The Sunday Reading,

September 27
Sunday

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Num 11:25-29
Yahweh came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it on the seventy elders. Now when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this they did not do again.
Two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad, the name of the other Medad. However, the spirit came on them for they were among those who were registered though they had not gone out to the Tent. As they prophesied inside the camp, a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua, the son of Nun, who ministered to Moses from his youth said, “My lord Moses, stop them!”
But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous on my behalf? Would that all Yahweh’s people were prophets and that Yahweh would send his spirit upon them!”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Though your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
Yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

2nd Reading: Jas 5:1-6
So, now for what concerns the rich! Cry and weep for the misfortunes that are coming upon you. Your riches are rotting and your clothes eaten up by the moths. Your silver and gold have rusted and their rust grows into a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire, for having piled up riches in these the last days.
You deceived the workers who harvested your fields but now their wages cry out to the heavens. The reapers’ complaints have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You lived in luxury and pleasure in this world and felt happy while others were murdered. You have easily condemned and killed the innocent since they offered no resistance.

Gospel: Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
John said to him, “Master, we saw someone who drove out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he does not belong to our group.” Jesus answered, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon after speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.
If anyone gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ and bear his name, truly, I say to you, he will not go without reward.
If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck.
If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than with two hands to go to hell, to the fire that never goes out.
And if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, keeping both eyes, to be thrown into hell where the worms that eat them never die, and the fire never goes out.

No Time?

As many of you out there I have found how hard it is to devote time to daily paryer, to connecting with the Lord. I found this article at Catholic Spiritual direction which gives some great pointers. I certainly can relate to the person sending in the request. I think many of us wnat to do more in the eyes of god but with the daily grind of life and running around we can't but we still want more than going to mass once a week.

Here is the link to the srticle and there are some great tips in there.

http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/09/14/i-want-to-pray-but-struggle-with-my-schedule-what-do-i-do

The Sunday Reading

September 20
Sunday

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Wis 2:12, 17-20
The godless say to themselves, “Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing.
Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries.
Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8

R. (6b)The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. The Lord upholds my life.

2nd Reading: Jas 3:1-4:3
Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord and all that is evil. Instead, the wisdom that comes from above is pure and peace-loving. Persons with this wisdom show understanding and listen to advice; they are full of compassion and good works; they are impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow peace reap a harvest of justice.
What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your inner longings that make war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it. You pray for something and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of indulging your pleasures.

Gospel: Mk 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”

Another reading that has peaked my interest!

From the first reading for today here is again a reading which can be examined into our lives today.

September 18
Friday
24th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 Tim 6:2c-12
Those whose masters are Christians should not show less respect under the pretext that they are members of the church. On the contrary, they must give a better service since they are doing good works on behalf of believers and dear friends.
Teach and stress these things. Whoever teaches in some other way, not following the sound teaching of our Lord Christ Jesus and true religious instruction, is conceited and understands nothing. This one is crazy about controversies and discussions that result in envy, insults, blows and constant arguments between people of depraved minds and far from the truth. For them, religion is merely for financial gain.
In reality, religion is a treasure if we are content with what we have. We brought nothing into the world and we will leave it with nothing. Let us then be content with having food and clothing. Those who strive to be rich fall into temptations and traps. A lot of foolish and harmful ambitions plunge them into ruin and destruction. Indeed, the love of money is the root of every evil. Because of this greed, some have wandered away from the faith, bringing on themselves afflictions of every kind.
But you, man of God, shun all this. Strive to be holy and godly. Live in faith and love, with endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith and win everlasting life to which you were called when you made the good profession of faith in the presence of so many witnesses.

I especially like the line: We brought nothing into the world and we will leave it with nothing.

How many people do we know who are only worried about amassing wealth and material possessions, I guess even ourselves after close examination can say we are always concerned about how much we have. I guess after reading this passage it looks like the key to true happiness is there just obtaining it in today's society is next to impossible. Got to keep up with the Jones'

Weekly Thoughts

Again the gospel today has me thinking. Now that is scary as the wheels up there in my brain when they start spinning there is a lot of noise and creaking and gears grinding!

Anyways this gospel has put me into deep reflection. Who do I think Jesus is and also what does he mean to me? I guess this is causing some emotional wrestling and some cerebral and spiritual soul searching.

I guess everyone goes through this on their road back to the faith and learning the full understanding and meanings of the scriptures. If any of the readers have any ideas about this and who Jesus is to them please share.

As mentioned I am starting to put up some links to blogs I like to read. If you did not get up there do not be offended just send me an email and I will put you on the list.

The drama at our parish continues. I was supposed to go help yesterday but to no avail as I am stuck with work all weekend. That I have not figured out yet as we are slow work wise but I am swamped with quotes and inventory system implementation and developing bill of materials for some new sale we finally had and also spare part lists for a large project leaving for Australia Back to the parish we still have not had a permanent parish priest installed. The Bishop from Hungary has basically asked us to pray and hope we get one. I told my wife my feeling is the parish will be closed down as this whole Father B leaving was strange and sudden and with no replacement from Hungary in place. I just have a bad feeling and as I told my wife when you are not sure that you can say anything smart do not open your mouth and some of these know it alls at the parish probably opened their mouths to the bishop when he was here and maybe that sealed it!

I know I am praying for the parish to stay alive, please say a quick prayer also to help out.

Thanks and God Bless!

