week in ordinary time vol. xxii, no. 31 july 8 closing...

14th Week in Ordinary Time

20

CAMPUS MINISTRY OFFICE: The Campus Ministry Office is located in Our Lady Chapel.

phone: [440] 473-3560. e-mail: [email protected]

CLOSING PRAYER:

~ A Prayer for Hope ~ God,

sometimes this world is hard to understand.

And even when we trust you, our hearts still ache.

So we come to you today asking for the hope we need —

Hope that sees past the here and now to the then and there;

Hope that believes what we cannot yet glimpse;

Hope that holds our hearts up in the moments when life brings us to our knees.

You are the only one who can sustain us.

You are the only one who can save us. Be the rescuer of our souls, the deliver of our dreams, the holder of our hearts.

We believe that even the darkest night must lead to dawn.

We wait with expectation. Give us Courage.

Surround us with Comfort. Love us through to the other side

in a way that only you can. We put our hope,

and our hope for those we love, in you. Amen

Vol. XXII, No. 31 July 8-9, 2017

Our Lady Chapel

Our Lady Chapel is a Roman Catholic community founded in the love of the Father, centered in Christ, and rooted in the Holy Cross tenets of building family and embracing diversity. We are united in our journey of faith through prayer and sacrament, and we seek growth through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in liturgy and outreach, while responding to the needs of humanity.

mailto:[email protected]


2

CHAPEL PICNIC — SUNDAY: This Sunday, July 9th is the date for our annual Chapel outdoor picnic. Every year, the Chapel picnic has been a great event for the entire family. The picnic will be held rain or shine from 11:15 AM – 1:30 PM. Family Mass takes place at 10:00 AM and the picnic begins right after Mass — what a wonderful way to continue our celebration of community. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and beverage are provided. The rest will be pot luck. Even if you are unable to bring a dish to share, please come anyway. Even if you haven’t signed up, please join us. Hope to see you there.

LIFETEEN and EDGE SUMMER BIBLE STUDY: Once again this summer, we are gathering at various summertime places to do our Bible Study. High School and Middle School [6-7-8] Students, as well as our college students who are in the area for the summer will come together to be enriched by God’s word. It’s a great time, and a good witness of our faith to others. Adults are also welcome. Our next gathering of the summer will take place at Winking Lizard [1355 SOM Center Road — by the Movie Theater] on Wednesday, July 19th at 6:30 PM. After we get our treat, we will all gather at adjacent tables for our Bible Study. The topic for our study will be: “nature and animals in Scripture.” Give your ideas for topics to Father John or to one of the leaders of LifeTeen or EDGE. Mark your calendars and be part of this wonderful summertime activity. Normally during the summer months, we will meet for Bible Study on the first and third Wednesday of each month, but at times it will vary because of schedule conflicts. Plan on joining us. You’ll have a blast.

PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE AND GOODNESS CONTINUES: Once again this year, we are going to undertake our Planting Seeds of Hope and Goodness school supply program. Our Lady Chapel is working to assist the needy children of St. Adalbert’s Parish. Come join us as we work together to help these children get the next school year off to a good start come this Fall. While Fall seems to be a long ways off, we need to begin this project now — even as the summer months provide challenges of their own to each of us.

The following is a list of school supplies that need adopting to help with this effort — Facial tissue boxes; hand sanitizer; hand soap; pocket plastic folders; Clorox wipes; white chalk; No.2-pencils; paper towels; large pink pencil erasers; black ink pens; notebook paper; crayons-jumbo 8 pack; pencil pouches; single subject notebooks [any and all quantities of these supplies are welcome!].

Here is how you can be a part of this outreach. Simply shop for items on the list. Kindly return the items between now and August 6th to Our Lady Chapel. If you do not have time to shop, simply place an envelope in the collection basket and mark it “St. Adalbert’s” or drop it off in the chapel office. “Come Grow with us” — as together, we work and plant our seeds of hope and goodness to this community. Thank you in advance for your generosity and helping the children of St. Adalberts! Contact Patty in the Chapel Office [440-473-3560] if you have any questions.

