Tag: social justice

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Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 14:21.27
Responsorial: Psalm 145:8-13
Reading 2: Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the summary of faith. It almost sounds too easy – it’s too simple! What does it mean to be a Christian? Jesus says we must, “love one another” (John 13:34a). Then Jesus says, “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34b).

Why does Jesus qualify this new commandment? Because Jesus specifies a particular kind of love – the love of the cross. Jesus loves us so much that he totally gave himself for us – no strings attached. That’s a very peculiar kind of love that we call agape. Total self-gift. <1>

And as Jesus loves us, we are called to love others. So, before we go any further, we have to start with Jesus loving each and every one of us. We don’t start with, “Look at all we do! Look at how much I love,” like some badge of honor. We start by saying, “Look what love has done to me.” “Look at all the ways love has touched my life.”

I can tell you I am a very different person today than I was when I was first starting out in life because of the ways love has touched my life. <2> Don’t get me wrong, you might have problems in your life. Maybe your life isn’t going the way you hoped. Maybe you’ve experienced a series of unfortunate events. But rather than focusing on the negative, we need to from a place of love to reach out to others in love.

Who is the other we’re supposed to reach out to? Jesus tells us in the Gospel (Luke 10:25-37), that the other is our neighbor. Jesus says we should love our neighbor as ourselves. A scribe will ask Jesus, “And who is our neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan. Of course, that is one of the primary points of that parable is that everyone is our neighbor. <3> My neighbor might look or sound different than me. “Neighbor” is not limited by race, color, language, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Everyone is my neighbor.

Alright, everyone is my neighbor. But how do I show love for them? Jesus gives us that answer too in the Bible. This is very important, especially for all of you type A’s out there who love rubrics and metrics and KPIs.

In the Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus says that when the Son of Man comes in his glory, he will separate the people like a shepherd separates the goat from the sheep. To those on his right he will say, “because you cared for me when I was hungry and thirsty; when I was naked and sick; imprisoned and homeless, you are blessed.” And those on his left he says, “because you did not do these things for me, you are condemned.”

Then both sides will be confused and say to Jesus, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, naked or sick, imprisoned or homeless?” Jesus will answer by saying, “whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me; and conversely, whatever you didn’t do for the least of these, you ignored me.”

Whew! Those are some KPIs! But they’re concrete – something actionable. Ok, so, we know who is the other, and we know what we are supposed to do. How do we do it? How do we show love for others?

Here’s one suggestion that the Church teaches us. It’s called the ART method of social justice. Social justice is a term we use to describe the practical dimension of living out love in the world. “ART” stands for act, reflect and transform. <4>

Let’s start with act. You see a homeless person on the street, so you give them a little money, or you give them a bottle of water. This time of year you might keep a little cooler in your car so you can give them a bottle of water. Or maybe you go to the store and buy some premade sandwiches and them in your cooler. You might say, “but what if they don’t really need help? What if they’re going to use the money to buy drugs or alcohol?” I don’t.

Jesus didn’t say, “Judge them.” Jesus said, “Love them.” The sainted Mother Teresa once said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” So, we love first – that’s act.

Next, after we’ve taken some action, then we reflect. We ask, “why is this person begging on the street? Why do people come to our country illegally? Why do people get into abusive relationships?” – or whatever the question is that God placed on your heart. We discuss these questions with our family and our friends. We’re trying to understand the root causes. To do that, we’ve got to move beyond the fluff, beyond the Twitterverse, and beyond social media and cable news. We need to try to identify the real root causes of the problem. How can we possibly fix anything if we don’t understand the root causes of the problem? So we reflect.

After we have reflected on the problem and hopefully come up with some possible solutions, then we transform. Let me give you an example.

Let’s say that in your neighborhood, there’s a road and people speed down that road all the time. And someone almost got hurt the other day. So maybe after going through this process, you seek to transform and you advocate on behalf of your neighbors to City Hall and you say, why can’t we put a stop sign here, or maybe some speed bumps to slow traffic down? That’s an example of transform. Right? As we start to think about potential solutions for whatever problem God laid on our hearts, maybe we get involved in our community, we vote. We get involved in a ministry or a nonprofit organization that tackles one piece of whatever’s on my heart. Or maybe I start a new ministry or a new nonprofit, to work on that idea. Whatever it is, we act, we reflect and we seek to transform.

Is that easy? No. Trying to make a difference in the world is not easy. The reality is, that we might get discouraged. We might experience rude awakenings and disappointments along the way.

