy.  We need to practice forgiving as God forgives.  Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence in Terre Haute, Indiana, once wrote, "God's mercy is greater than the number of sins we will ever commit."  God's mercy is greater than any number or greatness of sins we can commit.  No matter what we do, if we ask God's forgiveness, God will grant us forgiveness.

What a comforting thought!

But do we do the same for others?  or even ourselves?  Does our forgiveness mirror God's?

When was the last time you held a grudge?  How many grudges are you holding right now?  Why do you hold onto those grudges?  What good is it really doing you or anyone else that you aren't forgiving?

As you reflect on the reading for this Lord's Day, invite the God of Mercy to fill you with compassion and to help you forgive.  Allow God to take the weight of holding those grudges off your heart.  You will be amazed at how much happier you will after you give and accept forgiveness!

How to Buy a Bible

If you go to a bookstore, you may be amazed at the number of different kinds of Bibles on the shelves.  One of the most common questions I hear from people at church is, "What kind of Bible should I get?"

As a Catholic, I think it's important to point out that there is a difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles.  Catholic Bibles include more books than Protestant Bibles.  The "Catholic" books of the Old Testament are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Macabees, 2 Macabees, parts of Esther, and parts of Daniel. 

I typically suggest that Catholics purchase the New American Bible.  This is the translation used in the Lectionary (the Mass readings.)  On March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) was released.  This version includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament and the 1986 edition of the New Testament.  (For more on the NABRE, go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/nabre.shtml.)

A good version for Catholic Bible studies is the Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible, edited by Donald Senior, which includes a book-by-book Reading Guide, references and background information, a 15-page glossary of special terms, Bible maps, and a Lectionary guide with Sunday and weekday Mass readings references.

There are, however, a number of different translations of Bibles.  sometimes reading different translations of a passage allow the reader/prayer different perspectives.  For example, look at the differences of Psalm 139 from the New American Bible and the New International Version.

Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.  My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.  Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.  Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NAB)

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

The primary meaning is the same in both translations, but the words may evoke images that are slightly different.  "My travels and my rest you mark..." compared to "You discern my going out and my lying down."  And "Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me," compared to "You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."

Open That Bible!

When was the last time you cracked the binding of your family Bible?  I have to admit that our family Bible doesn't get opened much anymore.  Oh, my personal Bible is opened every day, but since my daughters graduated from high school, my family hasn't read the Scriptures together.  (We hear them at Sunday Mass, but we're often at different Masses.)

My own experience makes me wonder about how many other families read the Bible on a regular basis.  Here is my challenge for your family/household:  Crack open your Bible at least weekly.  Whether it's your big family Bible (you know, the one you and your husband received at your wedding or the one you received when your first child was baptized), your personal Bible, or even if you have to go out and buy a new Bible, put it on your kitchen table and open it up at least once a week.  (I'll do a separate posting on suggestions for purchasing Bibles.)

Here are some tips for reading the Scriptures together as a family:

• Don't let your fear of not knowing what's what keep you from opening your Bible.  Start with the Table of Contents; there you will find a listing of the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Together count the number of books of the Old Testament, then the number of books of the New Testament.  Notice the breakout of the books of the Old Testament:  The Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, the Prophetic Books.  Look at the breakout of the books of the New Teevelation.stament:  The Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament Letters or Epistles, the Catholic letters (if you have a Catholic Bible), the Book of Revelation.
• Decide what to read.  You have choices!  You can simply open your Bible and begin reading where your eye lands first.  You can begin with a specific book; what book are you curious about?  You can follow along with the Church's Lectionary, the Sunday or daily readings.  (Click on the USCCB Readings and Psalms for the Month icon on the left menu.) 
• A word about chapter and verse notations...Bible passages are noted with the name of the book, the number of the chapter, and the number of the verse(s).  For example, if you see something like "Mt 13:1-23," the "Mt" is the initials for the book (in this case, Matthew), the "13" before the colon is the chapter number, and the "1-23" is the verses of the passage; so you would open your Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1-23.  (If you are unsure about the initials of the book noted, Google the passage or go to www.biblegateway.com and search the initials to find the book it is referencing.)
• Read the passage reflectively.  Read the passage through slowly one time.  Let family members just listen to the words and sit quietly with them for a moment.  Then read the passage slowly again.  Invite family members to speak one word or phrase that stood out for them; just the word or phrase.  Read the passage slowly a third time.  Invite family members to dialogue about what they hear from this passage.  This is a process of Lectio Divina, Divine Reading.  It is a wonderful way to hear what God is speaking to you through the passage.

