Collect Series: Collect for Pentecost Sunday Year B

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Happy Birthday to all my readers -The Birthday of the Church

COLLECT

PENTECOST SUNDAY YEAR B

COLLECT 

The Collect for Pentecost Sunday Year B reads as follows:

 

God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth
and the Spirit of sanctification

made known to the human race Your wondrous mystery,

Grant us, we pray, that in profession the true faith,

we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore Your Unity,

powerful in majesty.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1. What is my relationship with Holy Spirit?
2. What does Pentecost Sunday mean to my life?
3. What gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit do I wish to receive this Pentecost Sunday?
4. How can I acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory?
   
   

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for today is from St John.  Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us and give us what we need to know. Jesus knows each of us by name and by personality. Jesus knows what each of us can manage at any given time. The Spirit knows what we can manage and how to tell us the truth. It is our choice to accept and acknowledge what He has to offer.

 Jesus also invites us to be witnesses to the truth.  We need to know and accept the truth before we can share it with others.  We need to be able to share the Good News with others.  We can do this in a mighty way through the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer and by the way we live our every day lives in our families, parish, workplace, those whom we meet in the street.  Simple gestures such a kind word or a smile can be life changing and healing for others.  If we ask the Holy Spirit to respond to others in the way they need, then our simple kind words, gestures or smile will be transforming as the Holy Spirit will transform them into a way that is within reach of that other person.  The other person may not be aware or may not accept it but at the right time for that person, that seed of kindness, a warm smile or gesture will have been sown and it will bear much fruit.

 The Holy Spirit can be for some of us, a poor second cousin to God the Father, or Jesus His Son.  However, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity-three persons yet one God as our Catholic Faith tells us.  Today's Gospel makes it perfectly clear that the Holy Spirit will lead us to the complete truth and what is told to us will be taken from Father God and Jesus.  In other words, it will be in total unity as is the Triuune God.

 The Holy Spirit needs therefore to be our best friend, since what He tells us is in direct harmony with Father God and Jesus His Son. Yet, the Holy Spirit will provide the graces and gifts that we need for our daily lives, just as He did with the disciples after Jesus had ascended to Heaven.  It is through the Holy Spirit that the Church is guided, and we are in our personal prayer guided by Him too.  It is that quiet little voice that 

·                     prompts us to do the right thing and stand up for what we believe when it would easier to walk away,

·                     helps us examine our conscience of any wrong doing/sin/faults which we need to confess,

·                     guides us to do the will of God in our lives.

·                     is our consolation in times of grief and confusion.

·                     brings us a greater awareness and understanding of our faith

·                     supports us in our life journey and is our best friend.

Of course, there are the 7 traditional gifts of the Holy Spirit and the 12 fruits which emanate from them which we are given in a special way at Confirmation.  However, although we receive them then, we can always ask the Holy Spirit daily to increase in us these gifts and fruits, and supply for us what is lacking at our present time.  

 It seems to me that the Holy Spirit gives each of us an extra special dose of the gift/s that we most need for our lives, a gift we use more often than the other gifts- for me, that gift has been courage and perservance. When life has been tough, I know with God's help that I can dig deep and draw on these gifts.   Perhaps, you may have had a similar observation in your life. Of course, we do not need to wait until life is tough, but we can draw on these gifts each day in our daily lives.

 The Holy Spirit came to the disciples as promised by Jesus. They were no longer afraid but went out and preached the Good News.  On this feast of Pentecost, which is the birthday of the Church, she invokes the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on us, and with that, we can ask Him to provide the gifts/fruits we most need for our lives. We can be filled anew- a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful grace to receive again.  Let us be open to receive the Holy Spirit afresh in our hearts and to be eagerly awaiting to receive the gift/s He has to offer us on His special Feast- the feast of Pentecost.

COME HOLY SPIRIT COME.

