Bible Study for the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/23 – Matthew 23:11 – Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see opportunities to be of service and so to become more like You.
  • 9/24 – 1 Kings 8:58 – Lord, soften my heart and draw me close to Your word so I may walk in Your way and follow Your precepts, serving and not demanding service.
  • 9/25 – Luke 22:27 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may serve at the table of Your altar, bringing Your word and grace to all. Draw others to open their hearts to Your call to serve.
  • 9/26 – Daniel 4:30-34 – Heavenly Father, when I fail to heed Your way and count my successes as my own, grant that I may be humbled and praise You for every grace.
  • 9/27 – Philippians 2:3-11 – Lord Jesus, You gave up everything to save us, humbling Yourself to the point of dying on the cross for us. Grant that I may constantly recall Your example and live to follow in serving and sacrificing for others.
  • 9/28 – James 4:6 – Father, You give Your blessings to those who are humble. Help me to reject pride and arrogance and so to abound in Your love.
  • 9/29 – 1 Peter 5:3-5 – Lord Jesus, grant every blessing to those charged with shepherding Your flock. May they live as humble servants with a heart for Your people, and so draw many to You.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, renew my humility and openness so to receive You in my life.

Reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Key kids.
You get it.

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Why did Jesus compare receiving a child to receiving Him?

The key in this verse is the word “receive.” It actually means to take by the hand. It means to take up. It means to befriend. It means to receive in hospitality. It means to accept into one’s life.

Whoever does these things isn’t just receiving a child, but they are also receiving Jesus because they no longer care about being pretentious, pompous, high-and-mighty, or arrogant. They are open, not just the innocence or a child, but to becoming small themselves.

We all know that we can’t act like big shots around children. They see right through it and will call us on it. In relating to a child we have to let down our guards, open up, and soften ourselves.

We have to do the same to accept Jesus, and to accept and welcome His Father as our Father.

Jesus was showing the disciples, who were arguing about who’s first that they had to let go of that attitude. They had to stop pretending after greatness because the only place they could find greatness, find heaven, was in being the servant to each other.

Jesus loved children because they weren’t competing. They were open to love and plain teaching. They recognized Jesus’ love – they got Him. While the men and women around Him, even His disciples were blinded by their own goals, children clearly saw God’s goals for their lives – and they accepted God’s goals as their goals.

We will all be called to account for our approach to life – how closely our lives follow Jesus’ way.

Did we treat our faith as something complex and hierarchical? Did we treat our faith as based on community and service to each other and the wider world?

Do we dwell on disputes and the competition to be greater than others? Do we focus on humility and self-denial so as to be most like Jesus?

St. James, having learned from Jesus during these days, points out that we tend to seek for ourselves, we focus only on our passions, we ask wrongly. We need to listen to the child’s voice. When we hear, “May I please have a glass of water?” our hearts should melt to become the servant who fulfills that child’s need – for the water that brings both physical and spiritual life. Be a humble believer, accept that child, and receive Jesus.

Veteran’s Day Scholarship Contest for High School Students

The Polish American Journal is sponsoring a Veteran’s Day Scholarship Contest for high school students honoring Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban, the most decorated soldier in United States military history. Six awards will be made to winners and runners-up. Students must submit an essay entitled “Why I Think the United States Postal Service Should Issue a Stamp Commemorating Lt. Col. Matthew L. Urban.” Entries must be submitted no later than November 11, 2012. Download the rules, eligibility, and submission criteria by clicking on the picture below.

Bible Study – Back to Church
  • 9/16 – Romans 12:5 – Lord Jesus, grant that I may look beyond denomination and religion as a practice, and rejoice in the common faith of Your Church. May I see all as a brother or sister in Your body.
  • 9/17 – 1 Corinthians 12:12 – Lord Jesus, thank You for joining us together in Your body, the Church. Grant that I may work wholeheartedly and without desire for recompense in my role and position in Your body.
  • 9/18 – Ephesians 4:2 – Dear Lord, Your Holy Church has taught me to desire only to love, to be humble, patient, and gentle. May I reach out to all, inviting them into that same love.
  • 9/19 – 1 Peter 4:10 – Lord, Your Church has given me so many gifts, but most particularly the gift of salvation. Grant that I may share that gift with all I meet.
  • 9/20 – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Lord, Your Church is the perfect community in which I am encouraged and built up. Grant that I may do likewise with all I meet, sharing with them the gift of community.
  • 9/21 – James 5:16 – Lord Jesus, You left the power to heal and reconcile with Your Church. Grant that I may work for the good of all by praying for them and bringing them to reconcile in You.
  • 9/22 – 1 Corinthians 12:27 – Lord, in baptism I was regenerated into a new person, a member of Your body, the Church. Grant that I may always live the promises of my baptism.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me into Your Church, to live and love with You.

Reflection for Back to Church Sunday

I am listening.
What should I say?

“The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Did you ever wonder what the Word of God is all about? Scripture, the Bible, whatever term we use, what is its purpose, why should we read it, study it, reflect on it, or even act on it?

