September 12, 2016

Sept. 12

September 12, 2016:  Monday, 24th week, Ordinary Time

Holy Name of Mary

In memory of Jane Griep
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  We're the sheep of the Lord's flock (psalm)
  • 'Scroll' pin:  "In the scroll it is prescribed for me to do your will..." (psalm)
  • 'Heart' pin:  "Your law is within my heart!" (psalm)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "Jesus took and broke bread" (1st reading)
  • 'Cups' tie:  "This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.  As often as you drink, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1st reading)
  • 'Mary' pin:  Holy Name of Mary celebration
  • 'Pigs' suspenders in memory of yesterday's gospel
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

For 1st reading
For psalm 40
For Holy Name of Mary
The devil has two powerful weapons to destroy the Church:  divisions and money.  It's happened from the beginning:  ideological, theological divisions that lacerate the Church:  jealousy, ambitions, ideas that divide, greed that destroys.  And we, naïve, are his game.  The war of divisions is like terrorism; gossip in the community kills.
Divisions in the Church don't allow the Kingdom to grow or the Lord to be seen as he is; they make you see one against the other:  no unity.  The devil goes to the root of Christian unity; Paul rebuked the Corinthians because divisions arose in the Eucharistic celebration:  riches divided rich and poor during the Eucharist.  Jesus prayed for unity, but the devil seeks to destroy it.
Don't destroy the Church with divisions;  they come from greed, ambition, and jealousy.  Pray, and keep the root of Church unity, the Body of Christ we celebrate in the Eucharist.  The Church gathers everyone together!  Ask the Lord for the unity of the Church, and unity in the root of the Church, the sacrifice of Christ we celebrate every day.
Read
  • 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33  Your meetings are doing harm; there are divisions among you.  Jesus took bread, broke it, and said, “This is my Body, for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  He also took the cup:  “This is the new covenant in my Blood.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  As often as you do, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  Wait for one another.
  • Ps 40:7-10, 17  "Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again."  You wanted obedience, not oblation.  “I come to do your will."  May all who seek you exult in you.
  • Lk 7:1-10  A centurion with a sick slave sent elders to Jesus, asking him to come save his slave's life.  They urged Jesus, and he went, but as he approached, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Don't trouble yourself; I'm not worthy to have you enter under my roof.  Just say the word and let my servant be healed.”  Jesus, amazed, told the crowd following him, “Not even in Israel have I found such faith.”  The messengers returned to find the slave in good health.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  When we say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed,” we ask God to accept us and know he will, that he loves us.  What faith the centurion and the early Christians had!  We don't like to give up our illusion of control, but we should turn everything over to God.  Faith is a like a muscle that grows stronger with exercise.  Turning everything over to God is one way to stretch and develop our faith.  Suscipe...
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Painful unity":  Jesus prays for our unity, not lowest-common-denominator unity but one born of repentance and transformation.  To help us grow into it, Jesus often brings division.  The way to unity in church, marriage, family, etc., is the way of the cross:  division and persecution endured through love.  Jesus paid the price for unity; now he prays for us to make our contribution....
  • Passionist:  The centurion senses a power greater than what's humanly possible to save his slave.  Jesus responds to the Jewish elders who ask him to come heal the slave.  This powerful centurion sees his slave's life as important.  He, understanding how authority is passed on, assumes Jesus' utterance will suffice.  Jesus recognizes the man’s faith in such power....
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Say the word; be healed":  The centurion knew the power of command and saw in Jesus God's power and mercy to heal and restore life.  A Roman centurion was in charge of 100 soldiers.  This one was courageous and faith-filled, risking ridicule by seeking Jesus' help, and risking mockery from the Jews who despised Roman occupation.  The centurion regarded himself as unworthy to receive the Lord into his house:  "Humility was the door through which the Lord entered to take full possession of one he already possessed" (Augustine).  Romans treated slaves like animals, but this centurion loved his slave.  Am I willing to suffer ridicule in living my faith?  Do I approach the Lord Jesus confidently for help?
  • Alphonsus:  After Jesus' name, Mary's is so rich in good things, that from no other flow so much grace and hope.  Her name will cure all evil; every disorder yields to her name's power.
  • Richard of St. Laurence:  From no name after Jesus flows more power and salvation.  Invoking it leads to grace in this life and glory in the next.
  • Raymond Jordano:  Pronouncing the Virgin's name softens the hardest heart and gives strength to overcome temptation.
  • Methodius:  Your name is filled with grace and blessing.
  • Bonaventure:  If you pronounce her name devoutly, you'll receive grace.  Blessed those who love her name.
  • Thomas à Kempis:  Jesus' and Mary's names go together; keep them in your heart.  They're a short, sweet, easy, and powerful prayer.  When devils hear her name, they fly as from fire.
  • Bridget:  If you invoke her name and repent, the devil flies and angels approach.
  • Ephrem:  Mary's name is the key to heaven's gates.
  • Bernard:  Call on Mary in danger, perplexity, and doubt.
  • Germanus:  May my last word be Mary's name; sweet and safe the death so accompanied and protected.
  • Camillus de Lellis:  Remind the dying to utter the holy names.
Special greetings to and prayers for the community
at Holy Name of Mary Church and School in San Dimas

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