We are called to pray and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Lk 4:43).
Jesus himself, the Son of God incarnate, fully divine and fully human, is the foretaste of heaven in the midst of those he encountered then and continues to be today, as he works through us, his Church. His work of preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons, shows that the divine flow of the Father’s Love is infused into our fallen human condition. Jesus came to restore unity to that which had been lost and once he began his public ministry he was ever on the go.
Through our Baptism, we have been conformed to and indelibly marked by Christ, and for Christ. We are nourished by his Body and Blood in the Eucharist and were empowered through the laying on of hands by the bishop at our Confirmation. We have been divinized, made God through our participation in the life of Jesus the Christ. We too then are priests, prophets, and kings in his name. We also are, to preach and teach the same Gospel, to be his healing and comforting presence, to make Jesus present to those in our midst, and yes we too are called to cast out all demons, and to shine the light on negativity, fear, and division in his name. As James teaches, we are to “submit [our]selves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee” (James 4:7).
Jesus did not travel very far during his three and a half year public ministry, yet his Word has reached all the corners of the world. That is because of those who have encountered him, said yes to his invitation, submitted to the will of his Father, so to be transformed into his saints, and they continued to spread his teachings and life.
We are also called to surrender our life to Jesus moment by moment, in each circumstance and situation so to build up our relationship with him, and embrace the gift of the unique vocation we have been called to do, to be holy, to be his saints. Let us go off to a deserted place and contemplate what Jesus’ inaugural message means to us: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15). Then, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaim with joy, in word and deed, this Good News through our everyday experience. Let us rise this day to follow Jesus and be on our way!
Photo: Peter receiving the keys of the kingdom. As Peter was commissioned the Gospel so are we. Stained glass in Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA,
Link for the Mass readings for Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Funeral Arrangements for JoAnn
The funeral arrangements for JoAnn are as follows:
Visitation times will be Friday, September 13 from 6:30-8:30 pm and
the prayer service will be from 7:30 – 8:00.
Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home
250 Center Street
Jupiter, FL 33458
The Funeral Mass will be Saturday, September 14 and beginning at 10:00 am
St Peter Catholic Church
1701 Indian Creek Parkway
Jupiter, FL 33458
Interment will follow the Mass, JoAnn’s body will be taken via police escort to:
Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery
10941 Southern Blvd
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
All are invited to attend a luncheon reception to be held in the St Peter Catholic Church Parish Hall at approximately 1:30. Same directions as above for funeral Mass.
If you are not able to attend the funeral Mass in person, the Mass will be live-streamed online at the Church:
Type in – https://stpeterjupiter.com
On the top menu bar, hover over the word – watch
Left-click on the first option – Live Streaming
Then you ought to be good to go!
In lieu of flowers:
JoAnn has always been very practical, she did not even like me buying her flowers. She would much rather that we donate the money that we would have spent on purchasing flowers to save lives. Please donate to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in JoAnn Dube’s name. The site is stjude.org and they have a donation page.
The picture is from the same time period as the other when JoAnn was designing her own clothes and one of Christy’s favorite pictures. Certainly appropriate for this time. Though she looks angelic, I do need to put on my theologian’s hat for a moment and clarify that we do not become angels when we go to heaven, but are higher than the angels through our participation in the life of Jesus! Jesus opened up the doors to heaven for JoAnn and all of us in the humanity he assumed!
Peace and all God’s good,
Deacon Serge
No darkness or overshadowing can overcome the light of Christ.
Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, as we saw in yesterday’s reading, and that did not end so well, with his fellow Nazoreans running him out of town (Lk 4:29). In today’s reading, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. The initial reaction to Jesus’ teaching was similar in both accounts; the people were “amazed” and “astonished” with his teaching. But no one in either group makes the bold statement that arises today: “I know who you are – the Holy One of God” (Lk 4:34)! This phrase was professed by a demon. He who taunted Jesus.
