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C
ommunio . . .
August
27, 2006
To strengthen our shared life in Christ
through mutual participation and the free exchange of ideas.
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Community
of St. Malachi, 2459 Washington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113-2380.
www.stmalachi.org
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Communio
Archive |
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Is God Calling You?
by Jackie Bluett
(Jackie is a member of the Community of St. Malachi.)
“Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’
And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’”
(1 Samuel 3:10)
In the most recent edition of Communio, the editor published my reflection
about prayer. (I hope some of you shared prayer’s importance to you). If you
did read that article, you know one of the ways I learned more about prayer and
my relationship with God is through Ignatian Spirituality.
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I am grateful and we
are fortunate to be among the first groups to experience Jesuit Retreat House
outreach with “Praying with St. Ignatius of Loyola.” It is a retreat for
today’s culture. We do not need to spend much time away from our daily lives
of family, community, work, and service to experience this retreat.
I have not experienced this prayer retreat so I cannot tell you what it is
like. Permit me to introduce Rita Carfagna. She is a member of St.
Dominic Parish in Shaker Heights, a retreat director, and spiritual director
from the Jesuit Retreat House. Some of you probably know Rita through her work
at West Side Catholic Center or St. Ignatius High School. She also works with
Fr. Clem Metzger, S.J. organizing and directing “Praying with St. Ignatius
of Loyola. She has experience with this retreat as she prayed with it for
herself several years ago, and has directed several prayer retreats at various
parishes. Here is some of what she is telling the parishioners of the Church of
Holy Angels where she will direct this retreat this fall:
You might be wondering if this retreat is for you. If you have a desire for a
deeper, better prayer life, if you want to know God more deeply, if you want to
have a more personal relationship with Jesus, if you are at a crossroads in your
life and you are wondering what it is that God wants you to do, or perhaps you
can’t put your finger on it, you just know that you want “more” in your
spiritual life, then this retreat is for you.
You might have some reservations about making the retreat. You might be
thinking “how can I commit to anything for nine weeks, let alone attend nine
weekly meetings? I have to go out of town one week, I might get sick another…”
When you register for this retreat, we are asking you to commit to making your
best effort to attend all nine meetings, however, things happen – if you are
fairly confident that you can attend at least seven of the nine meetings, then I
would encourage you to go for it!
You might be thinking, “This sounds like something I would like to do, but
the small group faith sharing makes me a little nervous!” Faith sharing is an
integral part of this retreat. It is not group therapy or problem solving,
rather, it gives you the opportunity to talk about your prayer experience for
the previous week and how you have found God in your daily life in a
non-judgmental environment. Perhaps more importantly, it gives you the
opportunity to hear how God is present and active in the lives of others. After
the most recent 9 week retreat at St. Dominic Church, a parishioner said to me,
“I was really nervous about the faith sharing but that turned out to be my
favorite part of the retreat!”
Finally, you might be thinking, “I am not holy enough for this retreat.”
Well, we forgot to tell you that this retreat is for sinners only! You need no
spiritual expertise. Whether you are just beginning a prayer life or you have
been praying daily for many years, this retreat is for you. Men and women,
young, middle-aged, older, married, single, working, not working – it is for
everyone. You need only have that desire for “something more”, an open mind
and heart, a bible and a notebook (!) and the Jesuit Retreat House and God will
provide the rest. And I am here to vouch for both of them!!!
I am registering for the retreat. I feel I have a good relationship with God,
but I desire a deeper one. It is a similar desire to my wanting an ever-better
relationship with my life partner, Rick. There are times Rick and I have to make
some time to be together, to be present for each other, and to talk about
situations or events. I feel the need to dedicate some time for expanding my
relationship with God in much the same way. I believe “Praying with St.
Ignatius of Loyola” will help me do that.
Registrations are at the doors of the Church, at coffee hour, and at the
rectory. You can read the following about the retreat on the registration:
Praying with St. Ignatius of Loyola is a retreat adapted from The Spiritual
Exercises to foster a heartfelt knowledge of Jesus. For nine Sundays, Fr. Clem
Metzger S.J. from the Jesuit Retreat House will guide you through different
methods of prayer, meditation, journaling, and small group sharing. You will be
asked to commit a ½ hour a day for private prayer. Is God calling you to a
closer relationship?
