Reflection and Prayer Series:My ordinary days

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

MY ORDINARY DAYS.

There are times within the valley 
When it's difficult to praise-
Then God points me to the splendor 
Of my ordinary days.

In the valley of worry, unhappiness, stress and drearyness
may you find one aspect each day to praise God for and thank Him.
This act of gratitude will lift your spirits.

Compendium Series: Who are the angels?

60. Who are the angels? (CCC )

Compendium states:

The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will.  They ceaselessly contemplate God face to face and they glorify Him.  They serve Him and are his messengers in the accomplishment of his saving mission to all.

What does this mean for me?

1. I can join my praise with them and ask them to intercede for me to God.
2. I can ask them to teach me to contemplate, since they ceaselessly contemplate God face to face and glorify Him.
3. I can thank God that I have a guardian angel who assists me.

Questions to consider:

1. What is my relationship with my guardian angel? How might I improve this relationship?
2. How might the angels assist me in my life?
3. How can I be in tune with the angels as they serve Him, and are his messengers in the accomplishment of his saving mission to all?
4. How might God want me to contribute to the accomplishment of His saving mission?

COMMUNION RITE: PART 15:‘COMMINGLING RITE’

‘COMMINGLING RITE’

Originally, the rite of commingling manifested the unity of the presbyterium of Rome with the Pope. It was a matter of ‘fermentum’: a piece of the Eucharistic Bread from the Papal Mass was carried to the priests of the churches of Rome who, because of the service that they fulfilled for their faithful, could not attend the Papal Mass. 

The present commingling originates from the first half of the 8^th century by a Syrian Pope when it was introduced into the Roman Mass.  The theology explaining it was just as the double consecration (of bread and wine) represented the death of Christ, so it was deemed necessary to symbolize the resurrection, which ensures the bread of immortality, received in communion.  This took place by reuniting the body and the blood before the communion, a kind of symbolic re-enactment of the Lord’s resurrection. 

The priest says the following prayer:

‘May the mingling of the body and blood of Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it’.  

This is a modified version of the prayer that was used and the priest says it quietly. As he says this prayer, he drops a part of the host into the chalice.

At Mass, we may not have taken that much notice of this minor rite, or we could be still giving each other the sign of peace and miss it completely.

Perhaps we can observe this rite from a different perspective and make the prayer cited above as our own also.

  

Opening Prayer Series: Seventeenth Sunday of Year

The Opening Prayer for the Seventeenth Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

( that we will make use of the gifts that God has given us)

God our Father and protector,

without You nothing is holy,

nothing has value.

Guide us to everalasting life 

by help us to use wisely 

the blessing you have given to the world. 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What gifts has God given to me?
2. How doe I presently use these gifts?
3. What gifts would I like to receive to enhance the gifts already given?
4. What is my relationship with Father God like?
5. How may I improve this relationship this coming week?
6. What are the blessings that God has given to the world?
7. How might I use these blessings more wisely this coming week?

In case we stayed lukewarm after reading/hearing last's week's gospel, the same message is reiterated,which is

'the angels will separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth'   Obviously,  there will be no advantage to anyone (except perhaps dentists!!) being placed with the wicked. We must live our lives according to the gospel so that when the end times come, we will be placed with the just.

With these three parables in today's gospel, Jesus is telling us that we must place our goal of Heaven as our top priority. We must consider it a pearl of great price and worth selling everything to buy it.  Obviously we cannot buy Heaven, but we need to consider it as the ultimate goal for our lives, and want to place all our worldly wealth in their rightful place- second not first in our lives.

This gospel could also be helpful to those of us who have a tendency to hoard. We need to sit down and sort out what is good and what we need as compared to what used to be good and no longer has any use to us.

We need to do this with our physical environment as well as our emotional and spiritual environment.

When we let go of our attachments either on a material, emotional or spiritual level, then there is room for something new  to come in.  Let us not however throw out the baby with the bath water in our 'spring clean'.  We need to use wisdom and discernment to know what to respectfully hold and to use. Both new and old are both good in themselves.  It is up to use to make sure that we keep them in their rightful place.

During this week, let us keep this gospel in mind, and live our lives as justly as we can. Let us keep our goal of Heaven firmly in our minds and hearts since Heaven is our ultimate goal.

 

Reflection and Prayer Series: Following Jesus the Light of the World

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

FOLLOWING JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Light comes 

not through study alone 

or constant yearning

but by one small step of obedience.