 

Collect Series: Collect for Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Year B

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COLLECT 

 

The Collect for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord in Year B is as follows:

 

Gladden us with holy joys, Almighty God,

and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,

for the Ascension of Christ Your Son is our exaltation,

and where the Head has gone before in glory,

the Body is called to follow in hope. 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

 

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

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

 

1. Why am I asking God to gladden me with holy joys?
2. Why should I rejoice with devout thanksgiving on this Solemnity?
3. What does the Solemnity of the feast of the Ascension mean to me?
4. How will this Solemnity affect this coming week in my life?
5. How will I prepare my spiritual plan for this coming week?
6. How might I live in the glory and hope of the ascension this week? 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 

The Ascension of The Lord is essentially a feast of Hope since we can look forward to eternal life.  We Music however, not sit on our hands and wait.  Christ has given us His command and we need to live lives worthily, so that we can enter through the narrow gate. 

 

The other beautiful aspect of the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord is that Christ goes back to Heaven- we feel His Absence and yet He lives on here on earth in the presence of each of us.   Are we always aware of His presence to us?   How are we going to make His presence known to others?

 

 

The four-fold command of Christ to His disciples is a command to us and gives us a mission- a focus. 

 

• Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations,
• baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
• Teach them to observe all the commands I gave you
• Know that I am with you until the end of time.

So how can we make disciples of all the nations?   We need to be ready with our answer should someone asks us for our reason for our belief.  Most of us can evangelize others by not even saying a word- it is by example of the lives we lead.  

 

Evangelization does not have to be difficult.  If we  are trying our best to live good Christian lives,  other people will be attracted to it. Then when a casual question or conversation occurs, it may be our time to speak.  

More importantly it  is a time to listen, since it is the question of the enquirer that is important.  As the journey unfolds, then there will be a time for them to want to be baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit.  This will be God's timing, not ours, since it is God who is leading the person to Himself.  Then as their journey continues, it is time for learning and teaching ( RCIA for example is part of the process), and as catholic pilgrims on the journey, we need to remember and encourage each other in our struggles knowing that Jesus is with us always.

So yes, the feast of the Ascension is a feast of hope of future glory. We need to have this hope in our hearts and try to live our lives now with this future glory in mind. Next week, it will be  Pentecost Sunday.   However, in the light of today's Solemnity, we can start to get ready this week with hope in our hearts and future glory in mind and examine our lives right now. We can then decide and prepare our own personal spiritual plan for the remainder of the year.

 

What will we do with Christ's 4 fold command this coming week in our family, parish, workplace and neighbourhood?

 

 

About the Mass Series Communion Rite Part 16 Receiving Communion

 

About the Mass Series: 

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Communion Rite Part 16- Receiving Communion

THEOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS ’.

Communion from the Chalice was the general rule until the 12^th century, and nowadays has become a universal practice, although either for diverse hygienic or psychological reasons people may not wish to receive from the chalice.  There are two acceptable methods sanctioned by the Vatican for receiving communion when the chalice is involved. They are:

 

1. To drink from the chalice.

 

2. By ‘intinction’ when the priest or special minister dips the hosts into the chalice and the communicant 

receives on the tongue.  The practice of dipping the host into the chalice by the communicant is an inappropriate and abused method, and is not sanctioned by either the Vatican or the Melbourne archdiocese.

 

 Fasting before receiving communion showed respect and helped the communicant to think and adequately prepare for receiving Jesus.  This practise too has changed over the centuries, from the 10^th century when sacramental penitence was required before receiving communion, to fasting from midnight and from late 1950s to fasting one hour before. Of course, sick and elderly people are exempt especially where medication is required.

  The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) says:

 ‘Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace.  Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance’. (Para 1415 p.356).

 After having received communion, then what? The mnemonic ALTAR may help you in this precious time with Jesus.

 

                                        A: Adoration;                  

                                         L: Love,

                                         T: Thanksgiving;

                                         A: Asking

                                        R: Reparation

Psalm series: The Psalms as Prayer

 

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Welcome to My Psalm Series. 

Last year I began this Psalm series but unfortunately got side tracked with life. I now wish to continue this series on a weekly basis.

As Catholics we hear the Psalms each day at Mass and if we say Morning and Evening Prayer- the Divine Office then we will also be using the Psalms.

