Father Madden's Sunday Reflection
Pentecost Sunday
St. John's Church
May 31, 2020
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Fr. Madden's Sunday Reflection
Dear Friends in the Lord,
Thankfully, week one of Phase 1 of the reopening went off without a hitch. Many of you probably saw the article in the Telegram this week (and, yes, the Monsignor title was most definitely a mistake!) which reported that this was the universal experience in the churches and synagogues in the area. As I stated in the article, it was great to both have people back in the church because it is a sign of hope that we will defeat this virus and to do it in a safe manner. Slow, but sure – and safe – we will return to whatever our “new normal” will be. This time of pandemic adds gravitas to the Solemnity of Pentecost which we celebrate today. It is often referred to as the “birthday” of the Church. This year, just as with the first Pentecost, we cannot be sure what this is going to look like in the weeks, months and, even, years ahead.
As more and more knowledge about the virus is gained. As more and more wisdom is applied. Then we will, more and more, discover what are liturgical gatherings together will be like. All the above, the knowledge, the wisdom, the prayer will be possible only to the extent that we open ourselves to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Scholars refer, rightly, to the “Pentecost event.” Still, it is important to remember that this was not a one-time thing. The Holy Spirit has been a permanent presence in the Church. So, we must make room for the Spirit. We do so through an increase in prayer which allows us to discern our gifts and the role we play in the mission of the Church and in building up the Body of Christ.
The immense tragedy of George Floyd’s murder, along with the violent and counter-productive response in too many places is more evidence of our need to open ourselves to the Spirit who, alone, can perform “the mighty acts of God.” Those acts alone which make us one, in all our uniqueness, as the children of God.
We pray, with St. Augustine, for the “Indwelling of the Holy Spirit:”
Holy Spirit, powerful Consoler, sacred Bond of the Father and the Son, Hope of the afflicted, descend into my heart and establish in it your loving dominion. Enkindle in my tepid soul the fire of your Love so that I may be wholly subject to you. We believe that when you dwell in us, you also prepare a dwelling for the Father and the Son. Deign, therefore, to come to me, Consoler of abandoned souls, and Protector of the needy. Help the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and support the wavering. Come and purify me. Let no evil desire take possession of me. You love the humble and resist the proud. Come to me, glory of the living, and hope of the dying. Lead me by your grace that I may always be pleasing to you. Amen.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. John Madden
Reminder: Sunday Mass will also be live-streamed
on Sunday at 12:15 AM on Facebook
Please note: Live-streamed Mass readings may differ from what is listed below due to the several variations allowed for the Vigil and Sunday Mass celebrating Pentecost.
1st Reading: Genesis 11
The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words.
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another,
“Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.”
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.”
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another,
“Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.”
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.”
The LORD came down to see the city and the tower
that the people had built.
Then the LORD said: “If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down there and confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says.”
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called Babel,
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.
that the people had built.
Then the LORD said: “If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down there and confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says.”
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called Babel,
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them allC
the earth is full of your creatures;
bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Creatures all look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
2nd Reading: Romans 8
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them allC
the earth is full of your creatures;
bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Creatures all look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
2nd Reading: Romans 8
Brothers and sisters:
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselves
as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: John 7
On the last and greatest day of the feast,
Jesus stood up and exclaimed,
“Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.
Jesus stood up and exclaimed,
“Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.
As Scripture says:
Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me.”
He said this in reference to the Spirit
that those who came to believe in him were to receive.
There was, of course, no Spirit yet,
because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
that those who came to believe in him were to receive.
There was, of course, no Spirit yet,
because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Prayers
St. John's Parish:
Prayer Needs & Intentions
Please remember the following needs and intentions in your prayers:
- For Ronald Cormier , recently passed away Thursday May 21. (Michele G)
- I am asking humbly for prayers of strength support and love as I struggle through a difficult and life threatening illness brought on by my own neglect of my personal heath (Robin E)
- For my two sons (George M)
- For my sister Stacy. (Tracy C)
- Lord give me strength with my illness (Giancarlo M)
- For the Graduating Class of 2020 of St. Casimir's Alternative School. (Barbara T)
- For Jack Gallagher and his family. (Lori K)
- That Jack receive complete healing of his Crohn's disease if that be God's will.
For Anna: anxious over the Corona virus, unemployment. food insecurity and future employment, and struggling to develop a relationship with God because of a childhood filled with abuse. - For the health and Intensions of Jeff Par (Steve S)
- For my family: That they will remain safe and healthy. Please pray for the world that we all will know our Lord. (Zandra V)
- For Ronald Cormier who recently passed away. (Michele G)
- For the peace and unity of our nation, and the sanctity and protection of the unborn. (William T)
- For the family of Police Officer John Songy; that they find peace and comfort in their faith and strength from the love of those around them. (Carolyn P)
- For the family of Dr. Dhansukhlal Mandalaywala to give them strength during this difficult time. (Carolyn P)
- For a positive outcome to a difficult situation...(Karen H)
- To remember to be kind, loving & respectful always, even as we start to get back to "normal". (Wiley O)
- Come, Holy Spirit, descend upon Your son William, that he may develop physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually as You, our ever loving Lord, intended him to be. May his parents and sister continue to support and love him unconditionally. (Pamela J)
- For my family’s health and the Songy family (Anne L)
- For the suffering, sick, and lonely in nursing homes and hospitals- that they are aware they are never alone with God. (Jeanne D)
- For my fiancé and me as we prepare for our marriage in September (Jeanne D)
- For a young man with significant mental health issues, and his family. (Dianne G)
- For Carlos Bollar being tested for the virus in New Jersey. (Donna W)
- May the Lord comfort John Songy's family and may Detective Songy rest in the Lord's arms. (Cynthia W)
- For the soul of Joshua Peter Kozaczka (Sophie K)
To share a prayer request or intention in the Sunday Reflection,
please click the REPLY button at the bottom of any
"St. John's Church (General)" email and post it in the comments.
Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit
May 22 - May 30
On my knees, before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am.
I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace. I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against you. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness.
Holding the pierced feet of Jesus and looking at his Five Wounds and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart I implore You Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You.
Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.”
Additional Prayers:
Spiritual Communion - Pandemic Prayer - Prayer to St. Michael
Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Prayer in Time of Pandemic
from Bishop McManus
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial.
Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son:
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
by Pope Leo XIII
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against
the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Schola Cantorum
Introit
Spiritus Domini
Motet
Come Down O Love Divine
Motet
(St. John's Schola)
Parish Resources
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