tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15037505340237267452024-03-18T20:16:28.660-07:00Liturgical NotesBruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-39071118474489107352020-10-23T08:22:00.003-07:002020-10-23T09:04:44.936-07:00Why won't you be my neighbor?<p> <span face="Economica, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">October 25th 2020</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2fdb54eb-7fff-e2dd-60c2-808404cea254"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 0.75pt;"><span face="Economica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 30pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3oth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 4px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xHZ9kbJn80r9HxJRrlI-AlXFLp1QRhSI5F7Omp7UVsLq3V2ED4VhFcO8zprnQ28InbUOaMTsgPfC89J0hSpl_W7lQEXOLMR1ZXXN6OrABU67qM95244h3kT4xQX6-kM7Fx-ONq6S" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="horizontal line" width="624" /></span></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJtNZCjLXK87qq87PBSm1DUChuioaa5Yc0J1GFb8IzzSAFRw8lcBJSxxaBq2DA6Krv7wHoSCkKrdmo2nWEGcqtz32sn7CqS051EhPMjBsQ-oLdKCRWezsHPXg6z5jDJrAML3gTmTFvJA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJtNZCjLXK87qq87PBSm1DUChuioaa5Yc0J1GFb8IzzSAFRw8lcBJSxxaBq2DA6Krv7wHoSCkKrdmo2nWEGcqtz32sn7CqS051EhPMjBsQ-oLdKCRWezsHPXg6z5jDJrAML3gTmTFvJA/" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus says the LORD:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will surely listen to their cry. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Exodus 22:20-22</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------------------------</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 3pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Matthew 22:39b</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week’s readings challenge us to expand our understanding of: </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">neighbor and neighborhood. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pope Francis’ encyclical </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home”</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">has been a source of guidance and inspiration as I reflect on the word of God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 199px; overflow: hidden; width: 264px;"><img height="199" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JlByrzcX4uWjTb7o9Em4Kc7KXyDlDvEnbp7qTeqoOiFNxFKPJPQPNoSYX0wwtxfPtmaf1zZ7TZEWtunzSTp9xKIxefkaTxY1gQ84F673DCz5gPk5oaW8i9ClLDJLYg2tLOxXXX5T" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="264" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Holy Father cites St. Francis of Assisi as a model </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">par excellence</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of caring for the vulnerable </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(our neighbors)</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the earth’s internal ecology</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (our global neighborhood). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He speaks of the beloved saints’ unique perspective of the link between nature and the God who fashioned it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Saint Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his*</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> infinite beauty and goodness.” </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> emphasis mine)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A major focus of the encyclical is “The Issue of Water.” Here are several excerpts: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”Even as the quality of available water is constantly diminishing, in some places there is a growing tendency, despite its scarcity, to privatize this resource, turning it into a commodity subject to the laws of the market. Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">***</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The songs and images before Mass connect to the call to expand our understanding of neighbor and common home. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can find the words, music and scripture verses by clicking the links in blue.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curtis Stephan’s </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SsbtlaEtatpAVWjJLE6RxDV2Oj_cPVDZ/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tend the Ground</span></a><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was directly inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical. The lyrics contain references to: God’s providence, Christ’s selfless love, Isaiah’s call to turn swords into plowshares, and our duty to reject personal greed and focus on the needs of all. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -0.75pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BdxuHkMevIOx7BHT361YKDFY7s7tH49U/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shall We Gather At The River</span></a><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is based on the living-water which flows from God’s throne of God. </span><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/22" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revelation 22:1-5</span></a><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is a reminder that participating in the Eucharist places us in communion with those who already enjoy the fulfillment of God’s heavenly kingdom.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"> </p><h2 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer for the Earth<br /></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love,that we may protect life and beauty.<br /></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, <br /></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not pollution and destruction. <br /></span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. Amen.<br /></span> <br /><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wishing you blessings and good spirit,<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Lobster, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce</span></h2><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Lobster, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-14522616333812882442020-08-08T02:34:00.006-07:002020-08-08T02:35:58.330-07:00God, where are you? My Blog for the weekend of August 9<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">God, where are you?</span></span></h1><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ce5e63c-7fff-f3c0-c7a2-a17772bd84dc"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 380px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img height="380" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FnftAFc6T_SlD7uLDiej6-ahqxPoG00D6v2LHmIpiw4DUTKt90sQ0jKGMLnvs0xz4I81HLOsrW6T51byALk4ctWMzpOLqI3ZvF9agILH1YI3cjM9QGHZyJ5PLzm_g9XE0pcO1klO" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Imagine you are watching a movie. The sound-track similar to this past Tuesday’s storm. The wind gusts and whips through the trees. Rocks hurtle down the side of a mountain. You are startled by a sound, the likes of which you’ve never heard before as the ground splits in two. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The readings for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time contain multiple cataclysmic events. What makes these stories unique is the manner by which God comes to Elijah and Peter. Between them they experience rock-crushing winds, an earthquake, fire and a tempestuous sea. But God is in none of these. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 Kings 19:12</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This sound; often described as the “still small voice,” has been the subject of study, speculation and prayer for centuries. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the heart of this church musician’s reflection lies the difference between cacophony and theophany. A cacophony is a harsh discordant sound. A theophany is God being revealed to humanity. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The following quote by the contemporary christian composer and singer Steven Curtis Chapman captures it well. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>“Satan is screaming lies over us all day long. And God whispers the truth in a still, small voice. So often the voice we listen to most is the one we hear loudest.”</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> ― Steven Curtis Chapman, </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Someone once said, “you get better answers by asking better questions”. Perhaps this week, when life’s struggles come our way, we can invite the still small voice of God to come to us by changing our question from “God, where are you” to “What are you calling me to do, Lord?”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Getting ready for the reboot,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bruce </span></span></p><br /></span>Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-19547189544634088072020-07-24T04:17:00.003-07:002020-07-24T04:17:30.410-07:00Wise as ___________________.<b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7588a3-7fff-370e-2916-c969037f8b5b" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I give you a heart wise and discerning………</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">1 Kings 3:12</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 497px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="497" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/sZdtpidCqCr8ta2LKPO2hhheQNemnoP1dJYSWGkXU_iMaMdza40BanksK0ooPhDW0RefRM0rmaa4tjarRjtQadvtOQg86fhMUds_V-BK1Zxk_ji5RxuoNN1UQusrqdpG7wa4nTpY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The words above are part of God’s blessing Solomon as he granted his desire for wisdom. Five quick facts about Solomon:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He was born about 1000 years before Christ. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He is the son of David, the great King of Israel and Bathsheba. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">His Hebrew name </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Schlomo”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> means peaceful. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Consider the similarity between it and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">shalom.) </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He was crowned King at the age of 20 by the prophet Nathan who gave him the name </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Jedidiah </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">which means “beloved of God”. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">His crowning achievement was the construction of the temple in Jerusalem.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The following verse tells of Solomon’s asking God for wisdom in this week’s first reading.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request. So God said to him: Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right— 1Kings 3:10-11</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What is wisdom? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">W</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">isdom is one of those qualities that is difficult to define—because it encompasses so much—but which people generally recognize when they encounter it. And it is encountered most obviously in the realm of </span><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/decision-making" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">decision-making</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> - from Psychology Today</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Why is wisdom important? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our moral life </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“is sustained by the gifts of the Spirit”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Catechism of the Catholic Church #1830 *</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> * Wisdom is the first of seven gifts of the Spirit listed in #1831.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What is the practical application of Wisdom?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This is why we must ask the Lord to gift us the Holy Spirit and the gift of wisdom that teaches us to see with God's eyes, to feel with God's heart to speak with God's words! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">- Pope Francis “Reflections on the Holy Spirit”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Two areas for further exploration</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Power of Vulnerability </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Holy Father’s words “feel with God’s heart” provide an excellent segue to Brene’ Brown’s work in the wisdom of “whole-hearted” decision making. </span></div>
