May 27, 2020Topic
The Ascension of Jesus is the promise of our transformation Teaching The Ascension is closely linked to the Incarnation. Jesus said, “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.” (John 3:13). And, since “the Son of God became man so that we might become God," the Ascension is the promise of our transformation, our becoming divine. As we prayed at the beginning of Mass for the Ascension, in the Collect prayer: “Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.” Also, Jesus’ body didn’t evaporate between earth and Heaven, he took it with him. This means that Jesus’ glorified body sits, for all of eternity, next to the Father in Heaven. That’s a crucial point for two reasons. First, it points to the dignity of our bodies and that even though our physical bodies may rot in the ground after we die, at the end of time we will receive our bodies back in a glorified way. Second, Jesus’ body is precisely what gives us access to the inner life of the Holy Trinity. Through baptism we become a member of the Body of Christ, the Church. As a part of Jesus’ body we are incorporated, woven into the life and love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A friend of mine reflected on the Ascension saying: Your God and my God has a body. We need Him to have a body. We need to know our God is not just a force, or an idea, or an impersonal power. Our God is Persons. And one of the Persons has a physical, human, glorified body. The Ascension is proof of the promise Our God made to us: We are known. Our God has a body. With His eyes we are seen. With His hands we are helped. With His flesh we are fed. With His heart we are loved. Common error:
Scripture Matthew 28:16-20 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Catechism 659, 661, 1239, 1419 659 "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God."Christ's body was glorified at the moment of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity.Jesus' final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time forward at God's right hand. 661 This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who "came from the Father" can return to the Father: Christ Jesus. "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man."Left to its own natural powers humanity does not have access to the "Father's house", to God's life and happiness. Only Christ can open to man such access that we, his members, might have confidence that we too shall go where he, our Head and our Source, has preceded us. 1239 [Baptism] signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ. 1419 Having passed from this world to the Father, Christ gives us in the Eucharist the pledge of glory with him. Participation in the Holy Sacrifice identifies us with his Heart, sustains our strength along the pilgrimage of this life, makes us long for eternal life, and unites us even now to the Church in heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints. Links to other resources The Bible Project - Heaven and Earth https://bibleproject.com/videos/heaven-and-earth/ Bishop Barron Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxDTY_9w6ws Homily for the Solemnity of the Ascension (May 24, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5KbSoDNEZM Growing in Prayer (See a short video from Andrea below). Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey May 20, 2020Topic
Jesus’ resurrection reveals God’s plan for our resurrection Teaching Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was a historical event that became the central truth preached and lived by the apostles and early Church. Just like Jesus actually died on Good Friday he actually rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. Jesus’ body was physically raised, it wasn’t a spirit or ghost who appeared to Mary and the apostles. Our Risen Lord had a body that ate food, spoke, and breathed. He invited Thomas to touch the wounds in his hands and side. But his physical body was also different. Unlike Lazerus or Jairus’ daughter who Jesus raised from the dead during his earthly ministry, Jesus would never get sick or die again. Jesus destroyed the power of sin and death on the cross so his resurrected body was free from illness, suffering, and death. But not only that, Jesus’ body was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and was more real than the walls he walked through to visit his apostles. He possessed a supernatural or divinized body no longer bound by space and time. Jesus’ glorified body also reveals what our bodies will be like after he comes again. The significance of Jesus’ resurrection can’t be understated. St. Paul wrote that without the resurrection our “faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection confirms Jesus’ divinity, it proves that he was who he claimed to be: the Son of God. The resurrection also reveals that Jesus came not only to save us from sin but to save us for transformation. The tender mercy of God is not only forgiveness, as if that was not enough, but also to make us “adopted children of God and thus heirs to his own blessed life” (Catechism 1). Jesus’ resurrection is the source of my transformation and freedom. Jesus proved that he has the desire and the power to not only heal the wounds of sin in my life but also to transform me, body and soul, and make me divine. Common error:
Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 But if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all. John 20:24-29 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Acts 2:14, 22-24, 29-33, 36-39 (Peter’s Speech at Pentecost) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words….You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it…. My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear….Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” Catechism 639, 645, 653-654 639 The mystery of Christ's resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness. In about A.D. 56 St. Paul could already write to the Corinthians: "I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. . ." The Apostle speaks here of the living tradition of the Resurrection which he had learned after his conversion at the gates of Damascus.4 645 By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his Passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ's humanity can no longer be confined to earth, and belongs henceforth only to the Father's divine realm. For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as he wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith. 653 The truth of Jesus' divinity is confirmed by his Resurrection. He had said: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he." The Resurrection of the crucified one shows that he was truly "I AM", the Son of God and God himself. So St. Paul could declare to the Jews: "What God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'" Christ's Resurrection is closely linked to the Incarnation of God's Son, and is its fulfillment in accordance with God's eternal plan. 654 The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God's grace, "so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ's brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren." We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection. Links to other resources The Bible Project - The New Humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=307&v=takEeHtRrMw&feature=emb_logo Bishop Barron On the Meaning of Easter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqU9VxOzaR4 On the Resurrection of Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIbmCOm8jFs Growing in Prayer: For our prayer suggestion this week we are going to share with you a short encouragement from Pope Francis about the power of spending just a few minutes in silent prayer reflecting on the face of the Risen Jesus. We need to remember that “contemplation of the face of Jesus, died and risen, restores our humanity, even when it has been broken by the troubles of this life or marred by sin. We must not domesticate the power of the face of Christ”. So let me ask you: Are there moments when you place yourself quietly in the Lord’s presence, when you calmly spend time with him, when you bask in his gaze? Do you let his fire inflame your heart? Unless you let him warm you more and more with his love and tenderness, you will not catch fire. How will you then be able to set the hearts of others on fire by your words and witness? If, gazing on the face of Christ, you feel unable to let yourself be healed and transformed, then enter into the Lord’s heart, into his wounds, for that is the abode of divine mercy. (Gaudete et Exsultate 151) Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey May 13, 2020Topic
Jesus’ passion and death is the greatest expression of God’s love for you Teaching When we reflect on Jesus’ passion and death we often focus on how our sins caused Jesus to suffer this way. There’s certainly a lot of truth in this kind of reflection, but I think we sometimes forget that Jesus freely suffered and died because of how much he loves us. The Catechism says, “Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: ‘The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me.’ He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, ‘is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that. . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings’ without exception (Catechism 478). Jesus didn’t become human and die on the cross in order to scold us and make us feel bad about our sins. He did all that to show us how much God loves us, how good God is. Jesus suffered through all the torture and humiliation because that’s how desperately he loves you. Suffering and death are not part of God’s plan for us, rather, they are things that God allows because of our free choice to reject God and reject life. Jesus came as a conquering king. He came to bring about the Kingdom of God and to destroy sin, suffering, and death. God didn’t create these terrible things but he took them upon himself. A friend of mine likes to say, “Everything that kills us, Jesus let it kill him. Jesus took every rotten thing I’ve done and every rotten thing that’s been done to me into himself and onto himself and he let it kill him.” God wants to enter into every one of our deaths, into everything that kills us, whether it’s illness, suffering, depression, loneliness, etc., and transform it — and he wants to do that in our life now. The cross shows us just how far God will go to chase us down in order to save us from our own sins and give us his divine life. When we look at the cross we see the infinite depth of God’s mercy. Scripture Matthew 27:27-54 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, [and] come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way. From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” Romans 5:6-21 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned — for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one person Jesus Christ overflow for the many. And the gift is not like the result of the one person’s sinning. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal. For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Catechism (These teachings are taken from “Christus Vivit,” Pope Francis’ apolstolic letter to young people). 