There will also be distractions. The world wants us to focus on ourselves. Look, in this Snapchat kind of world (is that even still a thing? Snapchat?), in this Snapchat kind of world, it’s easy to on me. It fills the internet with selfies. What’s a selfie? It’s all about me. We focus on me.

How do we overcome distractions and disappointments?

We come home. We come to mass. Because Jesus gave us this church to support us to nurture us to help us and he infused the church for sacraments, to heal us, and to nourish us.

So, when we come to church, and we see other people we remember, it’s not all about me. It’s about other people. When we participate in the sacraments that go into confession and that little cubicle back there. We allow Jesus to heal us to embrace us to lift us up. When we come to Mass, we allow Jesus to feed us at least twice: Once in the Bible, and once in the Eucharist. We are empowered by the Mass to go back out into the world.

Do we have to do that alone? No! In our first reading from Acts, Paul and Barnabas were sent out as a pair. All the disciples were sent out in pairs. So, we don’t do it by ourselves. We open ourselves up and allow Jesus to walk with us. Allow the church to walk with us. Allow our friends and families to walk with us so that we can go out and love other people through the art of social justice.

Can you imagine what kind of world this would be? If every Catholic – if every Christian reached out all the time in love? Man, we could set this world on fire!

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. (Fr. Peter Scholtes, 1960s)

Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, there’s one thing I asked you to do this week.

First, remember God loves you. God loves you. How can you use ART to transform the world? God loves you, how can you use art to love other people?

I think doing our homework will help us be the intentional loving disciples that Christ Jesus calls us to be. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Then let’s go out there and share the Good News!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes:
<1> Himes, Michael, The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism, “Chapter Five Church,” Kindle.
<2> “Love,” Daily Meditations Newsletter, May 12, 2022, https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-2022-05-12/.
<3> Himes, Michael, The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism, “Chapter Five Church,” Kindle.
<4> United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 37.

References:
1. Himes, Michael J. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
2. Kurz, William S., SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.
3. “Love.” Daily Meditations Newsletter, May 12, 2022. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-2022-05-12/.
4. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.
5. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 2000.
6. Williamson, Peter S. Revelation. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

From the Catechism http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. “as I have loved you”: 459, 1823, 2074, 2196, 2822, 2842
2. A new heaven and a new earth: 756, 865, 1042-50, 2016, 2817
3. Church as God’s temple and Bride: 756-57, 796
4. Characteristics of the people of God: 782
5. Ordained ministry: 1546-51
6. Charity: 1822-29
7. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper: 2746-51
8. Petitions in the Our Father: 2822, 2842

Fifth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm
Lectionary: 54

Reading 1
Acts 14:21-27
After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news
to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
They appointed elders for them in each church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Responsorial
Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
R (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R Alleluia.
Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R Alleluia.

Reading I2
Revelation 21:1-5a
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”

The One who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.”

Alleluia
John 13:34
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 13:31-33a, 34-35
When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Bartimaeus

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Mass Readings

Reading 1: Jeremiah 31:7-9
Responsorial: Psalm 126:1-6
Reading 2: Hebrews 5:1-6
Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102421.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we’re going to break open the Word!

There is always such depth and richness to the readings. But what catches my attention is blind Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is sitting alongside the road of Jericho. Jericho was the town captured by Joshua. The story is in the Book of Joshua. Remember the story? The Israelite priests blew their trumpets as the army marched around the walls of Jericho seven times. And the walls of Jericho came crashing down (Joshua 6:1-27).

Now Bartimaeus is sitting on the roadside. Can you picture him begging for money from the people coming and going along this dusty road? He hears that Jesus is passing by as Jesus was leaving Jericho (Mark 10:46).

He begins to call out, “Jesus, son of David, have pit on me” (Mark 10:47). The people around him tell him to be quiet. Maybe they told him not to bother someone as important as Jesus. Maybe they were frustrated because this guy is always sitting on the side of the road begging. Maybe they thought he was a nuisance or a pain. Maybe they wished he’d move on.

How did Jesus react?

Scripture says that Jesus stopped and called for Bartimaeus (Mark 10:49). Only then did the people around Bartimaeus tell him to get up and go to Jesus.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). It’s the same question that Jesus asked James and John in the Gospel last week. But instead of self-interest, Bartimaeus only asks to be healed – to be made whole. He believes that Jesus can help him. And so, Jesus tells him that his faith saved him (Mark 10:52). Once healed, Bartimaeus follows Jesus as a disciple.