May Your Word be a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path this coming week. (Ps119:105)

Following Jesus Series: The Riches of God's Children Part 2

This series called 'Following Jesus' is primarily written with young children in mind.   However, a parent, grandparent or interested adult will be most helpful in accompanying them. God calls us His children and He wants us to become once again like little children- not childish but childlike.  So with this in mind, whether we are a young child or an adult, this series may assist you in some way to follow Jesus.

How we follow Jesus our leader?

Today's post continues to explore how rich we are as God's Children.

In the Old Testament, God chose a poor shepherd body named David to be the king of His Chosen People.  God sent His servant Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint him as king.   This story in scripture can be found in  1 Kings 16:12-13). A great change took place in David when he was anointed king. 

When we received the sacrament of Baptism, a greater change occurred in us since God called us to be His children. When we are baptized and become God's children, we receive in God's own life and love.This great gift of sanctifying grace made us adopted children of God. We became holy and pleasing to Him.  The Holy Spirit came to live in us.

The gift of sanctifying graces was won for us by Jesus, the Son of God.  This gift gives us the right to go to Heaven to be with God, our Father.However, the gift of sanctifying grace is one of the gifts.  The second gift is actual grace, which God gives to us to help us live as His children. Actual grace gives light to our mind so that we know what is right and pleasing to God.  Actual grace gives strength to our will so that we are able to act as children of God.

God our Father, does not make us accept the help of actual grace.  However, we cannot reach heaven without this help. Do you accept the help of actual grace? Can you think of a time when you did accept it and when you did not accept it?

All this may sound complicated. So let me simplify it for you.

If we think of a vine, then

• the sap which gives life to the vine is something like sanctifying grace which we received at Baptism.
• the sun which makes the vine strong is something like actual grace.

So let us finish this post with a prayer-song of thanks.

With all my heart I thank You Lord, for sanctifying grace

Because this gift makes Your children and I shall see Your Face.

 It's only right that I should pray and offer all I do, 

To show how much I love this gift that makes my soul like You.

Next week we explore what happens when we are tempted not to live as God's children and how we can prepare for this Battle.

Compendium Series: God's creation

59. What did God create? (CCC 325-327)

Compendium states:

Sacred Scripture says “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” ( Genesis 1:1)  The Church in her profession of faith proclaims that God is the Creator of everything, visible and invisible, of all spiritual and corporal beings, that is, of angels and of the visible world and in a special way, of man.

What does this mean for me?

1. I can thank God for being Creator and I can thank God that I am in relationship with Him as a created being made in his own image and likeness.

2. When I am struggling to forgive someone, I can remind myself that God is the creator of everything- including this person whom I may find irksome, troublesome or rude.

 Questions to consider:

1. How often do I consider the invisible world and what part do spiritual beings such as the angels have in my life?
2. What difference would it be to consider someone in my life with whom I have a troublesome relationship, (eg family, work employees etc) to consider him/her as someone created by God the Father?

About the Mass Series: Communion Rite Part 14

‘THE RITE OF BREAKING OF THE BREAD’.

From the historical perspective, conforming to the rite of Passover meal, Christ took bread into his hands, pronounced the prayer of praise and then broke the bread.  The Classical explanation of the breaking and sharing of the one bread is given by St. Paul: 

‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (I Corinthians 10:16-7).  

Because the loaf of bread is one, we though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf’. In other words, Christ gives to all the one bread, which is His body. Just as this bread has become the body of Christ, so those who share this one bread, whatever be their diversity, becomes one body in Christ.

You will remember when I wrote about the Presentation of the Gifts previously, that the people provided the bread and wine and also at times oil, candles, wheat, grapes and other items of precious value to them for the Eucharist. It was carried to the altar by the deacons and presented to the bishop.  So the Rite of the breaking of the Bread became quite elaborate as the number of Christians increased. 

With the adoption of the unleavened bread and the small hosts in the 12^th century, the rite of the breaking of the bread became more symbolic. The priest breaks the bread over the paten, ensuring that at least some of the people receive portions from the large host broken at this time.  

Breaking of the bread before Mass destroys the significance of the symbolic gesture and is liturgically incorrect. The breaking of the bread must always be done reverently, because the bread is at this stage of the Mass already consecrated- it really is Christ (body, blood, soul and divinity).

  

Opening Prayer Series: 16th Sunday of Year A

The Opening Prayer for the 16th Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(to be kept faithful to the service of God)

Lord,

be merciful to Your people.