If God is calling you to a closer relationship, I hope you will consider
responding by saying, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” Among
the different ways to listen to the Lord, I hope you will consider “Praying
with St. Ignatius of Loyola.”
If you have questions about this experience, please contact Jan Leitch and
ask her about it. She is also experienced as a retreatant and a faith-sharing
group leader many times.
Reiterating another part of Rita’s talk, if you do not feel called to
participate in this retreat, please do keep the retreat and the retreatants in
your prayers, especially from September 17th through November 12th.
Thank you.
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CSM Sunday Liturgy Survey Results
by Mike Petit
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(Mike is a member of the Community of St. Malachi and is Liturgy Committee
Chair.)
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In June 2006, the Liturgy Committee of CSM conducted a survey of the Sunday
liturgy. We wish to thank the 169 people who participated.
The results follow in this article. In general, the responses to the 16
questions/statements indicate a very favorable attitude on the part of the
community in all the areas. It should be noted that the areas looked at were
viewed from a wide or general focus. Each statement was rated 1-5; namely, (1)
strongly disagree, (2) disagree, (3) on the fence, (4) agree, (5) strongly
agree. The questions follow, with the numerical results. I combined (1) &
(2) and (4) & (5) to give the percent that are positive or negative. Then
there are some notations relating to specific comments included.
#1. The 11:00 liturgy (including singing) is characterized by “full, active
and conscious participation” of the entire assembly.
(5) 93 (4) 60.5 (3) 10.5 (2) 3 (1) 0
92% 8% 2%
Comments that need some consideration: Some indicated the desire for more
participation in the Eucharistic Prayer; some wished for more music practice in
regard to unfamiliar music.
#2. My participation (including singing) is “full, active and conscious.”
(5) 90.5 (4) 59.5 (3) 18 (2) 1 (1) 0
89% 10.5% .05%
Comment: “conscious sometimes missing!”
#3. This is a welcoming community.
(5) 85 (4) 60 (3) 22 (2) 2 (1) 0
85% 14% 1%
Comment: “slipping,” we need greeters, introduction of new people and
mentors.
#4. The assembly respects the symbolic nature of posture. I understand the
significance of standing during the Eucharistic prayer & the Communion Rite.
(5) 66 (4) 55 (3) 29 (2) 14 (1) 5
71% 17% 12%
Comment: four indicated: “don’t understand.” The responses indicate a
need for some education. It is also obvious that this is an area where folks
will disagree.
#5. It is evident that the celebrants, lectors, and musicians have prepared
adequately during the week.
(5) 109.5 (4) 44.5 (3) 13 (2) 1 (1) 0
92% 7.5% .05
#6. There are sufficient and well-defined periods of silence at the
appropriate times: before and after readings and homily, after Communion, and
after “Let us pray.”
(5) 82 (4) 56 (3) 18 (2) 10 (1) 2
82% 11% 7%
Comment: Some want a longer period after Communion, some shorter; some like
silence, some feel it’s unnatural.
#7. The use of music and its variety serve to unify the assembly in its
worship and reflect the values of the community as well as the readings of the
day, the liturgical season.
(5) 108 (4) 45.5 (3) 9.5 (2) 6 (1) 0
91% 5% 4%
Comment: Many positive remarks praising our music/liturgy director; four want
more community input for selection; six want more variety.
#8. The choir and the cantors aid the assembly’s singing at Mass.
(5) 114.5 (4) 41.5 (3) 7 (2) 5 (1) 0
93% 4% 3%
Comment: six said “excellent!”
#9. We should encourage brief lay reflections after the Prayer After
Communion.
(5) 67 (4) 44 (3) 37 (2) 13 (1) 6
66% 23% 11%
Comment: eight expressed the limitation, “brief;” some emphasized only
“occasionally,” and with limitations.
#10. The environment of the church is conducive to worship and reflects the
liturgical seasons.
(5) 98.5 (4) 51.5 (3) 12 (2) 1 (1) 0
92% 7.5% 0.5%
Comment: nice said “great job!”
#11. I find the homily challenging me to apply the message of the liturgical
celebration and readings to my daily life.
(5) 51.5 (4) 55 (3) 46 (2) 11.5 (1) 1
64.5% 28% 7.5%
Comment: seven indicated “excellent!” Some would like homilies briefer.
#12. More parts of the liturgy should be sung; e.g., Lord’s Prayer,
Eucharistic Prayer, etc.