From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry opposition was present. In Nazareth, the fallen nature of our humanity reared its head. The people he grew up with were unwilling to see beyond the ordinary Jesus they always knew. Wasn’t he just the son of Joseph, just the carpenter? Jesus was safe when he merely worked a quiet life, participated in the life of the synagogue, even when he returned from surrounding territories amidst words of praise, and even stepping up to read in the synagogue from the words of Elijah: he was the hometown boy making good. But once Jesus began to equate himself in the line of the prophets and share how God was working beyond the people of Israel, with his accounts of Elijah going to the Gentile widow, and Naaman, another Gentile, going to Elisha, highlighting that God worked beyond the people of Israel, even his own had enough. Jesus had to go (Lk 4:29).
In today’s account, another source of opposition is the taunting demon. Jesus rebuked the demon immediately and called him out of the man. Jesus faced time and again the fallen nature of humanity, disbelief, lack of faith, as well as the opposition of demons, and soon the failure of religious and civic leadership. Sound familiar?
Where do we find our self in the scenes of Jesus’ ministry and teaching, in our own time today? Following Jesus is a day to day commitment and we must be willing to face the same challenges that his disciples did. We need to be willing to face our weaknesses, our woundedness, and own shortcomings and conform our lives to the will of Jesus. By doing so we will be confronted with the darkness and sin within ourselves. May we have the humility to resist defending, rationalizing, and covering over our shortcomings, and instead be willing to repent, to turn away from our sin, and be willing to be healed.
We also need to resist dismissing Jesus’ encounter with the demon in today’s Gospel too quickly. Demons do exist and play a role in the principalities and powers that influence us and our world. We ignore this reality to our own detriment, for they will tempt and subtly attack us at our weakest and most vulnerable points. This is not a cause for anxiety and fear. The weakest Christian is stronger than the devil himself, but we must be aware and vigilant. When faced with temptation by Satan or his demons, we need to call on the name of Jesus, those of the dark must flee from the radiant light of Christ. This is why it is so important to regularly examine our conscience, to be aware of and confess our sin. Otherwise, they can and will be used against us.
The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we experience his light, the more of our own sin we will see. This is not a cause to run and hide, but to humbly embrace the truth, so to be healed. This also means we will see more clearly the dark influences that plague us and our world which we are blinded to when we turn in upon ourselves and our own selfishness, embrace our own pride, and turn away from God.
May we instead place our trust and belief in Jesus today and each day, spend time in prayer, in his word, examine our conscience, and be willing to be led by him to serve one another, speak up for one another, and stand strong against the temptations and darkness of this world. When we fall short, fail, as we will, as did the apostles, we need to follow, not Judas, but Peter: repent, confess our love for Jesus, and begin again. Together, with our Loving God and Father, may we hold one another accountable, support and lift one another up in love, for Jesus is at our right hand, and, even in the darkest moments, with Jesus, we will stand firm!
Solar Eclipse: Photo Credit: Reuters Daniel Chan
Link for the readings for Tuesday, September 3, 2019
How might we act to bring about an acceptable year of the Lord?
He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21).
Jesus, who had just sat down, spoke these words to his hometown congregation in Nazareth who had just heard him read the passage from the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus proclaimed that he was the one to whom Isaiah was talking about. Luke chose to place this event as the starting point of Jesus’ public ministry, of bringing glad tidings to the poor, proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovering sight to the blind, letting the oppressed go free, and proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord (cf. Lk 4:18-19).
This is a message of universal healing for all of humanity, that restoration and reconciliation would come and Jesus would be the vehicle to bring all the nations, all people, back into communion and relationship with his Father. The poor mentioned were not just in reference to those experiencing material poverty, but to those finding themselves on the margins of society, the outcasts, those on the peripheries. The captives were not only those imprisoned for debts or crimes but those bound in the chains of their own sin and addiction. The blind was not only those who could not physically see but those who experienced the spiritual blindness of pride and arrogance. The oppressed were not just those under the iron fist of totalitarian and dictatorial regimes, but those pressed down through their own self imposed anxieties and fears.
