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Fifth Sunday of Lent – John 11:1-45

Peter Robson — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:41:07 +0000

The Fifth Sunday of Lent comes at a pivotal time in our Lenten journey. Our journey is not yet complete. Darkness still comes early each day. It feels as if spring will never arrive and even the Gospel seems to address only illness, death and darkness. Yet ultimately John’s Gospel is about the power of prayer, the power of believing.

We learn that Lazarus is ill and that Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus of his illness. Jesus receives the message but remains in the place where he was. How often in our own lives have we experienced illness, pain or disappointment and wanted an immediate cure, a resolution? How hard it is to wait and accept that God hears our prayers and answers them in His own time! How challenging it is to believe in God in the light, and in the dark, when life is calm, and when uncertainty and hopelessness occur.

Jesus returns to Judea and finds that Lazarus has died. Martha meets Jesus and in an absolute statement of faith says, “I know whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” In our own hearts, do we believe that our prayers will be answered? Can we give up control and wait in faith, believing that the Resurrection guarantees life with our Father in heaven? We struggle to answer our Lord with the simple words of faith: “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

Jesus tells us throughout John’s Gospel that if we believe, we will see the glory of God. Jesus reassures us that our Father in heaven always hears our prayers. Jesus even thanks God for hearing him! How often do we forget to thank God for listening to our prayers and petitions? Do we come to God in prayer believing we will be heard, or does our faith falter when an immediate answer is not given, or the answer is different than the one we prayed for?

During this Fifth Sunday of Lent let us look inside our hearts to determine if we are making the Lenten sacrifices God desires. Are we doing loving and caring deeds for the poor and downtrodden? Do we truly believe that our Lord will never forsake us and that the miracle of Easter will endure?

Let us renew our belief in the power of prayer knowing that God always hears us. May our unfaltering response of faith be “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

Fourth Sunday of Lent -John 9:1-41

Peter Robson — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:00:34 +0000

The question of whether being born blind was the result of the man’s personal sin or the sins of his parents had committed seems out of place in our times and in our culture. We who try to see God’s providence in all things, even the small ones, in our lives are strengthened by this story.

Jesus makes it clear that the man was born blind so that he (Jesus) had the opportunity to show the power of God operating in this world. Who then was given the gift of sight? Who would you say received the greater gift that day? The young man or the Apostles?

We might ask who is truly blind in this story. The physical blindness experienced by the young man must have been very difficult for it is clear from the story that he had to resort to begging to make ends meet. And, yet, his plight seems minimal compared to the situation in which the critics of Jesus find themselves. When we hear the questions of the critics of Jesus, we realize who was really blind. These questioners should have been praying for the gift of sight to accept Jesus as a prophet, but instead, they had no desire at all to have their own blindness cured; they had no eyes ready to see God’s power in action. Perhaps we are like those questioners.

For Reflection:

Where do you find yourself in this passage? With the parents? With the crowd? With the apostles? As the blind man? Why?
At this point in Lent we are challenged to ask for the grace to be freed of the blindness of our sinfulness. What particular blindness are you still subject to – a prejudice, a failure to see good in someone, a failure to appreciate the gift of sight, choosing to reject the insights of others? What special freeing grace do you wish to ask for – at this time?

Third Sunday of Lent

Peter Robson — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:35:18 +0000

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace”. At this the Jews said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”. The Jews replied, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. While he wasin Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself knew it well.

This account appears in all four gospels, but John places it at the beginning of Jesus ministry. This stands in contrast to the Synoptics (Mark, Matthew and Luke) who put it near the end of his life. John’s style includes the use of enigmatic and symbolic statements that were surely not understood at the moment in which the events happened. By the time the gospel was written, the temple had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.C. The destruction of the temple was a spiritual disaster for Israel and it surely affected the early Jewish Christians. Their loss was eased by John’s theology of the Christ-temple. The temple stood in need of purification and its function would be replaced by the risen- body of Christ.

This saying about the destruction of the temple occurs in various forms in Matthew and Mark: “I can destroy the temple of God…”. “I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.” This event is symbolic of Jesus’ resurrection and the resulting community of the new Covenant.

Today’s reading offers three significant messages:

The text reflects the antagonism between Jews and Christians during the time in which John writes his Gospel (90-100 A.C.) when Christians were not considered a Jewish sect any longer.
The Gospel invites us to believe not because of the signs we see, but because we have come to accept and understand Jesus and his message.
Let is a time to “clean our hearts” of all that is not of God.

For our personal reflection:

Who are the “merchants” that pollute my temple? Self-centeredness, rash judgment of others, envy, etc.?
Lent is a good time for spring cleaning. What kind of debris is there between my relationship with God and my concern toward others?

Suggested readings:
Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 364; 574-576; 583594.