118. Christ, out of love, sacrificed himself completely in order to save you. His outstretched arms on the cross are the most telling sign that he is a friend who is willing to stop at nothing: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (Jn 13:1). Saint Paul said that his life was one of complete trust in that self-sacrificing love: “I now live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). 119. The same Christ who, by his cross, saved us from our sins, today continues to save and redeem us by the power of his total self-surrender. Look to his cross, cling to him, let him save you, for “those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness”. And if you sin and stray far from him, he will come to lift you up by the power of his cross. Never forget that “he forgives us seventy times seven. Time and time again, he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness that never disappoints but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew”. 120. “We are saved by Jesus because he loves us and cannot go against his nature. We can do any number of things against him, yet he loves us and he saves us. For only what is loved can be saved. Only what is embraced can be transformed. The Lord’s love is greater than all our problems, frailties and flaws. Yet it is precisely through our problems, frailties and flaws that he wants to write this love story. He embraced the prodigal son, he embraced Peter after his denials, and he always, always, always embraces us after every fall, helping us to rise and get back on our feet. Because the worst fall, and pay attention to this, the worst fall, the one that can ruin our lives, is when we stay down and do not allow ourselves to be helped up”. 121. His forgiveness and salvation are not something we can buy, or that we have to acquire by our own works or efforts. He forgives us and sets us free without cost. His self-sacrifice on the cross is so great that we can never repay it, but only receive it with immense gratitude and with the joy of being more greatly loved than we could ever imagine: “He loved us first” (1 Jn 4:19). Links to other resources Bishop Barron - Mercy and the Cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC37P0Zggfk Growing in Prayer Watch a short video from Andrea below. Also, Kayla Feldpausch shared about how to hear God’s voice in prayer here. Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey May 5, 2020Topic
The parables of Jesus reveal the Father’s love for us Teaching In the chapter about “The Fall,” the Catechism says that the first man, “tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart” and subsequently “disobeyed God’s command” (CCC 397). The Catechism goes on to explain that all sin follows that same pattern. The original temptation was a lie about who God is. The original sin was a failure to trust in God’s goodness, to trust in his identity as a loving Father. In Eden, humanity forgot who God is. Jesus came to remind us. The Catechism lists four reasons why God became man. One of those reasons is so that “we might know God’s love” (CCC 458). In his parables, Jesus tells us that God is like a shepherd who will leave the majority of his flock to search for us and, when he finds us, won’t scold us for leaving but rejoices that we’ve been found (Luke 15:4-7). Jesus also says that God is like a woman leaving aside all her plans for the day to relentlessly search for a lost coin and then throws a party with her neighbors once she finds it (Luke 15:8-10). But more than anything else, Jesus reveals that God loves us like a father loves his children. He commands us to pray to “our Father” (Matthew 6:9). He invites us to use our experience of fatherly love to understand God’s love for us (Matthew 7:11). He tells us that God is like a father who forgives his prodigal son before the boy can even finish his apology (Luke 15:21-22). Jesus reveals to us a God who chases us down, who loves us while we are still sinners, who will humiliate himself to the point of death in order to save us. During this time of great uncertainty, when we are separated from the sacraments — the main source of our spiritual comfort — let’s not forget what we know about God. Even though we cannot receive the Eucharist, if we open our hearts, God will still come chasing after us. His grace is not bound by his sacraments (CCC 1257), and a virus cannot stop a Father’s love for his children. Common error:
Scripture Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep. The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin. “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Lost Son. Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” Catechism 458, 2780-2782 458 The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 2780 We can invoke God as "Father" because he is revealed to us by his Son become man and because his Spirit makes him known to us. The personal relation of the Son to the Father is something that man cannot conceive of nor the angelic powers even dimly see: and yet, the Spirit of the Son grants a participation in that very relation to us who believe that Jesus is the Christ and that we are born of God. 2781 When we pray to the Father, we are in communion with him and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Then we know and recognize him with an ever new sense of wonder. The first phrase of the Our Father is a blessing of adoration before it is a supplication. For it is the glory of God that we should recognize him as "Father," the true God. We give him thanks for having revealed his name to us, for the gift of believing in it, and for the indwelling of his Presence in us. 2782 We can adore the Father because he has caused us to be reborn to his life by adopting us as his children in his only Son: by Baptism, he incorporates us into the Body of his Christ; through the anointing of his Spirit who flows from the head to the members, he makes us other "Christs." Links to other resources Fr. Mike Schmitz - Reminder: God Loves You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz5j3W1DM8A The Bible Project God: https://bibleproject.com/videos/god-video/ Love: https://bibleproject.com/videos/agape-love/ Growing in Prayer (watch a short video from Andrea below) Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey April 28, 2020Topic