For many people, the bible might be something handed down from parents and grandparents, a cherished memento. For some it may have been a gift they received for their first communion, baptism, on their wedding day. Certainly, most people have access to a bible in their home, and even if they do not, it is easily accessed via the Internet, on your iPod or iPad.

It comes in handy. We tend to reach for that bible when an issue or problem confronts us, when we are not well or when someone we love is sick. We look for those words of comfort and guidance.

Some people really focus on scripture and use the bible as their guide for life. It becomes a procedure manual and a guide for everyday living. I need to go to the store – what does the bible have to say? I dropped my groceries, my car is making an odd noise, and my husband or wife isn’t talking to me — what does God have to say on the issue?

That is all well and good and has merit. Anytime someone picks up that bible God’s word goes to work in his or her life, but the Word is not really about us.

If God’s word, His revelation is not a revelation about our lives, what does it reveal?

Scripture is this – it is God’s revelation about Himself, His self-revelation. Everything in scripture points out something about God’s personality, His thoughts, His power, His mercy, His Fatherhood, and His love.

The single most important thread in God’s self-revelation is that He wants to live with us, in relationship with us. This is so important that He sent His only Son Jesus to break down the barrier of sin that separated us from God. He broke down that wall; He wiped away sin and the consequence of sin – death. He offered His life to accomplish this mission.

God wants to be in a relationship with us that much. We are that important to Him. Because of that He is with us every minute, listening to us. So when problems or issues confront us, and we reach for that bible, God opens Himself to us. He says, here I am, for you, for whatever you need, even if it is only comfort. This is who I AM. I am listening to you. Say or ask for anything because you are that important to me.

Bible Study for Brotherly Love
  • 9/9 – John 13:34 – Lord Jesus, You left us with the perfect example of love, the love of a God who would sacrifice Himself for His peoples’ eternal salvation. Teach me to love in equal measure.
  • 9/10 – Philippians 2:3 – Lord, grant that I may see Your image in every person. Remove all conceit from my heart. Teach me to love and serve all.
  • 9/11 – 1 Thessalonians 4:9 – Heavenly Father, grant that brotherly love may permeate all I do, and be so ingrained into my life that I may do nothing other than express and teach love.
  • 9/12 – Hebrews 13:1 – Lord, grant that love may continue in me and our faith community.
  • 9/13 – 1 Peter 2:17 – Lord Jesus, remove all that blocks us from loving as we should. Grant that no allure of politics or power may stand in the way of honoring You, our brothers and sisters in faith, and brotherly love toward all.
  • 9/14 – 2 Peter 1:7 – Father, to be like You, to follow You Son Jesus, is nothing other than love. Grant that I may grow in becoming more like You.
  • 9/15 – Ephesians 5:21 – Lord Jesus, make me servant to all, to hold all in prayer and love, so that I may be known as a member of Your body.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant that Your word penetrate our hearts so that we may love completely.

Reflection for the Solemnity of Brotherly Love

And who is my…
Everyone.

“you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.”

The exercise of brotherly love takes two forms.

The first is exercising love toward our family in the faith. Within the Church, and with fellow Christians, we are to live as joined together in tender affection, such as the love between parents and children. This means that Christians should have similar feelings toward each other, as belonging to the same family, and as united in the same principles and interests.

The second is exercising love toward all of humanity. As the Good Samaritan, we must look at every person with love and compassion, treating them as brothers and sisters.

This might seem easy when a person we do not know is in need. We still feel the tug to help, to do something for them – we are following Christ’s teaching. But, what happens when a person we do not know is cruel toward us, toward the Church in general, or toward all Christians?

We may never be able to turn their hearts of our own accord, but with Christ’s help we must love. Here is how:

First, we need to trust in Jesus’ word. Hearing it is one thing, but carrying it out is another. That’s harder – we have to admit that. But, pause for a moment and think, how would Jesus want me to respond. We will always come back to responding with love.

Next, we need to express that love. The best way to start is in prayer. Pray for that person, that whatever troubles them may be removed, that their heart may be healed and turned. Follow up by expressions of brotherly love. This could be as simple as not responding in kind.

Do not return a bad word for a bad word. Do not return a scowl with a scowl. Rather, return love, a smile, an expression of kindness and empathy.

Throughout the history of faith, Christians have been know as doing crazy things – things the world does not understand. The hardest thing for the world to understand is love toward strangers and most especially toward those who are not kind to us.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

God taught us how to love. It is not always easy, both within our family of faith and toward all of humanity. Therefore, let’s exercise our brotherly love at all times – and grow strong in love.

Rap with us on Back to Church Sunday – September 16th

Join and rap with us as we explore our relationship with Jesus.

Yes, Jesus who loves us.
Jesus, who is our friend.
Jesus, who doesn’t care how we dress or look, who doesn’t care whether we are rich or poor, who only longs to welcome us.

Back to Church Sunday at Holy Name – September 16th, 9:30am.
Breakfast served after services.