CALLING ALL LIFE TEEN AND EDGE MEMBERS: Join us for our annual trip to Cedar Point on Thursday, August 3rd. Tickets are $42. We will meet at Gilmour at 8:00 AM, and return to Gilmour at 10:30 PM. Sign up on the easel in the Nar thex of the Chapel, or call Patty in the Chapel office at 440-473-3560 by Sunday, July 30th in order to sign up and purchase a ticket. This is going to be a great day of fun and celebration. Family and friends are welcome to join us.

July 8-9, 2017

19

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers

PRAYFRS FOR THE SICK: For Frank Gren, father of kitchen associate, Valerie Gren, who is recovering from a hospital stay.

For a person undergoing treatment for cancer.

For Laura Wagner, mother of Madison Wagner [‘19] who is ill.

For Delia Hernandez who is undergoing treatment for dementia.

For Irene Mohun who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

For Marissa Bridgman, niece of Patsy Schauer, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer.

For Daniel Hernandez, father of Patsy Schauer, who is recovering from back surgery.

For Christine Livers who is recovering from brain surgery.

For Kurt Leidli [‘87 ], brother of Christopher [‘85],who is ill.

For Mary Ellen Basile, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer.

For Regina Miano, mother-in-law of Molly Wheeler [‘06], who is recovering from surgery and further treatment for cancer.

For Vijay Singla, Brother of Science teacher, Neena Goel, uncle of Nikhil [‘13] and Nupur [‘17] Goel, who is undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis

For Jessica Kunevicius [‘95], sister of Olivia [‘97], who is in long-term rehab following cardiac arrest.

For James Porter, father of William [‘84] and Daniel [‘92] Porter, grandfather of Jacqueline [‘10], Nicole [‘12], Michelle [‘15], and Danielle [‘18] Porter who is seriously ill.

For Steve Shea, brother of Theresa Stark, who is undergoing treatment for lymphoma .

For Joseph Seiler, grandfather of Thomas [‘13], Nicole [‘14], Justin [‘16], John [‘18], and Joseph [‘20] Hollis, who is ill.

For Philip McNulty, nephew of Mike and Janet Heryak, Cousin of Lilian [‘09], Rosa [‘12], and Edwin [‘17] Heryak, who is undergoing medical treatment

For Tom Libbers, brother of Brother Edward Libbers, C.S.C., who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

For David Simonetta, father-in-law of Upper School Science Instructor, Jessica Grassi Simonetta [‘05] who is critically ill with cancer.

For Justin Tarr who is critically ill with brain cancer.

For Nicholas Zanella, who is undergoing medical treatment

For Teddy Prusock, nephew of Lower School associate, Nina Prusock, who is undergoing neurological testing.

AMAZON.COM: Please remember that when you want to buy something from Amazon.com, you need to first go to www.ourladychapel.org and click on the Amazon logo at the bottom of the home page! Because of this simple step — and at no cost to the purchaser — Our Lady Chapel receives a percentage of all purchases that are made from Amazon.com. Ever since we have begun this program, we have consistently been receiving significant checks from Amazon that are being credited to help pay for chapel expenses. This affinity program remains in effect throughout the year, so we ask everyone to continue to remember to start your purchases at Amazon on the Our Lady Chapel home page! Thank you.

HAVE A VISION: It takes someone with a vision of the possibilities to attain new levels of experience. Someone with the courage to live his dreams. —Les Brown

http://www.ourladychapel.org


18

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: For Wendy Myers, friend of Joanne Fisher, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer

For John Madigan [‘56] who is seriously ill with complications from Parkinson's disease and Pancreatitis.

For Tiho Teisl, Director of Student Serviice, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

For Ruth Boseman who is seriously ill.

For Bernice Phelps, aunt of Upper School Teacher, John Overman, and great –aunt of Michael [‘22] and Jack [‘25] Overman, who is critically ill.

For Joan, a woman diagnosed with lung cancer.

For Brother Wilbert Leveling , C.S.C. who is hospitalized for medical testing

For Jerry Wrobel who is seriously ill with a heart condition.

For Ed Smith who is critically ill.

For Norbert Allerton, who is hospitalized.

For Karen Sweeney who is preparing for surgery.

