Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time_A - Just For Today_102526

 

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Just For Today”

 

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

In this vivid passage from Exodus, the Lord sternly warns His people they shall… “not molest or oppress an alien….... or wrong any widow or orphan” because, God reminds them, “they were once aliens in the land of Egypt”. It is God who reminds the Israelites to keep this memory of the harsh treatment they received at the hands of the Egyptians alive in their “collective consciousness” so that they treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of their society with the respect and dignity they deserve. God goes on to make this pledge to them…. since the aliens, widows and orphans have no one to protect them or defend them…. then, “If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry and my wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword.” Wow! Do these words strike us to the heart today as we day to day we listen to and watch immigrants being mistreated and abused across the country.

 

Jesus makes it clear that the weak and vulnerable have a special place in the Kingdom of God. By all that He says and does, Jesus reveals them to be a “protected class of people” whom God will look after and see to it that they are not harmed or exploited or left to fend for themselves…or else‼

 

Were these words that we read in Exodus only intended for the people of antiquity or does the Lord speak to us and warn us to care for the aliens, widows and orphans among us today? If we do sense that the Word of God speaks to each and every generation, do we feel that we are insulated from God’s promise to listen to their cries and to act on their behalf? Is God, right this very moment, listening to the cries of the weak and vulnerable who are crying out to Him during today…the father who has been out of work for the last 18 months and is desperate for a job… those losing their homes to foreclosure, the children who suffer the ravages of war, poverty and disease…. for those who live day to day but can’t get to see a doctor because they have no money and no medical insurance... and those who are distraught they will lose their insurance because our government is desperate to take it away from them…. and for the aliens and immigrants - the "dreamers" among us today? Will God not remember His promise? According to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, at the end of 2025 there were117.8 million people who are refugees or have been forcibly displaced from their home and of those nearly 100 million have found refuge in low- and middle-income countries. Remember, these are our brothers and sisters who are weak and vulnerable and in need of our help…in need of systems that are fair and just and that recognize the dignity we all possess as children of God. How should God act toward us if we fail to do what is right? No need to guess! The Hebrew Scriptures may shed some light on how things worked out in the past, and it wasn’t a good ending! 

 

Let us offer this prayer today… that just for today we may do all within our power to help those in need with a meal, a listening ear, some words of hope and encouragement, to be agents of change for the good and well being of others. Just for today let us cooperate with the Lord by helping those who cry out to Him. Just for today let us seek to build the kingdom of God right where we live, work, and worship. Just for today let us work to build the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth so all God’s children may live in peace and harmony and the cries of the poor are turned to tears of joy.

 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com where you will find contemporary conversations with several Paulist Deacon Affiliates and their guests exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold of our church… those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.

 

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. “God loves things by becoming them,” he writes, and Jesus’s life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God—except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us, and in everyone we meet.

 

Recommended YouTube Video:  Richard Rohr on the Universal Christ. The fact that nearly 40 million Americans live in poverty is a national embarrassment. But it’s also a choice. If poverty exists, it’s because we “wish and will it to.”

 

 

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time_A - Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord_101826

 

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD” PS 124:8

 

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

Have you ever had this experience: you are in a difficult situation, and you are desperately in need of help but you have no idea where to turn. Then, someone, a complete stranger, comes to your aid, and you are leftœ with this overwhelming sense of amazement. You just know that God somehow had His hands in these events that touched your life.

The story of the Jews liberation from captivity in Babylon at the hands of the Persian King Cyrus is just such an experience. It is a genuine sign of God calling upon a “stranger” to accomplish His plan in an amazing and awesome way. About King Cyrus Isaiah wrote, “I have call you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not”. The Jews were in a hopeless situation; they were being held captive away from their home; their temple lay in ruin; their way of life altered forever. So, they thought! Then Cyrus, the King of the Persians, one did not number among the tribes of Israel, rises up and defeats the Babylonians and comes to their aid. In 538 B.C. Cyrus issued an edict allowing the return of all the Hebrews to Jerusalem. Better yet, he ordered the rebuilding of the Temple and provided that the Israelites be given a royal subsidy from his treasury. He directed that the sacred vessels seized by the Babylonians when they destroyed the Temple be sent back with the released captives.  Finally, he urged even the neighbors of the Jewish people who remained in Babylon rather than return to Jerusalem to contribute to the restoration of the Temple. Isaiah tells how God took Cyrus’ right hand and led him, “subduing nations before him…. opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred”. Isaiah wrote that the Lord summoned Cyrus. The events that followed tell us that responding to the Lord’s call produces amazing results. 