(5) 31.5 (4) 31.5 (3) 53 (2) 35 (1) 14
38% 32% 30%
Comment: 13 want the Lord’s Prayer sung, at least occasionally; two want
the Eucharistic Prayer to have more of a sung dimension. The response was the
most evenly divided of all the questions.
#13. I would like to see the General Intercessions presented in a variety of
styles: sung, smaller #, different composers.
(5) 36 (4) 41.5 (3) 56.5 (2) 20 (1) 8
48% 35% 17%
Comment: 13 called for different composers, three more diversity.
#14. The gathering before Mass (greeters, conversation, music practice,
announcements, greeting, lowering lights/silence) prepares us well to celebrate
liturgy.
(5) 74 (4) 61 (3) 17 (2) 9 (1) 1
83% 11% 6%
Comment: Some would like talking to cease during announcements; need to greet
visitors; more music practice.
#15. Our liturgy accommodates special/additional rites (Baptisms,
commissioning, anniversaries, etc) well, enhancing rather than burdening the
celebration.
(5) 90 (4) 52 (3) 17 (2) 3 (1) 0
88% 10.5% 1.5%
Comment: good, esp. Baptisms!
#16. The distribution of Communion proceeds smoothly and prayerfully.
(5) 83 (4) 53 (3) 14 (2) 8 (1) 5
83% 9% 8%
Comment: 12 indicated the preparation takes too long and have a problem with
the GIRM rules; some want more Eucharistic Ministers up front, less in the back,
esp. cup holders.
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Dinner Is Served Without Dave
by Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer
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(Thanks to Marty Miller for sending this in and getting permission.)
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The kitchen is abuzz with laughter and song. More than 40 volunteers squeeze
into the hot room as hundreds of hungry mouths wait in the dining hall for
supper.
It grows quiet when they pray in the kitchen, as they do before every
Monday-night meal. Only tonight, Dave isn’t here to lead them. His widow is.
Then, like always, they hold hands and yell, “Charge!”
Only it’s not like always. Dave is gone.
David Starre
was a quiet, kind man who made everybody feel like they were
somebody special. For nearly 30 years, he coordinated the Monday-night meal at
St. Malachi Catholic Church on the West Side. His vision was simple: Feed the
hungry. Give back dignity. Smile, greet and touch those in need.
Bill McLaughlin, the new coordinator, tells the crowd he’s the one to
complain to now.
“We have a fine chicken dinner for everybody,” he says. “Plenty of
seconds.”
They bow their heads and pray, “Lord, thank you. Bless the people who have
preceded us, especially Dave.”
Dave was 67. Despite the pain, the fractures, the fatigue in the four years
he fought bone marrow cancer, he missed only four Monday nights.
Volunteer John Delzani says Dave never complained.
“It was never about Dave,” John says. “It was always about someone
else. He’d always tell us these people haven’t had anyone smile at them in
the last week.”
It was about the man who comes from Canton every week. The skinny lady in the
big straw hat dragging a suitcase around. The workers with their names printed
on their shirts. The little girl with the purse hooked on her elbow like an old
lady. The man whose hair carries the dust of the sidewalks.
They form two lines as Johnny Cash sings, “I fell into a burning
ring of fire, I went down, down, down ...” Here the down are lifted up.
Volunteer Katie Campbell, 11, hands out chocolate-covered doughnuts. A
retarded man hands out cups and smiles. Servers pour milk for the guests.
A pregnant woman balances two trays as her son stands on tiptoe to pick out a
pastry. Crystal Fugate’s baby is due in June. She works full-time at
Burger King. Her husband works and goes to school. Their son Corey is 7;
their daughter Katie is 5.
Katie wears a pink shirt with a giant heart. As her mom spoons fruit salad
into a plastic bag to take home, Katie picks up a candy bar. “If I eat three
bites of my salad, can I have this?”
Bill announces, “There’s plenty of chicken left over if you want it.”
The line forms again. Corey comes back with a tray so full, his thin arms
nearly buckle under the weight. His mom looks up and notices Dave is gone.
“I never knew he had cancer,” she says. “You would never have known.”
In the kitchen, the volunteers start to clean up. Barbara, Dave’s wife of
45 years, rinses trays.
She talks about how, painful as it was, Dave rode roller coasters that broke
his fragile ribs. How he played 18 holes of golf a week before he died. How,
when the pain got too great, he prayed for those hurting worse.
