About the Mass Series: vol 2: Introductory Rite The greeting Part 3.

In today's post, let us explore further the third greeting that the priest can say during the Introductory Rite as a greeting and our response of:

Priest:  The Lord be with you

People:  and with your spirit.

This greeting comes from Scripture in the book of Ruth 2:4.Boaz who is the owner of the field shouts to the reapers " The Lord be with you". It is the only place in scripture where this greeting occurs. However, he also notices Ruth and makes some enquiries about her and by the end of the book of Ruth, they are married.  It is worth having a read of the book of Ruth since Ruth was a good woman to look after her mother in law.

In the original, Boaz actually says ''The Lord with you"' not The Lord be with you.  However, his greeting can be translated as

The Lord be with you or The Lord is with you.

The second translation is a reminder of the greeting that the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary at the Annunciation.  The Original translation of  the words of Angel Gabriel were: ''the Lord with you"'.

So when the priest uses this third greeting, we may be reminded of the greeting of Boaz from the book of Ruth and the echo of the Angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation.

When we reply: ''and with your spirit'', we are reminded of St Paul's letter to the Galatians chapter 5 where he lists both the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit.  St Paul indicated that the Jewish tradition of circumcision was not binding to the Christian.  His teachings indicate that for the Christian, we are not only made up of the flesh but of the spirit- which is the closest part of us that is nearest to the Holy Spirit of God. When you reflect on the works of the flesh quoted in Scripture, you will notice that some of them occur through the body, but not all of them such as anger and jealousy, which occur inwardly. 

When St Paul compares the works of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit, he is teaching us to reflect upon behaviours/areas  in our lives which are not under the rule of God as compared to those that have been submitted to God's rule. So for St Paul, the spirit of a human being  is that part of us that is open to God and receptive to the gifts of God. You will notice that when St Paul completes his discussion about the works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit with the following:

'' May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen'' ( Gal 6:18)

When we use this response to the third greeting cited above, we are affirming that it relates to that part of us that is open to God and receptive to the gifts of God. It is written with a small s not a capital S which usually refers to the Holy Spirit. This response comes from 2 Tim 4:22.

St John Chrysostom, one of the Greek Fathers of the Church gave us more insight into this third greeting and interestingly enough, it is used in both Eastern and Western liturgies.  St John also pointed out that when the people give this response which is used before the the Eucharistic prayer, it is because they recognise the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the priest given to him at Ordination.  St John Chrysostom said that the people would not have been able to say that unless they, themselves had been filled with the Holy Spirit and gathered by the Holy Spirit to worship God in the Eucharistic Prayer.

So with these points in mind and what I have previously written in Introductory Rite The Greeting Part 1, the next time you are at Mass or are reflecting on this response, I hope that it will be a richer, more prayerful experience for you.

Year of Grace Series:Faith and Reason Encyclical: Chapter 2: Credo and Intelligram

The Wisdom literature in the Scripture is clear that knowledge conferred by faith and by reason is indissoluble. The sacred author describes the wise man as one who loves and seeks the truth.  He describes such a person who meditates on wisdom and reasons intelligently as a happy person.

All people want more knowledge which is characteristic of all. Faith enables people to reason that history and the fate of peoples are in the hands of God.  Without that faith, the world and history cannot be understood in depth.

Reason and faith cannot be separated without diminishing the capacity of mankind to know themselves, the world and God in a appropriate way. There is no need for competition of any kind between reason and faith.  The Book of Proverbs exclaims:

  ‘It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out’ (Prov 25:2).

   

God created all things including humans, and to the latter He gave them their reason to explore the truth of existence.  It is very satisfying for mankind to find an answer to a hitherto insurmountable limitation of knowledge.

The three basic rules chosen by the Chosen People In Israel as to whether reason was fully true to itself were:

• Human knowledge is a journey that allows no rest.
• Awareness that such a path is not for the proud, who think that everything is the fruit of personal conquest.
• Recognising that the “fear of God”, His transcendent sovereignty and provident love in the governance of the world are all important for man’s reason.

To ignore these rules it to be a fool when he claims “God does not exist”. He shows unmistakably just how deficient his knowledge is.

If human beings with their intelligence fail to recognise God as Creator of all, it is not because they lack the means to do so, but because their free will and their sinfulness place an impediment in the way.  In the book of Proverbs we find fear of God as the beginning of knowledge “ the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ ( Prov 1:7;cf Sir 1:14).

Revelation in the Old Testament came to the biblical man as the true source of knowledge concerning himself, with the world and with God.  People of the Chosen Race were certain that God had created them ‘explorers ’ to discover all that was beautiful good and true without giving up the task.

St Paul in his letter to the Romans affirms the human capacity for metaphysical enquiry when he said: ‘ through all that is created the “eyes of the mind” can come to know God.  Through the medium of Creatures, God stirs in reason an intuition of his power and his divinity’ (Rom 1:20).  Human reason is not restricted to sensory knowledge and can reflect on the data of the sense, but can also reach the cause which lies at the origin of all perceptible reality.

