You open wide your hand, O lord, and grant our desires. 26.7.15

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

The basilica in Lourdes

Welcome to a little liturgy.  This week we talk of miracles.  As I write, I am thinking of my friends in Lourdes on the Ampleforth Pilgrimage.  As everyone knows, it is a place of many miracles; as everyone who has visited knows, the miracles are not always of the conventional kind.  It is a place where it seems natural to follow the advice of St Paul to "bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience."   

Summary of Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Kings 4:42-44
Elisha gives food to his servant to distribute to a hundred men.  His servant remarks that it is not enough but Elisha tells him that the Lord has said, "They will eat and have some left over".

Psalm 144
You open wide your hand, O Lord, you grant our desires.

Second Reading
Ephesians 4:1-6
St Paul tells us to be charitable, selfless, gentle and patient.  He also reminds us to be together always, since there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all".

Gospel
John 6:1-15
The Gospel tells us the familiar story often known as "the feeding of the five thousand" or the "miracle of the loaves and fishes".  Jesus notes that the people who had gathered to listen to him might need feeding and asks the disciples to distribute food to them.  There are only "five barley loaves and two fish".  The disciples are incredulous but after Jesus has said the blessing, they gave out as much as was wanted and there were twelve basketfuls remaining.

Discussion

Miracles are difficult to comprehend and perhaps even more difficult to distinguish from magic.  Certainly, it is easy in this Gospel story, to imagine Jesus' words of blessing acting as some kind of multiplying spell and, hey presto, there were many more loaves and fishes.  It may be more helpful to consider what the miracle signifies.  

Paragraph 547 of the Catechism says, "Jesus accompanies his words with many "mighty works and wonders and signs", which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah."

Some people believe that everyone present became aware of the needs of their neighbour and that they followed the example set by the young boy and Jesus and all shared.  This is exactly what St Paul asks of us in his letter to the Ephesians today; we should be "charitable" and "selfless".

Pope Francis talks about this kind of charity below: 

"When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them—some food, a place in our homes, our time—not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing food knocks at your door, you always find a way of sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always ‘add more water to the beans’! Is it possible to add more water to the beans?…Always?…And you do so with love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in materials things, but in the heart!"(Pope Francis, Address during Visit to the Community at Varginha, 7/25/13)

Activities

The events described in the Gopsel today can be linked to the Last Supper and the fact that in the Eucharist God provides food for his people.  

Below is the start of the blessing used in Jewish households before eating bread:  

"Blessed are you Lord King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth."

Find the similar words in the text of the Mass you are following.  
Continue the words of this blessing to write your own grace before a meal.  

The link below shows a modern Jewish family blessing and sharing bread.  How is this ritual similar to what the priest does at Mass?  What makes our Eucharist different from this?  


Jewish blessing for eating bread

I hope you all have a good week and enjoy the challenge of considering miracles.  

They were like sheep without a shepherd. (19/7/15)

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome to a little liturgy.  This week we return to thinking of ourselves as sheep.  I hope you find something thought provoking below.  

Summary of Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Jeremiah tells us of God's message about his sheep.  God says that his sheep have been scattered and not cared for properly but that he intends to gather them back together.  He says that he will also raise a new king who will practise "honesty and integrity".

Psalm 22
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading
Ephesians 2:13-18
St Paul tells us that Christ brought unity amongst people and also peace.

Gospel
Mark 6:30-34
The apostles were tired from preaching so Jesus took them by boat to a quiet place to rest.  However, word spread and their followers had already arrived ahead of them.  There was now a large crowd.  Jesus took pity on them because "they were like sheep without a shepherd".  He spent time teaching them himself.

