Tag: Catholic Deacon

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Presentation of the Lord

drawing of a baby being held in two hands

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial: Psalm 24:7-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Today we celebrate the presentation of the Lord. There are so many interesting things about today’s readings as a whole. Truly the interconnectedness among Malachi, the Psalm, Hebrews and Luke is fascinating. Even taken individually, each of the readings has so much meaning. And today’s Gospel has greatly influenced the life of the Church. For example, Luke’s description of Jesus as the light for the nations has inspired candlelight processions before mass, what we call Candlemas. And Simeon’s song of praise in the Gospel that begins, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace …” that song of praise is prayed by the Church in Night Prayer every night, “…so that like Simeon, the faithful may end their days and their lives in God’s peace.” <1> Night Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Daily Office.

Ok, so my point is that there’s a lot of ground for you to explore on you own. But for today’s reflection, I would like us to focus on Simeon and Anna just for a bit. Luke describes them both as elderly, and they’re both waiting. Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah. And Anna, Luke gives us a rather detailed introduction for her. We know she has spent the vast majority of her life praying and fasting at the Temple. We don’t know if she was also told to wait, nonetheless she has maintained this constant vigil almost for her entire life.

Now I suggest to you that to wait for so long is a sign of great faith. They believed in God and accepted God’s plan for their lives and they waited. What amazing faith!

Ok, here is one of the dangers of reading or listening to Scripture. We might come to the readings at mass passively – just going with the flow – and we might think to ourselves, “Well that was a nice story.” And when we do that, we miss out on the ways that the Holy Spirit is trying to guide us.

You see, so often in our Western culture, and perhaps more specifically in the United States I think, we want what we want when we want it. Right? If I want a double pumpkin spice latte with a dash of cinnamon and dash of nutmeg, then that’s what I want – and oh by the way, I want it now! I mean, that’s just an example. You get my point, right?

But it’s not about our latte. Oh no, before our latte even hits the counter, we’re on to the next thing. Maybe it’s a text message we’re responding to or maybe we’re scrolling through social media, or maybe we’re posting a status update. “Looking forward to the best cup of coffee ever! Heart emoji, thumbs up emoji, smiley face emoji.” But even in that update, we’re not in the present – we’re looking forward to the future. We can’t sit still and just be right here, right now.

Today’s Gospel suggests that what you want – what you believe you are being called to do or to see or to experience – will happen in God’s time, not your time. And that means you might need to wait an awful long time – maybe years and years. What do you think about that idea? I suspect that many of my over-achieving type AAA personality friends cringe when they hear me say that. Wait! For years! For what I want?!? Are you kidding me?!?

My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to be open to the possibility that we might need to slow down before we can speed up – that if we are indeed the people of faith we say we are, then we might need to wait or to at least slow down for things to unfold in God’s time.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

  1. When was the last time I sat down quietly and prayed to Jesus – and I mean just sit and speak to Jesus as I would any friend?
  2. What am I waiting for God to do? What are my sources of hope?

I think doing our homework will help us as disciples to slow down in order to speed up. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Citations:
<1> Pablo T. Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018), 71.

References:

  1. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018.
  2. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016.
  3. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Jesus’ circumcision, 527
  2. Presentation of Jesus, 529
  3. Consolation of Israel, 711
  4. Sign of contradiction, 575, 587
  5. Jesus and the temple, 583
  6. Mary’s ordeal, 149
  7. Satan’s power, 407
  8. Jesus’ love for us, 609
  9. Jesus’ atoning death, 615, 1992

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
First Reading
Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Second Reading
Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia
Luke 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
–and you yourself a sword will pierce–
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

or

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

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ATC 2 Obey

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Martin Luther said, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason…my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen,” (Reply to the Diet of Worms, 18 April 1521).

Your listening to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic.

Building on last week, I think it would be good for us to speak a little about obedience. What does it mean to “obey”? Now this is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts of our faith. Perhaps it is my cultural heritage as an American, but I have to admit I have struggled with obedience from time to time (queue “Born to Be Wild”).

Well, we’re not going to start with Church documents or an org chart or anything like that. Like last week, we begin our discussion about obedience with Scripture. There’s a really good summary of this point in Hebrews 11:1-40. There is so much here, but I want to read a few versus for you.