For John Fagan, father of James [‘91] and Daniel [‘96], who is being treated for ALS

For Josh Solomon who is undergoing treatment for an addiction.

For Bob Sessions, brother of former Gilmour student, Tom Sessions, who is under the care of hospice.

For Ron Jones, who is seriously ill with pancreatic cancer.

For Jim Plavcan, brother of Gil Plavcan, who is undergoing treatment for breathing issues.

For Mackenzie and Amelia Kahn, daughters of David Kahn [‘97], both of whom have Batton Disease, a progressive neurological disorder.

For Diana Meyers, mother of Alexa Scimone, grandmother of Dominick Scimone [‘18] who is undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

For Brett Rechel [‘95] who is under the care of hospice.

For Ted Berr, uncle of Allen Stay [‘87] who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

For Bill Musser who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer.

For Tom Miller who is undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

For Wayne Stofan, step-father of Amy Bashein, step-grandfather of Hayden [’28] and Hadley [’29] Bashein, who is critically ill following a pulmonary embolism.

For Mariana Militello, cousin of Alex [’22] and Xavier [‘26] Swinarski, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor

For Claudia Remington, aunt of Upper School instructor, Cindy Fidanza, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

For Todd King [‘87], brother of Christie [‘91] King, who is undergoing treatment for mirocondra

For Jenny Blender, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

For Drew Franco, son of Brian [‘90], nephew of Jeff [‘88] and Kristin [’94] Kirkpatrick, who is struggling with a seizure disorder.

For Dennis Kavran, father of Dennis [‘86] and Jennifer [‘95], grandfather of Adam [‘14] and Madeleine [‘16] Miller, who is undergoing further treatment for cancer.

For Lexi Pappadakes, who is undergoing treatment for complications from surgery.

For Maria Ricci, friend of Linda McGraw, who is ill.

For Jeff Warner, brother of Denise Calabrese, who is undergoing treatment resulting from a stroke and seizure.

July 8-9, 2017

3

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

Sunday, July 9: 14th Week in Ordinary Time 10:00 AM

Monday, July 10: 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel]

Tuesday, July 11: St. Benedict

5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel]

Wednesday, July 12: 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel]

Thursday, July 13: 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel]

Friday, July 14: St. Kateri Tekakwitha

5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel]

Saturday, July 15: 15th Week in Ordinary Time 5:00 PM

Sunday, July 16: 15th Week in Ordinary Time 10:00 AM

UPCOMING CHAPEL ACTIVITIES:

July 9 --------------------- Chapel Outdoor Picnic 11:30 AM—1:30 PM

July 18 -------------------- OLC Council Meeting 6:15 PM—8:00 PM

July 19 -------------------- Summer Bible Study [Winking Liazad] 6:30 PM—8:15 PM

August 2 ------------------ Summer Bible Study [Place TBA] 6:30 PM—8:15 PM

August 3 ------------------ LifeTeen/EDGE to Cedar Point 8:00 AM—11:99 PM

August 4 ------------------ LifeTeen/EDGE Parent Meeting 1:30 PM—3:30 PM

August 11 ----------------- New Faculty Orientation 8:00 AM

August 12 ----------------- Blessing of College Students at Mass 5:00 PM

August 13 ----------------- Blessing of College Students at Mass 10:00 AM

August 14 ----------------- Vigil for Feast of the Assumption of Mary 5:30 PM

FAITH EDUCATION: Faith Education will resume in the fall on Sunday, September 10th. Our Sessions go from 8:45—9:45 AM, with the hope that our children would then participate in our 10:00 AM Family Mass. Register your family for classes next year by contacting Patty in the Chapel Office [[440-473-3560]. Even if you attended class last school year, you need to register. If you have any questions, please call Patty in the chapel office. Thank you for taking care of this important responsibility.


4

REFLECTION FOR THE WEEK: Last week in the United States we celebrated our Independence as a nation from England in 1776. The resulting war of that separation was bloody and a sad way to begin a nation’s history. War has been a major part of our history. We have tried to preserve our union and our liberties and assist other areas of the world in gaining or retaining their identities.