Discussion

Sheep without a shepherd lack a purpose and any sense of direction.  From very early days, as shown in today's reading from Jeremiah, the idea that the people were like sheep in relation to God was familiar.  This imagery is taken up in the New Testament and confirms for us the relationship between God the Father and God the Son who are both cast as shepherds.
Today we cannot see the shepherd but are familiar with his words and directions.  Being led by a shepherd also makes us one of a whole flock.  Sometimes this can be troubling; indeed it is not a great compliment to be called a "sheep."   Even though, as members of Christ's church, we have many essential things in common, we do not always have to behave in exactly the same way.  

Paragraph 1776 of the Catechism notes:  "Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths."

This voice calling could be rather like a shepherd.  It is interesting to think about what exactly we mean by conscience and how we develop a conscience.  Of course what ultimately makes us part of the flock is our willingness to follow the Good Shepherd and trust in him.  

^{Activities during the homily}

^{Look again at the Psalm - it is probably the most well loved psalm.  Draw out the images below:}

1.  fresh and green pastures

2.  the right path

3.  a banquet

4.  an overflowing cup

^{5.  the Lord's house}

^{Match these pictures with the verb phrases below:}

^{A.  drinking from}

^{B.  reposing in}

^{C.  dwelling in}

^{D.  being guided along}

^{E.  eating}  

^{All these activities are pleasant and comforting.  They are associated with caring and giving protection.  The psalmist says that even if he had to walk through "the valley of darkness" he would not be afraid.  This is what Jesus gives us as the Good Shepherd.  He gives us a confidence that we will be cared for and that with him we should not fear evil.}  

^{Extra Resources}

^{For a lovely rendition of Psalm 23 click on to youtube here. The more traditional version can be sung along to here.}  

<sup>I hope you have a good week.

Maria</sup>

12/7/15 Take nothing for the journey.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Statue of St Benedict at Ampleforth Abbey

This week a little liturgy focusses on discipleship and hospitality.  These themes were prompted by the today's gospel and the celebration of the feast of St Benedict yesterday.  If you are new, click on "Introducing a little liturgy" to find out more.  N.B. this post is a week early - if you are looking for resources for 14th Sunday in Ordinary time, please scroll down.

Summary of Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Amos 7:12-15
The priest, Amaziah rejects the prophet Amos and tells him to leave the area.  However, Amos says that he was chosen by God and left his job as a shepherd when God said, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel.  

Psalm 84
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.  

Second Reading
Ephesians 1:3-14
St Paul tells us that we are blessed and that we should become God's adopted children.  He also reminds us that Jesus shed his blood so that we may be free. 
 
Gospel
Mark 6:7-13
This week we see Jesus sending his disciples out in pairs to preach repentance for sins and heal their problems.  He said that they would not need money or possessions but that they were to rely on the hospitality of others.  

Discussion

Last week we heard that Jesus was rejected in his own homeland and today we see an Old Testament prophet, "Amos", being rejected by a local priest.   In the Gospel, Jesus advises the disciples to walk away from those who will not listen and "shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them."  

It is not always easy to preach God's word and it is not always easy to accept it.  Jesus tells his disciples to accept hospitality and "take nothing for the journey except a staff".  He knows that their job will not be easy but wants them to trust in God to provide shelter and people who will listen.  

As a young nobleman, St Benedict was disgusted by the way the rich lived and were obsessed with possessions.  When he wrote the rules for his monastery he said, "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ".   Today, Benedictine monasteries still have guesthouses and welcome people from all walks of life.  

Activity during Homily

When we say that we believe in Christ we are welcoming him into our lives and offering him hospitality.  We do not want him to walk away disappointed.  

When a friend visits us:

1.  We greet them 
2.  We apologise if we have upset them
3.  We listen to what they have to say
4.  We share a meal
5.  We honour them
6.  We say thank you

The experience of being in church for Mass is rather like offering hospitality to Christ.  He is bringing us great news and gifts.  We offer him hospitality in our lives and we are able to do this in a special way through the Mass.  