Today we face an unimaginable, life threatening and life changing situations from the ravages caused by natural disasters, tortuous mass shootings in schools, shopping malls, grocery stores. Evidence of a political toxicity is all around us... in the lives, in the physical, emotional and financial suffering we or our family or friends and neighbors are experiencing. This tragedy only exacerbates the everyday problems and difficulties we face in our lives, problems with our relationships, with our kids, our boss, fears of losing our jobs or our health and the political and ecclesiastical discord that threatens the very fabric of our society. We struggle with forgiving those who have hurt us; we struggle with addictions and all sorts of impossible situations.  We even struggle with the teachings of our church. We ask ourselves, “How am I going to get through this?”  or “Where can I turn for help?”  

It’s always darkest before the dawn, they say. I am sure the Jews held captive in Babylon felt that way. But, then God, who is the master of doing the impossible, comes to their rescue and turns their tears into laughter. Isaiah tells us today to keep the faith. There is no struggle or difficulty God cannot overcome!! There is no struggle or difficulty of ours that God does not want to overcome. But the lesson from Isaiah’s text is clear…. the Lord called Cyrus by name to do His work, to liberate His Chosen People, to rebuild the Temple and restore Israel to its former glory. The thing is, God has call us by name, today… and he asks us to do the same. He calls us to respond to the needs of those around us… who have suffered tragic loss, who are in desperate need, who have given up hope. How will we decide to be instruments in the hands of our Lord in helping accomplish His plan?

Enjoy the Day!
Deacon Tom

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com where you will find contemporary conversations with several Paulist Deacon Affiliates and their guests exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold of our church… those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: Pedro Arrupe: A Heart Larger Than the World THE TERM “MODERN-DAY SAINT” is thrown around lightly these days, but rarely does it describe a person as well as it does Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ. Often referred to as “the second founder” of the Jesuits, Arrupe led the Society of Jesus beginning in 1965 during a time of profound transformation. He coined the phrase “men for others” and inspired educators at Jesuit Institutions to educate “men and women for others.”

 

Recommended YouTube Video:  Commonweal Podcast - How to Abolish Poverty. The fact that nearly 40 million Americans live in poverty is a national embarrassment. But it’s also a choice. If poverty exists, it’s because we “wish and will it to.”

 

 

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time_Year A - RSVP - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner_101126

 

Deacon Tom Writes,

“RSVP - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”

 

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

Jesus uses the story of a king who invites his subjects to the wedding banquet for his son and the people reject his invitation outright.  What an insult!  The King’s outrage is understandable but does not affect his desire to have a banquet in honor of his son’s wedding.

 

Those hearing Jesus knew they were the ones Jesus was talking about and they certainly didn’t like the way the story ended. Jesus says how the King reacted to those who refused his invitation and then sent his servants out to the highways and byways and brought in others to celebrate this festive occasion. 

 

It’s interesting that history seems to be repeating itself. Every Sunday we are invited to celebrate a special Eucharistic banquet in honor of God’s Son, Jesus. It is a standing invitation to come and celebrate and to be one with each other and God.  We gather together to give thanks to God for sending His Son into our world and freeing us from sin and death….AND giving us Eternal life…. But, as in times past, so many people today are just too busy, too tired, too involved with other interests, or simply not interested…. too spent perhaps …to respond to this invitation.

 

I think it’s by invitation and example that those who come to Mass on a regular basis can help others to see how important it is to center our lives around this most holy banquet. We as Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives, spiritual and temporal, for it is within the context of these sacred mysteries that we are renewed and strengthen for all that life throws at us. And for many, life is coming at them hard. If our lives reflect the presence of Christ, others will notice that rock that anchors us and that may spark some interest for them. If others see that there is a connection between what we receive from the Eucharist and how we handle the misfortunes of life, make sacrifices for our families - running the kids around to soccer practice, religious education classes and piano lessons, doing the shopping and chores - contribute to our community, they may want to find the source of that strength and experience the interior joy and peace that comes from the Eucharist for themselves. As they say… “Imitation is the best form of flattery.”

