+JMJ+
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Howdy,
Some time ago, after my husband Bill died (please pray for the repose of his soul…thanks!) I went on a cruise. It was wonderful! In — I think it was Barbados — I got off and headed toward what looked like a jolly picnic hosted by some of my fellow cruisers.
It wasn't all that "jolly." It was a Support Group…for Lottery Winners!
Can you imagine? A bunch of people helping each other through the trauma involved with becoming instant millionaires! As a new widow, escaping, for the time being, anyway, the dread of wondering how I was going to even pay for this cruise (I did, don't worry!), I couldn't help myself…I crashed the party.
And got an earful! Among all the groans and sorrows of these people, one statement, from a lady, sticks in my mind:
"My family is looking forward to my death."
Enough for me…I left the party and took refuge on the beach. But I thought about this group tonight on the way home from a terrific session.
Sunday's First Reading…
…can be, if not reading the entire Book of Ecclesiastes, interpreted as simply: "Life Sucks. And Then You Die."
There's so much more to this Book! Do, if you get a chance, read the whole thing. But also? Read — no devour! -- Sunday's First Reading. It'll prep you right good for the Gospel…and not, incidentally, Saint Paul's Epistle!
"Seek the things that are above" we thought, is pretty much the theme this Sunday.
The "Rich Fool" was a lottery winner.
He didn't need the extra dough. We know this because in Jesus' parable, we learn that he already had ample room to store his crops. But then God gave him more. And he didn't get the memo…just like the guy who asked Jesus to "settle" (that is, rule in his favor) the family relative's estate…just as we so often do not. I know I don't. Not always.
We need to remember that we can't take it with us when we leave this pilgrimage. Nor should we want to! Because if we play our cards right — meaning if we live our lives right — these beautiful gifts that God has given us this day needn't be, as good old Qoheleth says, just a "vanity."
Hey, we prayed for you! Please remember us in your prayers, including,
Your humble scribe,
Kelly <--extra br="" coming="" stuff="" up="">
~~~~~
Basil the Great: What do we find in this man? A bitter disposition, hatred of other people, unwillingness to give. This is the return he made to his Benefactor. He forgot that we all share the same nature; he felt no obligation to distribute his surplus to the needy. His barns were full to the bursting point, but still his miserly heart was not satisfied. Year by year he increased his wealth, always adding new crops to the old. The result was a hopeless impasse: greed would not permit him to part with anything he possessed… You who have wealth, recognize who has given you the gifts you have received…You are the servant of the good God, a steward on behalf of your fellow servants. Do not imagine that everything has been provided for your own stomach. Take decisions regarding your property as though it belonged to another. Possessions give you pleasure for a short time, but then they will slip through your fingers and be gone, and you will be required to give an exact account of them. “What am I to do?” It would have been so easy to say: “I will feed the hungry, I will open my barns and call in all the poor…” (Basil, Homilies on Riches [trans. E. Barnecut], p. 104-105)
# # #
Points to Ponder, by Doctor Scott Hahn
The Fool’s Vanity
Trust in God - as the Rock of our salvation, as the Lord who made us His chosen people, as our shepherd and guide. This should be the mark of our following of Jesus.
Like the Israelites we recall in this week’s Psalm, we have made an exodus, passing through the waters of Baptism, freeing us from our bondage to sin. We too are on a pilgrimage to a promised homeland, the Lord in our midst, feeding us heavenly bread, giving us living waters to drink (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
We must take care to guard against the folly that befell the Israelites, that led them to quarrel and test God’s goodness at Meribah and Massah.
We can harden our hearts in ways more subtle but no less ruinous. We can put our trust in possessions, squabble over earthly inheritances, kid ourselves that what we have we deserve, store up treasures and think they’ll afford us security, rest.
All this is “vanity of vanities,” a false and deadly way of living, as this week’s First Reading tells us.
This is the greed that Jesus warns against in this week’s Gospel. The rich man’s anxiety and toil expose his lack of faith in God’s care and provision. That’s why Paul calls greed “idolatry” in the Epistle this week. Mistaking having for being, possession for existence, we forget that God is the giver of all that we have, we exalt the things we can make or buy over our Maker (see Romans 1:25).