The miracles of Jesus reveal his mission to save us Teaching God has revealed to us that he “did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living” (Wisdom 1:13). Suffering and death are not actively willed by God. It was only because of sin that “visible creation has become alien and hostile to man” and death entered human history (Catechism 400). Original sin put humanity under the dominion of death and the devil. In his public ministry, especially through his miracles, Jesus revealed himself as the true king who came to overthrow the powers of evil and establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus confronted sin and its effects head on by forgiving sins, driving out demons, healing the sick, and raising the dead. Jesus entrusted his mission to spread the Kingdom of God to his followers and at Pentecost gave his Church power over sin and sickness. By the power of the Holy Spirit the Church offers all her members spiritual and physical healing through the Anointing of the Sick, Confession, rites of exorcism, and most especially, the Eucharist. Further, each of us who, through baptism have become “other Christs” (Catechism 2782) can pray for the physical healing and deliverance of ourselves and others. Jesus’ miracles demonstrate his power over sin and its effects as well as God’s desire to heal me of the wounds caused by my own sins and the sins others have committed against me. Today, and every day, he is offering me his healing, both physical and spiritual, through prayer and the sacraments. Common error:
Scripture Luke 4:33-37 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. Luke 5:17-26 One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.” Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Catechism 1503, 1506, 1508-1509 1503 Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people" and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick and you visited me." His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. 1506 Christ invites his disciples to follow him by taking up their cross in their turn.. By following him they acquire a new outlook on illness and the sick. Jesus associates them with his own life of poverty and service. He makes them share in his ministry of compassion and healing: "So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.". 1508 The Holy Spirit gives to some a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord. But even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all illnesses. Thus St. Paul must learn from the Lord that "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," and that the sufferings to be endured can mean that "in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his Body, that is, the Church." 1509 "Heal the sick!" The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health. Links to other resources Dr. Mary Healy (professor at Sacred Heart Seminary) on the gift of healing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHMdVa9ouBE The Bible Project on the Gospel of Mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk&feature=emb_logo Growing in Prayer (watch a short video from Andrea here) After reading examples of the miracles Jesus performed in the Bible, do you believe that God can heal people today? Do you have expectant faith, that when you pray for something, that God hears your prayers and responds to them? Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey April 21, 2020Topic
Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother Teaching Everything Catholics believe about Mary relates back to Jesus. Like how the moon produces no light on its own but simply reflects the light of the sun, Mary’s honor and grace always point back to God. From the earliest days of the Church the faithful have honored Mary with the title, “Mother of God.” Under this title Christians safeguarded their belief about Jesus against those who denied that he was truly divine. If Jesus is God then Mary must be the mother of God. The oldest known prayer to Mary, found on a piece of Epyptian papyrus dating back to 250A.D., invokes her help under the title “Mother of God.” This prayer, called the Sub tuum praesidium, is often translated to say: “We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.” While he hung on the cross Jesus also made Mary our mother when he gave her John, who represented all of Christ’s followers, to be her son. If she is the Mother of Christ then she’s also the mother of Christ’s Body, the Church. Because of this we can turn to her as our loving mother and ask for her help and intercession. Mary is also the “icon of the Church,” that is, her maternal care for Jesus and helping him do the will of the Father is the perfect model for how the Church should care for all the faithful. Becoming like me in all things but sin, the God who created the universe chose to have a human mother, Mary. Jesus was obedient to her and she loved him all the way to the foot of the cross. Then Jesus, knowing my own need for a mother’s love, gave me Mary to be my mother to bring me gently to the arms of the Father. Common error:
Scripture Luke 1:39-45 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” John 19:25-27 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. Catechism 487, 963, 972 487 What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ. 963 Since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. "The Virgin Mary … is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer … . She is 'clearly the mother of the members of Christ' … since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head." "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church." 972 After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own "pilgrimage of faith," and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, "in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity," "in the communion of all the saints," the Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother. In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God. Links to other resources Bishop Robert Barron on Mary, the New Eve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx0MX4EVDnw Fr. Mike Schmitz on Why Catholics Call Mary Their Mother https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGRGv9_60iI Growing in Prayer (read below or watch a short video below) Mary always points us back to God. She keeps her focus on God, not herself. Mary said YES to being the mother of Jesus Christ, without knowing any of the details. Much of her life she had to trust God and his plan for her. It is in that complete trust that she brought others to Christ. Something to ponder in personal prayer: Is my life pointing others to God? Am I leading my children, spouse, and friends to Christ? Praying as a family: Pray the rosary. You can do one decade of the rosary or the whole rosary. Consider praying this every day. Guide to the rosary: https://dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. All of the information and links in these emails will be posted on the parish website (mhtparish.com/family-ministry) if you ever want to look back on them or send it to somebody else. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page (facebook.com/MHTParish) for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey April 14, 2020Topic
Jesus is God and Man Teaching Jesus is fully God and fully human. He was like us in all things but sin, this includes temptation, emotions, passions, and physical needs like food and sleep. He got angry in the face of injustice and he wept at the death of his friends. He also, unlike the founders of other major religions (e.g. Muhammad and the Budha), Jesus claimed to be God. He didn’t claim to be a great prophet, to speak on behalf of God, but he claimed to be God. He said things like, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). And not only did he claim to be God but he proved his divinity through his miracles and, most definitively, through his rising from the dead. It was the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection that was the central message of the apostles. Why did God become human? The Catechism says there are four main reasons (Catechism 457-460). The first is to reconcile us back to God, that is, to forgive us of our sins and welcome us back to the arms of our Heavenly Father. Second, God became human so that we could know how much God loves us. Jesus accomplishes this both in his teachings and in his actions. The cross is the sign of how much God loves us for there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:13). Third, Jesus is the perfect model of what it means to live a holy life, to love God and love our neighbor. Finally, the Catechism says “the Son of God became man so that we might become God." As the priest says at every Mass when he mixes the water with the wine, “May we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” In other words, the God who created all of space and time broke into history not just to save me from my sins and the effects of sin (death and hell), as if that wasn’t enough, but to also make me share in his own Divine Life. This is the central message of our faith. All of the Bible and all of the Church’s teachings point back to this truth. Common error:
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Philippians 2:5-11 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Catechism 457-460 457 The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins": "the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world", and "he was revealed to take away sins": Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state? 458 The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 459 The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!" Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you." This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example. 460 The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature": "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God." "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God." "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods." Links to other resources Bishop Robert Barron on the divinity of Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y4xacvLUXo The Bible Project explanation of the Gospel of John Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8&feature=emb_logo Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk&feature=emb_logo Growing in Prayer Personal Prayer: Prayer is simply a relationship with God. It requires conversation. Like any friendship, we need to be willing to spend talking with God in prayer. We can share with him how our day is going, the good and the bad. We can ask him for help and thank him for answered prayers. We also need to get to know God by reading the Bible, his Word where he has revealed himself to us. We can also spend time listening to him in prayer. We can hear his