Book Reviews and More: Celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ the Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Sunday 3 June 2018

Celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ the Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

The readings for this weekend's mass are:

First Reading Exodus 24:3-8
Responsorial Psalm 116: 12-13, 15-18 Response 13
Second Reading Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

As I have read through this week's readings preparing for the weekend mass I have had several thoughts. It was not an easy week, we found out that our middle child will require spinal surgery within the next year. It is called the Shilla Procedure. Currently he is thinking about some of the things that can go wrong. But we are praying, friends and family are praying, and we will trust God. These are the main thoughts I pondered this week while considering these readings. From the first reading:

"Then he took the book of the covenant,
and read it in the hearing of the people;
and they said,
'All that the Lord has spoken we will do,
and we will be obedient.'"

I could not help but think about this passage and the Irish vote to repel the 8th. I remember in the 80's Ireland was held up as a Catholic nation, abortion was outlawed as was pornography. Ireland was an example of a Catholic, a Christian Nation that upheld the values of the faith at a national level. Unlike many countries that have a Christian or Catholic heritage. But with this vote and the exuberant celebration after That has changed. This year I have read several books by Alice Curtayne with a focus on her writings on Irish Saints. We need modern Irish Saints to rise up and set the example. Continuing this theme, the responsorial psalm reminded me of the need to Catholics, for all Christians to stand up and live their faith.

"What shall I return to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?
I will life up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
O Lord, I am your servant, the son of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people."

We need to live up to our beliefs. Our actions need to mirror our theology. Our Catholicism needs to be more than baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and funerals. Our faith needs to be lived out Monday mornings at the office, and Wednesday evening at the arena, Friday evening in the traffic jam. And the greatest two resources to help us live out our faith are the sacraments of confession and communion. And that brings us to the final reading. The disciples ask Jesus how to prepare for the Passover, and they followed his instructions. How do we prepare for mass, do we read the readings ahead of time and reflect on them? Do we come with an expectant heart, expecting to encounter the living Christ? Do we examine our conscience daily so that we are prepared to make a good confession? Are we grieved by our sins, and the separation they cause between us and God, and us and others?

I do not have all the answers, in fact the older I get the more I know I need to learn. But I know that God must be the center of all I do, or it is just wasted time and effort. This week I pray that you will experience God in a new way, and I ask prayers for our family. Blessings be upon you.