Dave came to his last Monday-night meal April 17. He died six days later.
He didn’t want a wake. He wanted a party. Everyone from the Monday-night
crowd brought food.
The water stops. The dishes are done.
“Last towel!” someone yells, and a dishcloth soars through the air, just
like always.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
Rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328
© 2006 The Plain Dealer. All
rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
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The Empowerment of Women
by Helen Brinich
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(Helen is a member of the Community of St. Malachi.)
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It is an indication of the lunacy of our culture that many people are
trusting the authority of a writer of popular fiction to shed new light on the
life and message of Jesus. ”The Da Vinci Code” is supposedly a work
of historical fiction. The very term is an oxymoron, history being defined as a
chronological record of significant events, while fiction is something invented
by the imagination. A work of fiction cannot be accepted as something that sheds
new light on historical events.
The proper place to search for more enlightenment about the life of Jesus is
the Scriptures. There is nothing in the New Testament that proves, or even
suggests that Jesus and Mary of Magdela were married. Anyone who is
satisfied with the argument that there is nothing that disproves it, he/she can
go ahead and believe it. It seems to me that there are many things that could be
supposed about Jesus’ life and actions that can be imagined and cannot be
disproved. Some great stories could be made up to fill in the many blanks left
by Scripture.
A scholarly study of Scripture will reveal the fact that women were closely
involved with Jesus’ ministry and with evangelization in the early Church. Mary
and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus were among his beloved friends. Women
followed Jesus to Calvary and stood at the foot of the cross. Women came to the
tomb to find it empty. Jesus sent Mary of Magdela to proclaim to the Apostles
that he had risen. There is no doubt that Mary of Magdela was a favored disciple
of Jesus and became a leader in the ministries of the early Church. His call to
ministry and discipleship was not limited to men. Women are mentioned as serving
in ministries both before and after the Resurrection. St. Paul specifically
states that now there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, male
nor female, but all are one in Christ.
Those who are interested in the empowerment of women in the Church will find
plenty of evidence in the New Testament. To use “The Da Vinci Code” to prove
anything at all is silly. Enjoy the fiction. Study the best Scriptural
scholarship to learn more about facts.
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Male Spirit Day Report
by Mike Graham
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(Mike is a member of the Community of St. Malachi.)
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Saturday August 12, Steve Melton and I (Mike Graham CSM)
arrived at Sandy Ridge Reservation Lorain County Metro Parks System about
8:15a.m. We began unloading our retreat stuff when we were met by Casey the
Metro Parks ranger. He helped us get our stuff in and then showed us around this
wonderful facility that would be our men’s retreat facility for the day.
We decided to leave the air-conditioner off and just open the windows and
doors. The air felt so good and you could feel and taste Mother Nature all
around us. As we began to set up, the other team helpers began to arrive. There
was Dick Schwertle, Lee Long, Jim Priolo, Chuck Dial and Paul Taylor.
All would play a key roll in this magical day.
From the start everything just seemed right as Paul said later “We just
seemed to be in-sync with the universe today.” Steve and Chuck handled the
registrations while the rest of us got the room ready. You could feel the
welcoming energy as men began to arrive who would share this magical day with
us.
I had remembered praying and asking on the way here that God would send out
his angels. I always ask for Michael and Gabriel. Yet this day I
also asked for as many as could come. Then I said the protection prayer that was
penned by a nun years ago and with that trusted that no evil from the dark side
would be allowed in this day.
We started on time as I rang the ting shahs bells to call us together. I
shared some of the outline for the day, thanked them for answering the call to
share this day with us, and then introduced the men who made this day possible.
Jim Priolo then shared a poem from the Mystic poet Rumi. His poem had
a picture with it which showed an x-ray of a hand throwing what looked like a
fire ball into the blackness. It looked as though the creator was starting the
universe by throwing out the first fire ball of stars and planets. I then lead
us in The Circle of Respect Ritual that was developed by Dominican Br. Joseph
Kilikevice.
Jim then led us through a set of stretching movements from which we flowed
into Lee Long taking us through a guided meditation exercise. (Mike Schipper
shared later a wonderful experience he had during the meditation exercise.)
We took a break and then Dick Schwertle led our first men’s
discussion topic for the day which was “Why are men afraid of men?” After
Dick talked about this we broke into groups of five each and shared our thoughts
on this topic. This was a powerful topic for us men to discuss.