Holy Week Explained

Peter Robson — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:32 +0000

Holy Week is the most important week in our year of praise and prayer. It is a rich time in our life of prayer.

Our parish timetable for Holy Week is here.

Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday): The Masses this weekend begin with a joyful blessing of the palms and with the procession in memory of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Then the mood becomes somber: we listen to the story of our Lord’s suffering and death, as told by Luke. The red vestments today remind us of the blood shed for us by Jesus, the great martyr and witness to God’s truth.

During the year, we keep our palms in a place of honor, with a crucifix or holy picture; we may keep a palm in each room at home.

Holy Thursday: The three days from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday evening are called the Easter Triduum, and are the year’s most solemn days.

* Evening Mass of the Lord’s supper: St. John’s Gospel speaks to us about the commandment of love, which Jesus wants us to live by our actions. He showed his love by washing the Apostles’ feet; the priest wash the feet of some parishioners as a sign of love and service for God’s people in this community. Jesus invites us to eat and drink, that we may recall his love for us and have a share in his eternal life.

The procession with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass is followed by a time of adoration and personal prayer until ten o’clock. 10:00 p.m.. concludes this period of adoration in our parish.

Good Friday: This is a worldwide day of fast and abstinence from meat.

* Celebration of the Lord’s passion: We recall the time of Jesus’ death on the cross and we listen to God’s holy Word, including the solemn reading of the passion narrative according to St. John. Then we offer a special prayer of the faithful in its ancient format. After the cross is carried solemnly into the church, we venerate this cross in faith and love and then we receive communion.

Holy Saturday: This is a day of voluntary fast; we may wish to continue Friday’s fast in memory of Jesus as his body lay in the tomb. Holy Saturday is a day of prayer and reflection, not a day for shopping and fun.

* Easter vigil: Our celebration begins after dark in order to let the light of Christ shine forth with splendor, and to show that this is the greatest night of the year, the Church’s most solemn celebration.

–Light service: Within the darkened church, we bless the new fire and light the Easter candle. The priest carries the light of Christ through the community, and all light their candles from it. Then the Easter song of praise is sung.

–Word service: We listen to bible readings, and hear again the proclamation that Jesus has been raised in glory from the grave. We rejoice, and sing Alleluia! (This is Hebrew for “Praise the Lord!”)

–Baptism service: The water is blessed, and the catechumens proclaim their faith and are baptized. All members of the community renew their baptismal promises. The candidates are received into the full communion of the Catholic Church, and they are confirmed.

–Eucharist: This celebration is the first Mass of Easter. Those who became Catholics this night make their first communion.

Easter Sunday: We continue to celebrate the rising of Jesus, and our share in his life: This is the day the Lord has made, and we rejoice! After the homily in the Masses, we all renew our baptismal promises.

Holy Week Schedule

Peter Robson — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:26 +0000

St. Mary’s Parish Lindsay

Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday)
Saturday March 31
5:00 p.m.	Mass: Blessing of palms Passion narrative (Mark)
Sunday April 1
9:00 and 11:00 a.m.	Mass: Blessing of palms Passion narrative (Mark)
Monday April 2
7:00 p.m.	Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Cathedral
Tuesday April 3
7:30 a.m.	Mass
Wednesday April 4
7:00 p.m.	Mass
Holy Thursday April 5
Easter Triduum begins at evening Mass
7:00 p.m.	Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Washing of the feet Procession with Eucharist
8:00-10:00 p.m.	Adoration in chapel final blessing 10:00 p.m. *Please sign up for a period of adoration*
Good Friday April 6 Worldwide day of fast and abstinence
3:00 p.m.	Passion Narrative (John) Veneration of Cross Holy Communion
7:00 p.m.	Solemn liturgy Stations of the Cross – Youth Children welcome
Holy Saturday April 7
	Voluntary day of fast
8:00 p.m.	Easter Vigil Celebration Celebration of light, liturgy of the Word, Baptism of elect, renewal of baptismal promises ; rite of reception, confirmation and first communion. First Easter Mass
Easter Sunday April 8
9:00 and 11:00 a.m.	Mass Renew baptismal promises

Form a New Heart Within

Peter Robson — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:33:32 +0000

This Sunday brings us closer to the font of renewing our baptismal commitment.

Its also the first of three Scrutinies for the Rite of christian Initiation of Adults.

We are deeply aware that there is a struggle going on in us.

We turn to God, that we might not become discouraged.

We rely on God’s compassion and love for us.

We acknowledge who we are ~ sinner who experience the consequences of our selfishness ~ but we know we are loved and we disere to be filled with hope.

We go into this week renewed with in desire to continue our prayer, fasting an d generosity towards others.