Jesus calls the rich man a “fool” - a word used in the Old Testament for someone who rebels against God or has forgotten Him (see Psalm 14:1).
We should treasure most the new life we have been given in Christ and seek what is above, the promised inheritance of heaven. We have to see all things in the light of eternity, mindful that He who gives us the breath of life could at any moment - this night even - demand it back from us.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
LOL with Scripture (Bible Study Recap)
+JMJ+
Saint Sharbel Maklof
Flashback to about 2,000 + years ago…
[insert dreamlike harp music here]
Kid: "Daddy! I'm HUNGRY! Please fix me an egg!"
Dad: (eyes on his scroll)…"What's that son?"
Kid: "I wanna EGG! I wanna EGG!"
Dad: (absently reaching into his robe) "Here ya go, son."
Kid: "EWWW…this ain't no egg! It's a SCORPION!"
Dad: (hunting for the sports page) "Uh-huh, ask your mother to fix it for you…"
SHEESH! If anybody doesn't crack up at this Sunday's First and Second Readings, there's a humor deficit here!
'Course the whole theme is prayer…but a beautifully put, laced with humor, sort of lesson.
"Take Abraham…PLEASE!" :-)
A rabbi once told me that Genesis 18:20-32 was the first official recording of chutzpah ever. Reading it, reflecting on it, putting ourselves in the center of this marvelous conversation, we weren't convinced that Rabbi Ben was right…funny though it was, and is.
The thing is, Abraham, as Catherine wisely pointed out, trusted God. And, if you haven't done it yet, try to put yourself in the scene of this conversation…yes, life and death was at stake, but how beautiful it must have been to amble along with God, making, or trying to make, a deal. As Pat remarked: "God was pleased with Abraham's concern."
Prayer shouldn't, perhaps, always be "fun." But it should always be filled with love, and comfort, and yes, often, humorous. It is, or should be, an intimate encounter with Abba…our Dad…Our Father.
A wonderful session, all around. If you want some good stuff on this Sunday's Readings, shoot me an email and I'll send you a PDF of Dr. Brant Pitre's commentary.
And good news!
Russell's a GRANDPA! Little Russell Nelson was born to his daughter Maria last week!
Pray for us…we pray for you all the time.
Your humble scribe,
Kelly
~~~~~~
The Catechism on “Unanswered” Prayer
“In the first place, we ought to be astonished by this fact: when we praise God or give him thanks for his benefits in general, we are not particularly concerned whether or not our prayer is acceptable to him. On the other hand, we demand to see the results of our petitions. What is the image of God that motivates our prayer: an instrument to be used? or the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are we asking God for `what is good for us'? Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants. (CCC 2735-36)
# # #
Points to Ponder, by Doctor Scott Hahn
Asked and Answered
Though we be “but dust and ashes,” we can presume to draw near and speak boldly to our Lord, as Abraham dares in this week’s First Reading. But even Abraham - the friend of God (see Isaiah 41:8), our father in the faith (see Romans 4:12) - did not know the intimacy that we know as children of Abraham, heirs of the blessings promised to his descendants (see Galatians 3:7,29).
The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to His disciples in this week’s Gospel, is the living relationship of beloved sons and daughters with their heavenly Father. Our prayer is pure gift, made possible by the “good gift” of the Father - the Holy Spirit of His Son. It is the fruit of the New Covenant by which we are made children of God in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 4:6-7; Romans 8:15-16).
Through the Spirit given to us in Baptism, we can cry to Him as our Father - knowing that when we call He will answer.
Jesus teaches His disciples to persist in their prayer, as Abraham persisted in begging God’s mercy for the innocent of Sodom and Gomorrah.
For the sake of the one just Man, Jesus, God spared the city of man from destruction (see Jeremiah 5:1; Isaiah 53), “obliterating the bond against us,” as Paul says in this week’s Epistle.
On the Cross, Jesus bore the guilt of us all, canceled the debt we owed to God, the death we deserved to die for our transgressions. We pray as ones who have been spared, visited in our affliction, saved from our enemies.
We pray always a prayer of thanksgiving, which is the literal meaning of Eucharist. We have realized the promise of this week’s Psalm: We worship in His holy temple, in the presence of angels, hallowing His name.