We then went into doing the Dances of Universal Peace led by Paul Taylor and
Jim Priolo. Paul always does a great job of telling the history of the dances so
you understand the thousands of years behind the dances and the fact they have
been danced everywhere except in the Antarctica. Jim read another poem by the
mystic Hafiz and from there we started lunch and a walk around the wetlands.
After lunch Jim started us with a poem from the mystic Kabir and then Jim and
Paul led us through another Dances of Universal Peace dance. I then lead our
next discussion topic concerning “Men’s Sharing Groups Assessment.” We
again broke into groups of five and discussed this topic after I shared my
thoughts related to the need for men’s sharing groups.
Our afternoon break was followed by Chuck Dial and Steve Melton leading a
discussion on men in the military and their lived experiences. Chuck served in
the Air Force as an officer in the SAC Wing and Steve served in the Army over in
Europe. You realize when you hear the topic you seem to have preconceived ideas
as to what is going to be discussed. (Realizing what is going on in the Middle
East) But you would have had to have been there to have witnessed how well this
part of the day went. It went very well.
We all pitched in for clean up and finished with another dance and a closing
circle. Rick Crow from St. Malachi community said “is it over, gee when
will the next one be?” I could tell this was a magical day for all of us.
I hope this gives you a look into the day of us men doing men’s work. Thank
you again for all your love, prayers and support.
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The Winter of the Blue Snow
by Helen Misener
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(Helen is a member of the Community of St. Malachi.)
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When my brother and I were the last of nine children remaining at home, we
often were subjected to our parents’ reminiscences of earlier times –
perhaps thirty or more years prior. We would look at each other and say, “Ah,
yes, that was the winter of the blue snow.” While we understood (somewhat) how
important those times were to Mom and Dad, we really couldn’t relate to them.
Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am certainly no longer a teenager, but
in terms of Community of St. Malachi I am somewhere between preschool and
adolescence, having found this group only three years ago. Believe me, I have
the greatest respect for the “founding fathers and mothers” of the
Community, many of whom have become dear friends of mine. Your accomplishments
are evident in so many successful and sustaining projects. However, at this time
of change – a new Community Council, including me for the first time – I
feel a need to express these thoughts.
There seems to be a lot of nostalgia among the “founding group” of the
Community of St. Malachi, and I want to say that you have so much reason to be
proud: Monday Night Meals; Malachi House; Malachi Mart; St. Malachi Center;
Peace Walk; Urban Community School, to name some. Yet, there also seems to be a
desire to conduct business as usual, without recognizing the enormous changes
that have taken place in the last thirty-plus years.
I would like to ask which of you is still driving that wonderful car you
owned in the ‘70s; or which of you is still glued to that same (black &
white?) TV, watching those same shows? With life style changes, how many of you
still have the same amount of time and energy to devote to Community projects?
Things have changed. The area surrounding St. Malachi has, I’m sure, changed
down through the years, and with it the needs of those inhabiting it. The
membership of the Community of St. Malachi has changed. The Diocese of Cleveland
has changed. Does that mean that I think that the founding group is no longer
needed? Good grief, no! But it does mean that we all need to look at the
Community as it is in 2006 and figure out where to go from here.
How do we value and sustain our past accomplishments while examining our
opportunities for stewardship in 2006 and beyond? How do we incorporate ALL age
groups to an active ministry? How do we keep Christ-centered in our worship and
stewardship? And how do we ALL experience satisfaction and joy in being a part
of this beautiful Community of St. Malachi?
Are these questions all rhetorical? I hope not.
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One More Thought
by Fran DeChant
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(Fran is a member of the Community of St. Malachi and a member of the
Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty.)
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There is a last chapter to an event that has been sad and disturbing. On
August 8, Darrell Ferguson was executed by the State of Ohio for crimes he
committed. He was a most difficult person to vigil for and to hold in prayer.
Through the weeks of July, I joined with members of the Cleveland Coalition
Against the Death Penalty to petition our Governor to commute this execution to
life imprisonment. Members of the Community of St. Malachi, with great kindness,
participated with me in an evening service on August 7 where prayers were
offered for the families of three people this man murdered and for him. The
final intention of that service was that the love and mercy of God, who wills
that none be lost, somehow would find this desperate man. We prayed that despite
a lifetime of hateful words and actions, a better end to his life might be
granted to this troubled person who gave many indications of mental illness.