The Sunday Reading

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading : Is 50:5-9a
The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.
I have not rebelled,
nor have I withdrawn.
I offered my back to those who strike me,
my cheeks to those who pulled my beard;
neither did I shield my face
from blows, spittle and disgrace.
I have not despaired,
for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help.
So, like a flint I set my face,
knowing that I will not be disgraced.
He who avenges me is near.
Who then will accuse me?
Let us confront each other.
Who is now my accuser?
Let him approach.
If the Lord Yahweh is my help.
who will condemn me?
All of them will wear out like cloth;
the moth will devour them.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (9)I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
Alleluia.
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
Alleluia.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
Alleluia.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
Alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or: Alleluia. Sources:

2nd Reading : Jas 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, “May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied,” without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead.
Say to whoever challenges you, “You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.”

Gospel: Mk 8:27-35
Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” And they told him, “Some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets.”
Then Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” And he ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days rise again. Jesus said all this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus turning around, and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as people do.”
Then Jesus called the people and his disciples and said, “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.

The Gospel Reading

In listening to the Gospel reading for yesterday and as Father G was explaining it I kind of thought about what this reading meant to me. From what I was able to put together in my little mind was this.

Many times we are the ones who do not listen and the poor and the homeless and less fortunate are mute to us and if we do take notice how many times is it we tell them to get lost which is something they do not wish to hear. But if we let Jesus open our hearts then these people will have a voice to us and they will hear us as we try to help them. Many times even though we do hear and speak we choose not to because of circumstances we wish not to deal with It again Jesus is the one showing the way and helping us!!

Maybe not much to some but this gospel did somehow affect me.

Blogging

I like many of you visit various blogs on the Internet. Generally I only follow Catholic bloggers as on many of the blogs I have learned a lot about Catholicism and been given tools to get a deeper appreciation and understanding of my faith.

I am just wondering is it maybe just me or do many of you notice that a lot of catholic Bloggers are becoming very political and drifting away from their religious thoughts? Let me know what you think. Take care!

P.S. I eventually will start to put up links to the Blogs I generally visit. Due to the political nature some are experiencing I am drifting away from those. My view is that our faith is most important and not our political beliefs and that God will steer us through any form of politics!

The Sunday Reading

September 6
Sunday

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading : Is 35:4-7a
Say to those who are afraid:
"Have courage, do not fear.
See, your God comes, demanding justice.
He is the God who rewards,
the God who comes to save you."
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unsealed.
Then will the lame leap as a hart
and the tongue of the dumb sing and shout.
For water will break out in the wilderness
and streams gush forth from the desert.
The thirsty ground will become a pool,
the arid land springs of water.
In the haunts where once reptiles lay,
grass will grow with reeds and rushes.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.

2nd Reading : Jas 2:1-5
My brothers and sisters, if you truly believe in our glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, you will not discriminate between persons. Suppose a person enters the synagogue where you are assembled, dressed magnificently and wearing a gold ring; at the same time, a poor person enters dressed in rags. If you focus your attention on the well-dressed and say, "Come and sit in the best seat," while to the poor one you say, "Stay standing or else sit down at my feet," have you not, in fact, made a distinction between the two? Have you not judged, using a double standard?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, did God not choose the poor of this world to receive the riches of faith and to inherit the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?

Gospel: Mk 7:31-37
Again Jesus set out; from the country of Tyre he passed through Sidon and skirting the sea of Galilee he came to the territory of Decapolis . There a deaf man who also had difficulty in speaking was brought to him. They asked Jesus to lay his hand upon him.
Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then, looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him, "Ephphetha," that is, "Be opened."
And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone, but the more he insisted on this, the more they proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and said, "He has done all things well; he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

Changes

In going around the Internet to get more in depth into Catholicism and learn more about my faith and where I am in my faith you come across various blogs and articles.

I guess the big event currently is the changes within the order of mass. I have provided a link that has the changes for the new Roman Missal. In reading through first it is quite interesting to me how some different words makes a complete change to the meaning and context of the various passages. Next in translating this through to Hungarian it appears that for us in our Hungarian parish there is no change as we have been basically following what is to be in the new Roman Missal. For example we have always replied to the priest with "And with your spirit", also many of the other new parts are as mentioned exactly the same.

Also forgive my lack of knowledge as to the reason why but the first noticeable item at the Hungarian mass as opposed to the English mass I used to attend is we recite the Nicene Creed and not the Apostles Creed. I am not sure why and truthfully again excuse my lack of knowledge but what the exact difference is between the 2 and which is the most common Creed recited at mass around the world.

Even the newer version of the Penitential Act we recite as it is written for the new Roman Missal. To me this is interesting but that could be because I am small minded but always wondered why the difference between a Hungarian spoken mass as opposed to the Canadian English mass.

I would welcome any feedback on these questions and thoughts to help me have a better understanding. Thanks and take care!!

Happy Long Weekend!

The last long weekend of the year is coming. Well at least the last one where we can really enjoy being outside in what has been a relatively miserable summer.

Outside of the usual running around and work around the house I volunteered to work in the garden at our church. Seems that since Father B has left no one has real done anything around the residence and grounds. The Church is located in downtown of the city but there is a good size yard and flower beds and the mandatory vegetable gardens along with a beautiful Grotto for Our Lady. So while I work away on Saturday I should be in good company. I also this way might get a chance to help inside with the cleaning and maybe get a chance to eventually help get the alter ready for mass on the weekends.

As for a new parish priest well we have heard nothing. Father Andrew has left to Hungary for a month and we had another replacement, retired priest last Sunday. This coming Sunday is any ones guess. But somehow with the guidance of God our little parish rolls along. I am also getting better at the presentation for mass and have added in a couple of little touches and the parishioners keep thanking me for my efforts on putting together the program every week.

So that is it for ow. Take Care!