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<a href="https://mindfulambition.net/wholehearted-living/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Here is a link to her 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ambiguous Loss</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Although Psychologist Pauline Boss coined this term to deal with unresolved loss well before the Covid 19 pandemic, it provides an excellent framework for dealing with the ongoing void that began in mid-March. Here is a link to an updated conversation between her and Krista Tippett in the latter’s podcast titled </span><a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/pauline-boss-navigating-loss-without-closure/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On Being </span></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My Outshot</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rather than find solutions, the wisdom of both Brown and Boss centers on thriving in the midst of the unknown. Sound advice for this time of Covid. Sound advice for life.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">See you soon,</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2d30; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bruce</span></div>
<br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-45097125117948545542020-07-24T04:15:00.001-07:002020-07-24T04:15:53.155-07:00Changing Sides<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Changing Sides (or) Breaking the Streak</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 415px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="415" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pxKpJBFdM8WJFo7NE5qzjHUNkvCI_ftke-P_IhirPkSrbU93cjyic-ZrUyyh9s1rY36jgeeyg9hNSSzRY01CAAUottyqiYmtHabJiF3hxyFcyuL4omzis3M66eNNVsmfMA8PeDVO" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I have never based a Liturgical Note on the writings of St. Paul because what we hear at mass:</span></div>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> is only a snippet of a deep philosophical argument</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> doesn’t relate to the other readings</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> contains densely worded run-on sentences </span></div>
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</ol>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4bbd892e-7fff-0687-ae40-e952742c761f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The streak is over.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Romans 8:18</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Most of what I know about Paul comes from the story of his conversion on the Road to Damascus. (Acts, Chapter 9) Don't feel bad if you can't recall much. It is proclaimed in church once every three years, on the third Friday after Easter. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Rather than repeat the story, I offer Paul’s description of himself. It is taken from his testimony before Ananias, the High Priest and Felix, the Roman Governor. Paul is on trial for preaching about Christ and has spent the last 2 year in jail.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. (Jerusalem) At the feet of Gamaliel (an esteemed Pharisee) I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way (Christianity) to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.” Acts 22: 3-4</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Saul who was a driving force in the martyrdom Stephan and countless unnamed Christians has changed sides. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">His sword has been replaced with something more powerful.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“To know (Christ) and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings…” Philippians 3:10 </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The one who caused paralyzing fear among the Apostles is now calling then to hold fast to the promise of Christ. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Romans 8:18 </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">These words have brought me comfort and hope. I pray they bring the same to you.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">See you soon,</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bruce</span></div>
Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-9258217684226951952020-06-27T13:46:00.000-07:002020-06-27T13:46:26.112-07:00Who REALLY matters<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> REALLY matters?</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 2pt solid #ff0000; display: inline-block; height: 160px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img height="160" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ksmUtu-PPzR6HPUjiW1UkgEnOJMso0rPYZ4neqXk-0GNeULPg-wMl9dZZ2bJV2S0DVdF5Indicd6eOnFpRUwN1alui6vHbgzYsdoLwCkjXj7tlCoR0fsFhZJTwzbdHjyy4rT82pk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-478beb82-7fff-15af-a51d-e1ac46644992" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note: This liturgical note is not a political commentary. It is a question formed from Jesus’ words in the gospel for Sunday June, 28th.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Whoever loves father or mother more than me </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">is not worthy of me,</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">and whoever loves son or daughter more than me </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">is not worthy of me;</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Matthew 10:37</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is your response to this question? “Who Really matters?” </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Consider your answer. Don’t worry, no one is going to judge you. Now consider this follow-up question: How much time did you take between reading the question and moving on to this paragraph? The answer to this second question leads to or perhaps proves my point regarding how we receive and respond to information. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are spoon-fed “facts” by the loudest voice in the room whether they are Google, Wikipedia (or worse yet) The National Enquirer or anonymous message boards.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't blame the media. They have simply responded to our demand to “bottom line me” by turning articles and newscasts into bullet-points and sound-bytes. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s even in the language we use: </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the day.……</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Basically………..................</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s also in how our responses: </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">like - like - share - love - swipe left - swipe right - smiley face</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note: For those of you who are not online much, this describes what people are doing on their phones all the time. The dash (aptly named) represents the time between each image they are seeing, judging and commenting upon.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s circle back to the gospel. What really matters? Part of the answer lies in something I was taught in elementary school: The answer is not always as important as what is gained from the time and effort taken working it out. At the end of the day ya gotta show your work.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Basically, it what Jesus said:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> ….whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matt. 10:38</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">See you soon! (Yay!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-29895361229139698462020-06-11T16:16:00.001-07:002020-06-11T16:16:40.349-07:00What is the Eucharist? Blog for the Solemnity of Corpus Chriisti<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-7a8d6007-7fff-e084-e00d-6535ee656940" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 285px; overflow: hidden; width: 320px;"><img height="285" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nYGk95JBzp55OyTn_EwNDHEJxcNTi2gwn2DJR9YuclgxQ3y7_qOHTSKazAq7ZOO42KR-atdunD6mQMZFsUulTPA476mqz-f2ejYfzlzf2znsuK8CfbTGXoXRbDFX8wToPhBab2W9" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We can boost our immune systems </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by strengthening our social networks and decreasing stress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jane Mc Gonigal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that Jane Mc Gonigal is a designer of alternate reality games may lift an eyebrow, but her point remains well taken. As someone who has struggled with eczema his entire life, I have first-hand knowledge: Stress attacks the body at its weakest part. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you find this to be an unconventional way of beginning an article on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - welcome first-time reader. Perhaps glancing again at the picture at the top of the page will help you refocus. Young hands, neatly but not overly manicured holding a carefully broken host and a glimmering gold chalice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the next picture, Christ hanging on the cross formed out of multiple pictures may be less conventional, it is certainly not controversial. What caption would you use? I’ve decided to use the words of a Nigerian preacher who chose the Ukraine as where he would spread the gospel message.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 355px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="355" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/g06aFk1UY5yi3GyrEJo9ZGojntw5Cq1EISmPc0Nq-ixc090RNZ4Qe67mB-djAA5IDRHhIUYzVd4rHAZEWXOhY6gn-cC1qQ69pVjsf4RyH7oksQh8bsYQHTmecFVoccFk38ICBBXw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Every Christian has their place in the body of Christ”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sunday Adelaja</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider a more traditional representation. “Calvary” was painted by Maerten van Heemskerck, a 16th century dutch painter who spent a portion of his life in Rome. In addition to Jesus we see the two thieves who were crucified with him. The unnamed one on his left and Dismas on his right. Do you remember Jesus’ response when Dismas asks Jesus to remember him? Did you know that Dismas was named a saint?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 23-43</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The commentary of Miroslav Volf, a professor of Theology at Yale is a bit dense but worth our consideration. Here is a paraphrase. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ on the cross: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* identifies God with the victims of violence (and)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* identifies the victims with God, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so that they (the victims) are put under God's protection </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and….. given the rights of which they have been deprived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is my takeaway: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Dismas, we all receive our identity from Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each of our pictures make up the Mosaic known as The Body of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even the weakest members of the body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sinners striving to be saints as well as the saints whose sins have been justified by faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who suffer because of violence. Those who protect the victims - and those who are victimized by the protectors. They </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">must not </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stand alone and they </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do not </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stand alone. Because the body of Christ stands with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Missing you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. The burden of men was so heavy for God Himself that He had to endure the Cross. God verily bore the burden of men in the body of Jesus Christ. But He bore them as a mother carries her child, as a shepherd enfolds the lost lamb that has been found. God took men upon Himself and they weighted Him to the ground, but God remained with them and they with God. In bearing with men God maintained fellowship with them. It was the law of Christ that was fulfilled in the Cross. And Christians must share in this law. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-56538842189098342362020-06-06T17:49:00.000-07:002020-06-06T17:49:13.336-07:00Trinity Sunday <div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-226300f0-7fff-e2f9-c720-193636a68c29" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; font-size: large; height: 301px; overflow: hidden; width: 436px;"><img height="301" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AfnOPFi4pbF_HNJCfqZpL7IxvVODJC27-GSieAaBj3LUQd3sLbFIAGtP8vq-YYtmcA9CtGjFtHv6xZAFqM_PoaNSGG6KktdAAePrlJaU1NQA_sQYMYZg9aBkpOc6WikaLxe_I7Ae" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="436" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Sunday nights b.c.