Sunday Preparation

Scripture Resources for Catechists

• Opening the Word from FORMED online
• Seasonal Resources from Be My Disciples
• Cycle A, B and C Resources - from Loyola Press (2018-19 is Year C, The Gospel of Luke)
• Advent and Christmas Lectionary Meditations - Fr. James Alison
• Girardian Lectionary - comments and exegesis on the Sunday Scriptures
• Lesson Strategies from Be My Disciples
• Sunday Connection for this week from Loyola Press
• Finding God - the Online Catechists Helper from Loyola Press (log in required)
• Sunday Homilies - from All Saints
• Midweek Reflection (signup) - From Liturgical Publications
• The Text This Week - Lectionary, Scripture Study, Worship Links and Resources 
• Audio of Daily Mass Readings - from the USCCB
• Video Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings - from the USCCB

A new weekly Bible Study to help parishioners prepare for a fruitful celebration of the Sunday Eucharist by studying prayerfully the Sunday Scriptures. This program will also draw on documents from Bishops, Popes and the Vatican on interpreting the Scriptures. It will focus upon “The Kerygma”, that is, the proclamation of the story of Jesus which leads people to conversion of heart and Intentional Discipleship.

Each meeting will include a 'Lectio Divina' on one of the readings, letting the Scriptures speak to our hearts,  and direct us in ways both spiritual and pastoral. It will also introduce week by week various different methods of studying the Scriptures, as taught in the following Magisterial documents, and to practice applying them to the Sunday Scriptures: 

• Dei Verbum                                                      Vatican II                                                          1963
• The Historicity of the Gospels                     Pontifical Biblical Commission                    1964
• The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church                                                      PBC         1993
• The Jewish People and their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible          PBC          2002
• The Bible and Morality                                  Pontifical Biblical Commission                     2008
• Verbum Domini                                              Pope Benedict XVI                                           2010
• Preaching the Mystery of Faith                   US Conference of Catholic Bishops             2012
• Homiletic Directory                                       Congregation for Divine Worship                  2015

Participants will use 'At Home With the Word' which contains the Readings for every Sunday of the year. Copies available for $7.00

In-person classes are suspended until further notice. However, people may participate through Zoom on Wednesday at 7:15 PM. Email Jim Hynes if you wish to participate.

 

May 31, 2020

Gospel: John 20:19-23 (Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the Disciples)

Girardian Lectionary
'Sunday Connection' Scripture Commentary
RCL/Benziger Gospel Reflections
FORMED Opening the Word
Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Question of the Week (Adults): What important work does Jesus ask of you at this time in your life?

Question of the Week (Children): How would Jesus want you to treat your friends and family this week?

Catechism Connection

730 - Jesus gives the Holy Spirit after he is risen from the dead
788 - Jesus remains with his disciples through the Holy Spirit
858 - The Apostles continue the mission of Jesus
976 - Through the Holy Spirit Jesus gives the power to forgive sins
1287 - The Holy Spirit and Confirmation
1461 - Bishops and priests exercise the ministry of forgiveness of sins

Saints This Week

May 31 Feast of the Visitation
June 1 Saint Justin
June 2 Saints Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs
June 3 Blessed John XXIII, Pope
June 4 Saint Francis Caracciola patron of Naples
June 5 Saint Boniface patron of Germany
June 6 Saint Norbert 

Year A - Pentecost Sunday

During the Easter season we have heard stories of many strange and wonderful things. We hear the story of Jesus rising from the dead, appearing to his disciples and disappearing again, being taken up into heaven on a cloud. We can wonder what it all means and what the disciples really saw and what happened, but one thing is certain: they were never the same people again.

They had the most wonderful experience of God, and they tried as best as they could to communicate that experience to others. Their stories are very different, but they emphasize the same things: that God has come to them in a new way, that Jesus brings God's presence to them, that the presence of God brings peace, joy, forgiveness, new life and courage.

The story of Pentecost conveys all these things: Pentecost was a Jewish Feast Day, celebrating the giving of the Law to Moses, a Law which reveals God, God's mercy and wisdom, a Law which gives life to its followers. The disciples were celebrating these things, when the gift of the New Law was given to them, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This time the New Law gift is written upon their hearts, rather than upon tablets of stone. It is found in the life of the community, more so than in a book. The Holy Spirit is God's real presence in the heart of both the individual disciple and in the life of the Christian community.

We hear the story of Pentecost twice today. The first time is in the Acts of the Apostles: the disciples are gathered together in one room, when "a powerful wind from heaven" appeared. In Hebrew, "wind", "breath", "spirit" and "life" are all the same word. Wind and fire are both symbols of God's presence. The emphasis in the story is on the gift of foreign languages, given to enable the mission of preaching the Gospel to go to all nations.

The Evangelist John tells the story in a different way. He emphasizes the presence of Jesus - it is Jesus who gives the Spirit. The Spirit brings peace, but also brings a mission. Jesus says: "As the Father sent me, so am I sending you." So we are to continue the mission which Jesus began. He emphasizes the forgiveness of sins: it is a gift given to all Christians, and part of the mission - we all bear God's forgiveness and healing to those who need it.

The Apostle Paul wrote much about the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Today he says that no one can say "Jesus is Lord", can even express the Christian faith, if they are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that there are many gifts given for service and building up the Christian Community. He says that the gifts are different, but all work towards the same end: building up the kingdom of God and the Church. Just as the body is made up of different parts and the parts work together, so it is with Christ. The Spirit gives a diversity of gifts, but there is a unity in this diversity.

So to summarize, the Holy Spirit is the gift of God dwelling in us, given for the mission of the spreading of the Gospel.

It is worth reflecting that as Christians we have already received the Holy Spirit, and we exercise many gifts which already build up the Church and spread the gospel.