In what ways are we in need of Jesus’ healing and restorative power? What is keeping us on the peripheries, apart from communion and fellowship? What sins and addictions keep us bound, what fears and anxieties keep us oppressed? Jesus invites us in today’s Gospel to be healed and to align ourselves with his will and ministry of loving service to others. The same words he spoke to his own hometown he is speaking to us. Will we hold on to our biases and prejudices and run Jesus out from our midst to hurl him over a cliff because he is not only offering his healing hand to us, but also to others outside our tribe, our nation, our political party? Or will we come to Jesus, kneel before him, acknowledge our need for his healing and make him the Lord of our life?
JoAnn recognized her need for Jesus in her life and she accepted the invitation of his love and relationship. She often said that she found rote prayers hard to do. She was much more comfortable speaking with Jesus as she spoke with our kids and me. JoAnn was also willing to admit her mistakes and confess her sins, which she was blessed to have the opportunity to do as God brought Fr. Leandro to us so she could access the healing graces of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick about a month ago and again this past Saturday. JoAnn often told us as her condition declined further that her death would not be an end, but just a change of address and that she would be close to us, with us, and that she would love us forever and ever.
Let us take some time today to examine our conscience. Then come to Jesus with a contrite, sorrowful heart for what we have done and what we have failed to do. May we feel his healing hands on our bowed heads and the warmth of his love pouring through us to purge us of our sin and pride and heal us from that which keeps us bound. Very soon JoAnn will be with Jesus in his heavenly realm and then will be able to intercede for us such that he may guide us as he guided her on how and where we can participate with him in bringing healing and reconciliation to others in our midst, to bring about an “acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk 4:19).
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One ministry we have found to help us bring about an acceptable year is Cross Catholic Outreach hosted at our parish of St Peter bagging food for those in dire need.
Link for the Mass readings for Monday, September 2, 2019
Love is a gift that is to be received and given without expectation of return.
“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Lk 14:13-14).
At the end of this parable, Jesus is expressing another definition of love. Love is not merely an emotion, a feeling, or a state of mind. As I have stated often, I follow St Thomas Aquinas in his definition of love as the willing the good of other as other. This definition of love is unconditional. There are no restrictions placed on another for a return of the good given.
This is what Jesus means by inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. These are people of his time who have nothing to give to someone who has the means of offering a banquet. They could even come, because of their ostracized status without the proper etiquette to even express the most minimal of thank you for the invitation and the meal, and instead to complain about the food, the decor, and even be insulting to the host. Yet, they would be served with humility and grace anyway, because the point is to give without expectation of reciprocity.
Some may say this is impossible, that nobody gives without expecting something in return. Everybody’s got an angle, even if we do something for a compliment. Jesus would probably agree with this claim, for on our own we may not even be able to conceive of giving without looking to get something back in return, let alone doing it. Jesus has countered this claim in a different context, but it applies here just as well: “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).
To be able to love then, to be able to will the good of the other without condition, we need to first be willing to receive the love of God that he offers us. We are capable of love because first and foremost, we have been loved ourselves. If we spend no time with God, no time in his word, prayer, worship, acts of service, or most importantly his silence, we will not experience the love of God that he is so willing to share. The proof that he does so is that we are alive. Our very existence, in fact, the reality of all creation, is the result of the outpouring of the love of God.
The first step of receiving the love of God is being aware that our very desire to pray, the mind seeking the existence of God, the urge to move out from our self to reach out to the need of another, is already a response to the One who is loving us and inviting us to go deeper. And when we begin to experience the love of God and share it with one another, there is an inexhaustible supply and a joy for its own sake which comes up from within our soul from God who is the source. As the love pours in and we share it, it continues to flow. If we don’t share or follow through on the movement of love dwelling up within us, or we focus on the external return for the love given, we will often be let down and disillusioned.
JoAnn and my world were turned upside down when we heard about her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Some people might get angry and bitter and say, why me, and it would be understandable. From that first day, and throughout the process, I do not remember JoAnn even tempted to go there. Instead what happened was that she had a hyper-focus on a gift and joy she always had since her youth and that was making or providing gifts for people. Simple, small things that came from the heart, and even if the person receiving the gift never said a word, JoAnn felt more joy in the planning, creating, and the giving of the gift.
