n this e-weekly:
- Defending the Bride (Catholic Website of the week-by the laptop computer)
- US Bishops Honor Three People with "People of Life" Award (Diocesan News and BEYOND)
- Recycling (Helpful Hints for Life)
-***NEW FEATURE*** BEST PARISH PRACTICE is a new section of the e-weekly (see below) ***NEW FEATURE***
- Defending the Bride (Catholic Website of the week-by the laptop computer)
- US Bishops Honor Three People with "People of Life" Award (Diocesan News and BEYOND)
- Recycling (Helpful Hints for Life)
-***NEW FEATURE*** BEST PARISH PRACTICE is a new section of the e-weekly (see below) ***NEW FEATURE***
Wedding rings sitting upon the Holy Bible open to I Corinthians 13
Roman Catholic Good News
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love
“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 13:13
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
At home, my family still prays before and after every meal. After breakfast, mom or dad always add the Act of Faith, Hope, and Love prayers along with other morning prayers. They do this because they were taught this in their youth, and because it has helped to keep them faithful to God and one another their whole life long.
I have searched for these prayers as mom and dad were taught them, but I have not found them. So finally I asked my dad to write them down because they are so simple, yet so profound.
I did this so that I might add them to my daily prayers and pass them on you. We all need more faith, hope, and love in our lives, our marriages, our families, our communities, and our world. May this begin with you and with me!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. These prayers are found in the prayer section below.
P.S.S. This coming Sunday is the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. >>> Readings
At home, my family still prays before and after every meal. After breakfast, mom or dad always add the Act of Faith, Hope, and Love prayers along with other morning prayers. They do this because they were taught this in their youth, and because it has helped to keep them faithful to God and one another their whole life long.
I have searched for these prayers as mom and dad were taught them, but I have not found them. So finally I asked my dad to write them down because they are so simple, yet so profound.
I did this so that I might add them to my daily prayers and pass them on you. We all need more faith, hope, and love in our lives, our marriages, our families, our communities, and our world. May this begin with you and with me!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. These prayers are found in the prayer section below.
P.S.S. This coming Sunday is the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. >>> Readings
 | Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - usccb.org www.usccb.org 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." 'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'" And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the ... |
P.S.S.S. Readings with questions for self or family reflection found at the end of e-weekly.
From a past Sunday homily click the blue lines below (15 minutes): (it may take a while to load, please be patient or cut and paste this website address in your browser address bar):
Mercy of God
Mercy of God
Catholic Terms
act of faith
-a voluntarily expressed assent of the mind to some truth revealed by God.
[The assent may be purely internal, or it may be vocalized, as in the recitation of the Apostle's Creed, or it may be implied, as in genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament. It must always be assisted by divine grace.]
act of hope
-a voluntarily expressed trust in God's goodness, based on faith, whereby a person declares his confidence that what God promised He will also fulfill
[As a supernatural act, it can be made only with the help of divine grace.]
act of love
-a deliberately expressed love of God, based on divine faith
[The act may be either perfect or imperfect, depending on whether the motive is God's goodness in himself or in relation to the person who benefited or hopes to benefit from his love of God.]
act of faith
-a voluntarily expressed assent of the mind to some truth revealed by God.
[The assent may be purely internal, or it may be vocalized, as in the recitation of the Apostle's Creed, or it may be implied, as in genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament. It must always be assisted by divine grace.]
act of hope
-a voluntarily expressed trust in God's goodness, based on faith, whereby a person declares his confidence that what God promised He will also fulfill
[As a supernatural act, it can be made only with the help of divine grace.]
act of love
-a deliberately expressed love of God, based on divine faith
[The act may be either perfect or imperfect, depending on whether the motive is God's goodness in himself or in relation to the person who benefited or hopes to benefit from his love of God.]
“Helpful Hints of Life”
Recycle
Even the Pope talks about preserving this beautiful creation that God has given us, by being prudent stewards of it. This includes reducing, reusing, and recycling. Very likely a local school or group is collecting papers, cans, and more when they get money and you do not have to pay for the trash to take it. Recycling saves money, resources, and more.
"Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us." (n. 160) -Pope Francis, Laudato Si
Communication
True communication starts inside. We can all look at the same thing and see/hear something different. Perceptions vary among people, and we often assume that other people perceive things exactly the way we do, which is often not the case.
Even the Pope talks about preserving this beautiful creation that God has given us, by being prudent stewards of it. This includes reducing, reusing, and recycling. Very likely a local school or group is collecting papers, cans, and more when they get money and you do not have to pay for the trash to take it. Recycling saves money, resources, and more.
"Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us." (n. 160) -Pope Francis, Laudato Si
Communication
True communication starts inside. We can all look at the same thing and see/hear something different. Perceptions vary among people, and we often assume that other people perceive things exactly the way we do, which is often not the case.
Catholic Website of the Week
Defending the Bride
www.defendingthebride.com
This is a small website dedicated to explaining and defending the truths that God has revealed through the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. The site includes free printable one page pamphlets and a free PowerPoint presentation on the Hail Mary. There is an especially nice section featuring pictures and text that demonstrate why the location of Caesarea Philippi was so important as the place where Jesus promised to build His Church on Peter.
[For those traveling this summer and needing to get to the Holy Mass.]
MASS TIMES AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES throughout the US
www.MassTimes.org
When traveling this Summer maybe add some religion to your trip. Perhaps stop at a monastery or Cathedral you come across. There are many Catholic historical sites.
Or visit http://www.catholicshrines.net/ for a shrine near your vacation destination.
Defending the Bride
www.defendingthebride.com
This is a small website dedicated to explaining and defending the truths that God has revealed through the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. The site includes free printable one page pamphlets and a free PowerPoint presentation on the Hail Mary. There is an especially nice section featuring pictures and text that demonstrate why the location of Caesarea Philippi was so important as the place where Jesus promised to build His Church on Peter.
[For those traveling this summer and needing to get to the Holy Mass.]
MASS TIMES AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES throughout the US
www.MassTimes.org
When traveling this Summer maybe add some religion to your trip. Perhaps stop at a monastery or Cathedral you come across. There are many Catholic historical sites.
Or visit http://www.catholicshrines.net/ for a shrine near your vacation destination.
Best Parish Practices
START A HOSPITALITY GROUP FOR YOUR RCIA PROGRAM
[RCIA-Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which non-Catholics join the Church, which usually begins in the Fall] Get to know people wanting to get to know the Church before they officially join and witness to them with your kindness and your faith story by being a part of group that brings food and drink to the RCIA class and then shares how you became Catholic or grew up Catholic.
BENEFITS:
People joining RCIA may not be sure about joining the Church or even know much about the Church, but everyone wants and needs to be received and treated kindly ("love is patient, love is kind" -St. Paul). So being part of a group that brings refreshments or food and drink to RCIA class can touch them by 'breaking bread' with them and affirming that you are glad they are there and want them to be a part of your parish. And if some of your committee, one by one, can share their faith journey, that can confirm the RCIA candidates in theirs, and they get to know members of the Church with whom they will worship and serve one day if they ultimately join the Church.
HOW?
Consult and ask if it is okay with your Parish Priest and the person in charge of RCIA. Look for another person or group of people who would be willing on occasion to make or purchase food and drink and bring them to the RCIA meeting (perhaps once a month or every two weeks). And then hopefully one of your group, or perhaps the head of different ministries of your parish, can share a brief version of their faith journey as a cradle Catholic or as a convert themselves. The sharing does not have to be spectacular or stunning, it just has to be real and heart-felt. This can go a long way to helping RCIA candidates into the Church, and making them a part of your parish family for years to come.
START A HOSPITALITY GROUP FOR YOUR RCIA PROGRAM
[RCIA-Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which non-Catholics join the Church, which usually begins in the Fall] Get to know people wanting to get to know the Church before they officially join and witness to them with your kindness and your faith story by being a part of group that brings food and drink to the RCIA class and then shares how you became Catholic or grew up Catholic.