This would be a good time for us to reflect on what is going on within our own souls and outside our own bodies — what are the dominating forces in our lives? It is also important to become aware of the sacredness of other dependencies and relationships which assist our God-given identities. We must determine what dependencies are sacred and which ones are sick; similarly we need to know when our independencies are healthy or ill as well. We all need to grow in our healthy dependency on God’s love and the challenges to use freely God’s many gifts in the service of peace and justice.

The prophet Zechariah has been relating various words from God. He has spoken about the Oneness and power of God. He has also been relating threats and promises against the adulterous, unfaithful kings and shepherds of God’s people. It is within this context that Zechariah speaks a messianic prophecy about the One Who is to come and what He will be doing [Zechariah 9:9-10].

Riding on a donkey is not a lowly or humble picture. This person will be princely and will be the recipient of God’s favor which will be justly deserved. His personal mission will be to establish peace from “sea to shining sea”. The trappings of war will be banished because God’s people will trust His Words and His Ways. This will be a cause for a great celebration of independence from the protective instruments of war, and a growing dependence on God’s peace to be on their own.

Matthew’s Gospel finds Jesus turning toward those who consider themselves wise and learned — namely the teachers and the Pharisees. Jesus talks of this in a prayer or direct address to His Father [Matthew 11:25-30]. Jesus speaks in a tone of gratitude for the mysterious ways God has been revealing true wisdom to these simple, yet open, hearts. They have not relied on logic, signs, or execution of laws to gain freedom of soul. They have been experiencing Jesus and His ways and the call to the Kingdom’s ways.

Yes, there have been miracles, but some people have not responded to these in acts of faith. The church to which we belong is for those who hear something inside themselves — they are being called to something beyond themselves. The “little Ones” are those who hear something inside them which is unexplainable, but real; it calls them to go outside themselves. Logic can help, miracles can help, and insights can help, but these are never enough to calm that inner call. As we call out to the Infinite, God tends gently to our longings. God will never take that longing away in some totally satisfying manner. Longing is to be reverenced by our own selves as God does reverence to those longings within us as well.

The promise of God is unending. Jesus invites us to keep learning His ways. The “yoke” which is the heaviness of the Law and especially the interpretations of the Pharisees, is being replaced by the gentleness and personal relationship offered by Jesus.

The “yoke” of Jesus is personal as well as cultic or institutional. Jesus is calling us to community — church — because love labors together. He calls to our need to be at peace and to let go of our inner-personal war-makings. He is telling us to be as gentle with our personal struggling selves as He is with us. He implies that if we learn of His gentleness with us, and we buy into that way of relating inside, then we will be more likely to call off the dogs, drop our defenses and regain our unity as members of His kingdom.

July 8-9, 2017

17

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers

FOR THE DECEASED:

For Doreen Sandt

For Judith Damante, grandmother of Michelle ['14], Jack ['19] and Connor ['20] Krebs

For Mildred Guenther, sister of Brother Wilbert Leveling, C.S.C.

For Theodoro Gonzalez, grandfather of Samantha Mohun

For John Dixon.

For Jean Feran

For Marian Rohrbaugh

For Sylvia Brys

For Francis Petrini

For Dolores Freedman

For Elizabeth Schur, C.S.A.

For Luann Lilley

For Carl Siberski, father of Thomas [‘85]

For Anita Stockard, mother-in-law of College Guidance Counselor, Tracy Stockard.

For Sadie Riggs.

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS:

For a couple who is trying to conceive a child.

For a person who lost their job

For the families who are grieving the loss of loved ones.

For a greater respect for human life, from the moment of conception until natural death.

For all caregivers.

For all service men and women serving our country, and for their families.

CLEAN OUT THOSE CLOSETS AND SERVE OTHERS: Spring is upon us and summer is quickly approaching. It is another time to once again clean out the closets. Clothing that no longer fits, or has been replaced by new items, can become great items for others. Always remember the words of Jesus: “The poor you shall always have with you” [Matthew 26:11]. Please continue to bring your gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing to the Lennon Board Room, or place it in the cedar chest which is located in the Chapel narthex [just press the key button to open the chest]. We partner with Fatima Center to help provide clothing for general use. Also, business work clothing for this season is especially needed. The Fatima Center helps men and women prepare for job interviews. If you have some of these items, this would be a good time to send them along. Clothing for all seasons is accepted, but please try to keep in mind that storage facilities are limited at Fatima — so it would help if you could focus on spring and summer items at this time. You may pick up a tax form when you drop off the clothing here at Our Lady Chapel — there are forms in the cedar chest. Clothing may be brought on the weekend, or during the week. Thank you. If you have any questions, please contact Patty in the chapel office [440-473-3560].