In confidence we ask, knowing that we will receive, that He will bring to completion what He has done for us - raising us from the dead, bringing us to everlasting life along with Him.
Saint Sharbel Maklof
Flashback to about 2,000 + years ago…
[insert dreamlike harp music here]
Kid: "Daddy! I'm HUNGRY! Please fix me an egg!"
Dad: (eyes on his scroll)…"What's that son?"
Kid: "I wanna EGG! I wanna EGG!"
Dad: (absently reaching into his robe) "Here ya go, son."
Kid: "EWWW…this ain't no egg! It's a SCORPION!"
Dad: (hunting for the sports page) "Uh-huh, ask your mother to fix it for you…"
SHEESH! If anybody doesn't crack up at this Sunday's First and Second Readings, there's a humor deficit here!
'Course the whole theme is prayer…but a beautifully put, laced with humor, sort of lesson.
"Take Abraham…PLEASE!" :-)
A rabbi once told me that Genesis 18:20-32 was the first official recording of chutzpah ever. Reading it, reflecting on it, putting ourselves in the center of this marvelous conversation, we weren't convinced that Rabbi Ben was right…funny though it was, and is.
The thing is, Abraham, as Catherine wisely pointed out, trusted God. And, if you haven't done it yet, try to put yourself in the scene of this conversation…yes, life and death was at stake, but how beautiful it must have been to amble along with God, making, or trying to make, a deal. As Pat remarked: "God was pleased with Abraham's concern."
Prayer shouldn't, perhaps, always be "fun." But it should always be filled with love, and comfort, and yes, often, humorous. It is, or should be, an intimate encounter with Abba…our Dad…Our Father.
A wonderful session, all around. If you want some good stuff on this Sunday's Readings, shoot me an email and I'll send you a PDF of Dr. Brant Pitre's commentary.
And good news!
Russell's a GRANDPA! Little Russell Nelson was born to his daughter Maria last week!
Pray for us…we pray for you all the time.
Your humble scribe,
Kelly
~~~~~~
The Catechism on “Unanswered” Prayer
“In the first place, we ought to be astonished by this fact: when we praise God or give him thanks for his benefits in general, we are not particularly concerned whether or not our prayer is acceptable to him. On the other hand, we demand to see the results of our petitions. What is the image of God that motivates our prayer: an instrument to be used? or the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are we asking God for `what is good for us'? Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants. (CCC 2735-36)
# # #
Points to Ponder, by Doctor Scott Hahn
Asked and Answered
Though we be “but dust and ashes,” we can presume to draw near and speak boldly to our Lord, as Abraham dares in this week’s First Reading. But even Abraham - the friend of God (see Isaiah 41:8), our father in the faith (see Romans 4:12) - did not know the intimacy that we know as children of Abraham, heirs of the blessings promised to his descendants (see Galatians 3:7,29).
The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to His disciples in this week’s Gospel, is the living relationship of beloved sons and daughters with their heavenly Father. Our prayer is pure gift, made possible by the “good gift” of the Father - the Holy Spirit of His Son. It is the fruit of the New Covenant by which we are made children of God in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 4:6-7; Romans 8:15-16).
Through the Spirit given to us in Baptism, we can cry to Him as our Father - knowing that when we call He will answer.
Jesus teaches His disciples to persist in their prayer, as Abraham persisted in begging God’s mercy for the innocent of Sodom and Gomorrah.
For the sake of the one just Man, Jesus, God spared the city of man from destruction (see Jeremiah 5:1; Isaiah 53), “obliterating the bond against us,” as Paul says in this week’s Epistle.
On the Cross, Jesus bore the guilt of us all, canceled the debt we owed to God, the death we deserved to die for our transgressions. We pray as ones who have been spared, visited in our affliction, saved from our enemies.
We pray always a prayer of thanksgiving, which is the literal meaning of Eucharist. We have realized the promise of this week’s Psalm: We worship in His holy temple, in the presence of angels, hallowing His name.
In confidence we ask, knowing that we will receive, that He will bring to completion what He has done for us - raising us from the dead, bringing us to everlasting life along with Him.