Remember that there is no wrong way to read the Bible!  No matter what you read or how you read it, if you just read a passage and reflect on it, you will be hearing God's Word. 

This week, begin making time at least one time per week to read your Bible.  I promise you that it will unite your family with one another and with God.

If you have Bible reading practices that have worked with your family, share your thoughts in "Comments."

 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus & The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Yesterday, July 1, was the Solemn Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Today, July 2, is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Two feasts celebrating tremendous LOVE.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost.  The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary falls on the Saturday following the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus had been practiced as a private devotion since the Middle Ages, especially among the Benedictines, Cistercians, Franciscans, Dominicans and Carthusians.  In the 17th century, Margaret Mary Alacoque claimed to have had visions of Jesus Christ.  Through her visions, Saint Margaret Mary promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Church, in its typical sceptical fashion, did not immediately embrace the revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It wasn't until Pope Leo XIII at the end of the 19th century that the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was officially instituted in the Church.

In his encyclical Annum Sacrum (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_25051899_annum-sacrum_en.html), Pope Leo XIII decreed that the entire human race be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 1899.  Pope Pius X decreed that this consecration of the human race be renewed each year.   Pope Leo XIII also established that June be the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and encouraged the entire Church to practice the devotion of the Nine First Fridays.  Since that time, Catholics around the world have gone to daily Mass on the First Fridays of the month.

It doesn't happen often that the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on July 1st.  This occurs only when Easter is the latest that it can be, at the end of April, which did happen in 2011.

Even though yesterday, July 1, was the offical Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, I would suggest that individuals and households pray the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Download Litany_SacredHeartofJesus.pdf (58.7K)

The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary refers to the interior life of Mary, her joys, sorrows, and virtues, and her devoted love of God and complete self-giving to her son, Jesus.  Devotion to Mary's heart and her example of selfless love have been practiced since the first century Church.  The alliance of the devotions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus officially began in the 17th century with Saint Jean Eudes, prior to the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

For more on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart and http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07163a.htm

For more on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Heart_of_Mary and http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07168a.htm

keeping current from children's ministry

I just receive the July/August 2011 children's ministry magazine.  One of the magazine's featured articles is "keeping current."  Here are some interesting tidbits of information...

• Grade point averages of kids who attend church regularly are 14.4% higher than the GPA of kids who don't.
• 70% of kids ages 5 to 9 have a TV in their bedroom.  Of those kids, 32% are already overweight or at risk for becoming overweight.
• 7.5 million kids under the age of 13 actively use Facebook, according to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports.

children's ministry magazine is a wonderful resource!  If you are a parent or catechist and would like to see more articles from children's ministry, check out

http://www.childrensministry.com/

Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NAB)  

21st century American culture promotes instant gratification:  If you want it, you need it NOW!  To live as a person filled with the Spirit, is to be counter-cultural.  If your focus is on God, nothing else will be as important and so, you will be able to nurture the fruit of PATIENCE.

So often I hear people say that they just need more patience.  "I need more patience...when dealing with my children; when dealing with my co-workers; when dealing with my spouse..."  Patience seems to be a sought-after virtue. 

I have to admit that I'm having a bit of a difficult time coming up with ideas for practicing and cultivating patience.  Here are a couple, but if you have others, please share them by offering a comment.

• Practice the art of waiting.  Be deliberately counter-cultural.  As you're shopping, when you find something in the store, don't give in to the culture's "got-to-have-it-now" mentality.  Gaze at it for a few moments, then walk away.  When you get home and over the next couple of days, pray to God for insight as to whether you should really have that item.  If you find that you aren't thinking about the item, you're probably able to live without it so you really don't need it.  (This will also help keep your finances and clutter under control!)
• Take a step back.  The practice of counting to 10 really does work.  If you feel yourself getting frustrated with your children, spouse, co-workers, or friends, close your eyes, take a deep breath and count to 10 or even better, pray a short prayer (Glory Be, Hail Mary, Jesus help me...) 

What other techniques do you practice to cultivate PATIENCE?