* I would religiously tune-in to a radio show and podcast called “Bullseye”. Its creator and host; Jesse Thorn interviews personalities in arts and culture. While I like the show, my favorite part comes at the end. No matter how much of the show I miss, I tune in just to hear Thorn’s clever sign-off:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And I think that’s about it…. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just remember: all great radio hosts have a signature sign off.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The recent gospel readings could be considered Jesus’ sign-off. Some of these come directly from a portion of John’s Gospel sub-titled “The </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Farewell</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Discourse”. Jesus speaks about the relationship between Himself and the Father. Here is a portion. The setting is The Last Supper:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:8-10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I see a connection between the content of Jesus’ farewell and today’s Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We have been taught from childhood to bless ourselves and to do good works in the same three-fold name.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Trinity plays a prominent role in liturgy. It is found in the Opening Greeting and Final Blessing. We affirm it in the Creed. The Trinity can also be seen in the form of many prayers and reflections. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, trying to understand the Trinity is as futile as asking Jesse Thorn what exactly is his signature sign-off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, from the Jesus’ words at the Last Supper:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. John 14:19-20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are two things we can conclude:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trinity is about relationship; specifically the unique relationship between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We as Christians are inextricably bound to God by our relationship with Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next week’s Liturgical note will take a look at the implications of these two conclusions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Missing you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can find a 12-15 minute recorded Livestream that gives more of the scriptural background for this Liturgical note on Facebook, Youtube or the St. Mary’s Parish Website. Look for Ready2Receive for Thursday, June 4th. If you can’t find it, send me an Email.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* b.c. (before covid)</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-13247971231263194702020-05-28T17:43:00.001-07:002020-05-28T17:43:17.761-07:00Pentecost from a father’s perspective<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-88ea14cc-7fff-d939-ee8c-de4945620254" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when he had said this, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">he breathed on them and said to them, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Receive the holy Spirit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">and whose sins you retain are retained.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over these past week’s I’ve been keeping my finger on the pulse of my 21 year old daughter. Like each of us during this pandemic, she experiences ups and downs on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Like many of her peers in the Class of 2020, she feels the frustration and futility that are inextricably bound to the joy of theri personal achievements. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alessandra did it right. Graduating on time from a 3 ½ year program. Renting an apartment in the city. Obtaining her first two jobs in her field of stage management. Now quarantined with her mom and sister in New Jersey she patiently listens to fatherly advice which is more often than not deep and philosophical. Lucky for me, my daughter has turned into a thoughtful and sensitive young woman.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what does this have to do with this week’s gospel? Let’s take a look. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the night of the resurrection and Jesus finds the disciples afraid and locked in the upper room. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">[Jesus] said to them again, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">* And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">““Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">and whose sins you retain are retained.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">When they receive the Holy Spirit apostles go from being 12 scared men locked in a room….. to…... well…...being the APOSTLES. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">What causes this transformation? (You may want to take a second and reread above.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see it as the Holy Spirit giving the Apostles the ability to forgive. This gift released them from feelings of fear and failure and gave them the ability to boldly move forward. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Spirit offers you and me the gift of forgiveness. A gift to change how we interpret the events of our lives and to reimagine our future. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a wonderful gift. Exactly what this father wants to give his daughter for her college graduation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Come, Holy Spirit,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
<br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-21077451934236605002020-05-24T18:53:00.005-07:002020-05-24T18:53:42.298-07:00Ascension 2020<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ff6451ea-7fff-a185-0a6e-f602e8d60323" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHY ARE YOU STANDING THERE </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LOOKING AT THE SKY? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of what use is the Bible?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear it in church. We see it in posts on the internet. There are snippets of it in our conversations, books and films. Some base predictions on it’s words and numbers. Some use individual verses to justify their actions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“An eye for an eye, it’s in the bible.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> BTW This logic is flawed. See my blog of February 20th </span><a href="https://brucemauro1.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-definition-of-insanity.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn the Other Cheek?</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A long time ago, I was advised to never ask a question I was unwilling to answer myself. So….The bible helps me to better know the God who created me, saved me and reaches out to me in countless ways. I attempt to apply this knowledge my daily decisions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I share it as first as a fellow traveler and second as a church musician in two principle ways:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A 12-15 video called </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ready 2 Receive</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is what I’ve learned about the day’s scripture based on years of study and recent research. It Livestreams on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stmarysnutley/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">St. Mary's RC Church Nutley</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook on Thursdays at 7 p.m. but you can view it anytime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liturgical Notes </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a weekly online bulletin article and blog. </span><a href="https://brucemauro1.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">link to past articles</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the account of Jesus’ Ascension, Luke writes the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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? Acts 1:10-11a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why were the apostles standing there looking at the sky? Maybe it’s because they were stunned. Maybe it’s because their spirits were moving in the exact opposite direction as Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decide for yourself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus rises from the dead and enters the locked room where they are hiding. He touches them. Talks with them. Eats with them. They go out and in His name are preaching, converting and healing. And now he’s leaving? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I were them, I’d be singing the line from that Sinatra tune: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Riding high in April. Shot down in May.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you think of any parallels for yourself in this year which among its promises were to be the year of perfect vision?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blest to be in ministry at St. Mary’s,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce</span></div>
Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-44773480750827929242020-05-16T09:12:00.000-07:002020-05-16T09:12:52.216-07:00I wlil not leave you orph...s<h2 style="line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">John 14:18</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not trying to be insensitive, particularly to children whose parents have died. But for me, the word “orphan” carries a strong and counterproductive meaning. </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">In order to reflect on what Jesus is saying in this Sunday’s gospel, I need to put aside this word. Instead, I will focus on what it means to be without the physical, emotional and financial support of parents. But it’s even more than this. Perhaps the following example will help. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">My grandmother died when my mother was 60. Here’s how mom described her feelings:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Despite the roles being reversed and my having taken care of Grandma for many years,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">her death leaves me feeling alone, cut off, and vulnerable.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being alone, cut off and vulnerable is a good way to describe how the apostles felt when Jesus gsaid he was leaving. To be honest, I’ve visited these places and the nearby “abandoned” a few times over the past 9 weeks. Hi b</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bow about you?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.” John 14:26</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus knows our hearts. He has sent the Advocate. He calls us to advocate for others. Here are 2 examples of people whom I admire and that you might know:</span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Megan Armando is a lawyer who serves as a law guardian for the public defender's office. Megan protects children. Some of these children are literally orphans and some are alone, cut off and vulnerable for other reasons. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note: Often called “advocates” lawyers literally argue and plead for their clients. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tish Palumbo is a visiting nurse who advocates for her clients. She fights for their needs with an intensity she would never use to have her own needs met. Tish will argue their cause with ANYONE keeping them from the BEST care possible. This includes but is not limited to: supervisors, insurance companies, doctors, and those who are too lazy to give the patient their full effort. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all need to have…... and to be…... an advocate. Come Holy Spirit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">At a distance but feeling closer than ever,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-91365683819470143832020-05-09T04:26:00.000-07:002020-05-09T04:26:42.388-07:00What inning is tis?<b id="docs-internal-guid-f705c440-7fff-409a-1f05-78060f6c63ae" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It ain’t over, till the fat lady sings.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yogi Berra</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of my interests lie in the fields of business, finance and economics. Experts in these fields are often asked a simple but important question: “What inning is this?” Knowing this is as critical to success in the game of Wall Street as it is to winning the World Series. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">What inning is this? It is a question we’ve all been asking for the past seven weeks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles continues to chronicle our church’s first innings. There is exponential growth; so much so, the community experiences growing pains. </span></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the second reading Peter challenges the Church to come to Christ a “living stone” making Him the cornerstone. This image of a cornerstone comes from the writings of Isaiah more than 700 years before the birth of Christ. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">See, I am laying a stone in Zion,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">a stone that has been tested,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A precious cornerstone as a sure foundation;</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">whoever puts faith in it will not waver.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 28:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">By laying down his life Christ laid the cornerstone of His Church.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">As our church emerges from the tomb of quarantine we are faced with an important question: What inning is this?</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it the ninth inning? If it is, then perhaps we should play it safe. We can create a game-plan to avoid loss. We can sure up the defense and sit our home run hitters on the bench. Is this faith? Would this approach reflect a Christ that is a living stone? Or should we play like it’s opening day; a church where hope springs eternal. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shouldn’t a church formed by resurrection look and act differently than one that has simply been resuscitated? </span></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">My personal response can be summed up by the words of Cosmo Kramer: “In my mind, I’m already there.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what about it? Shall we recreate a past that no longer exists? Or can we envision a church of the future - God’s future. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">I conclude with a quote, a question and my Email address.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“In the rush to return to normal, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dave Hollis</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Question: What would St. Mary’s look like if we re-emerged in the early innings?</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">E-mail: b.mauro1@yahoo.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Awaiting your thoughts,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">PS</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to all deacons, particularly our Deacon Ron Ronacher and soon-to-be deacon Carl Lordi for continuing the work of the seven sent in today’s first reading.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">PPS</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Happy Mothers day to all who have nurtured us and prayers for those Mothers who are in the place God prepared for them.</span></span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-70544702973100748192020-05-02T11:44:00.000-07:002020-05-02T11:44:12.788-07:00The Lord Is My Shepherd<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ee7f35ba-7fff-4da0-ad85-6114ed5ed890" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I came that they might have life </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and have it more abundantly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> John 10:10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Close your eyes and imagine a shepherd. For me, it is a man, or maybe a teenage boy. He carries a walking stick. A herd of sheep follow behind. A dog races to and fro. His barks; demanding that wanderers return to the safety group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 456px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="456" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/VKYrjkybHT2-Hm_ML1mDk0FOR4ZAElNtPN3zzL0FVsZMwT_tiEhpJWJQw5Ic9LTPD94pXd1bUobuPig-vFUxU4GBlYr5u9WmYl_0hYTnEO57WuRECDYGaHjQ1utmft1s0Gw2zknP" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although I saw a shepherd once in real life, the image I just shared is based on a lesson I learned in elementary school religion class. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lesson was simple: Jesus is the Good Shepherd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 291px; overflow: hidden; width: 239px;"><img height="291" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RKl-c37ZnrvWctEjwjDJxu4VwU1UuOw2ztaq_uVzjt9fP0GLj11eeiSe9aXOl9dAFoIIP39efHHcrXPSV4YQlFZOderryctdToJ8oZug0rYlF8llJFPeE4Wy__Xx8bckvV54PGjp" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="239" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gospel for the 4th Sunday of Easter provides the text for this lesson. One might say it is the original lesson, taught by the Good Shepherd himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you remember of the story? What do you remember of the lesson?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My strongest memory is that the sheep follow the Shepherd because they </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recognize his voice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lesson has helped me throughout my life. It reminds me to seek out the voice of Jesus. It has helped me direct and more often </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">redirect</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> my life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I reread today’s gospel, I came across a part of the story that I don’t remember so well. It is about thieves and robbers who come to slaughter and destroy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did the nuns think my classmates and I too young to learn about this part of the story? My point here is not to criticize the lesson plans of my childhood teachers. These wonderful women helped shape me into who I am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, Jesus chose to make this “stranger-danger” part of his lesson. John chose to weave it throughout his gospel account. So, I want to examine it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What robs me from hearing and recognizing the Shepherd’s voice? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it that I’ve lost touch and can no longer distinguish the Shepherd’s voice from the other sounds around me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have I become overly attuned to other voices?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Could something from within be robbing me of Jesus’ life-giving words? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps the negative tape; “I’m not ___________ enough” that plays in my mind?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Could it be the things I allow to steal their way into the “urgent” column in my daily planner?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good Sisters of St. Joseph taught that filling heart and mind with good things would leave less room for things that were harmful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let us all be more intent on listening for the Shepherd’s voice today and always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At a distance but still blessed to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s and wherever you are seeing this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bruce</span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-78267821294599963372020-04-25T14:51:00.002-07:002020-04-25T14:51:41.587-07:00Stay With Us<b id="docs-internal-guid-1f14f899-7fff-db98-11f3-a98c5964b680" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Stay With Us”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the third Sunday of Easter we are presented with a well-known story from the Gospel of Luke. It is afternoon on the day of the resurrection. Two men are traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They are conversing and debating “all the things that had occurred”. Jesus draws near and begins to walk with them, but for some unexplained reason “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their eyes were prevented from recognizing him</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Jesus teaches and interprets the scripture for them…..</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but they still don’t recognize him.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Arriving at Emmaus, Jesus acts as if he is going to continue on but the men urge him; “Stay with us”.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 529px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="529" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UH-hVncbU97bnMFrIbeYZ9iDlOEUD5ZLrh0D9dfYixHPCUtqH4d8sovzIvLrhfK2XBp0VUYDHDYWE_OP1AIHH_pEnczvgAHqjarSJZAIjYMDjWyQuzI5299hZA9_qIVOBjcGiLYf" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him but he vanished from their sight. Luke 24:30-31</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">What can you and I receive from this story as we journey through the unknown and the uncertain? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus comes to us as He did to those two travelers on the road to Emmaus. The Word of God is present at Mass, in the Bibles that sit on our bookshelves and nightstands, in the inspirational memes and messages we share via text or computer or phone. What is he saying to us? Can we hear him over conversations and debates concerning what got us here and what might help us safely to the other side? Can we respond with the simple yet profound prayer in today's gospel? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus, stay with us.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the upsides to the current downside is that many of us have been given the gift of time and space. With what do we refill that time and space? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Jesus, stay with us.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">****</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then they said to each other “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, walk with me. I will make time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, speak to my heart. I am listening.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, fill my heart. It is open. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, stay with me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">From a distance, but still blessed to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts are worth rushing back to”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dave Hollis</span></span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-40337906396799303122020-04-17T15:09:00.001-07:002020-04-17T15:09:06.526-07:00Hallelujah Is Our Song<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Hallelujah Is Our Song”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I think in songs. Most every phrase I hear and picture I see; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">is hyperlinked to a song in my brain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Thankfully, God has given me reasonably strong impulse </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">control which helps me resist the urge </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">of breaking into song </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">like a chorus member in musical theater.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For the past 30 days (I’m writing this on April 2nd) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I have suppressed a particular song </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">because it contains a word </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I can not say. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">For a church musician, saying “Hallelujah” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">during Lent is like a catcher reminding a pitcher that he </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">needs one more out for a perfect game.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The song was written by Sarah Hart and is titled “Hallelujah, Is Our Song”. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Whew. I feel so much better now that I’ve finally said it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Here is the first verse:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What hope we have</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">These four words make my heart smile. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The hyperlink in my brain takes me to a video. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I see myself sitting at the piano in St. Mary’s. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I see and hear members of the music ministry in the loft,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and at the cantor stand. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I see you in the pews. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I follow additional hyperlinks which take me to the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">thumbnails of individual singers and parishioners. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Even in the darkest night</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’ve often thought of how difficult the middle of the night </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">is for our seniors. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Recently, I have begun to experience my own version of this. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My time of rising has moved from 7am to 5am. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Could the inability to fall asleep at night be the reason </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">our teens </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">stay on their devices throughout the night?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For the light will overcome</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I can hear George Carlin doing Al Sleet: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Hippy Dippy Weatherman:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Tonight’s forecast……..dark…….continued dark tonight</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">…….followed by partly light in the morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We will not fear, for we know the sun will rise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Morning comes. Another day. Another breath. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A fresh cup of coffee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; white-space: pre;">Funny how a time of loss can remind us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; white-space: pre;">to be grateful for things often taken for granted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hallelujah, is our song</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hallelujah </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">IS </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">our song because the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">SON</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> did rise! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">IS</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> risen! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Even in this wounded world, where the battle rages on. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We do not fear, for we know who heals our souls. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hallelujah is our song</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Longing for the day we can sing Hallelujah together </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in St. Mary’s,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bruce </span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-4835329074976010182020-03-19T10:40:00.001-07:002020-03-19T10:47:40.338-07:00Two can be as bad as one. It’s the loneliest number since the number one.<div class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"> From the song by Three Dog Night</span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><u><b>Social Distancing.......</b></u></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">If anyone knows me, you know that I live with someone in the health-care field. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She has first-hand knowledge of the impact of our current state on both ends of the spectrum: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>physically healthy school-aged children and the elderly who are suffering from illnesses other than the corona virus.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b><u>Social distancing.</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">A way to slow the spread of the virus. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">For some (uninfected) the cure might be worse than the disease.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b><u>Side effects: </u></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">increased loneliness</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">extreme withdrawal</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">despair</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">While the antidote is uncertain, I’d like to suggest the 5 c’s? *</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">1. Contact</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">2. Connection</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">4.Conversation</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">5. Care</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">BTW: It’s progressive. Start with 1 and move to 5</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">If you’re in danger: </span> <span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">CALL 911</span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">If you’re sad and sinking: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>CONTACT ME</span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">If you’re reading this blog: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Consider this my invitation </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"> to YOU to connect</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Bruce</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">PS</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">The memes and what-not are great but they leave us psychologically and spiritually distant.</span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-18723991461123011062020-03-13T10:47:00.001-07:002020-03-14T17:35:48.244-07:00Lent III updated with music<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYPz9VoAYT3uF71GJ3f8t2j0Jsb_N_6HVMfQY8a_VrC138gXgk7srj_i4P3hPARDiWU4xjf1IWnPjLbAwQJcM5jqBIC4j5w5-0VgYSX8qmoGLixq8pHSv_lV26DFhvqPOPWJjPiFycPc/s1600/C56B7F97-BF47-4F11-816C-1680C28CA71E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYPz9VoAYT3uF71GJ3f8t2j0Jsb_N_6HVMfQY8a_VrC138gXgk7srj_i4P3hPARDiWU4xjf1IWnPjLbAwQJcM5jqBIC4j5w5-0VgYSX8qmoGLixq8pHSv_lV26DFhvqPOPWJjPiFycPc/s1600/C56B7F97-BF47-4F11-816C-1680C28CA71E.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Liturgical Notes for 3/15</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">Updated with links to songs sung by Gabrianna and Bruce</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lord, you have probed me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> you know me:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">you know when I sit and stand;</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">you understand my thoughts from afar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 139 verse 1b - 2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prelude: O God, You Search Me #437</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oq4IPN_af1yinJwLuCat_81NzUGfNh62/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank">Listen and open your heart to God</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The words of psalm 139 resonate with me as a father. God probes me; the way I probe the face of my 17 year old when she returns from school. God knows me; the way I can detect different tones in the voice of my 21 year old when she calls and tells me about her day at work. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kyrie: </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: purple; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sung Kyrie</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">One of the earliest prayers of the church translated from the Greek as “Lord have mercy.” We sing the Kyrie during lent to highlight the penitential nature of the season.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VWLWD1aWUKhf9nRBlbkIPLaLXjitzOUP/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank">Click to listen</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scripture readings. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KCPbBwXK2DpuJIMKr8EYyi4nsn_duEgq/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank">Link to recording of today’s psalm</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In today’s readings we hear two stories about life “in between”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Isrealites are “in between” drinks of water. Wandering, wondering and grumbling they incorrectly interpret their dilemma as having been abandoned by God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Samaritan woman is “in between” knowing that the Messiah is coming (see John 4:25) and living in harmony with this knowledge. So mired by broken relationships, she fails to see herself as Jesus sees her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are there applications in these readings for us? As we live “in between” health and freedom and the possibility of illness and quarantine? Or the ups and downs of the financial markets affecting the security of our future? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can hear the rhetorical question of a priest friend: “Am I talking to the right people?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Consider the words of Paul who preaches of Jesus who passed through the “in between” of cross and grave to the divine and eternal “now.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We boast in hope of the glory of God...we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus calls each of us to come to the him in the Eucharist. We come as we are; thirsty, poor, wandering, grumbling i.e. “in between” who we are and who God calls us to be.</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ivnYlDZ84uJivnVjgBX1L6BWlEXbHztG/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank">Listen and reflect on for what you thirst</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Communion Lead Us to the Cross In Bulletin</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like Jesus, our Lenten journey turns toward the cross. (More on this next week.). <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DeELMeBQZpwYWIYUz-VncICD6WQaD_zr/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank">Listen to Lead Us to the Cross</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Lenten practice of fasting and acts of penance help us move toward the fullness of conversion - a changed heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chanted entrance antiphon, instrumental procession, sung Kyrie, chanted response to the Prayer of the Faithful and Eucharistic Acclamations</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See last previous liturgical notes in the bulletin or at </span><a href="http://brucemauro1.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://brucemauro1.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blessed to walk this lenten journey once again with you at St. Mary’s,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bruce. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next update: 3-17 for St. Patrick’s Day</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/13gVzsk3HHfPqgMJxK0No7Oo1U3V7Cx4-1kYPMykpzjA/edit" target="_blank">LINK TO ST. JOSEPH NOVENA PRAYERS</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A Prayer for the Current Times</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Lord Jesus, you came into the world to heal our infirmities and to endure our sufferings. You went about healing all and bringing comfort to those in pain and need. We come before you now in this time of illness asking that you may be the source of our strength in body, courage in spirit and patience in pain. May we join ourselves more closely to you on the cross and in your suffering that through them we may draw our patience and hope. Assist us and restore us to health so that united more closely to your family, the Church, we may give praise and honor to your name. </span><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Amen.</span></div>