 

The banquet is prepared, the table is set, we all have our reservations that invites us to, “Bring a friend.”  Do you have someone in mind you would like to invite to this banquet?         

 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom          

 

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com where you will find contemporary conversations with several Paulist Deacon Affiliates and their guests exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold of our church… those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.

 

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: Return of the Prodigal Son by renown Catholic Priest Henri Nouwen evokes a powerful drama of the classic parable in a rich, captivating way that is sure to reverberate in the hearts of readers. Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s resentfulness, and the father’s compassion. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved, will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and is here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times.

 

Recommended YouTube Video:  Henri Nouwen - Life of the Beloved . Listen to this spiritual master on how to experience the wonder of being God’s “Beloved”.

 

 

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year_A –God Be in My Head_100426

 Image - https://commons.wikimedia.org / Montréal God resting after creation. jpg

Deacon Tom Writes,

“God Be in My Head”

 

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

The gospel for today sets the stage for Jesus’ death. The parable of the wicked tenants who kill the servants sent to collect the rent and who go so far as to kill the vineyard owner’s son, foreshadow the events that will soon claim Jesus’ life. The message Jesus is conveying is that God’s plans will not be stifled by those of man. His being rejected by the Jewish authorities allows a furthering of God’s Kingdom. For… “The stone rejected by the builders will become the cornerstone”. God’s plan of salvation is mysteriously broadened so that others may join in the task of bringing about that bountiful harvest the Kingdom of God will produce.

 

Jesus showed us by word and example how to live fruitful lives. As His disciples it is necessary to engage in meaningful reflection about the quality of our spiritual lives. A question we might ask ourselves is, “How do we know if we are bearing fruit for the kingdom?” One way to fathom this out is to set some time aside at the end of the day and review our day’s activities from a spiritual perspective. This is one of the many spiritual practices handed down to us from St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises. It goes like this: 

 

1)  Give thanks to God for all that we have.

2)  Ask God for the grace to know our sins and to avoid them in the future.

3)  Reflect on the events of the day to see where we served God or where we have neglected Him.

4)  Ask God to pardon our faults.

5)  Ask God for the grace to be more like Him.

 

If we are to form a habit of this simple yet humbling practice, we are sure to grow spiritually and that growth will produce a harvest worthy of the Kingdom.

 

As we grow in the love of God, we will be better able to surrender our thoughts and desires to Him and allow Him to fill us with His thoughts and desires as was captured in this prayer from the middle-ages:

 

God be in my head and in my understanding;

God be in my eyes and in my looking;

God be in my mouth and in my speaking;

God be in my heart and in my thinking;

God be at my end and at my departing.

     Amen

May God open our minds and hearts and bless the work of our hands so that we can advance His Kingdom in our time.

 

Enjoy the day!

Tom

 

 

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com where you will find contemporary conversations with several Paulist Deacon Affiliates and their guests exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold of our church… those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.

 

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: Into The Silent Land by Fr. Martin Laird, OSA Teaches readers the practice of meditation, sitting in stillness and cultivating the art of awareness long in use by Hindus and Buddhists in order to deepen our Christian faculties to have a deeper experience of the presence of the divine in around us.

 

Recommended YouTube Video:  Understanding the Catholic Mass 101: Learn Every Part of the Mass and What It Means (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz).  The Mass is meant to transform you. Even for the most devout Catholics, attending Mass can sometimes feel routine. Many find themselves going through the motions, feeling bored, or distracted by thoughts and responsibilities. Yet the Mass is the greatest act of worship in all creation. It is the closest we come to heaven on earth. What if you could enter more fully into what is truly happening? Join Fr. Mike Schmitz as he breaks down the Liturgy not as a familiar ritual, but as a profound encounter with Christ. Don't just stop here, get your copy of The Pocket Guide to the Mass today: https://ascensionpress.com/products/p...