I thank everyone who supported me and who prayed for those involved in this
dark event. I would like you to have the message e-mailed to me by Brigitte
Belmonte-Jarc. Brigitte Serves the Cleveland Coalition by doing research on
each case that comes up for execution in our state. Brigitte also leads us in
song when we gather for the evening vigils that send off a contingent to witness
at Lucasville when an execution takes place. Brigitte was part of the group that
left for Lucasville at midnight.
This is the message Brigitte e-mailed to me on August 9:
I have just spoken with my sister. She actually called last night to talk
about her thoughts on receiving Darrell Ferguson’s body at Wright
State, but because I was so exhausted our conversation had to wait until today.
Apparently, the wake for Darrell Ferguson was this morning. Maria said
there were more people than they usually have and they stayed the entire two
hours. Typically, the family only stays for five minutes, enough to view the
body and say their goodbyes. Because of Mr. Ferguson’s notoriety in the Dayton
area, his body was sent to the University of Findlay. The one thing that shook
my sister up, as well as me after I heard about it, was despite Darrell’s
awful talk and actions in his lifetime, for as nasty as he made himself to be,
when Maria received his body, his nose was messy and he had tear tracks down his
face. For a man who said he embraced death, his final act was to cry.
Was this a miracle of the power of God’s love? We know that our persistence
in granting human dignity to even the least of God’s children produces
powerful energy for good. You can decide.
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Sunday Morning Meditations
by Chris Schenk
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(Chris is a member of the Community of St. Malachi and is Executive Director
of FutureChurch.)
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August 27, 2006 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b;
Ephesians 5:21-32
(alternate permitted by USCCB: Ephesians 5:2a, 25-32)
John 6:60-69
About eight years ago, the Liturgy Office of the U.S. Council of Catholic
Bishops recognized how counter productive scripture readings that subordinate
women can be for believers who have fully appropriated their equality and
oneness in Jesus Christ. They suggested optional alternatives for today’s
Ephesians reading where wives are told to be subordinate to their husbands. Such
an injunction sounds strange to 21st century ears because today we accept that
women are fully human and made in God’s image precisely as women, not because
of their relationships to men.
When the letter to Ephesians was written however, the surrounding
Mediterranean culture viewed women as subordinate to, or derivative from men.
Many scholars believe the Ephesians passage was not written by Paul since in
other places he accepts women as his “Coworkers in Christ” (Romans 16). In
fact, the new Christian religion challenged many patriarchal values because it
acknowledged both women and men as missionaries and leaders. In the past 40
years, new archaeologic and literary discoveries reveal that women’s coequal
leadership was both accepted and disputed not only in the richly diverse early
Christian communities but also in many Jewish synagogues.
While today’s Gospel reading refers back to last Sunday’s Gospel in which
Jesus identifies himself as the living bread, it could easily be heard as
affirming the subordination of women, especially since women’s roles in
society and in the Catholic Church remain a source of controversy even today.
But in the Eucharist, all of us, women and men, are united as one because we
each share in the one body of Christ. In Christ, we learn to love and give of
ourselves to our spouses, family, friends, and even total strangers, so that, in
John Lennon’s felicitous, if areligious lyric: “the world might live as one.”
If more Christians lived and loved in the unassuming, empowering way of Jesus,
God’s love might finally be revealed in its fullness... as ubiquitous in our
world as the air we breathe, and a source of unity rather than division.
For reflection:
1. Jesus welcomed and honored the full humanity of women and all the
marginalized. Who are on the margins in today’s world? How can I bring God’s
love and healing acceptance to them?
2. In my marriage, my family or at work, do I sometimes try to dominate
others and/or do others try to dominate me? What can I do to model the gentle
empowerment and courage of Jesus?
3. How is Jesus living bread for me?
September 3, 2006. Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8; James 1:17-18, 21b-22,27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
At first glance the readings this Sunday seem paradoxical. In Deuteronomy we
are given a positive view of religious law, reflecting the great esteem in which
God’s covenant ordinances were held by the early Hebrews. But in the Gospel,
we discover that God’s law and legalism are two entirely different entities,
easily confused by the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, and perhaps of any
time.
