Celebrating 100 over years in Irondequoit
Clustered Worship Sites:
Individual Worship Sites:
Irondequoit Catholic Communities:
Return to Cycle Index
Cycle C
Q264: Today’s readings show Peter as rather stubborn and impulsive, don’t they? He disobeys the Sanhedrin (Acts 5), and jumps out of the boat to see Jesus (Jn 21).
I am reminded of what Fr. Bill Grimm said several years ago, words to the effect that we are all called to be stubborn and impulsive, when the circumstances call for that kind of behavior. When we Catholics think of Peter, our first instinct is to think of him as “the first Pope.” However, lots of things came before that position of special leadership! As Fr. Grimm said, who else do you know who would jump into the water with your clothes on; who else did Jesus call a “Satan”; who else denied Jesus three times; who else was ambivalent about relations with Gentiles and had to be kicked in the butt by St. Paul; who else tried walking on water; who else takes action without thinking?
This is the one Jesus chose to lead his Church? Yes, and we are fortunate to see those characteristics in the pre-Pentecost Peter. He was willing to take action, even without thinking, when Jesus was involved. He didn’t wait until a theological treatise had been developed to weigh all the arguments for and against a situation; he simply acted! Of course, sometimes his haste resulted in correctable decisions, as he discovered through his colleague St. Paul.
But the overriding message is that the Easter faith is spread only by those who take action. If everyone were to “wait,” there wouldn’t be many conversions from pagan beliefs! Some would not hear the Good News at all. Baptism is our first “jump into the water” of missionary activity. It empowers us with Jesus’ own Spirit to take action, to spread the Good News; and we renew our baptismal promises every Easter. Ask yourself: “How have I been living out my Sacrament and the responsibilities that flow from discipleship?
Know Your Catechism! The Church – that’s you and me – is the seed for establishing the Kingdom of God; what have you been doing with your seed (CCC #768)? The presence of Christ continues in his disciples, his mystical body (CCC #788). Does the Body of Christ suffer because you are withholding the gifts from them that they need (CCC #791)? Am I willing to “get my feet wet” for the sake of the kingdom?
For The Sake Of The Name
"The Name of God": you will find this phrase repeated again and again in the Bible. In the New Testament, the expression "The Name of Jesus" often replaces it. "Jesus" means "The Lord is salvation." That was the name chosen for Him by His Father.
St. Peter tells us why the name of Jesus is so important. "There is no other name in the whole world given to man by which we are to be saved." (Acts, 4:2). St. Paul tells us of the need to honor this name of our Redeemer: "At Jesus' name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth" (Phil.2:10).
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus dates from the times of the Apostle, but it became widespread in the late middle ages. In 1274, Pope Gregory X prescribed that the faithful bow their heads at the mention of His name.
Probably the best known promoter of this devotion was the popular Franciscan preacher, St. Bernardine of Siena (1380?-1444). To revive reverence for the name of the Savior, he would lift up before his audience, at the end of each sermon, a wooden tablet painted with the letters "IHS" crowned by a cross, all in gold, and framed by a circle of gold rays and flames. "IHS" is the abbreviation of the Greek name of our Lord, "IHSOYS". The tablet caught the imagination of Bernardine's listeners. It made them all the more aware of the importance of Him who died to save them. It made them more respectful of the Holy Name and less ready to use it, or any other divine name, in vain.
Eventually the popes established a feast of the Holy Name. Our Holy Name Societies were also founded to promote honor to the name of Jesus.
In this Holy Year dedicated to the redemption Jesus achieved for us are we grateful enough to Him to be joyful to suffer in return "for the sake of the Name"? (Today's second reading). Or, more practically, are we careful not to use any divine Name disrespectfully? Do we still bow our heads at Jesus' name? If not, why not?
-Father Robert F. McNamara
Q. 420: We don't have a “Sanhedrin” (the old Jewish religious court) to accuse us today; so how is the episode of Peter and the apostles relevant to us today?
Peter and the apostles were under attack (Acts 5:27-32, 40-41) for proclaiming their belief in the resurrection of Jesus, and of his divinity. The religious authorities wanted to separate that belief from the everyday activities of ordinary life. This attempt led them to begin a persecution of the earliest Catholics, the apostles and disciples - beginning with the edict to stop proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Today the Church and its basic proclamation is once again under attack. Our own country (United States of America) is trying to silence and remove all traces of Christianity from the public life of its people (including public schools), such as the removal from government locations of such time-honored traditions as the Ten Commandments. In some countries (e.g., Canada), it is now considered “hate speech” - punishable by law - to proclaim the bible's teachings that certain behaviors are immoral (such as active homosexual actions, abortion, euthanasia, etc). In other countries (e.g., Germany) home-schooled children are now being taken away from concerned parents who are trying to teach true moral values. As you can see, today's First Reading is highly relevant to life in 2007!
Peter and the apostles felt honored to endure persecution for the sake of the Name of Jesus. They remembered Jesus' words to Peter (today's Gospel, John 21:1-19) that true love, true discipleship, consists in passing on the truth (“feed my sheep”). They remembered his command that a true disciple does not “pick and choose” what to believe; “follow me” means complete adherence to the fullness of truth taught by Jesus, his apostles, and their successors (i.e., the bishops). What about you? Are you willing to follow Him and the teachings of his Magisterium (the bishops) without conditions?
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! The name “Jesus” signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son; it is the divine name that alone brings salvation (CCC #432). Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community; “We must obey God rather than men” (CCC #2242). Persecution is coming; are you ready? Does your voting pattern reflect your true beliefs?