Unfortunately, because of original sin, mankind was denied full access to the origin of all things.  This knowledge was denied them because they disobeyed Him.  From then on reason was so wounded that its path to full truth would be strewn with obstacles.  The eyes of the mind were no longer able to see clearly.  Reason became more and more a prisoner to itself.  Christ’s coming lifted reason from its weakness and set it free from the shackles in which it had imprisoned itself.

The Christian’s relationship to philosophy requires thorough-going discernment.  There is opposition between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who was God, is beyond human explanation of the meaning of existence.  The wisdom of the wise is no longer enough for what God wants to accomplish. God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise ( I Cor 1:27-28).

St Paul said ‘God has chosen in the world… that which is nothing to reduce to nothing thing are’ ( I Cor 1:28).  Reason cannot eliminate the mystery of love which the Cross represents, while the Cross can give to reason the ultimate answer which it seems.  The Word of Wisdom is the criterion of both truth and salvation.

The preaching of Christ crucified and risen is the reef upon which the link between faith and philosophy can break up; but it is also the reef beyond which the two can set forth upon the boundless ocean of truth.

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 4 part 5 Jesus among people.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  

In today's post, we explore chapter 6: 53-56 which is a summary of Jesus among the people.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 6: 53-56 which is a summary of Jesus among the people.

The journeys of Jesus and His disciples in the fourth part of Mark's Gospel (6:6-8:30) continue in this episode.  After the dramatic all night crossing over the lake from where they had shared their food with the huge crowd, they landed at Gennesaret.  this is a small coast plane on the shore of the lake, west of Bethsaida, the place for which the disciples had first set out.

Mark presents these verses as a summary passage describing the kind of welcome Jesus was accustomed to receive from the people in Galilee at that time.  The image of Jesus that Mark present is of one constantly on the move, passing through different villages, towns and countrysides.  He is not described as a teacher but as one who heals all the sick who are brought to Hij.  He makes Himself available to as many as want to come to Him.  HIs disciples travel with Him always.  They all He does as silent observers.

In this part of his Gospel Mark describes missionary travels of Jesus, first toward the Jews of Israel (6:6-7:23), it seems, and then later, out into the towns and country of the Gentiles (7:24-8.30).  In each place the sick and those who suffer other evils are freed and and made whole by the power of this missionary Jesus, always with His disciples moving onward.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider the compassion of Jesus for the people who were sick. How is my relationship with Jesus as a disciple  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on the people who crowd around  Jesus from all sides. What are my experiences when I crowd Jesus out of my life by daily life as compared to making time each for Him?
• Consider the confusion as relatives and friends who rush to carry their sick and disabled to wherever Jesus is. Try to enter into something of the feelings of these relatives and friends. How do I respond when there is sickness in my own family?
• Ponder on the times Jesus has cured  any physical, emotional and spiritual  illness. Describe the experience of   being cured and discovering it for the first time.
• Reflect on the attitude of the sick and their faith in Jesus to be cured.. Reflect on times when I lacked this faith and when I did not understand what Jesus is doing for me in my life.
• Reflect on God sharing the gift of healing through Jesus. How do I use of the gift of healing  in my life?
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus coming to the sick and disabled.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (6:43-56.
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Opening Prayer Series: Collect for 19th Sunday of Yr B

The Collect for the 19th Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray,

Almighty and ever-living God,

whom, taught by the Holy Spirit,

we dare to call God our Father

bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts 

the spirit of adoption as Your sons and daughters, 

that we may merit to enter into the inheritance 

which You have promised.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, 

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, for ever and ever.

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

1.What does it mean to me to call God my Father?

2. What is my relationship with the Holy Spirit?

3. How can I develop this relationship further throughout this coming week?

4. What does the phrase spirit of adoption mean to me?

5. What do I need to do to merit my inheritance of the Kingdom?

6. What areas of my life currently are not worthy of God's inheritance and what changes will I make to these areas this coming week?

7. How are my Year of Grace spiritual goals? Do they need revision and how I will progress with them this coming week?

In today's gospel the Jews are portrayed as complaining or murmuring about Jesus.  There is an echo of the murmuring of the generation which came out of Egypt into the wilderness.  Do we complain or murmur or have we become complacent and lack gratitude for the gift of the Eucharist?

Water and manna resulted from the lack of faith in the wilderness.  Here Jesus as the bread of life is the result. At the end of the passage the deathw hich followed the eating of the manna in the desert is contrasted with the life that come through eating the bread of Heaven.

As we reflect upon this gospel, we  may consider our attitude and gratitude for the gift of the Eucharist. We may wish to revive our faith in the real presence. Reading and seeing the miracles of the Eucharist may nurture our faith.  The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a mystery, yet one we as Catholics need to embrace wholeheartedly in faith, hope and love since Jesus has provided for us to be nourished with Himself every day/week at Holy Mass.  We may worship and adore Him in the real presence in the tabernacle and/or exposition of the Eucharist.  

What will you do to nurture your faith in Jesus in the Eucharist this coming week?

Reflection and Prayer Series: Our Journal of hope

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:

                                                               OUR JOURNAL OF HOPE.
 

