Easter IV Written by a Dummy for Dummies (Part 2)

I continue my focus on the Acts of the Apostles.

Today's reading begins with the same verse as last week's reading (Acts 2:14a). It recounts the second half of Peter's discourse on the day of Pentecost.  This use of a speech as a means of conveying a theological perspective is a technique used continuously by the writer the books of Luke and Acts.

It is also helpful to remember to whom Peter is speaking.  He is not speaking to a church which knows and believes in the story of Christ’s death and resurrection.  He speaking to a group of Jews in Jerusalem.  These are probably some of the same people who shouted "Hosanna" when Jesus entered the city and "Crucify Him" when he was taken before Pilate.  Even those who did not turn on Jesus were probably dazed and confused after the events that had taken place over the previous 2 months.

I heard this described by Fr. Jim Chern as he describes the two travelers on the road to Emmaus who “meet Jesus in their depression - on their roads of sadness, in the midst of their confusion.” 

You can find this excellent homily at http://chernjam.blogspot.com/2017/04/guaranteed-fixes-for-everything.html

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s

Bruce

P.S.

Please consider being part of our social concerns ministry as we begin the process of working with the archdiocese to help resettle a refugee family to NJ.  To learn more, e-mail me at b.mauro1@yahoo.com

Easter III Written by a Dummy for Dummies (Part 1)

Whether you gave up chocolate or not, we’ve made it through another lent.  Whew!

Today is the third of seven Easter Sundays.  A unique feature of this season is that the first reading, usually taken from the Old Testament will come from the Acts of the Apostles. 

I thought it helpful to refresh my knowledge about the Book of Acts as I both select music and prepare for this weekly column.  Here are some ideas gleaned from my reading that might be helpful to you.

·         The Acts of the Apostles is the second part of a two-part volume composition that scholars call Luke-Acts.

·         The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus is the prophet sent by God to "visit the people".  The Book of Acts speaks of the apostles and the early church as they carry out Jesus’ mission of "bringing good news to the poor" by performing works of mercy according to his teaching.  (I have a feeling you’ll be hearing more about this in future articles.)

·         Acts continues the story of Jesus into the story of the early church, from its birth at Pentecost to its success among the Gentiles all the way to Rome.

·         The writers’ intention was not so much to give a history narrative but rather to shape a theological vision.  (In other words to share his perspective of who God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are.)

·         An important element of this relationship was that God’s Spirit worked in Jesus as well as in his Apostles.

·         The writer of Acts also wishes to depict and defend God’s continued activity in the world. 

For more on the Book of Acts, go to http://usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Acts&ch= 

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

Easter II: Who is St. Mary's? (a follow-up)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.
                                                                 Hebrews 12:1-2a 

Last summer, a reading from Paul's letter to the Hebrews inspired my writing a series of 3 bulletin articles. 

Paul's counsel; that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses prompted me to consider:  "Who is St. Mary’s”?  

My conclusion was a parahrase of the words of St. Theresa of Calcutta:

St. Mary's is women and men, lay and ordained, living and deceased who have made a great impact "by doing many little things with great love."

The liturgies of this past Triduum weekend caused me to return to these thoughts.

On Holy Thursday twelve parishioners were selected to represent our ministries and have their feet washed.

I began playing the processional hymn and heard the voices of the singers coming clearly out of the speaker set right behind the organ bench.  Simultaneously, another sound, equally strong began to compete for my attention.  It was the many "little" voices of the congregation coming together to make one great sound.

As the weekend unfolded I came to see Easter as a great Christian family reunion.  Present were:

• The babies God has blessed us with in the past year. (A few of whom wearing bunny ears).

• The beautiful girls in bonnets and boys in shirts and ties who were babies of Easters past.

• The wonderful young men and ladies who served on the altar or  choir loft.  

• The compendium of greeters, lectors and eucharistic ministers from each of our 5 weekend liturgies (some of whom served together at the Sacred Triduum).

Just like in every family, there were new friends and family members we haven't seen in a while and some who may have been away this Easter.

All of these, including you and me are St. Mary's.  Together we are called and doing great things in Christ's name as we do many little things with great love.