(Creighton University Online Ministries)

Second Sunday of Lent

Peter Robson — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:02:33 +0000

The second Sunday of Lent always tells the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This glorious “epiphany” stands in contrast to the temptations that we read last Sunday. The temptations highlighted the humanity of Jesus, the Son of Man, who became like us even to the point of being tempted by the devil. The transfiguration reflects his divinity. Jesus is the Son of God who manifests his glory to three of his disciples. His appearance changed as it also did in his glorified body after the resurrection. Mark’s narrative follows the first of the three predictions of Jesus’ Passion, in which Jesus teaches his disciples that he will have to suffer greatly. Placing the story of the Transfiguration after his first Passion prediction reveals that, while Jesus is the Messiah, his triumph will come through his suffering and death.

Peter wants to capture the moment by keeping Jesus, Moses and Elijah there with them. However, Mark does not allow his readers to linger on the mountaintop. Jesus knew, says Mark, that they would have difficulty accepting his suffering and death. Consequently, he tells them not to get too excited about the glory of the transfiguration event until after he has risen from the dead.

Today’s reading offers three significant messages:

The presence of Moses and Elijah is a sign that Jesus will fulfill the expectations of the Hebrew people.
The revelation of the glory of God climaxes with a voice from the clouds as in Jesus’ baptism. He is God’s Son and we need to listen to him.
The goal of the Christian is not just to know “about” God, but to know God through direct experience.

For our personal reflection:

Do I expect only moments of glory from God? Do I remain faithful when things are not going my way?
Am I willing to walk with others in their moment of suffering?

First Sunday of Lent

Peter Robson — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:31:17 +0000

The Gospel today is from St. Mark 1:12-15. The very thought of Jesus suffering hunger, loneliness, and humiliation at the hands of his enemy – and that all this was for us – should make us feel ashamed at the little bits of suffering and humiliation we are willing to suffer for our own selves. He had no sin to atone for. He was making atonement for us and for our sins. He was the Son of God and his home was heaven, but he left it for a while to share is eternal home him. What is the thanks he gets from us? Ingratitude, forgetfulness, and even worse: insults and disobedience.

While the Church has eased the strict fastings and penances of Lent, we are still expected to do some private fasting and penance. It need not be fasting from food, but we can all do some daily penance which will help to keep our unruly minds and bodies in check while at the same time it will show that we are grateful to our loving Saviour for all that he has suffered for us. A few extra prayers each day, control of our temper in the home, less talk and especially less uncharitable talk among our neighbours, a little helping hand to a neighbour in need, a fervent prayer and where we can spare it (perhaps by doing without some luxury) a donation toward helping the starving millions in other lands.

We can all keep the last verse of today’s reading before our minds with great profit, “Repent and believe in the gospel”. Turn away from sin and come back to God. Anyone who believes in the gospel, who believes that the everlasting life after death prepared by God for all those who do his will on earth, should not find it hard to give up offending that loving God who thinks so much of him or her. This life is only a passing shadow, every step we take, every breath we breathe is bringing us neared to our final destination -eternal life with God.

Now is the time to take these words of Christ to heart. He is asking each one of us today, to repent and to believe in the gospel, that is, to act according to its teaching. Christ, in his mercy, will make this appeal to people again and again, but will we hear it? If we answer Christ’s appeal now and start living our Christian faith in all sincerity, we will be ready to pass over to the future, happy, unending life.

Parish Lenten Events

Peter Robson — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:59:33 +0000

Mission: Exploring The Liturgy
Wednesday, March 7 – Liturgy and Music – Fr. Paul Massel
Wednesday, March 22 – Liturgy, Justice and the Call to Discipleship – Sister Mary Rowell csj

Stations Of The Cross
Thursday, February 23 – CWL
Thursday, March 1 – Knights of Columbus
Thursday, March 8 – St. Vincent de Paul
Thursday, March 15 – Cursillo
Thursday, March 22 – Pro-life
Thursday, March 29 – Development and Peace
Good Friday – Youth
March 16 – Pilgrimage to Martyr’s Shrine, Midland – Youth,
Thinkfast – Youth
March 24 – Day of Grace and Reconciliation
March 25 – Solidarity Sunday – Development and Peace Collection
Food for Children Collection – Dr. Simone

Exploring the Mass – Washing of the Hands

Sr. Loretta — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:27:02 +0000

History:

Washing one’s hands as a sign of inner puity was customary in both Judiasm and early Christianity. The original purpose of the gesture within the liturgy was not for purposes of physical cleanliness but as a symbol of the interior purity required before entering into the sacred mystery.

Today the washing of the hands is accompanied by Psalm 51: 2 which is quietly said by the priest.

Questions for Reflection;

1. Do I ask God to cleanse me of all inward impurities as the priest washes his hands?

Scripture: Psalm 26: 6-12