Collect Series: Collect for 33rd Sunday Year A

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for the 33rd Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

 

The Collect for the 33rd Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Grant us, we pray, O Lord Our God,

The constant gladness of being devoted to You,

For it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all is good.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

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

God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1. Reflect on God as the author of all good. How has the author of all good written my life and how has the author of all good written straight with the crooked lines I have drawn?

2.Reflect on my current attitude of being devoted to God and the constant glasses it provides.

3. What areas in my life are not aligned to being devoted to God?

4.What step/s will I take this coming week to bring these areas into alignment with God’s will for me?

5. How will I be constant in serving God this coming week?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION Mt 25:14-30

The passage from Matthew 25:14-30, often referred to as the Parable of the Talents, is a significant teaching in Catholic theology. This parable, told by Jesus, speaks of a man who, before going on a journey, entrusts his property to his servants. The amount given to each servant varies, with one receiving five talents, another two, and another one. Upon the master's return, he assesses what each servant has done with the talents. The servants who received five and two talents have doubled their amount, and they are praised by the master. However, the servant who received one talent, fearful of losing it, buried it and thus did not generate any additional value. The master reprimands this servant for his inaction.

This parable is often interpreted as a teaching about the responsible use of one's gifts and resources. It's not just about financial or material wealth, but about all the gifts and blessings one receives from God, including talents, time, and opportunities. The key lessons from this perspective include:

1. Stewardship of Gifts: Catholics believe that all talents and gifts come from God, and they are to be used for the greater glory of God and the good of others. This parable encourages believers to actively engage and develop their God-given talents, not to hide or waste them.

     2.  Accountability: The parable underlines the idea of being accountable for the gifts God has given. It suggests that how one uses their talents and resources is a matter of moral responsibility and will be subject to divine scrutiny.

    3. The Danger of Fear and Inaction: The servant who buries his talent is often seen as a warning against fear and inaction. Catholics are encouraged to take risks for the sake of goodness and to avoid the paralysis of fear, trusting in God’s providence.

   4.Diverse Distribution of Gifts: The different amounts of talents given to each servant highlight that not everyone receives the same gifts or capacities. This diversity calls for a recognition of the unique role each person has in the community and the Church. Therefore, there is no need for people to be jealous of other people’s gifts since God gave them to these people. There is no room for competition and human power when serving in a parish.

 5. The Expectation of Growth: The master in the parable expects his servants to generate growth from what they were given. This is seen as a metaphor for spiritual and moral growth, where Catholics are expected to nurture and develop their faith and virtues.

  6. The Final Judgment: This parable is also interpreted in the context of the final judgment, where individuals will be accountable to God for how they used their gifts and lived their lives.

Overall, the Parable of the Talents is seen as a call to active and responsible discipleship, emphasizing the importance of using one’s gifts in service to God and others. It's a reminder that faith is not just a matter of belief, but also of action and service.

 

 

Forgiveness series; Cultivating Healthy Self Love.

 FORGIVENESS SERIES

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STEPS TO SELF FORGIVENESS

Forgiving oneself and cultivating a healthy self-love from a Catholic perspective can be deeply rooted in the teachings and traditions of the Church. Here are some practical steps that can be taken within this framework:

1. Confession and Reconciliation: One of the sacraments of the Catholic Church is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession. By confessing your sins to a priest, you receive absolution and are forgiven in the eyes of God. This can be a significant step towards forgiving yourself.
   If you have not been to this Sacrament for a while, then seek out a priest whom you feel comfortable, ask for an appointment and talk to him about your situation.  A priest will only be too happy to guide you through the sacrament so there is no need to feel embarrassed or nervous about it.   
   
   
2. Prayer and Meditation: Dedicate time to prayer. Through prayers like the "Act of Contrition," you can express sorrow for sins and seek God's forgiveness. Meditation on the Scriptures, particularly passages about God's mercy and love, can offer solace and perspective.
   An excellent book on God's Mercy is called  His Name Is Mercy by Fr Ken Barker MGL or Our Father By Ken Barker MGL
   
   
3. Understand God's Infinite Mercy: The Catholic faith emphasizes the infinite mercy of God. Understand that if God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, can forgive you, then you owe it to yourself to forgive as well. Reflect on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) to see how God welcomes back sinners with open arms.
   