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
What's Love Got to Do with It? (Bible Study Recap)
+JMJ+
Howdy, neighbor! :-)
First? Please, in your charity (or mercy or love) keep Maureen Hall, Maureen Sullivan, and all the Bible Study Buddies in your prayers…we pray for you all the time. Thanks!
Actually, "love," or "charity" or "mercy" has everything to do with it, as the Readings for this Sunday emphasize:
Deuteronomy 30:10-14: The Commandments of God (Only you know? Read the whole chapter…it's short.)
Psalm 69—Turn to the Lord in Your Need
OR
Psalm 199—Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Col 1:15-20—The First Born of Creation
Luke 10:25-37—The Good Samaritan
Praise God, it was a great session tonight!
Except Pat was LATE!!!
Pat's never late. Other people are late but Pat never is!!! Sure, she messaged me and all that, but still — she was LATE!!! Sheesh!
I found out, on the way home, why…
She was helping out a friend — a subway musician — he needed help — before trotting over to the Pru. Good for Pat! (And…uh…bad for me for even wondering why she was late. This is a frequent fault of mine.)
And…I was determined to go into tonight's session with evidence — EVIDENCE! -- to PROVE that the priest and the Levite were wrong, wrong, wrong!
That was wrong of me…the whole point of the Law, as Moses tells us in Sunday's First Reading? It isn't rocket science! It doesn't require all sorts of lawyers and apologists and brainy folks (not that there's anything wrong with thinking and reasoning) to figure out the difference between right and wrong. We're gifted with that ability. It's simple — maybe not easy but simple.
Wish we could've gotten into Paul's Epistle…but we were so into what God was saying to us, we forgot about the time. If you'd like the notes, please shoot me an email.
May God continue to bless you.
Oremus pro invicem!
Your humble scribe,
Kelly <---good br="" coming="" for="" reading="" stuff="" thank="" up="" you="">
~~~~~
The Living Tradition
Catechism: Christ died out of love for us, while we were still “enemies” (Rom 5:10). The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself. (CCC 1825)
Augustine: “The whole human race, you see, is that man who was lying on the road, left there by bandits half dead, who was ignored by the passing priest and Levite, while the passing Samaritan stopped by him to take care of him and help him….In this Samaritan the Lord Jesus Christ wanted us to understand himself.” (Augustine, Sermons 171.2; trans. E. Hill, cited in Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, p. 213).
Howdy, neighbor! :-)
First? Please, in your charity (or mercy or love) keep Maureen Hall, Maureen Sullivan, and all the Bible Study Buddies in your prayers…we pray for you all the time. Thanks!
Actually, "love," or "charity" or "mercy" has everything to do with it, as the Readings for this Sunday emphasize:
Deuteronomy 30:10-14: The Commandments of God (Only you know? Read the whole chapter…it's short.)
Psalm 69—Turn to the Lord in Your Need
OR
Psalm 199—Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Col 1:15-20—The First Born of Creation
Luke 10:25-37—The Good Samaritan
Praise God, it was a great session tonight!
Except Pat was LATE!!!
Pat's never late. Other people are late but Pat never is!!! Sure, she messaged me and all that, but still — she was LATE!!! Sheesh!
I found out, on the way home, why…
She was helping out a friend — a subway musician — he needed help — before trotting over to the Pru. Good for Pat! (And…uh…bad for me for even wondering why she was late. This is a frequent fault of mine.)
And…I was determined to go into tonight's session with evidence — EVIDENCE! -- to PROVE that the priest and the Levite were wrong, wrong, wrong!
That was wrong of me…the whole point of the Law, as Moses tells us in Sunday's First Reading? It isn't rocket science! It doesn't require all sorts of lawyers and apologists and brainy folks (not that there's anything wrong with thinking and reasoning) to figure out the difference between right and wrong. We're gifted with that ability. It's simple — maybe not easy but simple.
Wish we could've gotten into Paul's Epistle…but we were so into what God was saying to us, we forgot about the time. If you'd like the notes, please shoot me an email.
May God continue to bless you.
Oremus pro invicem!