BENEFITS:
People joining RCIA may not be sure about joining the Church or even know much about the Church, but everyone wants and needs to be received and treated kindly ("love is patient, love is kind" -St. Paul). So being part of a group that brings refreshments or food and drink to RCIA class can touch them by 'breaking bread' with them and affirming that you are glad they are there and want them to be a part of your parish. And if some of your committee, one by one, can share their faith journey, that can confirm the RCIA candidates in theirs, and they get to know members of the Church with whom they will worship and serve one day if they ultimately join the Church.
HOW?
Consult and ask if it is okay with your Parish Priest and the person in charge of RCIA. Look for another person or group of people who would be willing on occasion to make or purchase food and drink and bring them to the RCIA meeting (perhaps once a month or every two weeks). And then hopefully one of your group, or perhaps the head of different ministries of your parish, can share a brief version of their faith journey as a cradle Catholic or as a convert themselves. The sharing does not have to be spectacular or stunning, it just has to be real and heart-felt. This can go a long way to helping RCIA candidates into the Church, and making them a part of your parish family for years to come.
Diocesan News AND BEYOND
US Bishops to Honor Three People with 'People of Life' Award
More than 100 Catholics will attend the 2018 People of Life awards next week to honor three pro-life individuals for their dedication to the Gospel of Life.
The awards will go to Janice Benton, a proponent for disability rights; Monsignor Joseph Ranieri, an advocate for post-abortion healing; and James Hanson, who campaigned against medically assisted-suicide and who will be honored posthumously.
The awards will be presented in Phoenix as part of the Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference July 29 – Aug. 1, sponsored by the US bishops' Secretariat on Pro-Life Activities.
More than 125 people are expected to attend, including Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria in Texas, and Bishop Eduardo Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix.
The awards are given to men and women who have made significant and longtime contributions to the pro-life movement, promoting a culture of life and respect for the human person.
Janice Benton has served as the executive director of National Catholic Partnership on Disability for 15 years. Before that, she spent 25 years ministering to people with disabilities, working in areas such as a camp counselor for people with intellectual disabilities.
She also worked for the American Coalition of Citizens in Washington D.C., beginning in 1979, where she advocated for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Education for All Handicapped Children Act.
Monsignor Ranieri has served as a parish priest of the Archdiocese of Washington for more than 60 years. There, he involved himself with Project Rachel Ministry, a post-abortion resource group.
According to the Catholic Anchor, Monsignor Ranieri encouraged priests, who will hear about abortions in the confessional, “to listen, to be open and to be patient. These people need to talk about what happened, often more than once.”
James Hanson was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran and president of the Patients Rights Action Fund, a strategic and financial support group advocating against assisted suicide legislation. Hanson suffered from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Before he passed away in December 2017, Hanson campaigned against legislation permitting assisted suicide.
The People of Life award was established in 2007 by the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. The award seeks to honor Catholics dedicated to the pro-life movement as described by St. John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical on the value and inviolability of human life, Evangelium Vitae.
According to the USCCB website, the People of Life award “is presented to individuals who have consistently answered this call of the Gospel of Life.”
“Recipients are recognized because, through their personal or professional contributions, they have demonstrated their lifetime commitment to the pro-life movement, to promoting respect for the dignity of the human person, and to advocacy for an end to the culture of death in this nation.”
The awards will go to Janice Benton, a proponent for disability rights; Monsignor Joseph Ranieri, an advocate for post-abortion healing; and James Hanson, who campaigned against medically assisted-suicide and who will be honored posthumously.
The awards will be presented in Phoenix as part of the Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference July 29 – Aug. 1, sponsored by the US bishops' Secretariat on Pro-Life Activities.
More than 125 people are expected to attend, including Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria in Texas, and Bishop Eduardo Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix.
The awards are given to men and women who have made significant and longtime contributions to the pro-life movement, promoting a culture of life and respect for the human person.
Janice Benton has served as the executive director of National Catholic Partnership on Disability for 15 years. Before that, she spent 25 years ministering to people with disabilities, working in areas such as a camp counselor for people with intellectual disabilities.
She also worked for the American Coalition of Citizens in Washington D.C., beginning in 1979, where she advocated for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Education for All Handicapped Children Act.
Monsignor Ranieri has served as a parish priest of the Archdiocese of Washington for more than 60 years. There, he involved himself with Project Rachel Ministry, a post-abortion resource group.