Jesus rails at the Pharisees’ emphasis on outward obedience to nonessential
purity rules which purport to signal one’s righteousness before God. Jesus
sets things straight: Nothing outside a person can defile, only evil intentions
from within the human heart can blind one to God: envy, slander, avarice, pride,
deceit and the like. The Pharisees’ teachings were not abstractions in a
religious culture that imposed so many purity rules that most of the population,
especially the poor, was in a continual state of ritual uncleanness. Naturally
enough, many internalized the falsehood that they were estranged from God, even
though their hearts were loving, honest and humble.
But Jesus’ intimate knowledge of God’s prodigious love causes him to cry
out against religious leaders whose rules make people believe they are not
beloved and accepted by God. It got Jesus into lots of trouble. But the
Christian community did eventually get the message as seen in the reading from
James: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for
orphans and widows in their distress ...” Widows and orphans were among the
poorest of Jesus’ time because they were on the margins of the patriarchal
household and entitled to sustenance only after the rest of the family was cared
for.
True rightness with God lies in doing God’s word of justice and of love.
not just listening to it. It isn’t enough to hear the Gospel on Sunday. We
must also live it during the week. This is what got Jesus into trouble and it
should be getting us into trouble somewhere too, if we are true disciples. We
must ask ourselves if we are not suffering a little persecution for justice’
sake somewhere in our lives life, are we really Christian?
For reflection:
1. Do we have contemporary examples of people deemed ritually or legally “unclean”
by religious or political leaders? How can we witness to the reality of God’s
all-inclusive love?
2. Have I internalized the falsehood that some part of my humanity is unclean
and unacceptable to God? How can I approach Jesus, perhaps through his friends
in my family of faith, for affirmation and help?
3. Where in my life have I allowed satisfaction at “keeping the rules” to
substitute for a deepened relationship with God or a deeper commitment to the
service of others, particularly for those made poor by our own economic system?
* * * * * *
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Community of St. Malachi, 2459 Washington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113-2380
216-781-3110 www.stmalachi.org
Sunday Community Mass 11 a.m. Parish Masses Sat. 4:30 p.m., Sun. 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Holy day: Vigil 5:30 p.m., 7 a.m., noon. Weekday: 7 a.m., noon. Legal Holiday: 9 a.m.
We celebrate Children’s Liturgy of The Word every other Sunday, please see the Calendar.
For information on the Sacraments, please call the Community Office.
THE COMMUNITY OF ST. MALACHI is a lay-directed, non-territorial personal
parish of the Diocese of Cleveland. Although separate from the Parish of St.
Malachi, we join together for many worthwhile activities. All are welcome to
worship at the 11 a.m. Community liturgy on Sunday. Community members are
expected to actively contribute of their time, talent and treasure.
Communio is a monthly publication of the Communications Committee of the
Community of St. Malachi. Deadline is the second Sunday before publication. You
ease our task by submitting materials by E-Mail or on disk. All viewpoints of
interest to our Community in the context of our journey of faith are welcome
here. Viewpoints are those of the writers and not necessarily the teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church.
For e-mail delivery of Communio or Newsletter through CSM’s E-Subscription
service
complete the Newsletter/Communio Add/Removal Request Form
© 2005 Community of St. Malachi. Reprinting of articles originating in Communio
is encouraged – please contact the Editors for permission. |
Newsletter: Mary Englert
216-228-8417,
fax 216-861-5340,
14921 Lake Ave # 10, Lakewood 44107.
E-mail mtenglert@juno.com
Communio
Chief Editor: Joe Pulizzi
216-941-5054
E-mail joe_pulizzi@yahoo.com
Asst.
Editor: Stephanie Riccobene
E-mail riccobene726 @ sbcglobal.net
Volunteers to collate and staple:
Nadge Herceg 440-930-2781
Volunteers to hand out after Mass:
Patrick Hornung 216–221–2949
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Copying and attachments: Kimberly Kramer, Ellen McIntyre and
Carol Lavelle
216-781-3110
St. Malachi Web Site: Mike May
Email stmalachiweb@catholic.org
Prayer Request: If you have a prayer request, please contact Carol Lavelle
216-781-3110
To receive CSM e-mail prayer alerts, please see
Newsletter/Communio Add/Removal Request Form
The Communications Committee Chairperson’s position is Jim Connell.
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Deadline for the Sept.24th issue is Sept. 10th.
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