St. Francis of Assisi Weekly Reflections

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Commitment

07-30-2017Question of the Week

Reading I: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 (wisdom of Solomon)
Reading II: Romans 8:28-30 (God's love for all)
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46 (the treasure and the pearl)
Key Passage: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his
joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
(Matthew 13:44)

Adult: What would you be willing to "sell," or do without, in order to achieve your dreams for yourself or your family?
Child: What good thing do you want so much that you would give up something else to get it?

What treasures in your life are worth giving up all you have?

07-30-2017Weekly ReflectionWe Celebrate Worship Resource, Vol. 42, No. 2

What would move you to sell all you have to possess something of great value? Two parables today present such behavior. In the first, the finder accidentally stumbles over a treasure hidden in a field, but once he discovers it, he goes and sells everything to buy the field. And he does this with joy. In the second parable, a merchant is deliberately searching for fine pearls and when he comes upon one, he also sells everything to purchase it. What is Jesus saying here? Whether you stumble upon the kingdom of heaven or deliberately seek it out, once you find it, it is worth giving all you have. The kingdom of heaven is Matthew's way of talking about God's presence in life, the gift of God that is God. In the first reading, young King Solomon responds to God's offer—Ask for anything and I will give it—by requesting wisdom, that is, an understanding heart to judge justly and wisely. Wonderful! Paul names another great gift as the call to love God, a gift given to us at Baptism.

What treasure do you seek? What gift do you ask God fortoday?

Altar Clothes

The altar used for Mass is covered with a cloth. At home and in restaurants, we often cover our tables, especially for a banquet or meal of some importance. Similarly, the altar is covered because of “the banquet in which the Body and Blood of the Lord are offered” ( General Instruction of the Roman Missal 304).

But the altar is covered for another reason: “out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord.” We dignify the altar where we will solemnly remember the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

God is Always on Our side

07-23-2017Weekly ReflectionWe Celebrate Worship Resource, Vol. 42, No. 2

A “no weeds” approach to life is tempting. When we find an idea, a value, an action, or even a person or group of people that threatens what we think or do, appreciate, or honor, the tendency is to oppose it. Cut down this weed and burn it. Jesus counters this impulse in today’s parable of the weeds and the wheat. Premature action could lead to destruction of life. So, the wise householder decides to let weeds and wheat grow together until harvest, so the wheat can be saved. This parable mirrors the reading from Wisdom, which speaks of God as one who judges with clemency and governs with leniency, giving people “good ground” in which to grow. Such divine generosity is also exhibited in the parable of the tiny mustard seed that grows into a bush housing all the birds who dwell in its branches, and in the parable of the yeast that signals the penetrating power of God’s mercy. St. Paul writes about the Spirit interceding for us even in our weakness. Overall, today’s scriptures place God firmly on our side, even when destructive powers (“weeds”) threatens to overwhelm us.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Overcoming weakness

07-23-2017Question of the Week

Reading I Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 (on God’s mercy)
Reading II Romans 8:26-27 (the intercession of the Spirit)
Gospel Matthew 13:24-30 (the parable of the weeds)
Key Passage Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

Adult: What weakness can the power of the Spirit help you overcome?

Child: When will you need the help of the Holy Spirit this week?

IHS

The letters IHS sometimes appear among the symbols adorning church furnishings. They draw the believer’s attention to Christ and his cross. The letters have two meanings, one in Latin and the other in Greek.

According to one early biography of Constantine, the emperor was praying to the false god of his family before an important battle in Rome. He saw a vision: a cross before the sun with the words, “in this sign, conquer.” Constantine ordered the shields of his warriors painted with the cross of Christ. He won the battle and became a Christian. The cross of Christ, to which Constantine attributed his military victory, is the emblem of victory over death for every Christian. The first three of the words in the emperor’s vision are rendered in Latin as “In hoc signo.” The first letter of each produced the monogram IHS, a symbol still used to proclaim the power of the cross of Christ.

The Greek and Latin alphabets are different. The capital letters for I are identical. In English this letter may be rendered as an “I” or a “J”, depending on the context. The Latin letter shaped “H” is equivalent to the same English letter, but the Greek letter shaped “H” is equivalent to an E in Latin and English. The Greek letters IHS, then, are read “IES” in Latin or “JES” in English. They are the first three letters of the names of Jesus. These symbolic letters recall the conversion of the emperor who helped spread the Christian faith, as well as the very name of the Son of God.

Sunday Scriptures at Home

Many people find it helpful to pray over the Sunday Scripture readings at home before going to church. The practice puts them in touch with the church’s prayer, helps them listen as the readings are proclaimed at Mass, prepares them to hear the homily, engages them personally in the word of God.

The Sunday readings are available in many publications and online at www.usccb.org. To prepare the readings at home, get a copy of them or of just the citations and look them up in a Bible. Note: Weekly readings are found on the last full page of the bulletin each week.

Create some time and space for this prayer. If you do it alone, remove yourself from other activities. Choose a place where you can center yourself. Open the Scriptures and read over them. God’s word is able to go as deep inside you as you give it time and room. When you get to church, don’t read along while the readings are proclaimed. Lift your head and open your ears and heart to the word of God.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:Seeds of faith

07-16-2017Question of the Week

Reading I Isaiah 55:10-11 (triumph of God’s word)
Reading II Romans 8:18-23 (destiny of glory)
Gospel Matthew 13:1-23 (parable of the seed)
Key Passage Jesus said, “Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:7–8)

Adult: How do you provide “good soil” for the faith of others to grow?
Child: What are you doing to help the seeds of your faith grow each day?

