#MyMassTakeaway

The Gospel in Which God Tells Peter to Shut it.

Published on March 17, 2019March 17, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 2nd Sunday in Lent.

I just love St. Peter. He’s the guy to turn to when we feel like we’re getting it all wrong. Chances are, he’s been there done that.

Peter denied Jesus, rebuked Jesus, lost faith in the middle of a miracle and began to drown. Even Saint Paul had to tell Peter what’s what once in a while.

Despite all Peter’s shortcomings, though, Jesus called Peter the Rock. He built the Church on Peter, and left Peter to take care of it.

If Peter, with all his faults and shortcomings, can be the Rock on which Christ’s Church is built, then there’s hope for me to be who Christ is calling me to be, too.

Let’s take a look at what Peter’s up to, today.

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God: the only surgeon qualified to remove splinters (and boards) from eyes

Published on March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This post contains amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through the links, I make a small percentage at no extra cost to you.

First of all, could these planks and splinters not be sticking out of eyes please? Cringe-city over here.

It doesn’t matter what size the wood is – if it’s in your EYE we have a major problem.

And for that matter, you shouldn’t by trying to take a sliver out of your friend’s eye, regardless of what’s in your own. Keep your tweezers away from my eye-splinters, thank you very much.

That job is for a qualified surgeon.

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You can be your enemy’s greatest gift

Published on February 24, 2019February 25, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Just imagine the world as a place where people were quick to extend mercy and slow to pass judgment. Where forgiveness prevailed over condemnation. Where enemies loved each other.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says,

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The Shock Value of the Backwards Beatitudes

Published on February 17, 2019February 17, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Guys, Jesus is trying to provoke us with the Beatitudes.

Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.
Luke 6:20-26

The Beatitudes aren’t something that are supposed to make us feel good. They’re not comfortable or safe.

The Beatitudes are intentionally counter-intuitive. Their worth begins with their shock value.

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The Burden of Blessing: Why So Many Fish, Jesus?

Published on February 10, 2019February 10, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I found myself shaking my head at Jesus (once again…) during today’s Gospel reading.

Those poor fishermen had been out fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus (a carpenter, you guys) told them to go out and try again.

Simon put up mild resistance, but did what Jesus asked anyways. To his great astonishment, Jesus miraculously filled their nets with fish.

Jesus didn’t just fill the nets – he filled them so much that the boats almost sank.

Now why did he go and do that? Couldn’t he give them a normal amount of fish? Why so many fish, Jesus?

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Love is the Excellent Way of Life

Published on February 3, 2019February 4, 2019 by tojesussincerely5 Comments

#MyMassTakeaway for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Wow! – what an amazing segue from last week’s reading to this week’s.

Last week we heard about all the different spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ.

It’s edifying and powerful to think about our gifts, discover them, and use them to serve the Church. I cried like a baby when I did the discernment of charisms.

This week’s second reading pick up there.

It starts by saying: Yes, pursue all spiritual gifts.

Then it changes course: But I will show you a still more excellent way.

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It’s Time to Stop the War Within the Body of Christ

Published on January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Sometimes we treat our differences as excuses to pit ourselves against each other.

Homeschoolers against traditional schoolers. Stay at home moms against working moms. NOs against traddies.

The list goes on. Oily, crunchy, babywearers, breastfeeders, formula feeders, feminists, big families, small families – STOP.

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When You Bring the Water, Jesus Works the Miracle

Published on January 20, 2019January 20, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for The 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Water is the most common thing on earth.

Plain, clear, boring water. It’s not something we would call miraculous. Not something we would think is very special.

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Get in Line with All the Other Sinners

Published on January 15, 2019 by tojesussincerely3 Comments

#MyMassTakeaway for The Baptism of the Lord.

Jesus lined up with the rest of the sinners.

He wasn’t concerned about his image. He wasn’t afraid what other people thought of him.

He didn’t stand up and announce, “Just so you know, guys, I’ve never sinned.”

Jesus was willing to sacrifice his self-image out of love for us, to give us the gift of baptism, to make the waters holy for us.

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Epiphany: The Journey Has Just Begun

Published on January 7, 2019January 7, 2019 by tojesussincerely3 Comments

On Epiphany, we celebrate the day the Magi found Christ. Even though this was their first encounter with the Lord, I doubt it was the end of their journey.

A true encounter with Christ initiates a lifetime of seeking and following him. I have no doubt that the Magi returned to their homeland, inspired to orient their lives to service of Christ the King.

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