Word of God Sunday

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – THE SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD

With the promulgation of his Apostolic Letter (Motu Proprio), Aperuit Illis, on September 30, 2019, Pope Francis has announced that, going forward, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (this Sunday) is to be celebrated as The Sunday of the Word of God as a way to reflect on the importance of the Word of God for everyday living.  The Holy Father cites how various local Churches have sought to “make Sacred Scripture (Bible) more accessible to believers, to increase their gratitude for so great a gift, and to help them strive daily to embody and bear witness to its teachings.”  He encourages people to read the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum of the Second Vatican Council, which expounds the nature of Sacred Scripture, its transmission from generation to generation, its divine inspiration embracing the Old and New Testaments, and the importance of Scripture for the life of the Church.  We believe that even though the Bible speaks about times gone by, we believe it is the Living Word of God, which contains truths, which we are to live by.  God speaks to us in His Living Word.  “The Bible cannot be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books for the benefit of a privileged few.  It belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves in its words…  The Bible is the book of the Lord’s people, who, in listening to it, move from dispersion and division towards unity.  The word of God unites believers and makes them one people.” 

How have you made the Word of God in the Bible an important part of your life – both by paying close attention to the Scriptures proclaimed at Mass and by reading a portion of Sacred Scripture in your daily personal prayer?  Have you ever taken advantage of opportunities to learn about the Bible?   There are Catholic Bible commentaries available, Bible study opportunities here at Holy Family and elsewhere, and Scripture reflection booklets we make available to parishioners seasonally that help unpack the meaning of Bible passages.  “When Sacred Scripture is read in light of the same Spirit whom it was written, it remains ever new.  The Old Testament is never old once it is part of the New, since all has been transformed thanks to the one Spirit who inspired it.  The sacred text as a whole serves a prophetic function regarding not the future but the present of whoever is nourished by the word.  Jesus himself clearly stated this at the beginning of his ministry: ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4:4:21).  Those who draw daily nourishment from God’s word become, like Jesus, a contemporary of all those whom they encounter: they are not tempted to fall into sterile nostalgia for the past, or to dream of ethereal utopias yet to come.  Sacred Scripture accomplishes its prophetic work above all in those who listen to it.”  The pope acknowledges that the message can be both inviting to hear and challenging as well.  If it isn’t already, make the reading of the Word of God an important part of your spiritual life.  Our priests, deacon and Faith Formation staff members are ready to help you get started.

You can read the full text of the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter at http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20190930_aperuit-illis.html.

Reflection by: Fr. Bob

2020 Vision: Love, Peace, Joy & a Smile

I like to begin each New Year by taking one final look at the faces and messages on each of the Christmas cards that I’ve received before putting them away. In so doing I noticed that the same three words kept repeating over and over again: love, peace and joy. 

January is a time where I try and create a spiritual vision for the year ahead, try to remember to change the batteries in our smoke detectors, and lastly try to schedule my yearly eye exam making sure that my physical vision remains clear. In thinking about vision and about this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm “here I am Lord: I come to do your will”, I began to wonder what is God’s vision for me, His will for me in this New Year? 

Last night while I was watching the unsettling evening news a commercial came on that I had never seen before.  It was an advertisement for batteries, yes batteries. But it was the message of the commercial that was so amazing.  The commercial showed a number of animated people in different difficult situations:  a car accident, parents arguing and children fighting.   The people involved were transformed from their anger by a stream of hearts which came flooding over them bringing with it love, peace and joy transforming them into happier people.

Then the commercial got even better when the words “We need more of God’s love, so we can love one another right now” came across the entire TV screen!  I couldn’t believe it!  What a simple yet clear message the world needs to hear.  I agree, we do need more of God’s love, and the sooner the better. Such a simple yet clear vision for us as we begin this New Year, to love one another right now! 

We can come to do God’s will by flooding love, peace, joy and a smile into difficult or challenging situations daily. Pope Frances said “we need to share our smile with the world, because a smile is the flower of the heart.” St. Mother Theresa also said “peace begins with a smile and let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”      May your 2020 vision be filled with love, peace, joy and a smile.


Reflection by Colleen Larose

Rubber Tree Plant

As I was contemplating the end of this decade and the state of the world, I read the words from Matthew when Jesus responded to John who protested that he should not baptize Jesus, but it should be the other way around: “...it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

When I listen to the news, I don’t hear much righteousness going on and wonder how God’s righteousness is to be fulfilled. By now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Boy, is she a slow learner or what?” Yes, it hit me that we, beginning with me, are going to make this fulfillment come about. Then I get overwhelmed by thinking about what a tall order this is. I just need to remember Matthew Kelly’s advise to take one “holy moment” at a time and keep rolling those moments into more moments and more moment until we have a huge snowman of holy moments. I was very impressed by Kelly’s remark, “Our desire to see the world change is a desire to see the holy moments outweigh the unholy.” That is something I think I can wrap my head and arms around.

