|
This week is the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus leads his disciples to Bethany where he ascends into heaven. It says that the disciples did him homage and then they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and continually praising God in the temple.
Jesus is always leading us. Just imagine the bittersweet moment that the apostles had. They are with the risen Lord. They lost him in the crucifixion, got him back in the resurrection, and now have to say goodbye again. Yet now, Jesus has a new relationship with them. They go back to the temple because that is the presence of God in the world. Less than 10 days later they are in the upper room due to the of fear of the Jews. Again a place where they have a connection with Jesus. Then Jesus sends the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We have already had our Pentecost moment, it is called baptism and confirmation. In those sacraments we are clothed with the Holy Spirit and sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This means that God has a constant relationship with us. He is calling all of us to a deeper relationship with Him. Remember disciples are called to a deeper relationship. How are we returning to Mass every Sunday? Is it with great joy as like the disciples, or is our joy lessened right now. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. This means that joy is more than a feeling, no it is not the song from Boston. Joy is an interior contentment that comes from being close to God and in right relationship with others. Although that song talks of a love that slipped away from him. Sometimes we allow our relationship with God to slip away and wonder where it went to. It happens...we struggle, we may have a sin that we can't shake, maybe we have disappointments, maybe we are too busy. There are many reasons why our relationship with God may slip. Yet, being clothed and sealed with the Holy Spirit means that we are never lost to to God and that relationship with Him is never broken. Disciples answer that call from God and return to that relationship. His loves never slips away from us. This week, first sign up for a liturgical ministry. After you do that, pray this prayer: Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine. This ia a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to make our hearts like his and deepen our relationship with God. Answer the call from God to a deeper relationship with him. As we finish this message please also pray for the people of Maria Stein. St. John's Church caught fire and they lost their church. Please pray for them. I spoke with Fr. Tony of the Precious Bloods. They have many people already helping, they are asking for prayers. In Christ, Fr. Brian
0 Comments
Have you ever thought about making a home with God? That can be a weird thought. We know that God loves us, we know that we receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Yet, that is not enough for God. He wants to be with us at every moment and be a part of everything in our life. Is our heart ready for that?
St. Augustine said "O Lord my heart is restless until it rests in you." What he meant was we can focus on so many things instead of God: worry, anxiety, stress, sadness, glory, success...and these things make us restless because when we focus on ourselves and not on God, we become restless. We are made by God for God. God wants us to lean on Him and tell Him why we are sad, or anxious. He wants us to celebrate with Him when something great happened. He wants to live with us. Our hearts need to be ready for God. When we focus on God in order to love one another, God will dwell with us. Remember, God is love. Just imagine God setting up a big tent over Centerville, Bellbrook, Washington Township and Sugar Creek Township because we are loving one another and God dwelling with his disciples. It is not as far fetched as you might think. We had 290 new families register last year, around 80 this year already. Masses are getting more full. It is more than about numbers though, it is about loving one another as Jesus loved us and making a home for people here because disciples dwell with.God and he makes his home with us. This means that we need more people to respond and become liturgical minsters as Servers, Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, and most importantly welcoming people into our churches as ushers and hospitality. We welcome people into God's sacred encounter every week at Mass. All of those ministries prepare and facilitate others having that sacred encounter with God. When we love one another, we dwell with God. Our communities need us to dwell with God so they can see God. God wants to dwell with you, let your heart be open to God's love because Disciples dwell with God. Jesus shows us that he sacrifices himself for the ones he loves: us, human beings. For sacrifice literally means "to make holy." By Jesus' action on the cross, we are restored as children of God. Our sacrifices are there to make others holy just as Jesus makes us holy by his sacrifice.
He shows us that our actions of sacrifice are for who we love, and the fruit of these actions are the flourishing of others. When we see those we love being successful, healthy, growing in confidence, strengthening their faith and trust in God, growing in prayer, the love of the Eucharist, falling in love with someone else. These are the fruits of our sacrifices, so others may flourish. When we sacrifice, it is so that the ones we love can flourish and be given greater opportunities to sacrifice for the ones they love. Think about what sacrifices you would make for your spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, people you don't even know. All of this begins because God sent his Son to love us, and tho show how to love as he loves. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. What is one sacrifice you can make this week for someone that you love? I have to ask myself, have I truly sacrificed for God and for those I love? Am I willing to sacrifice my life for the people that God has given me to serve like St. John Neumann, or St. John Vianney? That is a very humbling question. On my own I cannot do it. I fail, and do so very often. Only with Jesus will I be able to do this because it begins with love, His love. But that is why Jesus says "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another" Love is the very center of it all. Love impels us to love another as Jesus did. Disciples sacrifice because they love. |
Archives
June 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Sunday Mass Times (NEW 7/12/25)
Incarnation Campus | 8:00am, 10:30am, 12:00am (5:00pm Saturday Vigil) St. Francis of Assisi Campus | 9:00am, 11:30am, 5:30pm (4:30pm Saturday Vigil) |
Contact Us | 937-345-0101
Incarnation Campus | 55 Williamsburg Lane, Dayton, OH 45459 St. Francis Campus | 6245 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45459 |