the call – deacon rudy's notes

July 25, 2021July 25, 2021

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of rock formation with quote from ephesians live a life worthy of the calling that you have received

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Reading 1: 2 Kings 4:42-44
Responsorial: Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18
Reading 2: Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel: John 6:1-15

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072521.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

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!

In today’s Gospel, we hear a familiar story proclaimed: the multiplication of fish and bread. And our first reading is linked to the Gospel. Jesus invites his disciples to sit and through God’s power, the Lord provides! That is so true in our own lives, isn’t it! We do our part, and the Lord will provide. There is no need to have stress or anxiety. Through God’s providence, we will get what we need if we trust in and live as disciples.

Our second reading comes to us from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. At one level, the reading is about Christian unity. And while that is certainly true, before Paul gets to unity, he talks about the effects of living out our call.

Paul says, “I … urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received…” (Ephesians 4:1).

What does it mean to live in a manner worthy of the call you received?

What does it mean to live as disciples of Christ Jesus? Paul tells us that living out our call should manifest in humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another through love, (Ephesians 4:2-3).

The times we’re living through are so interesting, don’t you think? This is the age of the armchair quarterback! We live in a world where someone with zero medical or scientific training can go about or go online and spread all sorts of interesting medical advice about the pandemic. There are others with zero theological or pastoral training and zero experience as a pastor who bears responsibility for souls, yet somehow, they know better than our bishop or our pope about what our faith really means.

To the armchair quarterbacks out there who call themselves Christian, I’d like to ask if when you emphatically share your ideas, are you filled with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another through love?

Paul reminds us that there is “one body and one Spirit,” (Ephesians 4:4), not the body of the live and let live as long as you agree with me. I’m sorry, but that’s not a Christian understanding of politics or church. We are one faith, one baptism, one body. Period.

How can you tell if you are on the right path? Well, does your position lead to unity in the community or in the Church? If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t necessarily mean you are wrong. It might mean you need to step back and prayerfully consider your point of view. We call that discernment.

We must remember that the Enemy is always planting seeds of fear and doubt. Sometimes that takes the form of reasonable-sounding and logical ideas. The Enemy wants to keep us in our heads and out of our hearts. The Enemy wants to keep us intellectually engaged so that we are distracted from our relationship with Christ Jesus. In this context, discernment means we need to dig a little deeper and try to understand the broader impact of our actions.

None of this is easy! Today’s Gospel reminds us that we can’t do this alone. Only through God’s providence can we be nourished and only then can we succeed with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

That leads us to homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to prayerfully reflect on the following two questions. First, when was the last time you reflected on your call to be a disciple? Second, when you think of your calling, do the words humility, gentleness, patience, and love come to mind? If not, how would you describe your call?

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. 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: Artist Unknown. PNG.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.
2. Williamson, Peter S. Ephesians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. One faith: 172-75
2. The Church is One: 813-22
3. Share of gifts in the communion of the Church: 814-15, 949-59
4. Baptism as foundation of communion among Christians: 1271
5. The Eucharist as thanksgiving: 1328-32
6. The miracle of the loaves and fishes prefigures the Eucharist: 1335

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072521.cfm
Lectionary: 110

Reading 1
2 Kings 4:42-44
A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”
But his servant objected,
“How can I set this before a hundred people?”
Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat.”
“For thus says the LORD,
‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’”
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.

Responsorial
Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18
R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
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. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Reading 2
Ephesians 4:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Alleluia
Luke 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst.
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

January 19, 2020January 19, 2020

Here I am Lord

Silhouette of woman with arms outstretched looking into the sunrise

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Gospel: John 1:29-34

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011920.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, today’s readings remind us that we are called. In our first reading, Isaiah was called to serve the Lord as His prophet. In the second reading, Paul was called to serve the Lord as His apostle. The person whose coming Isaiah was called to proclaim and whom Paul was sent to preach about is Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus was called to be the Savior of humanity.

Like Isaiah and Paul, we disciples are called to serve through Christ Jesus. Remember, being a disciple means accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, wanting to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and to go out into the world to bring the Good News to everyone we encounter – what Pope Francis calls being a missionary disciple. So, today’s readings remind us of our call rooted in our baptism.

Now this doesn’t mean that we all need to set out to become full time or part time missionaries in a foreign country. We may not all be physically capable of that sort of challenge. Nonetheless, we are called to serve in whatever capacity we can no matter whether we are 7 or 70! There are a myriad of ways that we can use our gifts, talents and resources to help advance the mission of Jesus Christ – to continue on our individual journeys to the Father and to reach out to those who have not heard or not accepted the Good News of Jesus Christ.

How is this possible? How is it that Jesus wants to use a person like me to reach out to other people? Through this beautiful church that Jesus established, he blesses us with the sacraments, and the sacraments equip us with God’s grace to help us, to heal us, to strengthen us so that we have the confidence to reach out to others – so that we can be a light of Christ for the nations.

I realize that might sound like a tall order, and you might be thinking to yourself, “Who, me?” But by our baptism, we are all called. The council fathers wrote, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity,” (Lumen Gentium, §40).

