Catholic Exchange Homily of the Day, June 3, 2010
2 Tim 2:8-15/ Mk 12:28-34
“But the word of God is not chained.”
This is another one of Paul’s letters written from prison. He himself is in chains, but he recognizes that you cannot chain the word of God.
I would have loved to see the joy on Paul’s face when he wrote those words. Here is a man physically in chains, but he knows without any doubt that his spirit can never be chained again.
All of us have chains in our lives. Some are caused by relationships, some by sin, some by our own choices, some by choices others have made for us.
There is only one set of chains I want to be bound by: the chains of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here and here alone is true freedom: the chains of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let no one bind me, except by the love of the chains of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let sin not bind me; I am bound by the chains of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let no evil block or bind me, for I am bound by the chains of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
THE PRIEST MUST GOVERN WITH THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST
VATICAN CITY, 26 MAY 2010 (VIS) – In today’s general audience, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope focused his remarks on the duty of the priest to “govern and guide – with the authority of Christ, not with his own – that portion of the people which God has entrusted to his care”.
In the last of three catechesis on the essential tasks of priestly ministry, the Holy Father asked: “how, within contemporary culture, can we understand this dimension which implicates the concept of authority and has its origin in the Lord’s command to feed His sheep?”
“The regimes which spread death and terror last century are a powerful reminder that authority, in all fields, when exercised without reference to the transcendent, when it ignores the supreme authority that is God Himself, inevitably ends up by turning against man. It is important, then, to recognise that human authority is never an end but always and only a means, and that, necessarily and at all times, the end is always the person”.
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“With the Pentecost Novena now at its halfway point, at its close, a certain “Birthday Sunday” custom is already familiar in many places… where it isn’t, though, B16′s newest appointee to the Stateside bench has offered his parishioners an advance encouragement for what to do come the weekend, and it’s well worth sharing around:
‘It is difficult to come up with symbols for [Pentecost] – Easter has its lilies, the Easter Candle, sprinkling rites, and First Communion (in most places).
For those of us who are Confirmed, we have a memory of a Mass marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us. Being open to the gifts of the Spirit at that moment strengthened us, brought us more deeply into the community of the Church. There was considerable preparation, family gathering, and most often the bishop or his vicar imposing the holy Chrism on our foreheads. That Chrism, an oil used in Baptism, Confirmation, and priestly Ordination is slightly aromatic. But the memory of that moment, so far in the past for many of us, can use its own sign each Pentecost.
My suggestion is to wear red on Pentecost. Red is the official liturgical color of the day. We have done it before, and it is a common practice in many places. On Pentecost Sunday, the color red does not remind us of the blood of martyrs so much as the fire of God’s love. Red can remind us of the sharing of so many gifts given to us for building faith and peace…. A red article of clothing (shirt, blouse, tie, etc.), a red umbrella, jacket or handbag. At any of next weekend’s Masses, consider to this as a sign of thanks for the Spirit in your own life, and as a sign of solidarity with others. It’ll create a nice ambience inside the church, and may get passing drivers to notice some enthusiasm.’
And so, church, run with it… just take some time to seek that “new outpouring” first.”
Rocco Palmo-blog-http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/05/project-red.html
“Let all go this Eastertide. Loosen your hold on earth, its care, its worries, even its joys. Unclasp your hands, relax, and then the tide of Easter Joy will come. Put aside all thought of the future, of the past. Relinquish all to get the Easter Sacrament of Spiritual Life.
So often man, crying out for some blessing, has yet such tight hold on some earth-treasure that he has no hand to receive Mine, as I hold it out in love. Easter is the wonder-time of all the year. A blessing is yours to take. Sacrifice all to that.”
God Calling, A.J. Russell
In gratitude to all of you, we at the Marian Center wish you an Eastertide full of our dear Risen Savior’s blessings!
P.S.: Our store will now be open until 6 pm, Tuesday through Friday (10-6) with Saturday hours the same (10-4).
