Bulletins by St. Clare Parish (Page 11)
March 19th – Fourth Sunday of Lent
If we were to doubt that the story of the man who was born blind is
about something more than Jesus giving physical sight to the man,
we need only reflect upon a line from the first reading, from the
First Book of Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from
his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as you see does
God see, because you see the appearance but the Lord looks into the
heart.”
When we speak of sight in terms of faith, we consider the words,
“sight” and “insight,” which is more the function of one’s soul than
one’s eyes.
The healing of the blind man was an opportunity for him to become
a believer, as seen in these few lines from the Gospel of John:
When Jesus heard that they had thrown [the man
who was born blind] out [of the synagogue], he found
him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He
answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe
in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe,
Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came
into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see
might see, and those who do see might become blind.”
Following last Sunday’s presentation of Jesus as living water, we
encounter today another baptismal theme, that the Lord is light in
darkness, both physically and spiritually. Jesus, the New Creation,
brings forth living water and light, just as God had created them in
the beginning. And he creates them in us, that we might have life to
the full, as promised in the raising of Lazarus, in next Sunday’s
gospel reading.
March 12th – Third Sunday of Lent
On the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, we celebrate
Scrutinies with and for the Elect who are approaching the Easter
Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). The readings
these Sundays focus on three baptismal themes: Living Water for
the Samaritan woman at the well, Sight for the man who was born
blind, and the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead, which was the last
and greatest sign that Jesus performed before His Passion, Death and
Resurrection.
While these readings are used for Masses with Scrutinies every year,
this year (using the “Cycle A” readings), we hear them at all Sunday
Masses. In fact, they are so important that parishes are allowed to
use them on these three Sundays every year – at every Mass.
It is Jesus who is Living Water, Sight to the Blind and Life for the
Dead. Even as we focus upon the journey of the Elect toward
Baptism, we are given the opportunity to renew our own life in
Christ, the life of the Baptism we already share. This is what we
celebrate at Easter, as we renew our Baptismal promises and are
sprinkled with Easter Water, the Paschal Candle leading us from
darkness to light.
March 5th – Second Sunday of Lent
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a
high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light
(Matthew 17:1).
The Transfiguration of Jesus, which we recall each year on the
second Sunday of Lent, gave the Lord courage and hope as he
walked the road to the Crucifixion. He was – if only for a short time
– as he would become after the Cross and Resurrection. Although
they did not understand it at the time, Jesus’ appearance in His glory
would also give hope to the Apostles that their suffering and death,
too, could be transformed into glory.
On this weekend during which we celebrate the Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick, we pray that those who are weakened by
illness or age might also undergo a transformation. While the
Sacrament does not make any promise or guarantee of physical
healing, its pledge of the prayers of the Church for those who suffer
a form of isolation due to infirmity and age can bring real and
lasting healing in mind and spirit. Whether you will approach this
“holy anointing” or not, your participation in our prayer is a sign of
solidarity with those who suffer here and around the world.
February 26th – First Sunday of Lent
We should be very clear about this: temptation can be insidious in
that it makes us believe that we must do something which we might
otherwise avoid. But we should also be clear of this: being tempted
is not a sin.
The Book of Genesis relates that Adam and Eve gave in to the
temptations of the serpent. We call this “The Fall.” However,
Jesus, as recounted this Sunday from the Gospel of Matthew, was
successful in overcoming the temptations that He encountered
during 40 days in the desert.
To be human is to be subject to temptations of all kinds. The
discipline of Lent (prayer, penance and care for the poor) aims to
help us to be faithful to our Baptism.
Lent is also – and primarily – the time of “purification” for those
who are preparing for Baptism at Easter.
May we – the baptized – by our prayer and our example – help those
who will be elected for Baptism by our Bishop. And may the Elect
grow closer to the Lord these six weeks that precede their joining
with Christ and the Church.
February 19th – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:1).
“Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
These two passages taken from this Sunday’s readings remind us of
the challenged given to all the baptized. Yet, when hearing this, we
may decide not even to try, because the task seems to be impossible.
Can we really be like God?
Our catechism, echoing the words of the Book of Genesis, teaches
that we are made “in the image and likeness of God.” If God,
therefore is holy and perfect, we also have that capability. As we
have heard often, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the
good. We strive toward holiness little by little, poco a poco, and we
must not be discouraged if it takes a long time or even, at times,
seems impossible. With God, all things are possible, even, by God’s
grace, achieving holiness that mirrors God’s holiness.
As we approach the season of Lent, the final period of preparation
for those to be baptized or received into the Church, we use this
coming 40 days to rediscover the life of Baptism that is ours. That
is the reason Easter is so full of the symbols of Baptism, including
the weekly sprinkling with baptismal water. Please join us on Ash
Wednesday as
February 12th – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there
recall that your brother [or sister] has anything against
you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your
gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way
to court (Matthew 5:23-24).
Based upon this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, there was a
consultation throughout the Church some years ago to consider
moving the Sign of Peace from its current place, just before
Communion, to a position prior to the Procession of Gifts at Mass.
The proposal was not accepted, but it did serve to make us think:
How many times do we bring “our gifts” to the altar without first
being reconciled with others?
It is true that just before we receive Communion, we pray, “Lord, I
am not worthy. . .” But this statement of unworthiness and the
request, “Only say the word, and my soul shall be healed,” cannot be
a substitute for making peace with others. The two go hand-in-hand.
First, we make peace, attempt to right the wrongs of our lives, then,
after that effort has been made, we look to the Lord to heal us, to
nourish us. We “bring our gift” to the altar, not to gloss over some
wrong that we have done, but as a sign of the peace which we have
already sought.
February 5th – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday’s gospel passage is a continuation of the Sermon
on the Mount, found in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of
Matthew. We hear Jesus’ words, “You are the salt of the
earth…You are the light of the world. . .Your light must shine
before others.”
Isaiah 58 (our first reading) is clear on the path of virtuous
living, of walking in the light:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.
Care of the marginalized has been central to the life of God’s
people for thousands of years. We are chosen to be light for
others in the ways we support them.
On this Annual Diocesan Pledge Sunday, we realize that
support of our parish and the Appeal is one way of letting our
light shine, of sharing with the hungry and homeless, so that
our light might break forth like the dawn.
January 29th – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Beatitudes has been called Constitution of the Reign of
God. Through them, Jesus taught the values, virtues and
attitudes to his followers. It is not that Jesus instructed his
listeners to be meek or mourning or persecuted or insulted.
Rather, the Beatitudes are lessons on how to live when bad
things happen to people, as they do to every person. What
distinguishes the followers of Jesus is how we react to the
presence of suffering in our lives. Jesus teaches us to find
blessedness or happiness even during the difficulties we
experience, and He promises heavenly rewards.
In the end, the question to each of us is whether we try to evade
the trials of our lives or do we learn to grow through them,
even remaining hopeful and faith-filled in bad times?
This weekend – Friday through Sunday – our Diocesan
Assembly for the Synod gathers at Santa Clara University.
From the 8000 comments and suggestions received from
throughout the Diocese, there are now 96 proposals, organized
around 8 themes. Please keep the delegates from our parish
and from throughout Santa Clara County in your prayers, that
all of us will be guided by the Holy Spirit in our listening, discussions and deliberations.