Sunday Reading

August 30
Sunday

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8
And now, Israel, listen to the norms and laws which I teach that you may put them into practice. And you will live and enter and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you.
Do not add anything to what I command you nor take anything away from it. But keep the commandments of Yahweh, your God, as I command you.
If you observe and practice them, other peoples will regard you as wise and intelligent. When they come to know of all these laws, they will say, "There is no people as wise and as intelligent as this great nation." For in truth, is there a nation as great as ours, whose gods are as near to it as Yahweh, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? And is there a nation as great as ours whose norms and laws are as just as this Law which I give you today?

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

R. (1a)One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

2nd Reading: Jas 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change or shadow of a change. By his own will he gave us life through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him among his creatures.
So get rid of any filth and reject the prevailing evil, and welcome the Word that has been planted in you and has the power to save you.
Be doers of the Word and not just hearers, lest you deceive yourselves.
In the sight of God, our Father, pure and blameless religion lies in helping the orphans and widows in their need and keeping oneself from the world's corruption.

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
One day the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and with them were some teachers of the Law who had just come from Jerusalem.
They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. Now the Pharisees, and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands for they follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they eat anything when they come from the market without first washing themselves. And there are many other traditions they observe, for example, the ritual washing of cups, pots and plates.
So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?"
Jesus answered, "You, shallow people! How well Isaiah prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, for what they teach are only human rules. You even put aside the commandment of God to hold fast to human tradition."
Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can make that person unclean. It is what comes out from within that makes unclean.
For evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean."

The lesson for today

As mentioned last week was the feast of Saint Stephen of Hungary and this was also our church's feast day. Here is brief excerpt about Saint Stephen of Hungary,

St. Stephen

First King of Hungary, b. at Gran, 975; d. 15 August, 1038.

He was a son of the Hungarian chief Géza and was baptized, together with his father, by Archbishop St. Adalbert ofPrague in 985, on which occasion he changed his heathen name Vaik (Vojk) into Stephen. In 995 he married Gisela, a sister of Duke Henry of Bavaria, the future Emperor St. Henry II, and in 997 succeeded to the throne of Hungary. In order to make Hungary a Christian nation and to establish himself more firmly as ruler, he sent Abbot Astricus to Rometo petition Pope Sylvester II for the royal dignity and the power to establish episcopal sees. The pope acceded to his wishes and, in addition, presented him with a royal crown with which he was crowned at Gran on 17 August, 1001 (seeHUNGARY: History). He founded a monastery in Jerusalem and hospices for pilgrims at Rome, Ravenna, andConstantinople. He was a personal friend of St. Bruno of Querfurt and corresponded with Abbot St. Odilo of Cluny.

The last years of his life were embittered by sickness and family troubles. When on 2 September, 1031, his only son, St. Emeric, lost his life on a boar hunt, his cherished hope of transferring the reins of government into the hands of a piousChristian prince were shattered. During his lifetime a quarrel arose among his various nephews concerning the right of succession, and some of them even took part in a conspiracy against his life. He was buried beside his son atStuhlweissenburg, and both were canonized together in 1083. His feast is on 2 September, but in Hungary his chieffestival is observed on 20 August, the day on which his relics were transferred to Buda. His incorrupt right hand is treasured as the most sacred relic in Hungary.

The thought for today

I was reading the daily gospel for today and as I read through the passage I thought this really applies to today's world as well. It is funny but the more I get immersed into the bible and the readings I see where a lot could and should be applied today by our political leaders our teachers etc.

Gospel: Mt 23:23-26
Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you pay the tenth of everything, but then you forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith. These you must practice, without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel.
"Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them. Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified."

Next?

Yesterday was the feast of Saint Stephen of Hungary. He is the saint whose name is on our church and St. Stephen has a very long history in Hungary and in fact August 20th is a national holiday in Hungary celebrating St. Stephen.

I will try to get a post about about St. Stephen this week for your reading and educational enjoyment. We had a small meal afterwards in the church hall and it was quite nice and my wife and I met some new people and hopefully made some new friends.

The thing that really hit was that our temporary priest Father A who already is 80 years old is going away and won't be back until October that is if in my mind he does come back. From what I was able to find out it was that there is another retired priest close to 80 years old coming to do mass. As to how long again anybodies guess.

As for a new parish priest again no hints no clue. I won't say it but it has to be as this is deserved justice for those who think they are important and run the parish as they basically pushed Father B out but from what I am finding out he was rescued by the bishop. Rescued away from the idiots who thought they had written the bible and thought they knew how mass was to be run etc. To say we are a parish in turmoil is an understatement. Hopefully the good lord take pity on some of them and does send a good parish priest for us. Time will tell!