According to the Catholic Anchor, Monsignor Ranieri encouraged priests, who will hear about abortions in the confessional, “to listen, to be open and to be patient. These people need to talk about what happened, often more than once.”
James Hanson was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran and president of the Patients Rights Action Fund, a strategic and financial support group advocating against assisted suicide legislation. Hanson suffered from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Before he passed away in December 2017, Hanson campaigned against legislation permitting assisted suicide.
The People of Life award was established in 2007 by the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. The award seeks to honor Catholics dedicated to the pro-life movement as described by St. John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical on the value and inviolability of human life, Evangelium Vitae.
According to the USCCB website, the People of Life award “is presented to individuals who have consistently answered this call of the Gospel of Life.”
“Recipients are recognized because, through their personal or professional contributions, they have demonstrated their lifetime commitment to the pro-life movement, to promoting respect for the dignity of the human person, and to advocacy for an end to the culture of death in this nation.”
MERCY MOMENTS
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY - YEAR OF MERCY
Practical Suggestions for Practicing the Corporal Works of Mercy
(The Corporal Works of Mercy are kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their everyday material and physical needs.)
Feed the Hungry
-see to the proper nutrition of your loved ones,
-support and volunteer for food pantries, soup kitchens, and agencies that feed the hungry;
-make a few sandwiches to hand out as you walk through areas
where you might encounter people in need;
-educate yourself about world hunger;
-avoid wasting food;
-share your meals with others.
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY - YEAR OF MERCY
Practical Suggestions for Practicing the Corporal Works of Mercy
(The Corporal Works of Mercy are kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their everyday material and physical needs.)
Feed the Hungry
-see to the proper nutrition of your loved ones,
-support and volunteer for food pantries, soup kitchens, and agencies that feed the hungry;
-make a few sandwiches to hand out as you walk through areas
where you might encounter people in need;
-educate yourself about world hunger;
-avoid wasting food;
-share your meals with others.
A bit of humor…
Deep Thoughts
-If you got into a taxi and he started driving backwards, would the driver end up owing you money?
-Why is it called a tv set if you only get one?
-Why is abbreviation such a long word?
-Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?
Deep Thoughts
-If you got into a taxi and he started driving backwards, would the driver end up owing you money?
-Why is it called a tv set if you only get one?
-Why is abbreviation such a long word?
-Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?
I marked the spot
Two friends rented a boat and fished in a lake every day. One day they caught 30 fish. One guy said to his friend,
"Mark this spot so that we can come back here again tomorrow."
The next day, when they were driving to rent the boat, the same guy asked his friend, "Did you mark that spot?"
His friend replied, "Yeah, I put a big 'X' on the bottom of the boat."
The first one said, "Oh my goodness! What if we don't get that same boat today!?!?"
Grandparents and Grandchildren
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I
decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color
it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was
fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying
sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these
yourself!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------
When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the
lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky
insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before
I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are
coming after us with flashlights."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A nursery school teacher was delivering a mini-van full of kids
home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front
seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started
discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back,"
said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." A
third child brought the argument to a close: "No, they use the dogs
to find the fire hydrant."
Two friends rented a boat and fished in a lake every day. One day they caught 30 fish. One guy said to his friend,
"Mark this spot so that we can come back here again tomorrow."
The next day, when they were driving to rent the boat, the same guy asked his friend, "Did you mark that spot?"
His friend replied, "Yeah, I put a big 'X' on the bottom of the boat."
The first one said, "Oh my goodness! What if we don't get that same boat today!?!?"
Grandparents and Grandchildren
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I
decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color
it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was
fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying
sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these
yourself!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------
When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the
lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky
insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before
I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are
coming after us with flashlights."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A nursery school teacher was delivering a mini-van full of kids
home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front
seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started
discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back,"
said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." A
third child brought the argument to a close: "No, they use the dogs
to find the fire hydrant."
Simple Acts
Act of Faith
O my God I believe all You have said because You are the infallible truth.
Act of Hope
O my God I hope for all You have promised because You are faithful.
Act of Love
O my God I love You above all things because You are good.
Act of Faith
O my God I believe all You have said because You are the infallible truth.