Do we understand the Psalms when we read them or respond to it at Mass?
In this series, my aim is to explore the meaning of the 150 Psalms and to consider the moods contained therein.  I also hope that this series may be a valuable source for lectors so that they have a greater understanding of the Psalms and proclaim them well. This is the second post in the series. Check out my first blog of this series.

The Psalms as Prayer: A Journey of Spiritual Expression 

 In the tapestry of Catholic spirituality, few threads are as vibrant and enduring as the Psalms. These ancient songs, prayers, and hymns have been woven into the fabric of liturgy and personal devotion for millennia, offering a timeless reservoir of spiritual expression for believers around the world. In this exploration, we embark on a journey to uncover the profound significance of the Psalms as prayer within the Catholic tradition.

The Psalms in Liturgy and Private Prayer: Central to the Catholic experience of prayer is the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, where the Psalms take centre stage. This structured prayer of the Church, offered at various times throughout the day, immerses believers in a rhythmic cycle of praise, thanksgiving, petition, and lament. From the jubilant strains of Psalm 100 to the heartfelt cries of Psalm 51, the Psalms provide a rich tapestry of emotions and themes that resonate with the human soul.

 In the celebration of the Mass, the Psalms find their place within the Responsorial Psalm, where they serve as a bridge between the readings from Scripture and the proclamation of the Gospel. Here, the congregation joins together in prayerful response, echoing the sentiments of the Psalmist and uniting their voices in praise of God's mighty deeds and steadfast love. It is vital therefore that the Lector understands the psalm so that He/She can proclaim it expressing with the voice the various moods contained in the psalms.  It is also important the congregation respond to the response with prayerful enthusiasm.  How often have you heard a congregation's response so flat and lifeless and the response mentions the word joy or rejoicing?  eg Ring out your joy to the Lord.! or Let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord.  How do you respond to the Responsorial Psalm at Mass?

Beyond the communal worship of the Church, the Psalms also serve as a wellspring of inspiration for personal prayer and reflection. Whether recited individually in moments of solitude or incorporated into devotional practices such as lectio divina, the Psalms offer solace, guidance, and communion with the divine. Through their timeless verses, believers find a mirror of their own experiences, joys, sorrows, hopes, and fears, inviting them to bring their whole selves before God in honesty and trust. It is then we need to pray them psalms or even a few verses to support us in our spiritual journey. We must remember that Jesus prayed the Psalms as well. Scripture tells that even after the Last Supper and before He went to the Garden of Gethsemane, 'psalms and inspired songs were sung'.  

Davidic Authorship and Spiritual Legacy: At the heart of the Psalms lies the figure of King David, the renowned psalmist whose life and reign are intricately intertwined with these sacred songs. Tradition attributes many of the Psalms to David, portraying him not only as a monarch but also as a poet-prophet who poured out his heart before the Lord in times of triumph and adversity. David's intimate relationship with God, expressed through the Psalms, serves as a model of authentic prayer for believers of every generation.

Moreover, the Messianic Psalms, which foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ, deepen the spiritual resonance of the Psalms within the Catholic tradition. As Catholics, we see in these prophetic passages a prefiguration of Christ's life, ministry, suffering, and triumph, revealing the divine plan of salvation unfolding throughout history. Thus, the Psalms not only connect us to the past but also point us towards the fulfilment of God's promises in the person of Jesus Christ.

In the Psalms, we encounter a sacred symphony of prayer that transcends time and space, inviting us to join our voices with those of believers across the ages. Whether in the communal liturgy of the Church or the quiet solitude of personal devotion, the Psalms serve as a pathway to deeper intimacy with God, a source of strength and consolation in times of trial, and a wellspring of praise and thanksgiving for the countless blessings we receive. As we continue our journey through the Psalms, may we be inspired to make these sacred songs our own, allowing them to shape our prayers, illuminate our faith, and draw us ever closer to the heart of God.