The heart records the memories of God's working in our life.
Every account of deliverance or faith confirmed 
every record of the the countless times 
God came to rescue, to comfort, to strengthen or guide 
becomes a page in our journal of hope.

May our journal of hope be continued to filled by God's working in our lives.

Compendium Series: What is the meaning of the title "' Lord"?

84. What is the meaning of the title ‘Lord’”? (CCC 446-451,555)

Compendium states:

In the Bible this title regularly designates God as Sovereign.  Jesus ascribes this title to Himself and revealed His divine sovereignty by His power over nature, over demons, over sin, and over death, above all by His own Resurrection.  

The first Christian creeds proclaimed that the power, the honour, and the glory that are due to God the Father also belong to Jesus: God “has given Him the name which is above every other name” (Phil 2:9).  He is the Lord of the world and of history, the only One to whom we must completely submit our personal freedom.

What does this mean for me?

1. Each time I hear or use the word Lord in prayer,  I can remember its meaning and reflect more deeply on it.

2. Like the first Christians, I can also proclaim that the power, honour and glory that are due to God is also due to Jesus.

3. I can gently challenge those who misuse the name of Jesus in my company and use it as an opportunity for evangelising.

4. Each day, I can ask Jesus in prayer to assist me in the areas of my life that have not yet been submitted to Him completely.

5. I can pray for the courage to have my answer ready and be able to speak it when required to those who misuse the name of God.

Questions to consider.

1. How do I proclaim the power, honour and glory of God’s name in my life  as a Christian?

2 Why do people misuse God’s name?  Is it out of ignorance for the real meaning or lack of vocabulary, or do they not care?

3. What is my duty as a Christian to make known the meaning of God’s name? How will I achieve it?

4. Do I have my answer ready for those who misuse the name of God in conversation.  Am I able to assist them in acquiring full understanding and knowledge of God’s name and encourage them to think about their speech patterns, especially if it is a habit that they have acquired.

5. Why does my own fear/ anxiety/ insecurity ( choose your own word/s) prevent me from standing up and being counted when it comes to the misuse of God’s name?

About the Mass vol 2: Introductory Rite: The Greeting Part 2.

In last week’s post, I provided an overview of the introductory rite. In today’s post, I wish to explore more fully the texts

With the new Translation of the Mass, the priest now greets the congregation with one of the greetings such as:

'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God 

and the  communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all’

or ‘’Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’’

or “‘the Lord be with you.’’

Let us examine these greetings:

In the first greeting, there is a change of only one word- from fellowship to communion. The greek translation of the word communion is koinonia, which is used in the New Testaments to refer to the relationship among Christians and to their relationship to Christ in the Spirit. This greeting is scripture based coming from 2 Corinthians 13:13.   

We are used to using the word Communion to refer to Holy Communion. Holy Communion is an act and takes place in the context of communion, which is the Church.  This is important to appreciate  and understand  in the context of why the Church does not allow other Christians to receive Holy Communion.

Let us now examine the Second Greeting

‘’Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’’

Last week, I commented that this greeting came from Scripture Rm 1:7  and from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians I Corinthians 1:3. However, with further exploration, this greeting is more widespread in the New Testament.  It also appears Cor 1:2, Gal 1:3, Eph 1:2, Phil 1:2, 2 Thess 1:2, and Phil:1:3.  Other places in the New Testament include: Thes 1:1, I Pet 1:2, Rev 1:4, 1 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 1: 2, Tit 1:4, Jn 1:3.

The Second Greeting seems unusual in its wording in that it has two nouns grace and peace with the pronoun to you in between it.  However, it appears in the New Testament times 8 times in this form, and is a standard form of greeting among Christians in New Testament times.  It appears several times in the letters of St Paul, letters of St John and Peter and at the beginning of the book of Apocalypse.  

When the Scripture was translated into latin, this word order from the Greek ‘’ Grace to you and peace’’  was retained in the latin. This greeting seemed to indicate that it was like a password between Christians.  It was the distinctive Christian greeting.  In other words, using this phase indicated that you knew the language of the Christian community.  When we learn any language, we learn the highly conventional formula for the greeting rather than the spontaneous.  

It is interesting to note that this word order was retained at the time of the reformation when the scriptures started to be translated into the vernacular. Martin Luther, the translators of  both the Catholic version (Dowry) and anglican version retained it.

So, when we hear this greeting used at Mass we may recall that it

• is a scripture based greeting widely used in the New Testament.
• was a distinctive Christian greeting  for Christians in the New Testament. 
• is passed on to us through Scripture providing continuity from the earliest times in the Church.
• can become our own Christian greeting as we own it in our own time. We may choose to use it not only at Mass but at Parish Meetings, Prayer groups and the like, as well as allowing it to echo within our own being in times of great sadness, despondancy, despair and in times of joy and hope.

The priest in the name of Christ is offering us two gifts grace to you  and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is in the inflection of the voice and how it is phrased that we may become more aware of its beauty.  However, regardless of how it is inflected by the priest, let us be thankful for the gifts of grace and peace which comes from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I will explore further with you the third greeting in my post next week.