WISE WORDS: It is no good to walk anywhere to preach, unless our walking is our preaching. —St. Francis of Assisi


16

LIVING IN AN “UPSIDE-DOWN” WORLD: According to some traditions, during the official ceremony of General Cornwallis’ October 19, 1791 surrender to George Washington at Yorktown, ending the Revolutionary War, the British got the last laugh. Its band sarcastically played a well-known musical ditty entitled: The World Turned Upside Down. The song’s lyrics pointed out the absurdity of the world’s military giant surrendering to the 13 Colonies’ rag-tag army: “If buttercups buzzed after the bees, if boats were on land and churches on sea, if ponies rode men and grass ate the cows, then all the world would be upside down.”

Whether that particular song was actually played during the surrender or not, The World Turned Upside Down could certainly be a valid subtitle for the Sacred Scriptures for this 14th Week in Ordinary Time.

The prophet Zechariah sets the theme. Probably active shortly after the Chosen People’s 6th century BCE Babylonian Exile, he paints an ideal picture of a restored Holy Land. But the Messiah/King he depicts isn’t the leader most people are anticipating. Though “his dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the River — the Euphrates — to the ends of the earth,” he won’t be a king who depends on military might. According to Zechariah, this king “shall come to you meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass” [Zechariah 9:9-10]. Military leaders don’t ride donkeys — they ride horses. Israel’s future messianic king will be unique. He’ll not only refuse to ground his monarchy on military might, he’ll actually disarm the entire country! No one has ever experienced such a king or such a nation. If by now you’re suspecting the four evangelists based their narratives of Jesus’ “Palm Sunday” entrance into Jerusalem on Zechariah 9, you’re not alone. Every Scripture scholar I know shares your suspicions.

This image of an upside-down world is certainly carried over into the Christian Scriptures. Paul, for instance, warns the Christian community in Rome not to go through life depending solely

on what they can experience through the “flesh” [Romans 8:9-14]. For followers of the risen Jesus, there’s a whole other world — a world which the Spirit creates every day of our lives. It’s in this dying/rising world that we’re expected to live. That’s why the Apostle assures us: “If you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Only by giving ourselves over to Jesus’ Spirit can we faithfully imitate Jesus’ upside-down behavior.

Once we do that, Matthew’s Jesus tells us we’ll begin looking at the people around us through different eyes [Matthew 11:25-30]. No longer do we focus on the rich and powerful, neither do we zero in only on the “wise and learned.” For followers of Jesus, the most important inhabitants of this planet are the “little ones:” those who daily go through life laboring and burdened. Imitating Jesus, our task is to provide “rest” for them, something people would logically put at the bottom of their “to do list” — if it even appears on it at all. For other Christs, the world’s top becomes the bottom, and the bottom, the top.

It’s ironic — or providential — considering America’s participation in World Wars I & II, if it weren’t for those victorious thirteen colonies, Great Britain, as we know it, might not even exist today.

Perhaps the only way to definitively save this world is to turn it upside down. Our sacred authors and the historical Jesus might have been centuries ahead of themselves in expecting their readers and followers to be motivated by such a preposterous value system. But, if it works . . .

—taken from the writings of Father Roger Karban, which appear on the internet

LIVING THE GIFT: “I am gift.” All that I am is something that’s given, and given freely. Being doesn’t cost anything. There’s no price tag, no strings attached. —Thomas Merton

July 8-9, 2017

5

The “rest” to which Jesus invites us is then interior. Those who labor without interior peace and unity are mostly likely building their own kingdoms — and those kingdoms do not allow for rest; they are constructed for defensive war-making.