How many Bartimaeuses sit along our path? How tempting is it to simply ignore the Bartimaeuses of our day? Don’t make eye contact with them when you drive past them. Roll up your windows so that you can’t hear them call out.

Maybe Bartimaeus is the homeless person who you see on your drive to work. Maybe Bartimaeus is the person in the car behind you in line at the coffee shop who looks like they’ve been crying. Maybe Bartimaeus is that elderly person who lives all alone and never has any visitors.

My brothers and sisters, we are disciples of Christ Jesus. So often we are counseled that to be like Jesus means to imitate Jesus. What did Jesus do in this Gospel passage? Jesus stopped, looked around and called for Bartimaeus. Maybe that means that we should stop and acknowledge Bartimaeus too especially on this weekend of World Mission Sunday. We are called to look beyond our comfort zone – called to go out to the periphery – to reach out to those in need.

Maybe we could keep basics in our car so that we encounter a homeless person, we can offer them some socks or a bottle of water or maybe something warm during the winter. Maybe when we pull up to the window, we could let the barista know we’d like to buy the coffee for the person in the car behind us. Maybe when we see that elderly person who lives alone and comes to Mass alone, maybe we could say hello. Maybe we could sit with them. Maybe we could invite them to join our family for lunch or dinner after Mass?

Today, our highly polarized political environment could cause us to either dismiss Bartimaeus or to judge Bartimaeus. It’s Bartimaeus’ own fault they’re in that situation. Those are the voices in the crowd trying to silence Bartimaeus from calling out to Jesus. Participate in politics – absolutely. That’s our civic and moral duty. But we can’t allow our politics to drown out the voice of Bartimaeus. We cannot allow politics to prevent us from carrying out our Christian duty to bring comfort to those in need.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following question.

Jesus stopped and called for Bartimaeus. Reflecting on your most recent experiences, how likely are you to stop and acknowledge Bartimaeus in your life?

I think doing our homework will help us be the intentional disciples we are called to be. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. 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. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word! Peace!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

References:
1. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Signs of the kingdom: 547-50
2. Ministerial and common priesthood: 901, 1545-7
3. Priesthood of the old covenant: 1539-43
4. Priesthood of Christ: 1544-5
5. Jesus hears our prayer: 2616

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102421.cfm
Lectionary: 149

Reading 1
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.

Responsorial
Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Reading 2
Hebrews 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.

Alleluia
Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.

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Corpus Christi

person holding up two hands with words help me

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Mass Readings

Reading 1: Exodus 24:3-8
Responsorial: Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
Reading 2: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060621.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15).

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. How many people have had the experience of being invited to dinner to meet your significant other’s parents? It’s an emotionally charged experience filled with excitement but also anxiety and apprehension. It’s also a sign of real commitment. I mean – why put yourself through that experience if you’re not going to stick around?

Hollywood loves all the drama around this most important relationship event. Maybe you’ve seen the movie Meet The Parents (2000) with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. I think I’m showing my age, but it’s a theme that comes up over and over again on the big screen and the little screen. Right?

Once you move beyond the drama of that all-important first meeting, as your relationship with your significant other or spouse develops, you both begin to incorporate some of your respective family traditions and customs into your lives. Eventually you start to form some new family traditions.

Our deepening commitment to each other, through Christian marriage for example, changes us. Now, substitute the language of the church. There is an encounter that leads to transformation.

In today’s Gospel account from Mark, we observe a sacred Passover meal. The disciples do not seem anxious at all. It’s clear that they still don’t fully understand what Jesus is saying to them. But Jesus pushes forward.

He takes the bread, blesses and breaks it, then says, “Take it; this is my body” (Mark 14:22). Then he does the same with the cup. He gives thanks, shares it with them and then says, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many” (Mark 14:23-24).

Of course, we understand this to be the institution of the Eucharist. But notice what Jesus says as he blesses the cup. He says, “This is my blood of the covenant…” (Mark 14:24).
Matthew (26:28), Luke (22:20) and St. Paul (1 Corinthians 11:25) describe this as the blood of the new covenant. What does this mean?

Covenant is a solemn promise and it’s characterized by obligations and a sign. For the Jewish people, we know that circumcision was an individual sign of the covenant with Abraham. At the covenant with Moses, they kept circumcision as an individual sign, but they added keeping holy the Sabbath as a communal sign.

