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Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

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Daily Scripture

+ 3rd Week in Lent

We are guided by perennial truths and live by perennial values.

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 Matthew 5:17-19

Teach them to your children and to your children’s children. [Deuteronomy 4:9]

Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. [Matthew 5:17]

Indeed, Jesus did not abolish the ancient law and prophets. The ‘rule of law’ remains in effect and contain perennial truths to guide us as we make our way along life’s journey.. It is true that the commandments are summed up in the law of love – love of God and love of neighbor.

Though we begin each day with the firm intention to live that law of love, it is not as simple as it sounds in the midst of confusing realities and conflicting values. Instead of telling the truth, we often slip into prevarication to hide the truth. Some politicians are good at this and not a few churchmen have been guilty of the same. On one hand, few people hold us accountable when we tell someone we love her new hat though in truth we may consider it the most ugly hat we have ever seen. On the other had, integrity makes greater demands on our moral comportment. Respect for the goods, rights, services and property of others, public or private is very demanding and is rooted in the fifth and seventh commandments and the list goes on.

A friend of mine starts his day with a wonderful ritual. Making the sign of the cross on his forehead, his heart and his lips he prays, “Lord, help me to think good thoughts of my neighbor, to speak well of others and to have positive feelings that lead to good deeds.” Amen!

PS At the conclusion of Mass this morning, I acknowledged that women do not wear hats any longer so I suggested replacing it with, “I love your new wig”… then I thought in the interests of gender equality, I should have added “hair piece.”

A bit of humor in the midst of a challenging day can help to make our burden’s lighter.

Holy Thursday 2009

Thursday April 9, 2009

+ Holy Thursday

The ‘eighth commandment.’

Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15.

After he had finished washing their feet and had once again put on his outer garments, he reclined at table and said to them, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example. What I have done for you, you should also do. [John 13:12-15]

As a pastor, the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is the most soul-stirring liturgy of the entire year because it dramatizes not only the gift of Jesus life given in bread and wine to the apostles and to the Church down to our age, but it also epitomizes what the life of the Christian should be at the table of humanity.

I have read somewhere that the ‘washing of the feet’ or the ‘mandatum’ as it is called in the ritual, was close to being instituted as a sacrament. It certainly is sacramental – an occasion of grace that inspires us to be and do hat we ritualize at worship.

In a survey on expectations of the faithful for priests conducted several years ago, more than any other quality the faithful look for in their pastors is spiritual depth.

That’s a tall order – one that stretches me, as I’m sure it does all priests. On the other hand, I have been inspired and energized over and over again by so many ‘lay priests’ in the pew. In fact, the spirituality of the priest is rooted in the faith of the people in the pew. After all, it is baptism that unites all of us – women and men – baptized into the common priesthood of Christ.

Jesus’ instruction to his apostles to wash the feet of others was meant for every disciple, not just the ‘Twelve.’ This was more than a gesture to inspire. It was indeed a ‘mandatum,’ a command to do as he did.

Washing the feet of others can include anything from a spiritual or corporal work of mercy to the taking of a concrete positive action to change an oppressive political, economic or ecclesiastical system.

The people of L’Aquila in Italy know of what I speak. What can be a more dramatic observance of this sacred day than the rescue of someone buried beneath the rubble of an earthquake?

And what about the people who are building homes and installing fresh water supplies for the people in Guatemala? And what of the many people who bring healing to those afflicted with physical or mental illness?

The Eucharist was the setting for the washing of the feet because it is in the bread of Eucharist that we are joined as sisters and brothers in Christ becoming in fact, the bread that we eat. We are the Body of Christ. Amen.