Her gift from God was planning and being a gift giver. What happened during these five agonizing months was not that she sunk into a pit of despair, but that her planning and gift-giving went into overdrive and if anyone was in range, and God called her to give a gift, that was going to happen.
One example that emphasizes this was for the Hospice of St Clare team that took care of us and her. JoAnn planned out a pastry, fruit dish that she wanted to present to the team at their bi-weekly meeting. She planned in her mind what she was looking for, sent Jack to the food store with iPhone in hand so they could face time and JoAnn could pick out the items she wanted to place on the platter.
When the items arrived, JoAnn and Christy put together the arrangement, I wrote out the thank you card, JoAnn edited it as I read it to her, I rewrote it and then I drove the platter and card to the office. JoAnn felt the love of God inspire her to reach out to others by giving small gifts with great love, expecting nothing in return. One of the recurring questions JoAnn asked me these past few weeks was would God allow her to continue to give gifts in heaven. I believe he will.
Photo: Pastry/fruit plate JoAnn designed and we all helped to implement with her guidance for our Hospice team. Photo credit – Christy McKee
Link for the Mass readings for Sunday, September 1, 2019
God has something for us to do, a talent or two to invest.
“Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back'” (Mt 25: 24-25).
I used to struggle with this verse of Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, not because I didn’t relate to it, but because I did. The problem was that I sided with the servant who buried his talent in the ground. What the servant did make sense to me, he kept his master’s talent safe and returned what he had been given. Historically, burying was considered a safe and acceptable practice in ancient Palestine when protecting someone else’s money. Even in reading carefully back to the beginning of the parable, I could see no reference to investing the talents. Though in the Gospel of Luke, there is an explicit demand to “trade with these until I come” (Lk 19:13). What is Jesus saying?
Actually, Jesus in this parable offers a microcosm of salvation history, the thread of which has been woven through all of Sacred Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. God, through his sovereign will, has consistently called, calls today, and will continue to call into the future a people to himself. In each age, God has bestowed upon humanity the generous gift of his grace, inviting us to receive and share in his very life, which is what we have been created for. This is a free gift, to be freely accepted or rejected. Once received though – no matter how little we choose to receive, we are directed to share what we have been given. Through a life lived of accepting, receiving, giving back to God and to one another, we are given even “greater responsibilities”.
In receiving the gift of God, himself, and sharing what he has given, ultimately his love, for God himself is Love, we not only mirror on earth, albeit dimly, but share in the divine communion of the love between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To reject this gift outright, or to receive some of the benefits and not to share, we cut ourselves off from the very life force and source of our being.
We can see this pattern emerge in this parable. The master gives his servants talents. To one he gives five, to another two, and to a third he gives one. All accept what they have been given. But differ in what they do with the gift. The first two double what they have been given and the third buried what he had been given. Two have received and multiplied their talents, the one refused to and kept it to himself. The master returns, commends and rewards the two, then berates and even takes the little the one had been given and gives it to the one who had more.
The message of The Parable of the Talents is as clear as it is challenging. John P. Meier summarizes that “Jesus is insistent; along with sovereign grace, serious demand, and superabundant reward comes the possibility of being condemned for refusing the demand contained in the gift. Indeed, one might argue that no aspect of Jesus’ teaching is more pervasive in the many different streams of the Gospel tradition, and no aspect is more passed over in silence today” (Meier 2016, 309).
God has created us and all of creation from the abundant outpouring of his love. Will we reject the gift of his love and invitation of communion? Will we receive, yet not actualize who we are called to be for our self and others because we would rather merely just exist, willing to be lured and entrapped by the temptations of anxiety, fear, apparent goods, and half-truths? Will we give in to the fear, too afraid to risk, to go out from ourselves to serve others? Or, will we appreciate the gift of our life and say thank you for the breath that we breathe? Are we willing to expand the love we have received by being willing to share, to multiply our talents, to embrace who God calls us to be, to love in kind, to will the good of others in the unique way God calls us to serve, whoever they may be?