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<br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-90050631110956959472020-03-05T16:50:00.002-08:002021-03-22T17:14:50.733-07:00Lent II<span style="color: white;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">“Jesus on the mountain peak, stands alone in glory blazing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Let us, if we dare to speak, join the saints and angels praising.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from “Transfiguration” text by Brian Wren</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Today’s Liturgical note comments on the liturgy, readings and music in the order in which they occur on this Second Sunday in Lent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Prelude: Transfiguration #131</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">For me, the prelude serves as transition from private prayer to the focus of the day’s scripture. Brian Wren’s text places us on the mountain top with Peter, James and John as they witness Jesus’ speaking with Moses and Elijah and then hear the voice of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Chanted entrance antiphon and instrumental procession</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The entrance antiphon (introit) is part of the Introductory Rite. At St. Mary’s it is chanted by the cantor to highlight the solemness of the Lenten season. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The instrumental procession creates space for personal reflection as the server carries the cross - the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and ultimate victory over sin and death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sung Kyrie</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">One of the earliest prayers of the church translated from the Greek as “Lord have mercy.” We sing the Kyrie during lent to highlight the penitential nature of the season.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Today’s first reading speaks of the relationship between God, Abraham and Abraham’s descendents. This relationship continues through Jesus, God’s “Beloved Son”. Like our Jewish brothers and sisters we are called to share this blessing with others.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A commentary on today’s psalm by U.S. Council of Bishops furthers this point:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Prayer of the Faithful</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The chanting of the response; Lord have mercy reflects the solemness of the season and our reliance on the goodness and mercy of God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Offertory Transfigure Us, O Lord #499</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A second song about the transfiguration? Yes. The verses to this song are somewhat “literal”. Jesus is: God’s love, light, forgiveness, food etc. The refrain, however, speaks of the lenten call to conversion. BTW. The fourth verse points toward the next part of Jesus’ earthly journey, his walk to Jerusalem and crucifixion on Golgotha.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Mass of Christ the Savior Dan Schutte #912, 915, 916, 917</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We sing this setting for both lent (where the Gloria is it omitted by liturgical rule) and the Easter season. The lenten Memorial acclamation speaks of Christ’s cross and resurrection as the way to salvation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Communion Psalm 27</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Psalm 27 is the source of today’s entrance antiphon. The psalmist trusts in God’s protection and God’s rescue from whatever seeks our ruin. This particular setting was composed in a gospel style by Andrew J. Witchger, church musician and current director of music for the Duke University Catholic Center.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Recessional Lead Me, Lord #726</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verses are an adaptation of the Beatitudes. The image of the narrow gate contrasts the choice to obey or not obey Christ’s words and comes from the gospel. “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.” Matthew 7:13.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Blessed to walk this lenten journey once again with you at St. Mary’s,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Bruce. </span></span></div>
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<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-58952047752610807862020-02-27T09:02:00.002-08:002020-02-27T09:09:22.943-08:00Lent I<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<img alt="Image result for jesus in the desert images" height="356" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51e4bb9ae4b0c6daeea1797d/1549324115328-WKOFITQ2EM3Y8Z2CBBPB/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kFTEgwhRQcX9r3XtU0e50sUUqsxRUqqbr1mOJYKfIPR7LoDQ9mXPOjoJoqy81S2I8N_N4V1vUb5AoIIIbLZhVYxCRW4BPu10St3TBAUQYVKcW7uEhC96WQdj-SwE5EpM0lAopPba9ZX3O0oeNTVSRxdHAmtcci_6bmVLoSDQq_pb/wildnerness.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></i></b></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Come, beloved, and rest your mind; Leave the things of this
world behind. Here I will be your daily bread, all that you need.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <b><i>From
“Into the Desert” words and music Curtis Stephan</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Today’s Liturgical note
comments on the liturgy, readings and music in the order in which they occur on
this First Sunday in Lent.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Prelude:
Into the Desert<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
Not In hymnal</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">This song guides us
towards the focal point of the First Sunday in Lent. Jesus is led into
the desert to be tempted by the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first line (found at the top of the page) speaks to the first
temptation - bread. It also makes a subtle reference to Jesus as God’s
“beloved” as found in next week’s gospel.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Chanted entrance
antiphon and instrumental procession</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The entrance antiphon
(introit) is part of the Introductory Rite. We chant it at St. Mary’s
during lent to highlight the solemn nature of the season. Today’s
antiphon is taken from psalm 91, the source of both the devil’s temptation and
Jesus’ words of resistance. The instrumental procession creates space for
personal reflection as the server carries the cross - the symbol of Christ’s
sacrifice and ultimate victory over sin and death.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sung Kyrie</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">One of the earliest
prayers of the church translated from the Greek as “Lord have mercy.” We
sing the Kyrie during lent to highlight the penitential nature of the season.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scripture readings</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The compilers of the
lectionary pair the Genesis story where Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent
with Matthew’s gospel where Jesus is tempted by the devil. In the second
reading, Paul explains the relationship between the two stories.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Brothers and sisters:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Through one man sin entered the world,</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">and through sin, death,</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>Romans
5:12</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In psalm 51 we sing the
psalmists plea for God’s mercy.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Chanted Prayer of the
Faithful</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The response; Lord have
mercy and the music setting reflect the solemn nature of the season.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Offertory<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gracious God <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>#118</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The refrain to this song
describes God’s abundant mercy.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Mass of Christ the
Savior<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>#912, 915, 916, 917</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We sing this setting for
both lent (where the Gloria is it omitted by liturgical rule) and the Easter
season. The Lenten Memorial acclamation speaks of Christ’s cross and
resurrection as the way to salvation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Communion <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>On Eagles Wings<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>#436</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">A modern-day anthem
based on psalm 91 and so connected to today’s gospel. It was written by
Fr. Michael Joncas as a prayer for strength during the difficult times of
life’s journey. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Recessional<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Forty Days and Forty Nights<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>#127 </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">An important part of our
musical and Lenten tradition and a reminder that Lent is greater than any one
or even the sum of it’s parts. I hope you will stay and pray the entire
song.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Blessed to walk this Lenten
journey once again with you at St. Mary’s,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Bruce. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-26065064853711050342020-02-20T05:50:00.000-08:002020-02-20T10:47:50.505-08:00Turn The Other Cheek?<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Today is the last Sunday before Lent. We continue to hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the 5th chapter of Matthew’s gospel. Here is a brief overview of what we’ve heard so far:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">* The Beatitudes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">* The Call to be Salt and Light</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">* Teachings about law, anger, adultery, divorce and oaths</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Today we hear Jesus’ teaching on retaliation and love of enemies. The reading contains two well known phrases: “an eye for an eye” and “turn the other cheek”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">“An eye for an eye” is often spoken by someone seeking retribution and is often followed by “It’s in the Bible!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">While the words are found in Exodus chapter 21, the underlying message may leave those who utilize it unsatisfied. The roots of “an eye for an eye” are from Babylonian law. (Just google “The Code of Hammurabi”). Exodus cites the concept in an effort to limit retribution so that it is not greater than the offense. In other words no more than an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">In the sermon on the mount, Jesus goes beyond retribution and instructs his disciples to turn the other cheek. Is Jesus telling us to be like the punching bag used by a boxer? Absorb the blow and bounce back to receive the next? I don’t think so. I hear Jesus telling us to insert one thing - love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">As the song says “Love Changes Everything” even the math of the aforementioned equations. By adding love an eye taken from the offender fails to make up for an eye lost by the one who has been offended.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">In the 4rd verse today’s offertory song, “Love Goes On” (#471) Bernadette Farrell writes the following: Though our faith may move mountains, love alone can heal the broken; only love will make us whole. The song is based on 1 Corinthians 13 - the big marriage reading AND John 13 where Jesus washes the disciples feet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Blest to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Bruce</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Addendum:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">As I wrote this article I reflected on how the concepts of eye for an eye and turning the other cheek play out in my own experience. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Perhaps the following might resonate with you:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">For me these terms do not take on a literal or physical nature. Instead, they are connected with something more powerful - <b>words</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Words can be used to retaliate (an eye for an eye) and attack (not turning the other cheek).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: yellow;">Someone once told me “you’re good with words”. They are correct. I’m good when I have time to think and craft a response and I’m good with the quick retort. I’m not proud to say that I practice this cfrequently.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">On the other hand, there have been several occasions lately where I have “bit my tongue” rather than placed it firmly in cheek and returned sarcasm with sarcasm.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Ironically, the good feelings from these non-responses have lasted longer than the relief from the alternative. I can only guess the effect on the other person.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Just something to think about.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">BM</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><b><i><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“</span><span style="font-size: large;">An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” </span></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b><i> Mahatma Ghandi</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-80091257855933952272020-02-14T09:58:00.000-08:002020-02-14T09:58:22.451-08:00Bless Those Who Hunger and Thirst For Justice<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Bless Those Who
Hunger and Thirst For Justice<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Today
is the fifth of six Sundays between the seasons of Christmas and Lent.