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested as righteous…(11:4).

It was by faith that Noah, after he had been warned of the things that had not yet been see, took heed, and built an ark for the welfare of his household…(11:7).

It was by faith that when Abraham was summoned he obeyed and went out …(11:8).

It was by faith that Abraham offered up Isaac when he was tested…(11:17).

It was by faith that he [Moses] abandoned Egypt…(11:27).

It was by faith that they crossed the Red Sea…(11:29).

What do we learn from Hebrews? The author goes on to tell us: We should fix our eyes on Jesus, our pacemaker and trainer in faith. In stead of the short-term joy that was within his grasp, he endured the Cross, disdaining the shame, and took his seat on the right hand of the throne of God (12:2).

Clearly the author of Hebrews wants us to imitate all these faith examples from the Old Testament right through to Jesus Christ.

Now this is very important because it is at the heart of the disunity in the Christian faith. From Luther on, the Protestant sees the Catholic Church as promoting a system of works – that we earn our way to salvation. The Protestant says grace is freely given. Nothing is required of the Christian except faith.

Ok, are you sitting down? You’re not driving, are you? Get ready for this!

The pattern in Scripture from Abel to Noah to Abraham to Moses to Naaman the Syrian who dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, to the blind mind whom Jesus told to wash in the Pool of Siloam to receive his sight, to Jesus Christ who begged that the cup should pass him, the pattern is faith – obedience – blessing. Faith-obedience-blessing on page after page of the Bible. Don’t take my word for it! Read it for yourself!

God says, “trust me.” The person does what God asked. Then God blesses.

Can we really say that all of these examples in Scripture including Jesus are wrong? And can we say that in any of these examples, the person had a hand in saving themselves? Did Noah save himself and the world? Did the Hebrews part the Red Sea on their own? Did the blind man heal himself?

Alright, Deacon, I get it, but why do I have to obey the Church or the bishop or my pastor? Now that is a good question.

Maybe we can look back to the beginning of this episode to find a clue. You see, Luther and Calvin initially embraced the idea that you don’t need the Church at all. But in short order, the Christian faith began fracturing into many different groups – some, like those who denied Christ, no longer seemed like Christians at all. What was their solution?

Calvin essentially taught he and he alone determined what the authentic teaching of the Bible was. Luther would go on to write, “I do not admit that my doctrine can be judged by anyone, even the angels. He who does not receive my doctrine cannot be saved.”

So, in the end, the fathers of Protestantism began to put a fence around the playground as it were. You are free to interpret Scripture on your own as long as you stay inside the fence. Curiously that’s the Protestant critique of Catholics! Now last week we walked through the authority of the Church rooted in Scripture and in the actions of the apostles and the early disciples. If the Church has authority, then we are called to obey the Church. To not listen to the Church leads to chaos and disunity and confusion.

But are all Church teachings the same? That is a HUGE question entirely, but here’s the Reader’s Digest version.

  1. Our faith in Jesus Christ is always greater than all the individual propositions and teachings we can come up with – period.
  2. We, like the martyrs before us, stake our lives on the fundamentals of our faith – on our belief in God’s saving love for us fulfilled in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
  3. We acknowledge that throughout history, we may be called to define formal positions on what it means to live a life of discipleship rooted in the Gospel and guided by the Holy Spirit, but we cannot be absolutely certain that we are always right.
  4. However, to do or say nothing is an abdication of our responsibility as disciples, hence the need to define Church teachings.
  5. Still, to suggest that all of these positions – all of these teachings bear equal weight is presumption. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Church does not have an answer for every question posed today, (GS, 33). <1>

Ok so bottom line, like we learned last week, the Church has authority rooted in Christ Jesus who established the Church first through Peter and through the apostles. And that Church developed a structure that we saw carried out in the Acts of the Apostles, not only by the apostles, but also through the disciples. So, we turn to the Church that Christ Jesus gave us and as long as the Church is not asking us to sin, we obey. That’s really the bottom line. We do that out of a spirit of love for God and out of a spirit of unity with Christ’s Church on earth.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

One quick announcement before we part, don’t forget to send me topics you’d like me to address on the show. You can send them to me via the comment form on the website, www.deaconrudysnotes.org, or by sending an email to rudy @ deaconrudysnotes.org.