At the Last Supper, Jesus announces the new covenant that is actualized by his death to fulfill what he says in today’s Gospel, that his blood “will be shed for many” (Mark 14:24). The language he uses indicates the violence of his death. <1>

What is the promise of the new covenant offered to us? By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God offers us eternal life and the Kingdom of God.

What are the signs of this new covenant? The Eucharist is at the core of the new covenant. Participation in the Eucharist means baptism and being part of the community – of the Church.

How do we live this new covenant? Well, Jesus gave us the Great Commandment and so that we would understand what he meant, he said it in two ways: we must love God with our whole mind and heart and being, and we should love or neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:28-34).

Like that first time when we met the parents, we should be transformed by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and becoming a disciple of Jesus. If you believe – I mean if you really believe that what you receive in the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus – it should change you! It should change me!

Now, how many people do you think have been exposed to the Eucharist and heard the Good News of Jesus Christ from the Last Supper to today? Through the great evangelization of the apostles and early disciples, the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the migration of peoples, the printing press, colonialism, modern technology, would it be fair to suggest that millions – perhaps hundreds of millions of people (maybe billions) have been exposed to the Eucharist and heard the Good News?

I don’t think that’s unrealistic. Isn’t interesting that we sit here hundreds of millions of people removed from the Last Supper, and yet there’s still so much poverty in the world? Human trafficking is happening even in our own country! Slavery still exists. Corrupt business practices exploit the poor and middle class.

According to data collected by the Social Justice Resource Center, 4.6 billion people around the world live in poverty. About 2.1 billion people suffer malnutrition and 1 billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water. In 1970, the U.S. had the highest high school graduation rate in the world. Today, the U.S. ranks 23rd. The United Nations Human Rights Council estimates that 40 million men, women and children around the world live in slavery today. <2>

We can’t say “It’s not my fault!” Our governments and our businesses are at the heart of institutional sin. We elect people to office who design laws and policies which might discriminate against people in our own country and around the world. What about big business? How do big online retailers and big box stores bring us the lowest priced goods? Are they paying a living wage to our neighbors who work there? Are they paying a fair price for the goods they sell to us? Do we do business with big banks that use deceptive lending practices that exploit people, exclude people of color or take advantage of third world countries?

How is it that so many of us allow ourselves to be changed by the experience of meeting the parents for dinner, and yet so many “Christians” are not changed by the experience at the Eucharistic table?

Maybe it’s because we’re trapped by the lures of this world. We somehow get stuck on the hamster wheel and run and run and run as fast as we can, and yet so many live unfulfilled lives.

My brothers and sisters, I have Good News! Jesus Christ came to liberate us from the empty promises of this world! That’s why the Last Supper was celebrated at Passover. We’re talking about a new exodus! Just as Moses led the Israelites to life and freedom, so too will Jesus lead us to new life and freedom!

But Jesus will not force himself on anyone. Jesus offers liberation, but God gives you and I a choice. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. But today isn’t a box we check off on our holy roller disco cards! The Eucharist demands a response! Will we continue to live saying, “It’s not my problem” or “I can’t get involved” or “What can I do?” Or will we allow the power of the Eucharist to transform us in love to serve God by serving our neighbors?

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, do we extend the reverence and respect we have for Jesus in the Eucharist to everyone we encounter?
Second, what are some ways in our everyday lives where we can be a better neighbor to others in our families, our parish, our town/state/and country?

I think doing our homework will help us live as intentional disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May we all come to know the grace and the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. 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. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image: Help Me. Artist unknown. JPEG.

Notes:
<1> Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, 323, Kindle.
<2> (See Social Justice Resource Center “Facts and Figures” https://socialjusticeresourcecenter.org/facts-and-figures/).

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
4. Wilhelm, Dawn Ottoni. Preaching the Gospel of Mark: Proclaiming the Power of God. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. The mercy seat: 433
2. Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice: 613-14, 1085, 2100
3. Jesus as celebrant of the heavenly liturgy: 662
4. The Holy Eucharist: 790, 1003, 1322-1419
5. The Eucharist and the communion of believers: 805, 950, 2181-2, 2637, 2845
6. Christians and Jews both celebrate Passover: 1096
7. The Eucharist as spiritual food: 1212, 1275, 1436, 2837

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060621.cfm
Lectionary: 168

Reading 1
Exodus 24:3-8
When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Responsorial
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or: R. Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or: R. Alleluia.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or: R. Alleluia.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
Hebrew 9:11-15
Brothers and sisters: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Alleluia
John 6:51
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.