Blessed to be serving at St. Mary's,

Bruce

p.s.

I am grateful for the welcome extended to myself and the singers by those who regularly attend the 7:30 a.m. liturgy.  It was wonderful to be with you!

My blog for Easter Sunday: And the lotto jackpot is.......

Have you ever dreamed of hitting it big in the lottery?  A Nobel Prize winning economist would argue that you already have.

Angus Deaton is a professor of Economics at Princeton University whose work centers on health and economic wellbeing. Deaton compares countries based on two things:  average life expectancy (health) and the possibility for upward mobility (economic well-being).  His conclusion:  the biggest factor contributing to an individual's health and economic well-being is the country in which they were born.  i.e. the luck of the draw

Deaton’s award winning book shows that even the poorest countries are seeing improvements in life expectancy and income mobility. The title of the book comes from the growing number of these countries, Vietnam and Thailand for example, whose populations have made what he calls "The Great Escape."

The tragic part of Deaton's book is the countries whose populations are experiencing shortened life expectancies and less opportunity for upward mobility.  These countries have one thing in common:  long term civil unrest.  

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been immersed in a civil war since the 1940’s and  comes out on the very bottom of each of the book’s statistical tables.

The Archdiocese of Newark is in the final steps of preparing to welcome 51 refugees from several countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Iraq.

The social concerns ministry of St. Mary's is hoping to get on board by sponsoring one of these families.  We have invited a representative from Catholic charities to give a presentation on the process. 

E-mail me at b.mauro1@yahoo.com or call the parish to be on our Social Concerns mailing list.

Congratulating you on your lottery win and wishing you a blessed Easter,

Bruce

What They Have Been Saying (Part II) Palm Sunday Cycle A

Previously on Designated Survivor…….

My 14 year old daughter and I have been hooked on Designated Survivor and watch it when we’re together on Monday nights.  Before watching the second half of the season this past month we did a mini-binge re-watching the first and last episode from the fall.  I get chills each time Kiefer Sutherland pulls the blinds of the safe-room open.  

A few weeks ago, a high school choir from Minnesota sang at our 9 a.m. liturgy.  In the weeks prior to their arrival I wondered (OK, I worried) about how they would perceive liturgy at St. Mary’s.  I didn’t expect them to come away with a Designated Survivor-like “Wow!” I just hoped that they wouldn’t describe their experience like the mwah-mwah-mwah of the adult voices on a “Charlie Brown Christmas.”  

As one of the 2 fathers on the parish staff that aren’t priests, I think a great deal of what young people take away from liturgy.  Part of this is personal.  I know that despite attending Catholic high school, my younger daughter will probably follow her older sisters’ lead and find the church less and less relevant in the upcoming years. 

What about your children?  Are they on board? Or are they just plain bored?  What about you?

Previously at St. Mary’s….

A man is dead and has been buried in a tomb for four days.  Another man commands him to come out.  The women shriek, “No! The stench,” but Lazarus comes out of the tomb bound head to foot. 

That’s a pretty good story- line.  How about this week?  A man is betrayed by the members of his group and dies on a hill.  Wait a minute is this the Gospel of John or a Designated Survivor spoiler?  

A song from last week (the week Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead) remains at the forefront of my thoughts.  It was for me and several people with whom I spoke; a moment of powerful prayer and participation.  The verses to “Roll Away the Stone” (#179) give voice to our human doubts by ascribing them to what “they” have been saying.  The voice of faith enters on the chorus exclaiming; “Roll away the stone, see the glory of God.” (See more of last week’s liturgical notes at www.stmarysnutley.org.)  

Are our children bored or are they saying something different? Might they be saying “Our doubts have been dismissed and our questions have gone unanswered by adults who haven’t taken the time to consider their doubts and find answers to their questions?” 

I do not know.   Here’s one thing I do know.  

A small group from the Minnesota choir presented me with this dilemma just before mass was about to begin.  What they said brings a smile to my face each time it comes to mind:  “If we are singing during communion, when can we receive the Eucharist?”  

Blessed to be in ministry at St. Mary’s,

Bruce