We are not called to be pew potatoes or pew warmers – no! We are all called to serve and that begins with the people closest to us, like our family and friends, and to those we encounter each and every day. Yes, for some of us, this might be a great challenge, but that’s what it means to be disciples – that’s what it means to be saints.

“Ok now deacon, slow your roll! Who are you calling a saint?” You and me. Well, if not saints, then we are saints in training. Look, Oscar Wilde once wrote, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” So, it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve done. What matters is your baptism – your being redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ – and your willingness to confess your sins and allow yourself to be healed.

All it takes is your “yes”. You see, God will never force Himself on you. So, you – each of us needs to say “yes” and cooperate in God’s plan present in the mission of His Church – to save souls and to build up the Kingdom of God. Are you ready? Then repeat after me: Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

Homework! After being nourished by His Word and His real and divine presence in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions this week:

In the Gospel we read, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” What sins do I need to ask God to forgive in his mercy? How am I open to God’s grace working in me to take away sin?
We also read, “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” What prejudices or biases do I bring to my interactions with others? How can I more intentionally see Christ in those I meet?

I think that doing our homework will help us as disciples reach out to a dark world that desperately needs to hear a message of hope. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

Hoisington, Thomas. “2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 19, 2020.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review, January 2020. Accessed 11 January 2020.
Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015.
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

Jesus, only Son of God, 441-45
Jesus’ baptism, 535-37, 1223-25
All called to holiness, 542-43, 2013-14
Lamb of God, 608
Christ’s death as the definitive sacrifice, 613-14
Holiness of the Church, 825
One, holy, Catholic and apostolic church, 811-70
Union with Christ, 1694

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 64
Mass Readings
First Reading
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R/ (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Second Reading
1 COR 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia
John 1:14A, 12A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him,
he gave power to become children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

February 3, 2019February 3, 2019

16 How Will You Respond to God’s Love

Mother Teresa holding a baby and quote not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15,17
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

What happens when people can’t be bothered by the Truth?

In the first reading, God warns Jeremiah that the people will fight against him. Well that news can’t be easy to swallow! In the Gospel, Jesus’ own friends and neighbors run him out of town and try to throw him off the hill their town is built on!

Isn’t it interesting that when God comes into people’s lives, it can be all too easy to reject His Word? Maybe it’s because they like we don’t want to be bothered. We don’t want to mess up our comfortable lives, so we don’t really want to believe what we’re hearing. This can’t be the Truth, right? This can’t be what God is asking of me!
Maybe it’s because we think we’re living a good life – a life rooted in the Spirit. But St. Paul warns us in his letter to the Corinthians that if we exercise faith to move a mountain, but we act without love, then we have nothing! Whoa!

So what is the challenge of love? Love is not something we horde. Love is something we give away – something we share. We act on love. So Jesus gives the people two examples: the widow in Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. In both examples they were not Jews, but they responded to God’s Word and experienced His mercy and love. In contrast, Jesus tells the people, they are like the Jews of the past who were closed off to God’s Word.

How do the people respond? They say, “isn’t this the son of Joseph?” In other words, they look for reasons to doubt both the message and the messenger. In fact, they are so angry they want to pitch Him off the hill! Why are they so angry? Because the Truth challenges them to respond. What is that response? You can’t keep the love and mercy God showers on you all to yourself. You need to share it with others. How? Remember Jesus’ message that when you love the least of these, you love me.

When you give drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, that’s how we share the love of God with others and in turn how we truly show our love for God. The message that Jesus is giving us today is that we need to respond to God’s love and the way we respond to the Father’s love is to reach out to those around us. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Like we heard last week, we are all part of the Body of Christ. If part of the body is in pain, then we need to reach out to that part of the body and help it. This idea underscores our understanding social justice. Social justice is not just about doing good deeds. Anybody – nonbelievers – can do good deeds. But as Christians, as His disciples, social justice flows out of our belief in the Good News.

So the challenge is not to come up with excuses to avoid the Truth: isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Or, I’m too busy. I don’t have time right now. I’m too old. Or the clergy sex abuse scandal means I shouldn’t trust or help the Church! Let’s face it – all of that is bologna! It doesn’t matter how busy you think you are or how old you are. And we shouldn’t the scandal as an excuse to not live out God’s call in our lives. It’s not because we are perfect that we gather at the table of the Lord. It’s because we are broken and we are sinners that we come together. We gather for God’s mercy and love. So no more excuses!

There’s always a way we can contribute – at minimum through our prayers and financial support, of course, but perhaps there’s other things you can do. Can you help make baby blankets, knit beanies for the homeless, share your professional experience with the Church or a nonprofit organization who needs your help? As the sainted Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

Homework! Nourished by Christ in the Word proclaimed and in the Eucharist, let’s reflect on the following two questions:

First, what is God calling you to do?
Second, how are you going to respond to God’s love?

We need to draw courage from what Jeremiah says to us today: God will be with us as our strength and ally. Do you get it? Good! May each of us come to know the mercy and the love of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +Amen!

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