Of course that means I need to get busy making more holy moments. I know I could be more patient at the grocery checkout line. I mean, really! Why am I in such a hurry to rush home just to carry all the bags in and put the groceries away when I might have a nice conversation with someone else in line or the cashier? I don’t need to bore you with my list of where I can roll my holy moments because you probably already have your own thoughts and plans. And because you do, we can all have high hopes for a better world this year. We’ll put our hopes and faith in a resurrection from the unholy as we build our holy snowmen with Jesus. Such hopes remind me of Sinatra’s song about the ant and the rubber tree plant.

Just what makes that little old ant Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant Anyone knows an ant, can’t Move a rubber tree plant 

But he’s got high hopes He’s got high hopes He’s got high apple pie In the sky hopes So anytime you’re gettin’ low ‘Stead of lettin’ go, just remember that ant Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant Ooops, there goes another rubber tree plant.

Reflection by Linda Crowley

Home By Another Way

I can never hear this weekend’s gospel without thinking of James Taylor…wait, what?!   This weekend’s gospel tells of the Magi visiting Jesus and King Herod’s anxiety about a prophesy telling of a new ruler of the people of Israel.  So what could this possibly have to do with James Taylor?  Well, Taylor had an album out in the late 80’s called “Never Die Young”.  The title of the album featured a song of the same name and that song was the only charting hit from that album.  But I’m a Taylor fan and I did purchase the CD, yes that’s correct a “CD”, remember it was the late 80’s. One of the songs on that CD was titled “Home by Another Way”.  In the song Taylor and co writer Timothy Mayer wrote about this very gospel.  It’s almost as though it was a poem of the story of the Magi and looming threats from King Herod.  It’s cleverly written as they describe the wise men visiting Jesus and enjoying their stay but “warned in a dream of King Herod’s scheme, they went home by another way”.  The repeating message is all about going home by another way as the song is titled.  

I personally interpreted the song as a cautioning of avoiding bad things.  The message I heard in the song was to avoid things that seemed good or attractive on the outside but really were not good in the end, such as when Taylor sings “stay clear of royal welcomes, avoid a big to-do, a king who would slaughter the innocent will not cut a deal for you”.  Yes James, that’s right!  Avoid the “Herods” out there in the world, the tempting things that lead us astray and away from good, and away from Jesus and away from light.  There are so many things that lead us away from goodness.  The internet, TV, social media are flooded with junk that get in the way of our spirituality and lead us away from God.  So what are we supposed to do?  I certainly don’t possess the wealth of knowledge to know the answer to that question but if you think about it, we can start fresh with the New Year and try a different “way” as Taylor suggested and as God suggested to the kings in a dream.

 I’m currently reading Matthew Kelly’s book “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic”.  In it he talks about being silent and how difficult that is for people today in our culture.  It’s almost uncomfortable.  Kelly references C.S. Lewis’s book “The Screwtape Letters”. The story is about an apprentice to the Devil who must tempt a young man away from God.  The apprentice tries dreaming up new ways to do this but the Devil tells him not to waste his time thinking up new schemes but rather to use the very simple plan of “creating so much noise in the world that man can no longer hear the voice of God in his life”.  That story was written in the 1940s but has much relevance today.  Kelly also highlights many of the saints as they conversed with God.  Kelly writes “It is in silence that God speaks to us”.  One way we can try to enhance our relationship with God is by being silent.   

 If you’re feeling stuck spiritually, maybe try “another way”.  Try inserting prayer time in your daily routine.  If you already do that try a new approach. Maybe pray first thing in the morning or later in the evening.  Maybe sit in a comfortable chair and speak to God not just in scripted prayer, but a real conversation like you would your best friend.  Maybe pray the rosary while you’re on the treadmill or walking your dog?  There are many options to try and converse with God and shut out the noise.  If we use a little imagination we can make a plan and one that doesn’t seem as daunting as losing “x” amount of pounds by Valentine’s Day or whatever weight and fitness goals we often strive for in the New Year.  There are many possibilities to explore.  We don’t have to do them all.  Just try one small change and see if it makes a difference, see if it helps bring you closer to God.  Above all try to avoid the pitfalls, the temptations, the “Herods” of your life. We all have them.  And may God bless you all in this New Year on your faith journey. 

For your curiosity and pleasure, I have put the James Taylor song lyrics below. 

 Home by Another Way, James Taylor, Timothy Mayer

Those magic men the Magi
Some people call them wise
Or Oriental, even kings
Well anyway, those guys
They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme
They went home by another way

Yes, they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys to
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He'll comb your camel's fur
Until his boys announce
They've found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh

And they go home by another way
Home by another way
You have to figure the Gods, saying play the odds
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Home is where they want you now
You can more or less assume
That you'll be welcome in the end
Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so
Or fantasize his features
When you're looking at a friend

Well it pleasures me to be here
And to sing this song tonight
They tell me that life is a miracle
And I figured that they're right
But Herod's always out there
He's got our cards on file
It's a lead pipe cinch
If we give an inch
Old Herod likes to take a mile

It's best to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Reflection by Mary Juliano Hayes