The Information Highway

  . . . . Who's Message Are We Getting? . . . . 

The conquering Romans built vast networks of roads to and from the lands they conquered. They used these roads to move in their occupying armies and to move out the wealth they looted from these countries. These roads were not bad in themselves, it was the purposes for which the Romans used them that was bad. It was on these same roads we find Paul and Barnabas and the many other evangelist to follow,  bring the Gospel to these same peoples. The very roads that were used for evil purposes are now being used for good, to bring a knowledge of God's plan of salvation. Today the highway network that spans the world we call the "Information Highway." Some internet facts: There are 3.26 billion internet users as at December 2015; that’s over 40% of the world population. By 2017, there will be more internet traffic than all prior internet years combined 2.9 billion Google searches are made every day. Google is the #1 most popular website in the world, followed by Facebook and YouTube. (for more information = > > > LINK < < < Like the Roman roads of old, the "Information Highway" is there for anyone to used. The question we need to ask is, "who's feed is feeding us?"  As a resource for our faith, the internet can be useful if it is used wisely. The Church uses it as an instrument of evangelization; the Vatican, dioceses, parishes, Catholic religious community's all use the internet. Some of these are linked here on this blog. In addition to these, there are numerous personal sites that individuals have created dealing with Catholic interests. But there are sites among these that can have a negative impact; sites who's information is in direct conflict with authentic Catholic belief and practice. The goal for this blog is to provide resources that can be useful to one's personal prayer practice. Because of the sheer volume of sites available, one needs to avoid having their time swallowed up by "information overload". To help with this challenge may I offer these suggestions: Create a priority list of links to sites that have a direct affinity with the direction in which your prayer is being inspired. Include a site that has scripture resources like daily Mass readings. Look for sites focused on prayer. i.e. Jesuit site. Link to your parish, diocese, bishops conference, Vatican. Downloading eBooks on prayer to use as a study resource (especially useful for commuters) This "highway" is for getting there, not sightseeing, evaluate carefully your driving-thumb habits.

Ecclesiastes

18th Sunday Ordinary Time – 2016 When you hear the word vanity you most often think of fashion gone over the top or that cupboard under the bathroom sink. But in today’s first reading it has a much broader meaning. The word in Latin is “vanus” meaning empty, without substance, that which is futile, even absurd. So the first reading begins: “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” The book of  Ecclesiastes, with its deeply pessimistic view of life, was compiled in the third century B.C., when Judea was under the oppressive domination of Hellenistic kings from Egypt. These kings were highly efficient in their ruthless exploitation of the land and people. God seems remote and uncommunicative, who people cannot hope to understand, much less influence God’s activity in the world. The average Jew felt a sense of powerlessness and inability to change things for the better. So in despair the author asks, “What is the meaning of life after all?” No matter how one’s life may unfold good or bad, all that remains are a grave and nothingness. He writes: I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards; I made gardens and parks, and in them set out fruit trees of all sorts. And I constructed for myself reservoirs to water a flourishing woodland. I also owned vast herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and provinces. I accumulated much more than all others before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, stayed with me. Nothing that my eyes desired did I deny them, nor did I deprive myself of any joy; rather, my heart rejoiced in the fruit of all my toil. This was my share for all my toil. But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the fruit of the toil for which I had toiled so much, see! – All was vanity and a chase after the wind. There is no profit under the sun. you die and someone else gets it. It is important to realize that the people of the O.T. had a much different understanding of what comes after death. Basically for them there is nothing after death, so all that matters is this life. By Jesus time there where two principle ways to see this, the Pharisees taught that God would bring the righteous back to life, here in this world, giving them new bodies to live in. The Sadducees taught that death was it, end of story, nothing more to come. I find there is an interesting comparison today with this pessimistic view of life and the decline of positive faith, coupled with an increase of an atheistic, agnostic world view. It shows up when questions of age and health and the productivity of life come up – evidenced by the recent doctor assisted suicide legislation our federal government passed. What exactly gives life its meaning and value then? The answer to this question put forward in the first reading is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus. All life is sacred. It comes from God and belongs to God. Jesus’ words from the Cross, Father, I place back into your hands the life you gave me, I have completed the purpose for which you sent me. (paraphrase) We do not invent life nor do we define its purpose. Only God gives life and to every life God gives a purpose.  It is God’s loving plan that we should participate in the very life of God, that we be holy like God is holy in all we say and do; to be the custodians and guardians of all life, and finally to live eternally in unimaginable delight in God’s presence. Our part now is to accept or reject this purpose for life. Anything else is vanity. Our acceptance of this life with God is proven by the life we live now, and by never letting anyone or anything take it away from us. The Book of Ecclesiastes [ ... LINK ... ] Reading for 18th. Sunday [ ... LINK ... ] Bishop Robert Barron [ ... LINK ... ] Today's 2nd Reading Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. 2 Col 3:1-5. * * *