Act of Hope
O my God I hope for all You have promised because You are faithful.
Act of Love
O my God I love You above all things because You are good.
SUNDAY MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 29th, 2018
The First Reading- 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.
Reflection
God always gives us more than we need. Today’s Scriptures tell us two stories about God giving people more food than they needed. The first reading is the story of the Prophet Elisha feeding 100 people with only 20 barley loaves. The Lord said that there would be food leftover - and there was!
Adults - We can sometimes feel stretched thin with the demands of everyday life. Ask the Lord’s help in multiplying your patience and fortitude as you go through the day.
Teens - Ask God to show you where he can use your gift to the fullest potential. Can you cantor at Mass? Work with the younger kids of the parish? Help decorate for the liturgical year?
Kids - What gifts has God given you to help others?
Responsorial- Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
R.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.
Reflection
-Pray at least one Rosary for a specific need this week.
The Second Reading- 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.
Reflection
Paul ties both the First Reading and the Gospel up nicely in the Second Reading: He says for us 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. …” The call we received is to be like Christ. The way to live it worthily is to take the gifts God gives us and share them. People will recognize God in us when we meet their needs. And, as Jesus says, when we combine our efforts together with God’s grace, nothing will be wasted.
Look up the gifts of the Holy Spirit and pray over which gifts you have been blessed with. How can you use them to build God’s kingdom?
The Holy Gospel according to 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.
Reflection
This reading from Mark tells us about Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 men with only five barley loaves and two fish. In this story, like in the First Reading, there were leftovers — in Jesus’ story it was 12 baskets full. This means that Jesus was going to pass his ministry on to the Twelve Apostles and then to us. It also means that when we do serve others, we’ll have everything we need and then some to get the job done! God gives us every good thing, and He never feels like any gift he give us is a waste — even when we’re not grateful (you’ll see more of that in the coming weeks).
Adults -How have I experienced God’s extravagant, overflowing gifts? How do I use them to feed others?
Teens -Do you feel like God has given you everything you need to represent him in your world? If not, what is lacking? If so, what is your greatest asset?
Kids - Do you ever waste anything? Do you get in trouble for it? Why?
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 29th, 2018
The First Reading- 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.
Reflection
God always gives us more than we need. Today’s Scriptures tell us two stories about God giving people more food than they needed. The first reading is the story of the Prophet Elisha feeding 100 people with only 20 barley loaves. The Lord said that there would be food leftover - and there was!
Adults - We can sometimes feel stretched thin with the demands of everyday life. Ask the Lord’s help in multiplying your patience and fortitude as you go through the day.
Teens - Ask God to show you where he can use your gift to the fullest potential. Can you cantor at Mass? Work with the younger kids of the parish? Help decorate for the liturgical year?
Kids - What gifts has God given you to help others?
Responsorial- Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
R.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.
Reflection
-Pray at least one Rosary for a specific need this week.
The Second Reading- 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.
Reflection
Paul ties both the First Reading and the Gospel up nicely in the Second Reading: He says for us 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. …” The call we received is to be like Christ. The way to live it worthily is to take the gifts God gives us and share them. People will recognize God in us when we meet their needs. And, as Jesus says, when we combine our efforts together with God’s grace, nothing will be wasted.
Look up the gifts of the Holy Spirit and pray over which gifts you have been blessed with. How can you use them to build God’s kingdom?
The Holy Gospel according to 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.
Reflection
This reading from Mark tells us about Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 men with only five barley loaves and two fish. In this story, like in the First Reading, there were leftovers — in Jesus’ story it was 12 baskets full. This means that Jesus was going to pass his ministry on to the Twelve Apostles and then to us. It also means that when we do serve others, we’ll have everything we need and then some to get the job done! God gives us every good thing, and He never feels like any gift he give us is a waste — even when we’re not grateful (you’ll see more of that in the coming weeks).
Adults -How have I experienced God’s extravagant, overflowing gifts? How do I use them to feed others?
Teens -Do you feel like God has given you everything you need to represent him in your world? If not, what is lacking? If so, what is your greatest asset?
Kids - Do you ever waste anything? Do you get in trouble for it? Why?