Fill us with your gifts 

and make us always eager to serve You 

in faith, hope and love. 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does it mean to be me to be faithful in the service  of God?
2. How can I be more faithful this coming week?
3. Why do I need God's mercy to be faithful to His service?
4. What are the gifts God has given me?
5. What gifts can I enhance with God's help?
6. What gifts would I like to receive from God should it be His will for me?
7. Why is the quality of eagerness required to serve God?
8. How can I serve God in faith, hope and love.

There is no doubt about what Jesus is telling us in today's Gospel, whether we want to hear it or not.

There is the battle for us pilgrims on the journey to follow Him. If we do, then we can hope that we will be gathered into the kingdom with all those who have been virtuous.  Those who do evil will suffer the punishment that they themselves have deserved.  God does not want to send anyone to Hell.  We are told in scripture that God wants to save everyone.  God gives us free will.  We need to choose to do good not evil.

So if we have lost some of our spiritual zest and vigor, then perhaps this gospel will motivate you to review your spiritual journey.   We are now almost half way through the ordinary Sundays of the Year.  If your spiritual life has been 'ordinary' up to now, then why not get it back into shape.  We only need the faith of a mustard seed to get started/started afresh. Let us grow to the best of our ability whilst we have the time, since we do not know when the time nor the hour may be.   I sure want to be gathered into the kingdom. 

What about You?

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

GOD'S DREAM AND MINE

Left to myself, I would enthrone my own dreams and desires.
Lord, let me make not a shrine of my self
but a home in my heart for You.

May God's will and your will be in harmony during this coming week.

Following Jesus Series: The Riches of God's Children Part 1

This series called 'Following Jesus' is primarily written with young children in mind.   However, a parent, grandparent or interested adult will be most helpful in accompanying them. God calls us His children and He wants us to become once again like little children- not childish but childlike.  So with this in mind, whether we are a young child or an adult, this series may assist you in some way to follow Jesus.

How we follow Jesus our leader?

Today's post is about how rich we are as God's Children.

Scripture: Firstly let us see how God chose a shepherd boy called David to be King of His Chosen People.. We find this out by reading the Scripture. 

Our task therefore is to turn to the Old Testament section of the bible and open up at I Kings 16:12-13.

Meditate: After you have read this scripture, you may wish to stay quiet for a little while (meditate) to see what this passage means to you.  Most importantly, share with Jesus your thoughts and feelings about this story. You may wish to share your thoughts with mum/dad/ grandma/grandpa or your special friend.

Discussion: We may wish to think about why God chose a shepherd body to be a King.

Learning the Scripture:

We can know the riches of being a child of God  by reading the Scripture and seeing what is written about Him.

Today's important passages from scripture that we can learn and memorize are:

..." Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God and that is what we are" ( I Jn 3:1)

From the Catechism:
What does sanctifying grace do for us?

1. It makes us holy and pleasing to God.
2. It makes us adopted children of God and co-heirs with Christ.
3. It makes us temples of the Holy Spirit.
4. It gives us the right to Heaven.

What is actual grace?
Actual grace is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our mind  and strengthens our will to do good and avoid evil.

Action:

Knowing about Jesus is important but we need to put our desire to follow Him into action.

To follow Jesus, we must believe in Him and accept that we are God's children.

We may put this into action by:

• Praying that we may understand what being a child of God means and thanking God for this gift. We can make this part of our night prayer each night before we go to bed.
• Listening with attention to those who teach you about God.
• Being attentive when we go to Mass each Sunday.
• Attend a Baptism and imagine that you are the baby. Talk to my parents/ Godparents about your Baptism.  
• Learning and understanding what sanctifying grace and Actual grace are and how these graces can help us as children of God.

My decision: 

Every body's life is different and has different circumstances.  However, why not have a think about how you will be a child of God during this coming week.  Remember to be specific and keep it simple.

For example: I will be kind.  This is too general and therefore I may not carry out what I want to do.

However, if I am specific about my decision, then I am more likely to carry it out.

For example:  I will kind by allowing my sister/brother watch her favourite programme/video game  on Tuesday night.

Now think about how you will be a child of God and how you will put this decision into action in your life.

It is important to remember that we are not just putting into action our decision to feel good about ourselves. No, we are wanting to follow  Jesus and we want to do what Jesus Himself would do out of love for Jesus.

Compendium Series: Why does God permit evil?

58. Why does God permit evil? (CCC 312-314, 324,)

Compendium states:

Faith gives us the certainty that God would not permit evil if he did not cause a good to come from that every evil.  This was realized in a wondrous way by God in the death and resurrection of Christ.  In fact, from the greatest of all moral evils (the murder of His Son) he has brought forth the greatest of all good (the glorification of Christ and our redemption).

What does this mean for me?