Liturgy of the Word - Our Story

Reflections on the Liturgy of the Word Reading the Epistle You may remember the days of the Mass in Latin or the Tridentine Liturgy as it was known. The way the scriptures were read at Mass was quite different from today. After the Gloria & Collect (opening Prayer) the priest moved to the right side of the altar for the reading of the Epistle, which was taken from the New Testament Letters. The priest, facing the altar, read the text, which was in Latin. While the priest moved to the centre of the altar, the Server moved the Missal Book containing the readings, to the left side of the altar where the priest read the Gospel, taken from one of the four Gospels. The texts used were the same each year. Reading the Gospel Then the priest turned facing people or went to a pulpit and read these passages in the language of people and gave a sermon. For the English translation of the scriptures, the Douay–Rheims Bible was used. Very few texts from the Old Testament were used. Catholics were not very familiar with Old Testament scripture, not being encouraged to read the Bible. I remember in grade 8, we had a book with selections of Old Testament stories, in a paraphrased form, which we read – Adam and Eve, the Flood, Moses and the Ten Commandments, the Exodus, etc. Then in the 1960’s, following the Second Vatican Council, the structure of the Liturgy for Mass was changed. One major change was the way scripture would to be chosen and read in the Mass. Now, the Sunday liturgies would have three readings, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and a Gospel passage. Verses from the Psalms would also used throughout. These readings are spread over a three year cycle so that the whole of the New Testament and much of the Old Testament is now heard, and read in the local languages of the people. Now Catholics are hearing much more of the Old Testaments stories, and often the God they see in the Old Testament seems unlike the God of the New Testament – like God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah together with  every man, woman, and child in them; then in the gospel reading, Jesus is seen showing compassion and mercy to the sinner – revealing God as a loving and merciful Father. The new form of the Liturgy Word is meant to be an experience of the whole story of who we are, how we got where we are now, and where we hope to arrive. Now we see the big picture view from an historical perspective – a people gradually discovering the true nature of God, and God’s plan for us. People of the ancient world saw their gods as fearful and vengeful, with little concern for people. But the people of the Old Testament gradually began to see a different God – a God of Mercy – ready to forgive. Finally in Jesus – a God who is a loving Father, intent on bring home his wayward sons and daughters. Finally with reading from the New Testament, the Liturgy of the Word completes our story. As the scriptures are read, we experience being drawn up into them – now we will add new chapters until all is complete. I think of the Liturgy of the Word as a family, gathered around the family table, listening to the family stories. The grandparents remembering and telling the family stories as they remember them from the past and the lessons learnt; the present generation confirming the stories and handing them on to the next generation who listen intently, confirming their own identity in the family and being inspired to go forward with confidence to add new chapters to the family story.

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Psalm 139

At the Beginning of Prayer When Strangers meet for the first time they are naturally guarded in how they reveal themselves. An atmosphere of trust is yet to be built. Certainly there are many things that one keeps hidden, especially things one is not proud of.  So on the surface a dialogue begins as they explore the degree to which they will be open to each other. This is no less true of how people often approach personal and meditative prayer. We feel the need to appear pious and spiritual; using the language of form prayers and various religious conventions. Believing we must impress, we take the role of initiator of the direction this prayer time will take. It's the head that gets a workout while keeping well-hidden things we believe would invalidate the very integrity of our praying. But all the while, as this struggle to get a good start at prayer unfolds, He waits - waits with loving patience for an opening to take his part. As the one praying approaches "in fear and trembling", (burdened with the expectancy of devotional correctness. Lk. 10:41) the Lord awaits to take him/her up into his arms with loving tenderness. May I suggest that one begins with a careful and audible reading of Psalm 139.

Psalm 139 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,  when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—  when I awake, I am still with you. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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