God's word makes the Earth fertile and fruitful

07-16-2017Weekly ReflectionWe Celebrate Worship Resource, Vol. 42, No. 2

For Isaiah, God’s word is like the rain and snow that come down from heaven, making the earth fertile and fruitful. God’s word is both effective and efficacious. For the next three weeks, we hear Jesus the storyteller, sowing parables as seeds that will bear fruit by revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. A seed is a wonderful symbol of God’s power working through something small, which often seems to be God’s way of doing things. This third great discourse of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel gathers together stories Jesus told during his ministry. These parables enable the proclamation of God’s ongoing presence and working in our world and our lives. The seed of God’s word continues to fall into the soil of our communities and our individual lives or ends up being choked off by our cares or our indifference. But at other times, God’s word does send down roots and bears fruit beyond all expectation. Through this word, God enters into conversation with us. Which of Jesus’ teachings do you see bearing fruit in yourself? Which needs some effort on your part?

For my Yoke is Easy, and my Burden is Light

07-09-2017Weekly ReflectionWe Celebrate Worship Resource, Vol. 42, No. 2

In today’s Gospel, notice how Jesus praises God, first as Father, then as Lord of heaven and earth, bringing together intimacy and transcendence. His primary relationship with the One Israel called Lord is captured by the word “Father.” This relationship of Father-Son defined Jesus in a way that takes us into the heart of the mystery of the Trinity. But then Jesus opens his relationship to us: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one know the father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). More wonderful still is Jesus’ revelation to us that Father has revealed “these things” to the little ones rather than the wise and learned. What “things” are these? The truth that the Son is meek and humble of heart, the one foretold by Zechariah as coming not as a warrior but as a peacemaker, bringing peace to the nations, a cause for rejoicing. In a world so often torn by war and violence, Jesus wishes us to put on his yoke, to be guided living in the Spirit of God (Romans 8).

Do you ask the Son to reveal the Father to you...daily?

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Laying down your burdens

07-09-2017Question of the Week

Reading I: 2 Kings 4:8–11, 14–16 (Elisha and the Shunammite woman)
Reading II: Romans 8:9, 11-13 (indwelling of the Spirit)
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 (Jesus and his Father)
Key Passage: Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28–29)

Adult: When has Jesus refreshed you when you felt burdened by problems?
Child: What burden do you need Jesus to help you carry?

Church Exterior

On the outside, Catholic church buildings look different from one another, but they have many common features. There are no rules governing the exterior appearance of churches. Some look as plain as a storefront. Others look as breath-taking as a cathedral. The appearance of a church exterior depends on the function of spaces inside, the demands of architecture, and the search for beauty.

As the art of stained glass developed, it became popular with churches. Images depicted in windows taught people about their religion. The colors made a church interior look beautiful on a sunny day. The overall effect created a sense of awe conducive to prayer.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Showing Christ to others

07-02-2017Question of the Week

Reading I: 2 Kings 4:8–11, 14–16 (Elisha and the Shunammite woman)
Reading II: Romans 6:3–4, 8–11 (death to sin, life in God)
Gospel: Matthew 10:37–42 (conditions and rewards of discipleship)
Key Passage: Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

Adult: When have you felt more fully alive by giving of yourself to another?
Child: When have you been able to put what someone else needs ahead of what you want for yourself?

Have you taken up your Cross?

07-02-2017Weekly ReflectionWe Celebrate Worship Resource, Vol. 42, No. 2

As in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus’ words today continue his instructions to the Twelve as he sends them out as missionaries, proclaiming the kingdom of heaven to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). This series of statements was probably gathered from different moments during Jesus’ ministry into this one speech. We can think of them as

“one-liners” and consider each one separately. Jesus is to be the first love of the missionary. The missionary has to be willing to take up the cross as Jesus did, to give his life for Christ’s sake. On the other hand, those who receive these missionaries receive Christ, and they will be rewarded. We see this happening in the first reading, when the hospitality of the childless woman of Shunem is eventually rewarded by the prophet, who tells her that she will have a son within a year. The reading from Romans shows us the generosity of God when we give ourselves over to dying with Christ in living out our Baptism: If we die with him, we shall live with him.

How are you “living for God in Christ Jesus” by participating in the work of a missionary who proclaims Jesus Christ by your life?

Flags

Many churches display the papal and national flags. This optional custom began fairly recently in church history. During periods of national crisis, it became popular to post a country's flag inside its churches. When the periods of crisis waned, the flags remained. It probably seemed unpatriotic to remove them.

The papal flag commonly took up a position next to the national flag. It carries the pope's coat of arms, a triple tiara and crossed keys, symbolizing his ministry as ruler and successor to Peter, the apostle to whom Jesus entrusted the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The two flags often adorned a church's sanctuary. However, since the Second Vatican Council's appeal for simplicity in the liturgy, the sanctuary has become more reserved for those features necessary for the celebration of Mass. The removal of flags from the sanctuary does not promote disloyalty to church or state, but may assist the prayer of those gathered for the Eucharist by keeping their attention fixed on its central symbols: altar, ambo and chair, bread and wine.

Note: At St. Francis, the national and papal flags are in the Narthex on either side of the St. Francis of Assisi stained glass window.