The Gospels for this period of Ordinary Time center on Jesus’ early earthly
ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bulk this portion of
Matthew’s Gospel consists of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus warns us not
to be hypocrites, like the Pharisees, who follow the letter of the law but fail
to live good and righteous lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">At
the heart of the Sermon on the Mount are the Beatitudes. I suspect you can remember
many, if not all of them. One is at the top of this article.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">I
have selected “We Are the Light of the World” (#591) to be sung again this
Sunday. The music and text were written by Jean Anthony Greif. Greif primarily
played the organ at silent movies during the early 20<sup>th</sup>
century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can see this influence in how
the verses and refrain switch from d minor to its related major key (F major).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">What
I really like about the song is the way the verses lend themselves to call and
response singing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leader:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless those who hunger and thirst for justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will be satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless us O Lord, hear
our cry for Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Bless us, O Lord,
our God.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">The
refrain points to last week’s gospel where Jesus calls us to be salt and light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Salt and Light” is the name of the U.S.
Council of Bishops most recent writing on Evangelization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a portion for your consideration:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">The Church teaches that social justice is an integral part
of evangelization, a constitutive dimension of preaching the gospel, and an
essential part of the Church's mission. The links between justice and
evangelization are strong and vital. We cannot proclaim a gospel we do not
live, and we cannot carry out a real social ministry without knowing the Lord
and hearing his call to justice and peace. Parish communities must show by
their deeds of love and justice that the gospel they proclaim is fulfilled in
their actions. This tradition is not empty theory; it challenges our priorities
as a nation, our choices as a Church and our values as parishes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has led the Church to stand with the poor
and vulnerable against the strong and powerful. It brings occasional
controversy and conflict, but it also brings life and vitality to the People of
God. It is a sign of our faithfulness to the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Blessed
to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">PS<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">You
can find out more about the Social Mission of the Church at </span><a href="http://www.wearesaltandlight.org/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">www.wearesaltandlight.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> and be part of our
social concerns team by emailing me at b.mauro1@yahoo.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">PPS<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">The
bridge to today’s communion song; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“to bring liberty to the captives and sight
to all who are blind, we are sent in love empowered by your Bread of Life”</i></b>
connects directly to the bishops council’s writings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-31319354793198451092020-02-08T07:42:00.002-08:002020-02-08T07:43:54.893-08:00Musings on music <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">“Musings on Music at St. Mary’s”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Today’s “Liturgical
Note” dishes dirt and talks smack. It diverts from my usual tack: writing about
the scripture of the day, the liturgical feast and season, and how these inform
the musical choices I make. For example how the recurring image of light
influences recent musical selections. (<i>Had to sneak that in. :)</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">My thoughts have been
prompted by a weekly editorial in the current <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Today’s Liturgy Quarterly Planning Guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>It
is written by Dr. Elaine Rendler-McQueeney, a composer, organist, Director of
music, college professor and leading voice in the field of liturgical music for
nearly 50 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Dr. Rendler describes
an online podcast where a “<i>youngish Catholic priest and two young
men...thought it was quite humorous to make fun of Catholic Church music and
the composers of the past 50 years.” </i> She laments the ridicule of
songs cherished by a generation as they “celebrated the sacraments, buried
their beloved dead, baptized their children, received their first Eucharists,
and ordained their priests”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Similar things pop-up
regularly on Facebook. A church musician feels the need to assert that their
style of music (and they themselves?) is superior to another style. The “other”
style is deemed as inappropriate, worthless and deserving of ridicule. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">It may not surprise
you that (fueled by coffee and the Holy Spirit) I sometimes jump into the fray
to voice my displeasure and “unlike” these non-constructive and polarizing
posts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">The silver lining of
these negative posts is that they challenge me to refine my position on
liturgical music and reform my vision of music at St. Mary’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Rendler’s quoting of Joseph
Gelineau the Jesuit Priest, music scholar and composer best known for
translating the psalms into the vernacular articulates this quite clearly:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">“All judgment
concerning suitability needs to be set in the context of the people who are
celebrating together, not starting from the aesthetic and cultural criteria
imposed by people who are speaking from outside the liturgical action. In order
to receive a true impression, you have to be inside as an active participant of
the rites and open to the dimension of faith within the church.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Liturgical Assembly,
Liturgical Song <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Copyright 2002 Pastoral Press, Portland
OR, p 61</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Blessed to be in
ministry with you, at St. Mary’s,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "apple chancery";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-25477653375745792572020-01-30T13:50:00.001-08:002020-01-30T13:51:18.172-08:00Now Your Servant (Presentation of the Lord)<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f9482218-7fff-d641-3216-2d83c15ce22d" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-f9482218-7fff-d641-3216-2d83c15ce22d" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red;">When Mary let Simeon take the Son of the Promise into his arms, the old man began to sing – celebrating a true “liturgy” – he sings his dreams.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red;"> Pope Francis</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: yellow;">This weekend the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2nd) takes liturgical precedence over 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Listen carefully for references in today’s prayers and scripture readings. </span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gospel reminds us that Mary and Joseph were devout Jews raising their Son according to the Law. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” Luke 2:22. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are introduced to Anna and Simeon whose significance is highlighted by the fact that they are named. Simeon takes the infant Jesus in his arms and sings:</span></span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: yellow;">“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After writing several different drafts of this Liturgical Note I read </span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20170202_omelia-vita-consacrata.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pope Francis’ Homily for the Feast of the Presentation XXI World of Consecrated Life (2017)</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. While The Holy Father directs this homily to those living the consecrated life, his words extend to all people of faith. His words make my heart sing. I hope they do similarly for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Simeon’s canticle</span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the hymn of the</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: black;"> believer, who at the end of his days can exclaim: “It is true, hope in God never disappoints” (cf. Rm 5:5)....Simeon and Anna, in their old age, were capable of a new fruitfulness, and they testify to this in song. Life is worth living in hope, because the Lord keeps his promise. Taking up the dreams of our elders... </span></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will protect us from a temptation that can make our consecrated life barren: the temptation of survival......making..us reactionaries, fearful, slowly and silently shutting ourselves up in our houses and in our own preconceived notions. It makes us look back, to the glory days – days that are past – and rather than rekindling the prophetic creativity born of our founders’ dreams, it looks for shortcuts in order to evade the challenges knocking on our doors today. A survival mentality robs our charisms of power, because it leads us to “domesticate” them, to make them “user-friendly”, robbing them of their original creative force. It makes us want to protect spaces, buildings and structures, rather than to encourage new initiatives. The temptation of survival makes us forget grace; it turns us into professionals of the sacred but not fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of that hope to which we are called to bear prophetic witness. An environment of survival withers the hearts of our elderly, taking away their ability to dream. In this way, it cripples the prophecy that our young are called to proclaim and work to achieve. “</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: yellow;">Blessed to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: yellow;">Bruce</span></span></div>
Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-90279734068151146122020-01-29T04:39:00.003-08:002020-01-29T04:41:55.331-08:00Presentation of the Lord<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-b79d233d-7fff-1470-5d73-44bf1acc0e40" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Mary let Simeon take the Son of the Promise into his arms, the old man began to sing – celebrating a true “liturgy” – he sings his dreams.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weekend the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2nd) takes liturgical precedence over 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Listen carefully for references in today’s prayers and scripture readings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gospel reminds us that Mary and Joseph were devout Jews raising their Son according to the Law. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” Luke 2:22. </span></span><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are introduced to Anna and Simeon whose significance is highlighted by the fact that they are named. Simeon takes the infant Jesus in his arms and sings:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32</span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After writing several different drafts of this Liturgical Note I read </span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20170202_omelia-vita-consacrata.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pope Francis’ Homily for the Feast of the Presentation XXI World of Consecrated Life (2017)</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. While The Holy Father directs this homily to those living the consecrated life, his words extend to all people of faith. His words make my heart sing. I hope they do similarly for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simeon’s canticle</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the hymn of the</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> believer, who at the end of his days can exclaim: “It is true, hope in God never disappoints” (cf. Rm 5:5)....Simeon and Anna, in their old age, were capable of a new fruitfulness, and they testify to this in song. Life is worth living in hope, because the Lord keeps his promise. Taking up the dreams of our elders... </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">will protect us from a temptation that can make our consecrated life barren: the temptation of survival......making..us reactionaries, fearful, slowly and silently shutting ourselves up in our houses and in our own preconceived notions. It makes us look back, to the glory days – days that are past – and rather than rekindling the prophetic creativity born of our founders’ dreams, it looks for shortcuts in order to evade the challenges knocking on our doors today. A survival mentality robs our charisms of power, because it leads us to “domesticate” them, to make them “user-friendly”, robbing them of their original creative force. It makes us want to protect spaces, buildings and structures, rather than to encourage new initiatives. The temptation of survival makes us forget grace; it turns us into professionals of the sacred but not fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of that hope to which</span></span></span><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we are called to bear prophetic witness. An environment of survival withers the hearts of our elderly, taking away their ability to dream. In this way, it cripples the prophecy that our young are called to proclaim and work to achieve. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s</span></span></div>
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<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-6717470626183217252020-01-23T06:40:00.003-08:002020-01-23T06:44:28.593-08:00Psalm 119:105<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">January 1998:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am the adult advisor for the youth group at Princeton United Methodist Church. The teens have just completed a service project and are waiting for pizza to arrive. I hear Jennifer calling out to the other dozen or so high school students; “Let’s have a sword drill while we’re waiting!” “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sword drill?</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” I wonder to myself. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “I don’t see any long sharp.....</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. My thoughts are interrupted by Jennifer’s shout of “Psalm 119, verse 105” and a dozen bibles being furiously searched. In what seems to be 10 seconds I hear Billy, “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Psalm 119:105 - Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason hands me a bible saying, “Now you can play too”. Billy gets the honors to call out the next verse. I hear Timothy 3:16. My mind races: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Timothy... New testament....Written by Paul...After the Gospels before Revelation. Where in the heck is....</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suddenly the room around me erupts. Got it! Me too! Hey, I got it first! </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Second Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for correction and for training in righteousness”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Twelve years of catholic school, Mass EVERY Sunday Mass, plus lots of daily Masses…and.... I didn’t hear Billy say SECOND Timothy because I didn’t know the Bible presents Paul’s words to Timothy into two books. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Two thoughts come to mind: </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Sword Drill: A game where these kids cut the adult shreds. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Where in the heck is that pizza???</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">I now realize that knowing the order of the books of the bible is a bit of a parlor trick. It’s like reciting Keats or Yeats or The Gettysburg Address from memory. But what about when those people knock on your door or approach you in Times Square? Shouldn’t I? You? We? Catholics? Be more familiar with Scripture? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pope Francis has instituted this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time to be the “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday of the Word of God”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The title of his Apostolic Letter: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aperuit Illis </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comes from the Emmaus Story found in the 24th chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Luke tells of an encounter after the crucifixion between two dejected travelers and the risen Christ. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">In the words of the Holy Father: “This scene clearly demonstrates the unbreakable bond between sacred Scripture and the Eucharist.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">The U.S. Conference of Bishops speak to the role of Scripture in our relationship with God this way “The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people he has called to himself.” Here is to what they title 10 points for fruitful scripture reading: </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/understanding-the-bible/index.cfm" target="_blank">"Understanding the Bible" U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Blest to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s,</span></span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503750534023726745.post-42825756484031620232020-01-18T14:12:00.001-08:002020-01-18T14:13:12.025-08:00Blessed to be in ministry with you, at St. Mary's<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">January is a time for lists. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Best and Worst Movies of 2019. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Top 5 News Stories Of....</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My New Year’s Resolutions.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With this in mind I share a list that has been forming in my mind for quite some time: </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why I Am Blessed To Be In Ministry With You, At St. Mary’s”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Disclaimer: I apologize in advance for any oversights, please don’t be offended. There’s always next year’s list. :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Members of the music ministry:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Luland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - No member of the music ministry works harder than John. What you see and hear on Saturday or Sunday is the result of hours of preparation. John willingly and happily learns at least one new song for each weekend he sings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Guitar Ministry</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Andrew, Bill, Jeff, John and Rob have faithfully served St. Mary’s for many years. They bring a style and instrumentation that complements and balances the overall musical offerings at St. Mary’s and have graciously rolled with more than a few changes over the years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Adult Choir</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The members of the adult choir epitomize both “music” and “ministry”. Their willingness to sing whatever song, style or Liturgy that benefits the parish is a true gift to St. Mary’s. Their embracing of the young people who have joined our music ministry is inspiring and uncommon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Kids</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Children’s Choir</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> brings a tremendous spirit, boundless energy and limitless potential. Their sweet sound is music to my ears.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Treble Choir </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the realization of that limitless potential. I am so proud of what they have accomplished individually and collectively this past year. Take a look at the videos on the music ministry page at www.stmarysnutley.org to see what I mean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">St. Mary’s Quartet - Apryl, Gabrianna, Aaron</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(as well as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who left their home in Nutley to venture to new places) have helped implement my vision for music and liturgy at St. Mary’s. They are my kids who have grown-up and are now my colleagues, collaborators and friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Parish Staff:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each and every member of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parish Staff</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> works tirelessly and diligently to make St. Mary’s the best it can be. We do this because St. Mary’s deserves the very best! We are able to do this because of the leadership of our Pastor....</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Rich. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may have heard the phrase: “Don’t pick a job. Pick a boss.” The reason I took the risk of leaving teaching and taking the job at St. Mary’s is Fr. Rich Berbary. And that, to quote Robert Frost “Has made all the difference.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am blessed by you...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who I know by name and those I know by sight. Those who made St. Mary’s the wonderful parish it is and those who are making it what God is calling it to be. You, who minister at Mass as lectors, eucharistic ministers, altar servers and ushers. You, who minister to the community; particularly our social concerns ministry and my collaborators: Bruce Segall and John Saar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who created, sustains and redeems and from whom all blessings flow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">PS</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today’s offertory songs honor those who have struggled and those who continue the struggle against inequality in any form.</span></span></div>
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Bruce Mauro Director of Music St. Mary's Church Nutley, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01025160228489111276noreply@blogger.com0