Father Madden's Sunday Reflection
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. John's Church
July 5, 2020
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- Fr. Madden's Sunday Reflection
- Video Mass
- Sunday Mass Readings
- Prayers: Parish Needs & Intentions / Additional Prayers
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Fr. Madden's Sunday Reflection
Dear Friends in the Lord,
It is a great pleasure to announce that the long-time member of St. John’s and newly ordained Deacon John LaRochelle will be with us for both the 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Masses next weekend. The 10:15 will be lived streamed (every week from here on out) so many of you will be able to see and hear him. Deacon John’s summer assignment is at the Cathedral of St. Paul. We are grateful that he will be able to be home with us for next weekend.
This weekend we celebrate – such as we can during these days – the Fourth of July. One of the common refrains that we hear during this holiday is that “Freedom is not Free.” True enough. Still, what we have discovered more clearly during this horrific pandemic is that all of us must be willing to pay the price if any of us can be truly free. The words of the Bishop from the AME Church continue to ring in my ears. He said, “I do not wear this facemask for me, but for you. You do not wear your facemask for you, but for me.” In today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus prays to and praises the Father. Specifically, because the Father has hidden from the “wise and the learned” what has been revealed to “little ones.” It is only when we humbly recognize our need for God that we are able to respond to each other’s needs.
When we arrive at that humble place, we can experience the Lord’s “yoke” as easy. In their book “The Gospel of Matthew,” Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri offer insight into the “yoke of Jesus” that we hear of in this familiar passage:
In biblical and Jewish tradition, a yoke is often a metaphor for religious instruction, in some cases the yoke represents the commandments of the Torah that define what it means to live in a covenant relationship with the Lord. In others, it represents the counsel of divine Wisdom that guides men and women toward pious and prosperous living.
Jesus probably had both traditions in mind when he spoke of “my yoke.” On the one hand, his teaching is the messianic Torah, for it brings to perfection the deepest intentions of the Mosaic law. On the other hand, Jesus conveys new wisdom that finds expression and vindication in his messianic works...
The implications of this is clear: Jesus himself is the living embodiment of a new Torah for the people of God and the incarnation of divine Wisdom for all who seek spiritual refreshment and rest. (p. 161)
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. John Madden
1st Reading: Zechariah 9
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
2nd Reading: Romans 8
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
2nd Reading: Romans 8
Brothers and sisters:
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
Alleluia: Matthew 11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 11
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Prayers
St. John's Parish:
Prayer Needs & Intentions
Please remember the following needs and intentions in your prayers:
- For the physical healing of Sr. Pilar's bone fracture. May she be able to endure the pain and may Mother Mary comfort her in her suffering. (Pamela J)
- For Eileen Nikosey, may God welcome her beautiful soul with open arms, and her family who will miss her dearly. (Wiley O)
- For Rich- in ICU (Hanna M)
- For Robert , Erin , Mike (Claire) and Molly McKeon , May they find Gods healing love (Michele G)
- For Jack Gallagher and John King. (Lori K)
- For the soul of Sue Moynagh, who passed away suddenly at home this past Wednesday. Thank you and God Bless (Linda Z)
- Please pray that Christine has a healthy pregnancy and baby this time. She has had two miscarriages. She is my daughter. Thank you all ♥️ (Donna S)
- For the health and Intensions of Jeff Parson. (Steve S)
- For a special intention. (Karen H)
- Please pray in memory of Joshua Peter Kozaczka (Sophie K)
- Prayers for Fr. Bob Bruso who is seriously ill. (Donna W)
- For an end to the virus. An increase of faith. Special intentions. Liz a job. (Janice E)
- For health intentions of Jean and Thomas Vancelette. May our children, Isabella and Anthony make sound decisions and come closer to our Lord.(Zandra V)
- For our daughter in law that she remain healthy and deliver Her baby later this summer. (Zandra V)
- In memory of my cousin Jim Davey who passed on Monday, June 30, 2020 in Texas. (Judy J)
- Please pray for Judy Paille w ho passed away last weekend. Thank you. (Helen D)
- For employers, that they may provide equitable wages and treat their employees with dignity. May they provide a safe work environment and employee benefits that respect life and align to Christian values. (Pamela J)
- Please pray for good health for my family and employment for my son. Thank You. (Anne L)
- For a better, new secondary job to replace MACYS furlow, after a while there. To pass MTELS- Teaching position in September in my own classroom. Thank You, for your prayers. (TRICIA K)
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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
Suscepimus Deus
Motet
Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas
Communio
Gustate et videte
St. John's Schola Motet
Ave Verum Corpus
Parish Resources
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