I have lived the life of the wicked servant who buried his talent out of fear. I have embraced the sin of sloth and resisted opportunities to share what God has given me to invest. This was no path to fulfillment, but an experience of separation from the fullness of the One who wants so much more. To live a day to day existence adrift and dulled, is certainly not the way I hope to spend another day. I am trusting more in the love of God, seeking to discern and follow his will, though, at times, I still do so with indecision and trepidation. I do better when I reach out and seek the hand of Jesus and accept to be led by him. I have risked and fallen, made mistakes and duffed up time and again, but have learned, persevered, and each year of life there is a little less of me and a little more of Jesus shining through.
A big part of why I am where I am today is because of my wife, JoAnn. Who has been there supporting me and encouraging me every step of the way to come out of my shell, to learn to trust, to take risks, and she constantly stretched me to break out of my comfort zone. She modeled for me the act of giving of herself to others, especially our children. But not even just those closest to her. She often would complement something someone was wearing in her everyday encounters, she loved to give little gifts, write simple notes of affirmation, and the embodiment of her selfless giving was this past week when she made sure that the Hospice nurses caring for her had something to eat, to drink, and that they were warm enough because we had to keep the AC cool because of her spikes in temperature, even making sure one nurse wore one of her sweaters. I am sure that in a few days when she begins her journey from this life to the next, God will welcome JoAnn with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
We are not alone. What Jesus invites us, gives us, and yes, demands us to do, he will at the same time provide the support and energy we need to carry out the task given to us and to bring it to fulfillment. God has something for us to do, a talent or two to invest. May we allow the light of Jesus to shine through us as a prism in our own unique way so to dispel the darkness of our current political, social, and Church climate. May we not be afraid to be who God calls us to be. May we not be afraid to love and to be loved. May we, in the words of Jesus and St John Paul II who echoed them as he began his pontificate:
“Be not afraid” (Mt 14:27).
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Photo: JoAnn, my heart, and I early in the treatment phase of pancreatic cancer that she has been suffering with.
Meier, John P. A Marginal Jew: Probing the Authenticity of the Parables. Vol. 5. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016.
Link for the Mass readings for Saturday, August 31, 2019
May we fill our lamps and so shine with the love and joy of Jesus.
“The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves'” (Mt 25: 8-9).
The above verse comes in the midst of Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Virgins. The bridegroom has been delayed in his coming so the virgins fall asleep. When they awake, five are prepared with oil for their lamps and five are not. From the first reading of this verse, we can be struck by the unwillingness of the wise not wanting to share their oil with the foolish.
The key to the lanterns being full or empty of oil had to do with the effort or lack thereof regarding those involved. All have been invited to the wedding feast, some are prepared and some are not. The oil in the parable may represent the invitation to relationship and discipleship with Jesus.
We cannot build a relationship with Jesus for others nor can others build a relationship with Jesus for us. No matter how full our lamps are, no matter how much of a blessing we find in our relationship with Jesus and our faith community, and no matter how we desire Jesus to have a relationship with our family members, friends, and colleagues, we cannot build that relationship for them. We cannot share our oil with them.
Also, if we do not have a relationship, or are resisting going deeper in discipleship, and we see others experiencing the joy, fulfillment, and fruits of a relationship with Jesus, and would like to have what others have, in the same vein, they can’t give us their relationship either. They cannot give us their oil. We need to be open to the invitation of the bridegroom, we need to be willing to develop a relationship, to do our part. Jesus knocks on our door, but if we do not open it and let him in, he will not impose upon our free will to refuse to answer.
Two examples may help to bring the point home. In Acts 8:9-24 there is the account of Simon the magician and in Acts 3:6 there is an example from Simon Peter. Simon the magician witnesses the works of the Holy Spirit moving through Philip, Peter, and John. He offers Peter money to be able to do what they did and Peter strongly rebukes Simon. Money can’t buy love, nor can it buy the fruits of the Spirit experienced by those who have developed an intimate relationship with Jesus. Regarding Simon Peter, in the account from Acts 3:6, Peter comes upon a crippled beggar and states that he has neither gold nor silver, but what he did have he would give him: “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk.” The man was healed and walked.