Sunday Reading

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Jos 24:12a, 15-17, 18b
Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, leaders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God.
Addressing the people, Joshua said to them: "Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands me to say to you: Your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River-Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor-serving other gods.
But if you do not want to serve Yahweh, make known this very day whom you shall serve-whether they be the gods your ancestors served in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites who formerly occupied the land in which you now live. As for me, I and my household will serve Yahweh."
The people answered: "May God not permit that we ever abandon Yahweh to serve other gods! For it was he who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was he who did those great wonders that we have seen; he protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed, driving away before us all the nations especially the Amorites who lived in this land. So we shall also serve Yahweh: he is our God!"

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

2nd Reading: Eph 5:21-32
Let all kinds of submission to one another become obedience to Christ. So wives to their husbands: as to the Lord.
The husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of whom he is also the Savior. And as the Church submits to Christ, so let a wife submit in everything to her husband.
As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. He washed her and made her holy by baptism in the Word. As he wanted a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless, he himself had to prepare and present her to himself.
In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. And no one has ever hated his body; he feeds and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the Church, because we are a part of his body.
Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.

Gospel: Jn 6:60-69
After hearing his doctrine, many of Jesus' followers said, "This language is very hard! Who can accept it?"
Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, "Does this offend you? Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But among you there are some who do not believe."
From the beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. So he added, "As I have told you, no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
After this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him. Jesus asked the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

The Week that was and will be,

Well after the full hearted effort I have offered to put forth at my parish I found much to my dismay that there truly is a small group there who think they are the church and above everyone else.

This week I have not prepared any slides for the projection as there was no one to send down the required hymns to me. There is also a gentlemen who thinks he runs the place who was offended that I had an error on one of the hymns. I had forgotten to check that the letters had correct accents above them (Hungarian is one of those European languages with lots of letters with accents to define pronunciation). He did complain. Instead of thanking me for the effort and waiting to hear that I do not really have any kind of Hungarian program it has been very rudimentary and difficult for me to write certain passages. I did download a program which does help but it does not recognize every word and I even had my poor wife spell check and check for accents and all we got was this so called parish leader complaining about it.

We also offered to help with clean up and getting the church ready for mass but were told we will be called and have still not been as clean up etc was yesterday.

We will go today to mass and see where we stand. I think I worry too much but I definitely do not like the vibes in the air at the parish. I am truly afraid that the inmates will take over the asylum. These are also the same people who have rejoiced that Father B was gone and were almost ready to party about it.

Strange bunch but we have options. Drive another 1/2 hour longer to the Hungarian Church in Toronto or go back to the one parish here in town who seems to care about some form of what mass should be and the parishioners also respect the mass and dress accordingly etc.

I will keep you posted. Take care.

Short but Beautiful

I receive a Daily Prayer from Catholic Expert. This one for whatever reason really has me entranced. I am also not sure why but the more I read it over the more something in the words draws me in. I am not sure why maybe if some of you have an idea let me know.

Psalm 115

I believed and so I spoke; but I was deeply humiliated.

I said in my madness: every man is a liar.

What shall I give in return to the Lord for all that He has given me?

I will receive the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.

O Lord, I am Thy slave; I am Thy slave and son of Thy handmaid.

Thou hast broken my bonds asunder.

I will offer Thee the sacrifice of praise, and will pray in the Name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

Sunday Reading

August 16
Sunday

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Pro 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house
set upon seven pillars;
she has slaughtered her beasts,
prepared her wine and laid her table.
Next, she sent her servants to call
from the central square of the city,
"Pass by here, you who are fools."
To the senseless she says,
"Come, eat and drink
of the bread and wine I have prepared.
Give up your foolishness and you will live;
take the straight path of discernment. "

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

2nd Reading: Eph 5:15-20
Pay attention to how you behave. Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible persons. Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do not get drunk: wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Gather together to pray with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and celebrate the Lord in your heart, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything.

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds, "I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world."
The Jews were arguing among themselves, "How can this man give us flesh to eat?" So Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.
My flesh is really food and my blood is drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."

Mary Mother to Priest

Here is an article from CNA in regards to priests and how Mary should be considered as the mother to all priests.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug 12, 2009 / 10:48 am (CNA).- During Wednesday’s general audience in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of there being a “nexus” between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the priesthood. Like St. John, he said, all priests “are called to accept her into their home.”

Pope Benedict pointed out that this nexus is rooted in the mystery of the Incarnation. “God does not act against our freedom,” he explained. “He needed the yes of his creatures.”

“St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in one of his homilies, explained in dramatic manner this decisive moment of universal history, when heaven, earth and God Himself await this creature’s response,” he added.

“Mary is truly and profoundly involved in the mystery of the Incarnation, of our salvation. … Sacrifice, the priesthood and the Incarnation go together and Mary is at the heart of this mystery,” the Pontiff said.

Pope Benedict also reflected on the tie between priests and Mary.

From the cross, Jesus sees his mother and the beloved apostle, an important individual, but more importantly a prefigurement of loved people and especially all priests.