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Until next time, peace!

Notes:
<1> Gaillardetz, Richard R. By What Authority? A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2003.

References:

  1. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly traslated by Nicholas King.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Obedience, 144.
  2. Conscience, 1790-1792 and 2039.
  3. Grace and Justification, 1987-2005, and 2072-2084.
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Discipleship and the Word

woman hands in prayer over the Bible with the word the Disciple and God's Word next to her

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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3
Responsorial: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012620.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel, Jesus calls the first disciples outside his family. Remember, Mary and John the Baptist already had accepted the Truth and were believers. In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls Peter and his brother Andrew.

What a fascinating scene! Scripture doesn’t tell us specifically that Peter and Andrew had ever listened to Jesus preach. We don’t know how or why they were drawn to Jesus. We don’t know poor Zebedee’s reaction who presumably watched as his sons walked away from their family business. All we see in this Scripture passage are disjointed facts. But there is no doubt that there was something about Jesus that drew Peter and Andrew to him.

And their lives were never the same…

But their lives were not perfect. They weren’t not instantly prosperous because of their faith in Christ Jesus and their lives were not free of hardships. Nonetheless, the apostles and the disciples faced life – both the good and the bad.

By our baptism, we are each called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. But sometimes I feel as if don’t embrace my call – as if it’s that part of my life over there, but it has nothing to do with this part of my life over here. Do you ever feel that way? Let’s try to get our arms around the challenge before us.

To be a disciple means that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This means that Jesus is must be first and foremost the most important person in our lives. We can test this by asking ourselves what we value most in this life.

To be a disciple means that we want to deepen our relationship with Jesus – to get to know him better. I’ll speak more about this in just a minute.

And to be a disciple means that we go out into the world to share the Good News of Jesus Christ beginning with the people we encounter each and every day, like our friends and family and the other people – acquaintances and strangers. That can be a tall order. So many of us strongly dislike looking foolish in front of other people. So, to be an effective disciple means that part of deepening our relationship with Jesus is to learn as much as we can about him, so that, for example, we don’t look foolish when we talk about him.

Ok let’s revisit the second point of discipleship: deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ. How can we deepen our relationship with Jesus? Well, let me ask you, how do you deepen your relationship with anyone? If you’ve ever been in a relationship, like your spouse, how did your relationship develop?

Well, generally we try to get to know them, right? We want to learn everything we can about the other person. We want to learn about their family and friends. We want to learn their likes and dislikes. We want to learn about their hopes and dreams.

So, how do we get to know Jesus? One of the first and best places to learn more about Jesus is to turn to Scripture itself. That’s part of the reason I think that Pope Francis asked us to set aside this third Sunday in Ordinary Time to turn our attention to Scripture. He tells us that we should never take Scripture for granted, “but instead to let ourselves be nourished by it, in order to acknowledge and live fully our relationship with Him and with our brothers and sisters.” <1>

My brothers and sisters, we use the occasion of this Sunday to begin a new or to continue our habit of reading a little piece of Scripture every day. Indeed, reading and reflecting on Scripture can challenge our spiritual growth, and that leads us to homework.

Homework! After having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

  1. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. What do I need to leave behind to follow Jesus? To what is God calling me?
  2. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. How do I put my faith in action in my daily life? How can I serve those around me?

I think doing by our homework this week, it will deepen our sense of discipleship by helping us get to know Jesus a little better. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:
<1> “Pope establishes Sunday of the Word of God.” Vatican News. 30 September 2019. Accessed 26 January 2020. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-motu-proprio-sunday-word-of-god.html.

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
  3. Montague, George T., SM. First Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Unity of charity, 814-15
  2. Ecclesial ministry, 878
  3. Baptism, sacrament of initiation, 1212
  4. Ordinary+ ministers, 1256
  5. Christ the physician, 1503
  6. Christian beatitude, 1720
  7. Justification, 1989

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 67
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012620.cfm
First Reading
Isaiah 8:23—9:3
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Alleluia
Matthew 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23 OR 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

or

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”