—taken from the writings of Father Larry Gillick, S.J., which appear on the internet

COME TO THE FEST — A FULL LIFE: The FEST 2017 is five weeks away! Join us for the 17th Annual Catholic Family FESTival on Sunday, August 6th from noon until 10:00 PM at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Ave. at Bishop Rd. in Wickliffe, as we bring together 39,000+ from across our region for a day of faith, family, and fun – and it’s FREE. Come and hear the best of the best of the national Christian artists, including Grammy Winners and Nominees for King and Country, Laura Story, Matt Maher and David Crowder. The day also includes dynamic activities for all ages, opportunities for prayer and reflection, a large outdoor Mass followed by fireworks and more. We need your help to make this amazing day possible — please consider donating two hours of your time by volunteering for The FEST. Volunteers get a FREE t-shirt and are essential to making this event possible. For more information, or to register to help, go to www.theFEST.us. TOGETHER we can make this a great day for thousands from across our region!

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Father John will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with you on every Saturday between 3:30 – 4:00 PM. Confessions are also available “by appointment.” The Reconciliation Room is located in the small chapel directly across from Father John’s Office

IT’S ALL ABOUT EVERY DAY: [This reflection appeared on the “blessedisshe” website a few days ago. Enjoy.].

Why am I terrified, Lord? Because I don’t know the way from here to the ending. I don’t know what fills the pages of my life between the mess of today and the joy of Heaven. I’m terrified because even though I try daily to follow You, I fall. I’m terrified because my faith is little, and I don’t know if I can muster what it takes to become a Saint.

More than a few storms have rocked my life recently, and like the Apos-tles, I’ve cried out like a terrified child: “Lord, save me! I cannot see the way!” [see Matthew 8:25]. More than once I’ve wondered whether or not the storm would ever end.

Wouldn’t it be nice if it felt like Jesus rebuked the storms in my life, and I could experience the great calm right away? Wouldn’t it be the sign I need — no, want — to see so I could more completely put my trust in the Lord?

I know Jesus hears my plea for help even if my storms don’t always sim-mer down immediately. The grey skies may linger and the rain continue to drizzle, but the wind does slow to a breeze and gently the sun warms the air as the clouds disappear. Ever so slowly, the storm moves on and the blue skies return.

When the days threaten to overwhelm me, I’m often on my knees begging for Jesus to help me: “Lord, you’ve got this! I give this all over to you; help me with this cross, this struggle.” Maybe my trust truly grows most during the storm. The more I place my trust in Him — hoping and knowing that Jesus will see me through the struggles — the more my heart turns to Him and the less I rely on myself.

On days when the storm is a distant memory, do I still cry out in prayer to the Lord? Do I still trust in Him? Do I praise Him?


6

THE COST OF SPIRITUAL JOY: I remember getting the message that my godson was about to be born. Weeks previously, I was honored when my friends asked me to be the godfather for their second child, and then I was shocked that they’d also asked me to be present when that child was born. After a stressful day, I found myself in the hospital. With her husband by her side, and the nursing staff assisting, this soon-to-be mother gave a few strong final pushes. After the initial excited announcement of “it’s a boy,” silence fell. There was still more activity going on, but everything seemed a lot more peaceful. After about fifteen minutes, this tiny, seven-pound, wrapped bundle of human “miraculousness” was placed in my arms for the first time.

Having been present for his birth continues to teach me an all-important life lesson — the experience of true spiritual joy comes at a price. It’s not cheap, and it’s surely not free. I’ll never forget the image of labor pains nor the relief and delight when this baby boy was first given to his mother. Oftentimes I sit in the darkness of my hermitage at night — with only a candle lit in front of my crucifix — and I think of the excruciating pains that Jesus endured — the misunderstandings from his closest friends, the intense grief of the death of his friend Lazarus, the heartbreaking image of seeing his mother along Calvary’s path, the vicious torture at the hands of the Roman soldiers, and the utter humiliation and indescribable precision of his execution and the accompanying ridicule of the onlookers.

It is in these quiet nights of prayer when I feel perplexed by life or frustrated by my weaknesses that I have often been reminded that this is not the end of Jesus’ story — nor is it the end of mine. When all hope seemed lost, God’s mysterious plan continued. After grief and confusion had settled among Jesus’ followers, Jesus did the unthinkable.