   
4. Spiritual Direction: Consider seeking the guidance of a spiritual director, a person (often a priest or religious) who is trained to help guide others in their spiritual journey. They can offer advice, prayerful support, and perspective as you work towards self-forgiveness.
   
   
5. Community Support: Engaging with a supportive faith community can be healing. Share your feelings with trusted members and allow them to be sources of encouragement and affirmation.
   
   
6. Acts of Reparation: If your lack of self-forgiveness  can stem from harm you've caused to others, consider ways you can make amends or do acts of charity as a form of reparation. This can be a step towards healing and self-forgiveness. 
   
   
7. Cultivate Virtue: Focus on cultivating virtues like humility, patience, and charity. When you actively work towards being a better person, it can help mitigate feelings of guilt or self-condemnation.
   
   
8. Remember Your Worth: The Catholic faith teaches that every individual is made in the image and likeness of God. This intrinsic value means that no matter your past, you are deserving of love and respect, both from others and from yourself.
   
   
9. Seek Counselling: If feelings of guilt, shame, or low self-worth persist, consider seeking professional counselling. Many Catholic therapists and counselling centres offer services that integrate psychological principles with the spiritual teachings of the Church.
   
   
10. Regular Participation in the Sacraments: Besides Reconciliation, regularly partake in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a source of grace and can strengthen you in your journey toward self-love and self-forgiveness. Get to know what each part of the Mass is truly about so that you can enter into it more fully.   My series on About the Mass Vol 2 could be a great start to appreciating the Mass more fully.

Remember that the path to self-forgiveness and self-love is often a journey rather than a destination. It can take time, but with consistent effort and the support of our loving God, the Catholic faith and community, healing and growth are possible.

 

Collect Series; Collect for 31st Sunday Year A

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for the 31st Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Almighty and merciful God,

By whose gift Your faithful offer You right and praiseworthy service,

grant, we pray that we may hasten without stumbling

to receive the things You have promised.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

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

God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1. What does it mean to me to offer God praiseworthy service?
2. What are the things in our lives which may cause us to stumble?
3. What will I do about these stumbles this coming week? (receive Sacrament of Reconciliation)
4. What are the things that our merciful God has promised?
5. How much do I desire the things that God has promised?
6. How will I increase my desire for the things God has promised?

 

 GOSPEL REFLECTION Mt 23:1-12

 

In this passage, Jesus offers a poignant critique of the religious leaders of His time, specifically the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. He points out the disparity between their words and their actions. While they might offer sound teaching from the Scriptures (since they "sit in Moses’ seat"), their lives do not reflect the values they preach. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic and genuine faith. It is insufficient to merely speak about principles of righteousness; one must also live them out.

Jesus highlights the outward show of piety by these leaders. Their widening of phylacteries (small leather boxes containing Scripture) and lengthening of tassels were attempts to outwardly display righteousness. Their seeking of recognition, honour, and titles showed a desire for human praise rather than genuine service to God.

Furthermore, Jesus teaches about the dangers of pride and the pursuit of human titles and recognition. He urges His followers to avoid elevating themselves or seeking lofty titles. Instead, they should see each other as equals, brothers in faith, emphasizing the principle of humility. He reinforces this by stating that the true measure of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is servanthood.

In our current lives, this passage challenges us to examine our motivations. Are we seeking to genuinely serve others and God, or are we more interested in the praise and recognition from those around us? It's a call to prioritize internal transformation over external appearances and to value humility and service over pride and self-promotion.

 

In essence, this passage is a call to genuine humility, authentic faith, and service. It is a reminder to all believers to be wary of religious hypocrisy and to seek a heart that truly aligns with God's will and commands. The exhortation to humble oneself and to serve others is a central theme of Jesus' teachings, and this passage encapsulates that message powerfully.