Top of Form

 

 

 

Collect Series Sixth Sunday Eastertide

 

6TH SUNDAY OF EASTERTIDE YEAR B

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COLLECT 

The Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Eastertide Year B reads as follows:

Grant, almighty God,

That we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy,

Which we keep in honour of the risen Lord,

And that what we relive in remembrance

We may always hold to in what we do.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

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

1. In what ways do I celebrate with heartfelt devotion the Pascal mystery?
2. How do I relive in remembrance the suffering, death and Resurrection of Christ in my daily life?
3. What difference does honouring the risen Christ make to my life?
4. How shall I honour the risen Christ this coming week?

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for today is from St John 15:9-17.

As each Sunday passes, we can easily forget that only a few weeks  ago, we celebrated Good Friday when we commemorated the agonizing death of Christ on Mount Calvary.  It is important for us to realise that crucifixion was an excruciating, shameful death reserved for hardened criminals who deserved it.  Yet Jesus, our loving Saviour, the innocent lamb of God, one who had never offended God or neighbour endured it to show the depth of God’s love for humanity.  Reflect on it in front of a crucifix, read the passion account regularly. 

Do I personally feel moved by His suffering and death for me personally?   What caused Christ that torment and death on the cross was our sins, the sins of all mankind and not the spite and hatred of his Jewish opponents, who were only instruments in the tragedy. Atonement had to be made to God for the sins of the world, so that mankind could reach the eternal inheritance which the incarnation made available to them. However, not all the acts of the entire human race could make a sufficient atonement to God. A sacrifice, an expiation of infinite value was needed. The death of the Son of God in his human nature was alone capable of making such an expiation.

Christ willingly accepted His father’s will and embraced His crucifixion for the sake of humanity. Surely this proves the depth of God’s love by allowing His own Son to die this shameful death.  It should also be remembered  that even though Jesus had this love for humanity and laid down his life for us, it did not make his sufferings any less, did not ease any of the pains of Calvary. His agony in the Garden before his arrest shows this: he foresaw all the tortures and pains which he was to undergo and sweated blood at the thought of what awaited him.
Despite this, Jesus kept His Father's commandment "not my will but thine be done."

Is my heart a heart of stone and do I lack understanding and gratitude when I fail to appreciate fully what Christ has done for us and deliberately offend him!   Christ died to bring us to heaven but we tell him, by our sins, that He was wasting his time. We do not want to go to heaven, we are making our happiness here!

Christ told us, through the disciples on Holy Thursday night, that He had made us his friends, rather than being servants in the household. We do not merely earn a daily wage and have no intimacy with the family and no hope of ever sharing in the family possessions. Instead,  God  has given us the opportunity to be  adopted into the family by Christ becoming man, we have been guaranteed all the rights of children intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the future sharing in the eternal happiness of that divine household. Christ's incarnation made us God's children; Christ's death on the cross removed sin. Sin is the one obstacle that could prevent us reaching our eternal inheritance.

Because God gave us a free will we can in a moment of folly, a moment of madness really, deprive ourselves of the privileges and possessions which Christ has made available to us. We can choose to exchange an eternity of happiness for a few fleeting years of self-indulgence on earth. We can fling Christ's gift of love back in his face and tell him we don't want it. God forbid that we should ever act like this, that we should ever forget God's purpose in creating us. If we realise that this is what we have done, Jesus provides for us His mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We can simply tell Jesus through the priest that we are sorry.  Jesus absolves us ( through the ministry of the priest) and we are restored again to being a child of God.

Life on earth is but a short prelude to our real life with God in Heaven.  We need to make the choice to use our life on earth as Christ has told us how to use it, then death for us will be the passage into the eternal mansions.

Let us be grateful to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; love the Blessed Trinity; prove your love by loving your fellowmen every day. In this way, we are keeping the commandment of love and fulfilling the whole law and the prophets. We have to ask ourselves do we really want to go to heaven to be eternally happy?  Do I really want to claim the prize of eternal life with God which Jesus offered to us through His death and Resurrection? 

If so, our happiness starts today with what we do and say and how we live our life today. Live today and every day with the goal of eternal happiness and Heaven in mind as that is where our real home is.