1. Reflect on my own life- and realise the good that came from ‘evil’ ( pain, tragedy,)
2. I can thank God for my redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus paid by the price of evil.
3. I can reflect on the death of Jesus in a new light ‘the greatest of all moral evils- the murder of His Son.

Questions to consider:

1. How can I answer this question to a person who has no faith?
2. How does reflecting on the death of Jesus as the greatest of all moral evils- the murder of His Son alter my perspective?

About the Mass Series: Communion Rite: Part 13:‘THE RITE OF PEACE’.

The Church is a community of Christians joined together by the Spirit in love.  It needs to express, deepen and restore its peaceful unity before eating the one Body of the Lord. The priest, with extended hands says aloud the prayer: 

‘Lord Jesus Christ, you said to you apostles, I leave you peace, my peace I give you.  Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever’.

Christ offers us His peace. Asking Christ not to look on our sins indicates our unworthiness for such a gift, and yet, through the faith of the Church He makes us worthy through the peace and unity of His kingdom.

Then the sign of peace is exchanged. It is an opportune time to signify communion in peace and mutual love.

The Hebrew word for peace is ‘shalom, namely all possible prosperity, the state of a person who lives in complete harmony with nature, self and God.  Since the risen Christ is the source of all peace, this gesture expresses faith that Christ is present in the congregation.  It is both a call to reconciliation and unity as well as a seal, which ratifies the very meaning of church, whose members both find and pray for peace in one another.

According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2007), the mode of exchanging the sign of peace is left to local usage. (p.29).

For some people the sign of peace has been a distraction at Mass. For other people it was a blessing.  One true story of ‘blessing’ when it was first introduced in the Mass is as follows:

‘There was a young man who was interested in a lovely girl who attended the Saturday evening Mass.  The girl showed no particular interest in the young man concerned.  The young man asked the priest ‘would we be having the sign of peace tonight Fr’.This went on for some weeks and it intrigued the priest. He asked the young man why, only to hear ‘I will sit in the seat next to her or behind her and she will have to give me the sign of peace’.  Sometime later, they were married.

‘Shalom’.                            

Opening Prayer 15th Sunday of Year A

The Opening Prayer for the 15th Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that the gospel may be our rule of life)

God our Father,

Your light of truth guides us to the way of Christ.

May all who follow Him

reject what is contrary to the gospel. 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What does the gospel teach me?
2. What does it mean for me to have the gospel as my rule of life?
3. How will the gospel be my rule of life this coming week at work, family, parishioners. strangers?
4. What is your light of truth?
5. How does your light of truth guide me to the way of Christ?
6. What is the way of Christ?
7. How can I follow Christ more closely this coming week?
8. What areas in my life are presently contrary to the gospel and how will I reject them?

May your week be blessed as you sow the seed in rich soil and yield a worthy harvest .

About the Mass Series: Communion Rite Part 12 -Our Father

‘DELIVERANCE PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY’ (for the Kingdom)

Perhaps you may have wondered why when the Our Father is recited at Mass we do not say Amen, yet at other times in private recitation we do.  This is because at Mass the Our Father leads straight into another prayer. 

A literary development from a text is called ‘embolism’ from the Greek meaning ‘piece added to the garment’. The embolism used here is ‘Deliver us, Lord from every evil…’ This Deliverance prayer, as it is sometimes called, goes back to the time of St Gregory the Great (6^th century). We are waiting in joyful hope for the coming in glory of Jesus.  We can wait in hope because we know that Christ has not left us orphans, and through the Church in the Mass and the Sacraments we are able to meet the Risen Christ in our midst.

In waiting in joyful hope therefore, we can indeed be delivered from every evil and be protected from all anxiety because in faith we know that the risen Christ does indeed offer us peace and mercy.

When the priest says this prayer, his hands are extended; it is an invitation to pray and also a visual sign to us of Christ.  Christ, through the priest invites us to pray for deliverance of every evil, all anxieties, temptations and he extends to us the gifts of peace and mercy.

Our response to this wonderful prayer is ‘For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever’. This is known as the Doxology, and by including it in the Mass, we are also showing some unity with other Christian brothers and sisters. 

It also expresses the reality that Christ is the alpha and omega and is ‘on the throne’ in our hearts.

World Youth Day Series: Thinking and being organized.

During World Youth Day in Sydney, there were many other activities and events that pilgrims could attend, apart from the main events scheduled each day.  So how did the pilgrims find out about them?