Simon the magician’s lamp was empty, because he spent years building himself up, putting himself first, and saw God’s grace as a means for his own self-aggrandizement. Simon Peter’s lamp had been filled with oil from having learned at the Master’s feet, having gone with him through the crossroads, the storms, his own failures, betrayals and humility, and repentance, so to be empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and willing to give what he had received to others.
The bridegroom has invited us to participate in the wedding, the union of Jesus and his Church. The time of his return is not yet, but we need to be prepared. May we resist sloth and self-interest, and be willing to fill our lamps by being about the work of developing our relationship with Jesus and in the words of Mary, doing what he tells us!
We can’t fill other’s lamps, but we can invite, pray for and model for others how to fill their own. We can do this by being present to those in our realm of influence where they are, assist them in their need, share our faith, offer to pray with and for them, invite them to fellowship, study, and worship, be a living witness, and offer the same invitation we have received to fill our lamps to be ready for the bridegroom’s return.
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Photo: Reading and praying God’s Word is one way to fill our lamps.
Link for the Mass readings for Friday, August 30, 2019
St John the Baptist gives us some insight into family life
Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests (Mk 6:22).
Mark paints a word picture of a family: Herod, Herodias, and their daughter: ancient manuscripts differ as to whether she was Herod’s or Herodias’ daughter. Also, two times, in Mk 6:22 and 6:28, she is referred to in the Greek as korasion, meaning a young woman, as young as twelve years old (Donahue 2002, 198). The setting is the banquet hall of Herod, the tetrarch or prince of Galilee. His high officials, military commanders, and the elites of Galilee were all gathered to celebrate Herod’s birthday. This is a royal, opulent family.
The daughter comes out to dance for Herod. Her dance delights Herod and he grants her anything she wants. Following the counsel of Herodias, she asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The reason for this request was because Herodias held a grudge toward John because he stated that it “is illegal for you to be married to your brother’s wife” (Mk 6:18). Herod was distressed at the daughter’s request but granted John’s death sentence to save face before his honored guests. The execution was swift, the head of John was brought on a platter, given to the girl, who then brought it to her mother.
This is not the ideal image of the family that we hopefully aspire to. John’s upbringing as we learn from Luke had a different experience. His mother, Elizabeth, and father, Zechariah, were devout Jews. They raised their son as a person of integrity and we can see from today’s reading of Mark the extent to which he would do so. John was willing to give his life, rather than compromise his principles. This stands in stark contrast to Herod Antipas who, with little contemplation about what he was doing, acted pretty quickly in giving the order to end the life of John in such a brutal fashion.
Could there be any two starker images of family life than in today’s Gospel? One family as corrupt, conniving, and malicious as can hardly be imagined and another as faithful, pure, and holy as can be hoped for. Families are not perfect, but most, if not all are a bit messy. We do the best we can to support and love one another. Hopefully, most of our families fall somewhere in between, and hopefully closer to, John’s family than to the Herodians.
Even when life goes well, it can be difficult and challenging. The best we can do as family is striving to accept and support each member for the unique gift and person we are, make it known that we are praying and thinking about one another, commit to be present and encourage one another, be willing to forgive one another, continue to communicate with one another, and even when we disagree, may we agree to respect one another.
No matter how bumpy the road of life gets or how high the waves of trials and tribulations toss us about, may we support each other to follow in the line of St John the Baptist to strive to be people of integrity. May we stand up for the dignity of ourselves and others no matter what. Even when we mess up, may we commit to accompany, love and be there for one another.
For all families, and especially those who are suffering from abuse in any and all of its forms, on this his memorial day, we ask St John the Baptist to pray for us.
Photo: Icon of John the Baptist accessed from: https://thejoecatholic.org/?p=3700
Donahue SJ, John R. and Daniel J. Harrington SJ. The Gospel of Matthew, in Sacra Pagina Series, vol. 1. Ed. Daniel J. Harrington. Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2002.
Link for the Mass reading for Wednesday, August 29, 2019
Spiritual Stepping Stones 