Meditation on May 15, 2016 readings ~ Pentecost Sunday

Meditation on May 15, 2016 readings ~ Pentecost Sunday

 

Direct Link to Audio File : Meditation on May 15, 2016 readings ~ Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Sunday

Reading 1 Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Or Rom 8:8-17

Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Sequence – Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Or Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

 

From Our Pastor ~ May 15, 2016

From Our Pastor ~ May 15, 2016

Dear Good People of Saint Mary,

I have lately found myself in the middle of a conundrum. It is a good word, actually, it is defined as “a confusing and difficult problem or question.” It has to do with how we address the reality of noise as well as noisy children at Mass.

It is noticeable, how much louder we have become at Mass. For many this is distressing, especially the older members of the parish who grew up with the  understanding that the Lord’s house was a place of reverence and prayer. Only the lightest whispers were ever allowed, and then only if somebody was in danger of death. This was also the way I was raised. There was no such thing as a mobile phone, so anything having to do with beeping, chirping or rock-and roll sounds coming from pocketed devices wasn’t part of the picture. The only things we could bring to church as children were religious picture books, I guess. Actually, I don’t think my parents even brought us to church until we were old enough to know it was a special place.

Today’s world is a confusing and difficult place, and I guess the church isn’t excluded, as much as we would like it to be a refuge from all that. At Saint Mary we have tried several things, and I write about it a couple of times a year in the bulletin. Here I’m not talking about the normal level of sound that just comes with a roomful of people. There are some Sundays that there is a hum of conversation during Holy Communion audible over the singing!

Apparently some have now said that Saint Mary is unwelcoming to families. By many others, I’m criticized for not saying enough about it. I understand the particular challenges parents have, and have repeatedly said nothing about it because I don’t want to alienate anyone. Now it seems that since I have stayed silent about it some parishioners have decided they can help me out by shaming parents as they leave Mass for not being more in control of their children, leaving notes on their cars, letting them know they have failed, etc.

So I have a few observations and suggestions, this is about the best I can offer.

1. It is too loud in church, it seems to be getting louder. Lately when I have presided at Mass, more Masses than not, I have had to stop momentarily, realizing that I’m not even thinking about the prayers. The priest, if anybody, has to be thinking about the prayers, right? Instead, I find myself wondering why nobody is doing anything about the distraction. Then I start thinking about how everyone else in the church must not be praying either. Can it be a Mass if nobody is praying? All these things are going through my head and I’m just still saying the words. I have to stop for a moment, reset my own thoughts, refocus, and hope that everyone else can, too. It is not an effort to shame anyone, I am just trying to focus. Especially sometimes during a homily. It’s like the slate wipes clean and I have to figure out where I was.

2. In charity, we have to find ways to encourage one another with kindness, and behave appropriately. Parents, please realize that you are surrounded by people, like you, who are trying to pray. People who are trying to pray, be patient. Refocus. Mostly it is just a momentary thing. Provide encouragement. If you are accusing or reprimanding anyone after Mass, stop it, particularly if you think it is somehow helpful.

3. For those who find themselves going regularly to the same Masses, get to know the people who are around you. A simple encounter and a little conversation can bridge the divide in a challenging moment. Introduce yourselves to families with small children, and as you get to know one another maybe parents will allow you to help them in difficult moments. Maybe even a friendship can develop. Above all, approach one another with reverence.

4. Finally, and I know I’ve said this so many times before, do not use the cry room unless your child is crying. It is not a play area. It is not a room provided for you to get away from the crowd. If nobody is crying, it should be completely empty. It is not general seating for overflow crowds. In this way there is a place where crying people (I guess this would include adults who are crying, too) can go, get past it, and return to the assembly where they belong, with us.

Hope this helps a little, I leave it to you.

God bless you.

Fr. Don

March 8, 2015
Express Announcements ~ May 15, 2016

Express Announcements ~ May 15, 2016

* The second collection this weekend is the Diocesan Retired Priests’ Collection. This collection aids in caring for our retired priests who have served our diocese so faithfully over the years. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

* A special Evening Prayer (Vespers) for Pentecost will be celebrated tonight, May 15, following the 7:01pm Sunday Mass. Join us for a beautiful solemn Vespers led by our youth choir as we close the Easter Season and return to Ordinary Time.

* Fredericksburg’s annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is hosted this year by Christ Lutheran Church, Monday, May 16 at 7pm (two blocks from Saint Mary on Augustine Street). Please join our city’s prayer.

* We will have so mulch fun on Tuesday, May 17, starting at 5:30pm behind the Parish Life Center as we have our spring mulch event, followed by pizza and age-appropriate beverages! Looking for a family service night? This is perfect. Bring your tools (wheelbarrows, especially). Thanks so mulch!

* Join us as we celebrate the arts at Saint Mary with our next free Organ Concert Friday, May 20 at 8pm in the Church, with master organist Benjamin LaPrairie from the Basilica in Washington DC. Reception follows.

* Mark your calendars: Our PARISH PICNIC at Holy Cross Academy is Sunday, June 12 in the afternoon.

* Click here for Mass, Confession and Devotions Schedules

Meditation on May 8, 2016 readings

Meditation on May 8, 2016 readings

 

Direct link to Audio File : Meditation on May 8, 2016 readings

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for “the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”When they had gathered together they asked him,
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Eph 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might:
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that men and women die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have Aa great priest over the house of God, “
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

Alleluia Mt 28:19a, 20b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.”Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple praising God.