Your humble scribe,
Kelly <---good br="" coming="" for="" reading="" stuff="" thank="" up="" you="">
~~~~~
The Living Tradition
Catechism: Christ died out of love for us, while we were still “enemies” (Rom 5:10). The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself. (CCC 1825)
Augustine: “The whole human race, you see, is that man who was lying on the road, left there by bandits half dead, who was ignored by the passing priest and Levite, while the passing Samaritan stopped by him to take care of him and help him….In this Samaritan the Lord Jesus Christ wanted us to understand himself.” (Augustine, Sermons 171.2; trans. E. Hill, cited in Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, p. 213).
Tuesday, July 09, 2019
Hey, hey, Mister Shea, know I love you anyway!
+JMJ+
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
Hey, Mark Shea,
Now what in blue blazes are you up to now? Seems like you got some Catholic folk so all fired up, they're shoving beans up their gosh darn noses, they are!
If I recall, the last time we communicated, it was when that "apologetic" guy -- did I get that right? -- put up some dang fool post on Facebook (silly pastime, when you get right down to it, but helpful...staying in touch with family and all 'n spreadin' the Word) saying you was dead for Heaven's sake! Well, if you recall, I didn't have much truck with that and told him so...ain't heard from him since.
Anyway, what I did was -- and this was 'way before the above incident happened -- I did some finagling with that Facebook thing and made darn sure I wasn't hit by your darn fool (that's just my opinion, Mark...you know no disrespect is intended) barrages against me and my kin (who am I kiddin'? Not kin, 'cept for my husband) who did vote for the President, Donald Trump. I didn't do what they call "unfriend" (silly word, ain't it?) you, no not at all! Just fixed it so I wouldn't be socked every second I went on the app for voting for the man. (Hey, one day let's get together and talk about this guy...or maybe not, if you're not willing. No offense taken.)
So, here's what I'm befuddled about...why in God's green earth are they up in arms agin ya now? 'Course, I could go back and read everything you've written in the past couple years, but man, I've gotta work and you are a prolific writer, ain't you?
Proud o' you for that, by the way.
Anyway, I've been reading that you're:
A. Insane
B. In Need of Prayers (which, while a nice sentiment, is also what folks tend to say when they disagree with a body) :-)
C. A Prophet (well, I pity the fool who said that, sheesh!) :-)
D. Insane (guess I mentioned this before)
So, my friend, I end as I started...what in tarnation are you doing now? You know how to reach me, if you want to.
Meantime? Much love to you and your folks.
Kelly
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
Hey, Mark Shea,
Now what in blue blazes are you up to now? Seems like you got some Catholic folk so all fired up, they're shoving beans up their gosh darn noses, they are!
If I recall, the last time we communicated, it was when that "apologetic" guy -- did I get that right? -- put up some dang fool post on Facebook (silly pastime, when you get right down to it, but helpful...staying in touch with family and all 'n spreadin' the Word) saying you was dead for Heaven's sake! Well, if you recall, I didn't have much truck with that and told him so...ain't heard from him since.
Anyway, what I did was -- and this was 'way before the above incident happened -- I did some finagling with that Facebook thing and made darn sure I wasn't hit by your darn fool (that's just my opinion, Mark...you know no disrespect is intended) barrages against me and my kin (who am I kiddin'? Not kin, 'cept for my husband) who did vote for the President, Donald Trump. I didn't do what they call "unfriend" (silly word, ain't it?) you, no not at all! Just fixed it so I wouldn't be socked every second I went on the app for voting for the man. (Hey, one day let's get together and talk about this guy...or maybe not, if you're not willing. No offense taken.)
So, here's what I'm befuddled about...why in God's green earth are they up in arms agin ya now? 'Course, I could go back and read everything you've written in the past couple years, but man, I've gotta work and you are a prolific writer, ain't you?
Proud o' you for that, by the way.
Anyway, I've been reading that you're:
A. Insane
B. In Need of Prayers (which, while a nice sentiment, is also what folks tend to say when they disagree with a body) :-)
C. A Prophet (well, I pity the fool who said that, sheesh!) :-)
D. Insane (guess I mentioned this before)
So, my friend, I end as I started...what in tarnation are you doing now? You know how to reach me, if you want to.
Meantime? Much love to you and your folks.
Kelly
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