Pilgrim Priest

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • True bravery happens when we choose to sacrifice ourselves. Our God suffers and even dies for us. Who wants to suffer, sacrifice, and die? No one. But who wants to have a full life and use your gifts for the greatest possible good? Hopefully everyone. It turns out that the key that unlocks the door to a full life is shaped like a cross. It is only when we lay down our lives as a sacrifice that we discover abundant life.

(3 Sep 2017)

Point to Ponder: What movie or real-world presentation of sacrifice has spoken to you and encouraged you?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about how abundant life comes from sacrifice. What kind of sacrifices are  you being invited to in your daily life?

Point for Action: Recognize some of the people who sacrifice for you and thank them for their sacrifices.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • Jesus makes Peter the first Pope, with three parts to his job: he is a father, he holds the keys of authority, and he provides dependability. This is the role of Peter. What role does Jesus have for you?

No one will deny that America has a lot of struggles right now. Our biggest problem is we’ve all gotten good at pointing fingers. We all question each other and God. But God asks us, “And you, what are you doing?”

(29 Aug 2017)

Point to Ponder: At whom are you busy pointing fingers? Do you put more time and effort into solving problems or into passing blame?

Point to Discuss: The great thing about knowing your proper role is realizing the hundreds of things you don’t have to be busy about. Talk to a friend about what you are called to do, and what you are called to not worry about.

Point for Action: Check out Worldwide Marriage Encounter or the local Green Bay Marriage Encounter

Photo: Albin Lohr-Jones/Sipa via AP

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • You can find anything if you listen to the right voice. You can can walk on water if you focus on Jesus. Are you listening for the voice of God? Are you keeping your eyes on Jesus?

(13 Aug 2017)

Point to Ponder: What are the lies that I believe and follow?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about a time Jesus led you through the waves.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Year A) • The glory of God is hidden in the flesh and blood of Jesus. God’s glory is present to us when we listen and are obedient to Christ. Through the priesthood God hides the glory of Jesus under bread and wine. If you listen to God, you will become who you were made to be and do what you were made to do: You too will shine with the glory of God.

(6 Aug 2017)

Point to Ponder: Are there dark places in your heart or your home where the glory of God doesn’t shine?

Point to Discuss: Are you where God wants you to be? Talk to a friend about how you got here, and where you saw the hand of God in your journey.

Point for Action: Support the Seminarian Collection

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • Do we really know the difference between good and bad? Solomon is honest enough to admit he needs God’s help to discern.  Anything that brings us closer to God is good; anything that takes us farther from God is bad. Nothing that happens to you can, by itself, separate you from the love of God. So what are you worried about?

(30 Jul 2017)

Point to Ponder: What in fact does separate us from the love of God?

Point to Discuss: Are you dreaming about things that aren’t actually good for you? Are you afraid of things that aren’t actually bad for you? Ask a friend to tell you about a time a tragedy turned into a blessing.

Or read about lottery winners if you don’t have any friends you can talk to about these kinds of things.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • God is a generous sower. We need to be good soil: open to receive, willing to persevere, and free from spiritual clutter. A good crop gives off good seeds. Parents need to plant good seeds and not weeds in the hearts of their children. Our local parish can help spread and nourish the good seed.

(16 July 2017)

Point to Ponder: What in your life competes with the good seed of God’s word? Does your heart need to be weeded?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend who loves generously and thank them for spreading the Good Seed.

Point for Action: Acts of love help spread the seeds. Do something generous today.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • Bullies look tough on the outside because they feel weak on the inside. Why fight the feeling? We really are weak, vulnerable, and not in control. When we humbly submit to the will of God, we accept the fact that we are totally dependent on our Father. Childlike dependence is an easy burden and a light yoke.

(10 Jul 2017)

Point to Ponder: When I feel weak, vulnerable, or powerless, where do I turn?

Point to Discuss: Read Kathy Griffin and the Vanishing of Argument by Bishop Barron. Then share it with the family and friends that tend to argue with you about politics. And have a good discussion, or even a health argument, about it.

One More Thought: Kee and Peele’s take on the school bully

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • Our King is very generous. Yesterday Bishop Ricken ordained five new priests. They were not afraid to lay down their lives.

Too often we believe that getting stuff and holding on to it will make us happy. But Jesus teaches us that you are a gift that was made to be given away. If you give a little, you receive much. What will happen if you give much?

(2 Jul 2017)

Point to Ponder: Read The Compass articles on the 5 men ordained.

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about a project, or a service to another, that gave you deep satisfaction.

Point for Action: This week find a way to give generously, especially to someone who cannot repay you.

Photo credit Fr. Richard Getchel

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • I just got out of jail… what a great feeling! Jeremiah trusts that no matter what happens to him, God will be with him. What fears get in the way of trusting God? Face your fears. Open the closet door. You are worth more than many sparrows!

(25 June 2017)

Point to Ponder: What fears keep you from trusting God fully?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about a time you (or your friend) faced up to a fear and overcame it. What was the fear? How did you face it?

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Year A) • God provided for us on the pilgrim journey. We sacrificed time, comfort, and personal space and received many gifts in return. Sacrifice is necessary to build communion with God and others. You in communion with Christ; You in communion with Christians: This is Eucharist.

(18 Jun 2017)

Point to Discuss: Have you made any sacrifices in  your walk with the Lord? Talk to a friend about their understanding of sacrifice.

Point to Ponder: Read and reflect on the sequence for Corpus Christ, “Lauda Sion”

Laud, O Zion, your salvation,

Laud with hymns of exultation,

Christ, your king and shepherd true:

Bring him all the praise you know,

He is more than you bestow.

Never can you reach his due.

Special theme for glad thanksgiving

Is the quick’ning and the living

Bread today before you set:

From his hands of old partaken,

As we know, by faith unshaken,

Where the Twelve at supper met.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,

Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,

From your heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,

When the institution olden

Of that supper was rehearsed.

Here the new law’s new oblation,

By the new king’s revelation,

Ends the form of ancient rite:

Now the new the old effaces,

Truth away the shadow chases,

Light dispels the gloom of night.

What he did at supper seated,

Christ ordained to be repeated,

His memorial ne’er to cease:

And his rule for guidance taking,

Bread and wine we hallow, making

Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth each Christian learns,

Bread into his flesh he turns,

To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail’d, nor thought conceives,

But a dauntless faith believes,

Resting on a pow’r divine.

Here beneath these signs are hidden

Priceless things to sense forbidden;

Signs, not things are all we see:

Blood is poured and flesh is broken,

Yet in either wondrous token

Christ entire we know to be.

Whoso of this food partakes,

Does not rend the Lord nor breaks;

Christ is whole to all that taste:

Thousands are, as one, receivers,

One, as thousands of believers,

Eats of him who cannot waste.

Bad and good the feast are sharing,

Of what divers dooms preparing,

Endless death, or endless life.

Life to these, to those damnation,

See how like participation

Is with unlike issues rife.

When the sacrament is broken,

Doubt not, but believe ’tis spoken,

That each sever’d outward token

doth the very whole contain.

Nought the precious gift divides,

Breaking but the sign betides

Jesus still the same abides,

still unbroken does remain.

The shorter form of the sequence begins here.

Lo! the angel’s food is given

To the pilgrim who has striven;

see the children’s bread from heaven,

which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,

Isaac bound, a victim willing,

Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,

manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,

Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us,

Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,