voice and promptings through the thoughts and feelings that come to mind in prayer or the things that pop up during the day. He could also speak to you through someone else, a song, or by using nature. Suggestion for this week: Take some time to reflect on the information in the email. If prayer is something consistent for you, reflect on who God is and ask him to reveal more of himself to you. If prayer time is new to you, then try to make that a priority and simply spend some time with the Lord. Family Prayer: Personal prayer is important. Family prayer isn’t a substitute for personal prayer time with God but rather flows from it. Praying together as a family is a great way to show our kids how to talk and listen to God. It’s good to find a time that works well for your family and stick with it. Don’t make prayer complicated, make it simple and fun. Andrea shared a little bit about her family prayer and what that looks like here: https://www.facebook.com/MHTParish/videos/206306210692833/ Tips for praying as a family:
God bless and have a blessed Easter! Andrea Schneider and Paul Fahey |
Family Ministry emailsParents,
Andrea Scheneider and I have been praying and talking about ways that we can serve you and your family’s spiritual needs over the next couple of months during the stay-at-home order and schools being closed. The ministries that we have built around classrooms and events like retreats are no longer available so we need to use things like emails and social media. Given those limitations we thought that this could be an opportunity to step back and focus on some of the more fundamental aspects of our Catholic faith, particularly prayer and Scripture. We recognize that many parents, ourselves included, are feeling overwhelmed with the idea of schooling our kids at home for the rest of the year. We also know that many parents feel especially ill-equipped when it comes to teaching our kids about the faith, our own religious education was a long time ago and we may not feel like we have answers to our children’s questions. I grew up in a Catholic home going to Mass pretty much every weekend. I received all the usual Sacraments and attended religious ed classes at my parish. However, one of the things that I remember having the biggest impact on my own faith was my dad’s prayer life. I was the kid who would wake up obnoxiously early (I’m so sorry mom!) and I remember seeing my dad all alone in the living room getting in his half hour of prayer time before going to work. I don’t remember my parents explicitly talking with me about Catholicism very much, but I remember that my dad prayed every morning. With those things in mind we didn’t want to give you another school thing you feel obligated to do with your kids. So Andrea and I are putting together a weekly email to send out to everyone that will include ideas, directions, and resources for you to grow in your own relationship with the Lord. You are a son or daughter of God the Father even before you are a parent, so your own relationship with God is so important, especially during this time filled with uncertainty and fear. We also want to offer you some ways for you to then pray with your kids and ask them about their own relationship with God. At his worldwide Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing on March 27, Pope Francis addressed everyone suffering during this pandemic and at one point he said that the Lord is “calling on us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgement, but of our judgement: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others.” (You can read the whole address here.) With that in mind we want to encourage you to see God’s love and mercy in the midst of this and to respond to the ways he’s calling all of us to grow in our relationship with Him and our relationship with others. Even when there’s so much outside of our control, with God’s grace we can still choose to act with love. Our weekly emails will include a key idea about our faith to reflect on along with a passage from the Bible and some short teaching about that idea (including links to other online content on the topic). We will also include practical ideas and directions for different ways you can grow in prayer individually and then pray as a family. This content will be a mix of writing and videos that Andrea and I record. To reiterate, we’re not going to be sending out theology lessons plans that we expect you to teach your children. We simply hope to help you better hear the Lord’s voice, feel His presence more, and to share His love with your family. Finally, I wanted to direct you to some good resources that our diocese has put together in light of the stay-at-home order. First is a video interview with Tim Carpenter, the director of catechesis in our diocese, talking about different ways parents can share their faith with their kids. Second, the diocese also created a resource page for parents titled “Being the Church at Home” with ideas and resources as well. The diocese also put together a page with ideas and links to help families celebrate Holy Week together. Finally, you can find the schedule for all of our parish Holy Week liturgies and events on the parish website. We hope that the Lord will bring healing and transformation to you and your family out of this time of chaos and uncertainty. Please know that you are being prayed for and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. And if you haven’t already, please check out the parish Facebook page for live-streamed Masses, devotions, and other resources that Father and the ministry team are making available for the community. God bless and have a wonderful Holy Week! Paul Fahey and Andrea Schneider |