“The Second Vatican Council invites priests to see Mary as the perfect model of their existence,” the Pope added.

“The Curé d'Ars, who we think of this year especially, loved to repeat that after Jesus Christ gave us everything he could give, he wanted to make us heirs of what was most precious to him, his holy mother,” the Pope continued. “This applies to all Christians, but especially for priests.”

"Every priest can and should truly feel himself to be the son of this most holy and most humble mother," he said.

The Holy Father concluded by expressing his closeness to the people of Taiwan, China, Philippines and Japan, who were recently hit by a typhoon. “I call on everyone to pray for them and for those who lost their lives. I hope that the relief of solidarity and the help of material aid will not be lacking.”

Sunday Reading

August 9
Sunday

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: 1 K 19:4-8
Elijah disappeared into the desert going on a day's journey. Then he sat down under a broom tree and prayed to die, "That is enough, Yahweh, take away my life for I am dying."
He lay down and went to sleep under the broom tree. Then an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked and saw, at his head, a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and went back to sleep. The angel of Yahweh came a second time to him, saying, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too long for you." He got up, ate and drank, and on the strength of that food, he traveled for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
Let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.
And your faces may not blush with shame.
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,
And from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

2nd Reading: Eph 4:30-5:2
Do not sadden the Holy Spirit of God which you were marked with. It will be your distinctive mark on the day of salvation. Do away with all quarreling, rage, anger, insults and every kind of malice: be good and understanding, mutually forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ.
As most beloved children of God, strive to imitate him. Follow the way of love, the example of Christ who loved you. He gave himself up for us and became the offering and sacrificial victim whose fragrance rises to God.

Gospel: Jn 6:41-51
The Jews murmured because Jesus had said, "I am the bread which comes from heaven." And they said, "This man is the son of Joseph, isn't he? We know his father and mother. How can he say that he has come from heaven?"
Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise him up on the last day. It has been written in the Prophets: They shall all be taught by God. So whoever listens and learns from the Father comes to me.
"For no one has seen the Father except the One who comes from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
"I am the bread of life. Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died. But here you have the bread which comes from heaven so that you may eat of it and not die.
"I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world."

Up and Running

So copy and paste does work. I was able to get the presentation up and running. Of course there was hitch the batteries for the mouse on the church computer died so my wife ran across the street to get some new ones and away we went.
It was quite funny to see how much the people missed the presentation and how they really wanted this back this I found out after.
The new temporary parish priest Father E was having his 50th Jubilee Mass. Yes after being in a prison camp in Hungary during the early years of communism and being released where he went back to become a priest he left Hungary during the 56 revolution and went to Ireland and there in July 27th 1959 he was ordained a priest. Well after mass there was a reception held for him and that is where I had parishioners coming up to me to tell me how happy they were that I had the presentation up and running and how they like having the hymns and a few other items visible and complimented me on the job I had done.
I also found out that the parishioners were split 50-50 on Father B leaving with such haste. Some are upset he left, some at the way he left and some were elated that he was gone. Quite the span of opinion but then again that is pretty well how our parish is.
So far we have not heard who are new priest will be so Father E will continue on. How long we are not sure as he is in his early 80's. He is not frail but not as pry as a lets say a 50 year old so it will be some interesting times ahead for my parish. All I know is I will continue to help as much as I can.
Take care!

Sunday Reading

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
In the desert the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of Yahweh in Egypt when we sat down to caldrons of meat and ate all the bread we wanted, whereas you have brought us to this desert to let the whole assembly die of starvation!"
Yahweh then said to Moses, "Now I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to gather what is needed for that day. In this way I will test them to see if they will follow my Teaching or not.
"I have heard the complaints of Israel. Speak to them and say: Between the two evenings you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have bread to your heart's content; then you shall know that I am Yahweh, your God!"
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp. And in the morning, dew had fallen around the camp. When the dew lifted, there was on the surface of the desert a thin crust like hoarfrost. The people of Israel upon seeing it said to one another, "What is it?" for they didn't know what it was. Moses told them, "It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54

R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

2nd Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24
I say to you, then, and with insistence I advise you in the Lord: do not imitate the pagans who live an aimless kind of life.
But it is not for this that you have followed Christ. For I suppose that you heard of him and received his teaching which is seen in Jesus himself. You must give up your former way of living, the old self, whose deceitful desires bring self-destruction. Renew yourselves spiritually, from inside, and put on the new self, or self according to God, that is created in true righteousness and holiness.

Gospel: Jn 6:24-35
When they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Master, when did you come here?"
Jesus answered, "Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because you have seen through the signs, but because you ate bread and were satisfied. Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give it to you, for he is the one the Father has marked."
Then the Jews asked him, "What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?" And Jesus answered them, "The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent."
They then said, "Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. ¬What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat."
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world." And they said to him, "Give us this bread always."
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.