See if you can link the parts of the Mass below to the actions above:

A.  The Gloria
B.  The Introductory Rite
C.  The Liturgy of the Word
D.  Prayers after Communion
E.  The Confiteor (I confess...)
F.  Holy Communion

When we receive Holy Communion we are united to Christ in a very close way.  Look at the prayer below:

"Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."  This is said before communion and acknowledges that our hospitality is not always good but that we trust in God. (Link to story of centurion below.)   

Even the apostle were not always good at offering Christ hospitality.  They sometimes lacked understanding, were afraid, fell asleep or even denied that they knew Jesus.  Make a list of things in your life that make it difficult for you to offer Christ hospitality. 

Other activities and resources

Click here to find out more about St Benedict.  And here to watch an informative youtube video.

You might also like to listen to some modern Benedictine monks at prayer here.

Read more about the Gospel story of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant - you can find it in St Matthew's Gospel, Chp.8.  

I hope you have found something helpful this week.  
Maria

5/7/15 For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome back to a little liturgy.  This week's focus is on St Paul and his work.  After a shaky start, he became a great missionary and travelled widely around the Mediterranean sea.  Perhaps this week is a good opportunity to think of the difficulties that people who live in this area are having at the moment and to keep them in our prayers.  I hope you find something useful this week.  Please click on "introducing a little liturgy" if you are new!  

Summary of Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Ezekiel  2:2-5
Ezekiel tells how he is sent by God to the Israelites who have become obstinate.  God says to him that the Israelites "shall know that there is a prophet among them".

Psalm 122
Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Second reading
2Corinthians 12:7-10
St Paul tells us that he feels very privileged to have heard God's special words but that he could get a bit too arrogant about it.  He says that God has given him a "thorn in the flesh" or an "angel of Satan" to stop him from getting too proud.  He is happy to have this problem because, as he says, "it is when I am weak that I am strong".

Gospel
Mark 6:1-6
Jesus went to his home town to preach but the people were suspicious as he had grown up there.  They were too familiar with him and could not respect him or believe in his words.  Jesus said "A prophet is only despised in his own country among his own relations and in his own house."

Discussion

Last week, we celebrated the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul but focused a little more on Peter than Paul.  This week, we hear St Paul talk about a problem that he has.  Interestingly, he uses two metaphors to describe it but does not ever describe it in a straightforward way.  This could suggest that he is too embarrassed to talk about it or that his immediate audience already knew what it was.  Over the years, many scholars have suggested what it might be.  Some say that he struggled with belief, some that it was a physical illness and some say that he had difficulty controlling anger.  Others suggest that it was a reference to the difficulties he experienced in life.

St Paul says "it is when I am weak that I am strong".  Many things about being a Christian seem contradictory.  To many people, Jesus was not the sort of Messiah they were looking for.  They thought that someone would come and fight for them to be free from Roman rule.  They might well have viewed Jesus as weak.  However, even though in human terms he appeared weak and was crucified, he conquered death and demonstrated the power of God.  St Paul tells us that he has a problem to deal with and he finds strength in fighting against it and following the word of God.  


Activity during Homily

1)  Draw a picture of a "thorn in the flesh". 

This is clearly an unpleasant image.  It makes us think of pain and being hurt.   

Now draw two images that make you think of pleasant feelings and being close to God.  You might choose a rose in contrast to a thorn and another thing that makes you feel safe and happy.  Look around your church for some inspiration.  Sometimes symbols can help us express feelings and ideas more clearly than words.

2)  St Paul wrote many letters to people after he had visited them to remind them about the important things that Jesus taught.

Make a list of 5 things that you consider are important to know about Jesus and his teaching.  You could look in the Creed if you need some help.  

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Jesus left us the Church to help us deal with the "thorns" that we encounter in life.  One could say that St Paul himself started as a thorn in the flesh of the Church but then turned into a positive influence!

Other Activities and Resources

A)  Click  here for a lighthearted account of some of the difficulties that Paul encountered and here for another lighthearted account of where he went. 

B)  For the more serious minded, click here to view artwork based on St Paul's conversion story and read more about him here.

I hope you all have a good week.  

Maria