Collect Series; Collect for 30th Sunday Year A

 

COLLECT SERIES

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for the 30^th Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

Increase our faith, hope and charity,

and make us love what You command,

So that we may merit what You promise. 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

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

God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

1. Take a stocktake of my faith, hope and charity at this point in my life. Make a list of how these virtues need to increase.
2. Do I have a full understanding of these virtues of faith, hope and love. Read something about them to understand further.  You may wish to read my Virtue series as a starting point.
3. Make a decision to pray for an increase in faith, hope and charity each day as part of your morning prayer.
4. What does God command? 
5. How will l love what God commands this coming week? What step/s will I take?
6. Reflect on what God promises?  What do I need to change in me ( behaviour/attitude) to reflect God within me to the world. (my family, work colleagues, parish family, stranger or someone in the supermarket).

GOSPEL REFLECTION Mt 22:34-40

1. Love as the Foundation of the Law 

Jesus distils the entire Mosaic Law into two primary commandments, both centring on love. From a Catholic perspective, love is the essence of God (1 John 4:8). Every other commandment and directive in the Scriptures can be traced back to this foundational truth. In highlighting these two commandments, Jesus emphasizes the interconnectedness of love for God and love for our neighbours.

2. Love God Wholeheartedly

The first commandment that Jesus underscores isn't just about loving God but loving Him with our entire being -our heart, soul, and mind. This comprehensive love involves our emotions (heart), our spiritual essence (soul), and our intellect (mind). For Catholics, this means that faith isn't just about feelings or rituals; it encompasses every facet of human experience and understanding.

3. Love for Neighbour as an Extension of Divine Love Jesus proclaims that the second commandment is akin to the first. In the Catholic worldview, every human being is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, to love our neighbour is, in essence, to recognize and love. God present in each person. It also emphasizes the importance of seeing others as we see ourselves, recognizing our shared humanity and dignity.

4. The Unity of the Scriptures

By stating that "the whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments," Jesus affirms the continuity and unity of God's revelation. For Catholics, this demonstrates that both the Old and New Testaments, while different in their historical and cultural contexts, speak of the same divine truth centered on love.

In summary, this passage from Matthew, when viewed from a Catholic perspective, emphasizes the central role of love in our relationship with God and with others. It calls every believer to a holistic and encompassing love that transcends ritualistic observance and touches the very core of human existence. The essence of the Gospel, and indeed the entirety of the Christian life, is encapsulated in these two profound commandments.

 

About the Mass Series: Communion Rite: Part 13:‘The Rite of Peace’.

 ABOUT THE MASS VOL2

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                            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. Of course, the sign of peace was dispensed with during covid and in some churches has not been reinstated in the same form ( ie parishioners shaking hands).  However, a smile, a nod of the head, looking at the person sincerely are all good ways to exchange the sign of peace if you do not feel comfortable shaking hands.  We need to remember what we are doing here.  Jesus has offered us His peace and by offering the sign of peace, we are participating in the opportunity to express, deepen and restore peace unity before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion.  We are offering to fellow parishioners Christ’s peace to them.  It can be very powereful if we allow Jesus to work in us as we give the sign of peace- His Peace.

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. Recently I had someone laugh coldly at me giving them the sign of peace. I felt very hurt and it was challenging to let the feeling go.  I wanted to receive communion in a peace filled state. It was not good preparation.  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’.                            

 

  

Forgiveness Series: Is Texting a suitable medium for apologies?

 FORGIVENESS SERIES

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It's not inherently morally wrong to apologize by text, but there are several reasons why some people view it as less sincere or ineffective compared to other forms of communication:

1. Lack of Personal Touch: An apology is often most effective when it is personal. When you apologize in person or even over a voice call, you can convey sincerity through your tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions. These nuances can't be captured in a text.
   
   
2. Potential for Misinterpretation: Text-based communication is more prone to misunderstandings. The absence of vocal tone and inflection can cause the message to be interpreted differently than intended. What seems sincere to one person might come off as curt or insincere to another.
   
   
3. Perceived Laziness: Some may see a texted apology as taking the easy way out, especially if the wrongdoing was significant. It can appear as if the person apologizing isn’t willing to put in the effort to make amends face-to-face. This then adds to the hurt for the receiver. It also puts the receiver into the position where he/she may be led into sins which may have not been committed if the wrongdoer had apologised face to face. (eg  unkind thoughts, gossip, anger, )
   
   
4. Impersonality of the Medium: Text messaging is a very casual form of communication. For grave mistakes or deep hurts, a text is definitely inadequate.
   
