Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": 5th Sun., Easter

At Fatima I was immersed in the prayer of the faithful for the maternal protection of Mary for the world. There's such a recollected and contemplative climate there, with the Risen Lord at the center, present in the Word and the Eucharist, and present in the sick.

With the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta, I'm proposing to the Church their example of adhesion to Christ and evangelical witness. I also want to propose to the whole Church to have a child's heart. Their sanctity is a consequence of the fidelity and ardor with which they responded to the privilege of being able to see the Virgin Mary. After having seen Mary, they frequently prayed the Rosary, did penance, and offered sacrifices for an end to the war and for those most in need of divine mercy. Today there's also great need of prayer and of penance to implore the grace of conversion, and an end to wars and conflicts that disfigure the face of humanity.

Let yourself be guided by the light from Fatima. May the Immaculate Heart of Mary always be our refuge, our consolation, and the way that leads to Christ.

Read

Acts 6:1-7 Hellenists complained because their widows were being neglected, so the Twelve asked the disciples to choose seven wise Spirit-filled men for the job, and they did. The apostles laid hands on them, and God's word continued to spread.

Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 "Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you." Exult in the Lord whose word is upright and works trustworthy. He loves justice; the earth is full of his kindness.

1 Pt 2:4-9 Come to him, a living stone, rejected by people but precious in God's sight; like living stones, be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices to God through Christ. You're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Jn 14:1-12 “Don't let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in me. I go and prepare a place for you and will come back and take you to myself. I am the way and the truth and the life. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Whoever believes in me will do the works I do and greater ones.”

Reflect

Creighton: The widows in the 1st reading weren't getting the appropriate charity or food. The disciples are overwhelmed at the people in need and work to do. As Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the hungry, in today's gospel Jesus promises we'll be taken care of and tells us not to worry. He says he's the way and by following him we'll get to God’s house, and that whoever believes in him will do his, and greater, works. Jesus, whom the authorities rejected and discarded, is the cornerstone of our faith. His ministry continues to this day; new people continue to follow him and serve....

One Bread, One Body: "The temptation to do good": You can't chain God's Word, but its messengers can be chained through sin, selfishness, fear, or more subtly: the devil tried to chain the apostles by making them think they needed to cut back on prayer and ministry of the Word to deal with a disagreement. He encouraged them to do a good, needed work, and only cut back their ministry temporarily. Once we deviate from God's call, even to do good, we're not doing God's will. May we do God's deeds (vs. good deeds), in and out of season, never postponing or interrupting it.

Passionist: Light helps us see whether we're on the right path; without it, we need a guide to show us the way, as did the disciples and do all Christians. Faith calls us to go towards things we don't know, or that challenge or terrorize us. Often our journey calls us into the unknown. We can trust Jesus has gone before us to light our path, is always guiding us, showing us the way by example, stirring us through his Spirit, and finding us companions and examples. We're never alone....

DailyScripture.net: "Lord, show us the Father": Jesus, knowing his disciples would be tested, encouraged them to trust and hope in God. When the Israelites became discouraged in the wilderness, the Lord assured them he'd get them to the promised land, a sign of the homeland God offers all who accept him. Christ has opened the way for us to live in peace and friendship with our Father. Jesus told his disciples he'd prepare a place for them. Jesus will bring us to the Father's house. May we follow him wherever he leads and trust him to bring us home. "Present sufferings are no comparison with the glory to be revealed to us." The disciples were surprised Jesus was going to the Father and would take them along, even more surprised when he expected they'd know the way. Jesus' response was both a reminder to trust him and a challenge for them to recognize he knew God.

"I am the Way": Jesus alone knows the way to the Father. He gives us more than a map: he personally is the way. He always accompanies, watches over, and leads us.

"I am the Truth": Many may be able to teach the truth, but only Jesus is the Truth. If we continue in his word, we'll learn the truth and it'll set us free." His truth can set us free from ignorance, deception, and sin.

"I am the Life": Jesus not only shows us the path of life but gives the life only God can give: abundant and everlasting.

We can know God personally as our Father. To see Jesus is to see God; in him we see the love of a God who cares and yearns for us to the point of laying down his life for us. Jesus promises the Father will hear our prayers.

Re doing God's works: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world., the feet with which he walks to do good, the hands through which he blesses the world. Yours are the hands, the feet, the eyes, his body.” (attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, but see here about likely cumulative authorship by Pearse, Rowntree (p.15), and Rowntree (p. 106))

Sunday-trumped saint, from Universalis: Matthias, apostle: Drawing lots to select a candidate for office was a recognized Jewish custom; random events were seen as an expression of God’s will. Drawing lots wasn't a substitute for human decision (people chose Matthias as a candidate) but a way of putting the final choice into God's hands. In some ways, we've been chosen by lot too. See also New Advent.

Dress Legend

'Silverware' tie bar: "It's not right for us to neglect God's word to serve at table" (1st reading)

'Piano' pin: Chant God's praises with the lyre (substituting another stringed instrument :-) (psalm)

'Street light' tie bar: God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (2nd reading)

'?' tie pin: How can we know the way? Philip, you still don't know me? (gospel)

'Owl' tie pin, "dove" pin: "Select seven filled with the Spirit and wisdom" (1st reading)

'Hands' pin: The apostles laid hands on the new deacons (1st reading)

'Eyeball' pin: "The Lord's eyes are on those who fear him" (psalm); Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (gospel)

'Stone' tie pin: Jesus is a living stone, rejected by people but precious in God's sight; be built into a spiritual house like living stones. The stone the builders rejected became the cornerstone; a stone will make people stumble and fall (2nd reading)

'Hearts' suspenders: "Don't let your hearts be troubled" (gospel)

'Cars on roads' tie: "I am the way" (gospel)

White shirt: Easter season

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Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"

May 14, 2017

5th Sun., Easter

May 14, 2017: Fifth Sunday of Easter

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