Today and Beyond!

 Well today we get to meet our new parish priest. Well okay I cheated as I met him last night at the Harvest Dinner Dance at the Church. He is young and very bright and very ambitious. I was introduced to him by one of the higher up ladies in the church community and she introduced me as the director for the mass program. She even went onto say jokingly of course that if I am not there they can't hold mass any more! No matter it was nice to first be introduced and second to meet the new parish priest.

 The one comment I did make to him in our brief conversation was that I was very amazed as to how this little Hungarian community stayed together and with the help of a retired priest the parish stayed alive and the Lord rewarded us. The new Parish Priest concurred as he indicated his coming out had been ongoing for a year and even he was worried that there might not be a parish once he gets here!

 So I am looking forward to the mass today and the small Coffee social afterwards to "officially" meet the new parish priest. I am also strangely really looking forward to Cursillo this coming Saturday. Not quite sure what is going on with me but I do like when these kind of wonderful events take place. So that is a brief synopsis of events. As always take care and god bless!

The Sunday Reading

First Reading
Wisdom 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people's sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.


Second Reading
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2

Brothers and sisters: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.


Holy Gospel
Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."
And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

Thursday's First Reading

Ephesians 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

More from St. Paul

First Reading
Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.

Pondering

 I read the daily liturgy everyday and have been intrigued by the Letters of St. Paul. Really look through the past few days and I am posting today's and you will find how if we were to live by these words how much better the world would be!

First Reading
Ephesians 5:21-33

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself the savior of the Body. As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his Body.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

 Enjoy and God Bless!

1 Week To Go!

 Well only a week to go. Yes one week and we will have new parish priest at our little church. Only took a year and a half but finally it will happen. 

 Lot of hopes here especially from me (Am I being selfish?) I hope he will be good and get some religious educational groups going, get some pilgrimages going, get along with the parish, the parish gets along with him, he likes the power point slides I prep every week for mass and hope he is here for a long time!

 I am still not totally convinced like my wife is that there is a self serving group in place at the parish. The way I see it at least on the surface is that there is a small group who try to do a lot of things and most of the time the various groups do not express their wants, needs and what they will be doing with other groups and then it ends up looking like self interest is being served. To me a little organization and communications and better planning would help. The thing that does not me allow to buy into self serving groups is this, the Parish had to pull together through tough times (no parish priest) for a year and a half and keep the bishop happy that things were indeed going well and that yes indeed a priest will be on his way and there is no way self serving groups could have pulled this off!

 So my two cents on that, next Saturday the Harvest Ball at the church hall and then Sunday a new parish priest. Thank the Lord take care!

The Sunday Readings

First Reading
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
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. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.


Second Reading
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.


Holy Gospel
Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

The Sunday Reading

First Reading
Exodus 17:8-13

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’hands, however, grew tired;
so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (cf. 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.


Second Reading
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2

Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it,
and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.


Holy Gospel
Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Just Sayin'!

I read the liturgy daily, kind of my form of staying in touch with the Lord. This is on top of my daily prayer and talk with the Lord.
This past Wednesday the 1st reading really hit me as to how relevant this is in today's messed up world. So here is the reading and I will continue on the other side of the reading,

Galatians 5:18-25
Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Just read the words over and think of what we see these days. Whether out on the street in the mall on television on the internet etc. No matter which way we turn our heads we see problems, people hating people, people not willing to help others, people exploiting the weak for their own gain or satisfaction.
How many of us have these traits in us as well in our daily lives but still think in the end we are doing okay?
My thinking let's read these words over and over and try to amend our lives. You this journey at times has been and is hard and confusing but every once in awhile a glimmer of light shines in to help and this is one of those occasions. To finish I have add the Psalm below from that day as it just carries on the thoughts and words above.
So let us try all a little bit to live better and help amke this life a little better. Until next time take care and God Bless!

Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (see Jn 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Weekly Events

Truthfully not much happened this week. In fact I have been a bit remiss at doing certain things.. Work has been close to unbarable at times. Really we all feel under appreciated and overworked. But from what I can see in the blogging world it looks we are all in the same boat. Funny as I try to get through the days without loosing my cool it is almost comical to see how our boss runs the company and how much potential profit is thrown away in stupidity. I have tried to point this out but only to get into arguments with him and have him explaining how a small business tries to compete with the big boys of the world.
Luckily being the Purchasing manager I am always able to show him the costs of his mistakes and misconceptions. Only problem doesn't sink in!
What do I want to get out of all this? Well as I walk out to the bus stop I always thank our lord for his help and sometimes discuus what went on and ask him why people are like this? I think the answer is he wants me to know people like this to make me stronger.
Well off to mass today and now for the second week in a row I have put up as the first card of the power point mass slides a slide saying (in Hungarian) Pray the Rosary. It was a comment in the Cursillo class I attended that got me to do this. One of the ladies complained how noisy the parishoners are when they enter and it is rude and disrespectful for the Rosary Group who are praying the Rosary. So I put up this display and we also made a comment instaed of confronting people one that asks for others to join in. Seemed to help as people were a little bit quiter. We will see this week.
3 more weeks until our new Parish Priest arrives. I am giddy like a kid waiting for Christmas!
Well hopefully this week I will try to get back to my routine and hopefully get over this mental hump. Take Care and God Bless!

The Sunday Reading

First Reading
2 Kings 5:14-17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant."

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;" and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused. Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD."


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.


Second Reading
2 Timothy 2:8-13

Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.


Holy Gospel
Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

Go Back!

 Well one step forward two steps back? Maybe not! Yes we attend mass at the Hungarian church in Toronto but at the end of the day the driving was a lot. My wife was the one who made the suggestion we stay at our present parish and of course being the husband I obliged. She was tired with the almost 1 1/2 hour drive back and forth and in the winter it would be longer.

 I did enjoy the mass and the people but somehow I have grown into our little struggling parish and besides the winds of change have blown. Yes finally at the end of the month our new parish priest will be here from Hungary! Yes I guess it took a year and a half and a lot of collective prayer but God answered our needs.

 The next item that happened was yesterday I went but very apprehensively to my first Cursillo meeting. I can't explain how nervous I was about many things first being how I would be welcomed and if I can comprehend and digest what is provided and given and brought out during a Cursillo get together. Well  I was floored the group treated me like I had always been there and went out of their way to be helpful to me. In fact they already want me to attend the Hungarian Men's Cursillo weekend coming up in January.

 

 Certainly being accepted like that helped and certainly it was nothing like I have ever experienced and even I was amazed as about 5 years ago I never would have even dreamt or thought I would be doing anything like this. That though was nothing compared to what I received in the group and how much better I felt and renewed spiritually I was. Only thing is I wish I would not have been so hard headed and stupid for so many years and I should have allowed for this earlier.

 In deciding to stay at our current parish my wife and I discussed that for any big retreats that the Toronto parish has usually our parish is invited and I will come for those. I did tell my wife I after what has happened and transpired lately really need this spiritually education as I  see that truly through God and Jesus is the way to a happy and fulfilling life and already that has with yesterday increased 100 fold! Well off to mass and I have to get the PowerPoint display ready. Take Care and God Bless!

Sunday Readings

First Reading
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4

How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene.
Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.


Second Reading
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.


Holy Gospel
Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"