   
5. Absence of Immediate Feedback: When you apologize in person, you can gauge the reaction of the other person instantly and adjust your approach if necessary. With texting, there might be a delay in response or no response at all.
   
   
6. Risk of Interruption: Texts can be overlooked, lost among other messages, or simply not received due to technical glitches. If the message doesn't get through, it can cause further strain on the relationship.

However, it's also worth noting the other side of the argument: the perceived advantages

1. Accessibility: Not everyone is always in a position to apologize face-to-face or over a phone call. In such cases, a text might be the most immediate and viable way to express remorse.  A zoom or skype call should be considered as a preferred option over texting if a face to face apology is not possible.
   
   
2. Initial Step: A texted apology can serve as an initial step to acknowledge a wrongdoing, which can then be followed by a more personal conversation later.
   
   
3. Comfort: Some people might find it easier to articulate their feelings in writing rather than speaking. For them, a text might be the most sincere form of apology. However, if the wrongdoer  finds it easier to articulate his/her feelings in writing, then he/she must take this as an opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth.  He/she must learn to love his/her neighbour in a way that is more effective.

When you have hurt someone either intentionally or unintentionally, we must still take the situation to Jesus in prayer and ask for His guidance. We must learn to be sincere in our apologies because it is an expression of loving our neighbour. We must also discern the relationship and whether or not this incident is a sign to review it.  Sometimes, we are given a blessing in disguise but because we do not discern and take the situation to Jesus in prayer, we fail to recognise the blessing in disguise.  Sometimes in fact ending a relationship after apologising appropriately is the best thing to do for both people involved.

In conclusion, the medium chosen for an apology should be appropriate for the nature of the mistake and the preferences of both individuals involved. While texting is not the best choice, it's not inherently morally wrong. The sincerity and intention behind the apology are what truly matter and both people being present face to face is best.

Collect for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

 COLLECT SERIES

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COLLECT

 

The Collect for the 29^th Sunday of the Year reads as follows:

Almighty ever- living God,

Grant that we may always conform our will to Yours

And serve Your majesty in sincerity of heart.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

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

God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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

What do I understand God’s will to mean?

What areas in my life conform to God’s will?

What areas in my life need to conform to God’s will?

What areas in my life will I make a sincere effort to conform to God’s will this week?

How do I serve God’s majesty in sincerity of heart? ( at home, at work, in my parish).

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

In today’s Gospel from Matthew, we witness a thought-provoking encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees, who sought to trap Him with a tricky question about paying taxes to Caesar. Their intention was to  both discredit Him with the Roman authorities and alienate Him from the Jewish crowd. However, Jesus responds with profound wisdom, revealing important spiritual lessons for us today.

First and foremost, Jesus' reply, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between our earthly and heavenly responsibilities. He reminds us that while we live in the world and must comply with its systems and authorities, we also have a higher allegiance to God. This implies that our faith should not be used as a means to escape our civic duties but rather to inform and guide them.

Moreover, Jesus' words highlight the idea of balance and discernment. We are called to discern what rightfully belongs to Caesar, symbolizing worldly concerns, and what belongs to God, representing our spiritual devotion and moral obligations. It's a call to avoid either extreme: neglecting our civic responsibilities in the name of faith or prioritizing worldly matters to the detriment of our spiritual growth.

Additionally, this passage prompts us to reflect on the image of the coin. The coin bore the image of Caesar, signifying his authority and dominion. In contrast, we, as humans, bear the image of God. This teaches us that our true identity is found in our relationship with God, and our ultimate loyalty should be directed toward Him. Just as the coin belongs to Caesar because it bears his image, we belong to God because we bear His image.

In summary, Matthew 22:15-21 serves as a reminder of the need for discernment in balancing our earthly and spiritual responsibilities. It underscores the importance of recognizing our dual citizenship in the world and in God's kingdom. Ultimately, it challenges us to give our utmost loyalty to God while fulfilling our earthly obligations with integrity and wisdom.

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