Pilgrims via their leader were given a pack which had all sorts of goodies- the thermal blanket for example for the vigil and sleep over, a map, event programs to name a few.  It can be a little overwhelming at first receiving this pack, and once exploring it further, pilgrims can be even more overwhelmed with the event programme.

So a tip or two from a two time WYD pilgrim.  

• Try not to get overwhelmed with the pack. Rather keep it for some quiet time that you will have yourself to sit down and study its contents carefully.  
• Look for the event programme and sit down and try and see what is on offer and what interests you.
• Have a notebook handy and make a few notes of possibilities and then attend a couple of those items on your list.  
• During your quiet time away from the madding crowd, sit quietly and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in your decision making as to where you are to go during the remainder of the week.

I say to go to the events that either interest You and/ or where the Holy Spirit leads you because otherwise you can end up attending all sorts of events that others find interesting and which do not assist you on your spiritual growth journey.

The second aspect I want to say is to remember to find time to pray whilst on WYD.  I say this advisably, because despite the main events and the getting to and from them in the crowd, it can be easy to get caught up and not spend any real quality time in prayer.   Yes, the pilgrims pray at the masses and other events such as the catechetical sessions. These are your opportunity to pray as a community.  

You still need your own personal prayer time away from everyone else and you need to schedule it carefully otherwise you will end up not having this precious time with God at all.  He may have something He wants to tell you and you need to give Him the chance and the quiet environment to hear His voice. You also may have something that you want to share with God- He wants to hear it from you.

In Sydney there were places marked out for exposition between certain hours.  Look at your pilgrim event guide and work out where these venues are and avail yourself of these personal encounters with God.

In other words, my post today is about thinking and being organized. You need to think about what is best for your spiritual needs. Yes, it is nice to attend with other friends who are pilgrims but make sure your spiritual needs are foremost since WYD is a great opportunity to make this a retreat like week.

You also need to get organized early in the week. Once you get the pack, look and decide on a couple of options for that first day.  Make sure then that you plan your needs for the rest of the week so that the week does not slip by and golden opportunities are missed.  Make sure you always carry a pen and paper with you in your backpack and once you have worked out your spiritual itinerary, then remember to stick to it.  This is your week after all and you need to make the most of your retreat with God, otherwise God can become second, third or fourth in your priorities, since the distractions of the week can really keep you busy.  

I hope and pray that your preparations for WYD are all now coming together.  If you are still thinking about it, now is the time to get it happening.  

• Get some early nights and store up as much energy as you can because you will need it.
• Get your fitness programme moving. The more you can feel comfortable walking, the less stressful you will find WYD.  So get out there rain, hail or shine and start walking every day.
• Decide on your emotional strategies.  ((a)Write a list of the characteristics of  what really annoys you- eg standing around for latecomers, being in a group where only some get the opportunity to share. (b) After completion of the exhaustive list, decide on your strategies for dealing with these issues.  (c) try out these strategies and see how effective you can carry them out.
• Continue to prepare spiritually. Be guided by the Holy Spirit who will help you be tuned for WYD. 
• Have a practice run of your luggage- Travel light but have a small bible with you.

For other ways to prepare for you WYD journey, why not look at my other posts in this series.

May your preparations be blessed.  I am praying for you. 

Opening Prayer Series: Fourteenth Sunday Year A

The Opening Prayer for the Fourteenth Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(for forgiveness through the grace of Jesus Christ)

Father, 

through the obedience of Jesus,

Your servant and Your Son,

You have raised a fallen world.

Free us for sin 

and bring us the joy that last for ever. 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What does the forgiveness of Christ mean to me?
2. What is my attitude towards the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and how can I improve it?
3. What is the sin that I need to be freed from this coming week?
4. What is my attitude towards the afterlife/Heaven?
5. Name one aspect of my life will I attempt to change/transform/improve this coming week?

Today's Gospel tells us two important aspects for our lives.  The first is that we need to become like little children- not childish but childlike. We need to think about this aspect and observe the wonderment of children, the trusting attitude and the innocent joy that children enjoy.

Then as we observe these child like characteristics, we  need to apply them to our spiritual lives.

The second aspect of the Gospel is a reminder for us adults who get overwhelmed with the burdens of life. Jesus tells us that we need to come to Him and He will give us rest. We need not become overburdened if we follow the instructions of Jesus and become gentle and humble of heart. This is the exact opposite of what the world tells us to be successful- aggressive, self righteous and proud.  Are the successful at peace in their souls?

Let us come to Jesus especially when we are overburdened and allow Him to minister to us.  Jesus knows what we need most and is happy to supply it to us.  We need to trust in Him and enjoy the wonderment of God's life that He has given us.