And he continues to do so with us. Recall what the prophet Zechariah says: “Rejoice heartily” [Zechariah 9:9-10]. This is not merely

the sense of family sentimentality around a holiday dinner; it is not based on someone’s natural personality type. “Rejoicing” is the only proper response of the soul to the Father’s tender, powerful, and uniquely applied initiative in our lives — particularly in those complex realities that we face. When, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest,” the “rest” is not only a cessation of work responsibilities [Matthew 11:25-30]. This “rest” is not only a temporary relief from unresolved stress. The “rest” that is implied here is the recognition that the Father is in control. The “king shall come.” The “rest” implies that “we are going to get through this together. Let me show you how.”

Joy and struggle in this life are inseparable from each other. The conviction of deep personal faith remembers that “the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you; he will give life to your mortal bodies.” [Romans 8:9-14]. As I learn to let him resurrect me day after day from the false security of my worries, doubts, anxieties, fears, insecurities, addictive behaviors, and jealousies, the intensity of my joy increases as I follow his invitation to “Come to me” from the cave of sin and into the light of life and radiate this light towards others. The more I feel this resurrecting power active in my life through the action of the Holy Spirit, the more I want to come to this inexhaustible fountain of life and joy.

—taken from the writings of Brother John Villa, which appears on the internet.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: Jesus says: “If you want to be a follower of mine, you must take up uyour cross and follow me” [Matthew 16:24]. Jesus does not say: “Make a cross” or “Look for a cross.” Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The cross we have is hard enough for us! But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross? Maybe we can’t study; maybe we are disabled; maybe we suffer from depression; maybe we experience conflict in our families; maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn’t choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them, or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.

July 8-9, 2017

15

we have to do. It’s either that—or working 7 days a week!” When I was young, both our churches and our culture still took the concept of Sabbath — for

Christians, especially the idea of not working on Sunday —more seriously. A popular question was always: what are you allowed to do on a Sunday and what are you not allowed to do? Mostly this focused on different kinds of physical labor — may you work in your garden on a Sunday? May you harvest your apples tree on a Sunday? Today, I worry less about gardening or picking apples on a Sunday. The more important issue is: can we step off the treadmill of phones and computers on Sundays and be genuinely available to celebrate Sabbath?

Sabbath, as Wayne Muller tells us, “is time off the wheel, time when we take our hand from the plough and let God and the earth care of things, while we drink, if only for a few moments, for the fountain of rest and delight. Today that plough looks a lot like a mobile phone or a computer.”

Centuries ago, the mystic poet, Rumi, wrote: “I have lived too long where I can be reached!” Haven’t we all! —taken from the writings Father Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., which appear on the internet.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: We are currently discerning a new group of Eucharistic Ministers who would undergo training in the spring months. If you feel that the Lord is calling you to this ministry, we would be delighted to include you in that ministry here at Our Lady Chapel. Both adults and teens [must be going into Senior year of High School] are welcome to participate in this very special ministry. We are in need of ministers for both our Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses. Contact Father John or the chapel office [440-473-3560] if you feel called to this ministry. We are always in need of Eucharistic Ministers.

ENVELOPES: When you need a new supply of envelopes, please feel free to take a supply of them from the ta-

ble in the vestibule, or call Father John at the Campus Ministry Office [473-3560].

When you use your envelope, please make sure that your number is on it. If you need to know your number, please call the Campus Ministry Office. Thanks.

WEEKLY OFFERING: Baskets will be passed during the “Preparation Rite” and will be brought to the altar as part of the Offerings to help offset chapel daily operating expenses. When you choose to use the envelopes, your donations to Our Lady Chapel will be acknowledged so that you have a record for the IRS. Total Offerings: Saturday [7/1/17] ------------------------------------------ $ 646.00 Total Offerings: Sunday [7/2/17] -------------------------------------------$ 1,543.00 Total Offerings: Tuesday [7/4/17] --------------------------------------------- $ 25.00

ATTENDANCE: If you attend Mass regularly here at Our Lady Chapel, it would be helpful if you filled out a Registration Form [name, address, phone number, children, etc.] indicating this fact, if you have not already done so. Such information not only helps us to know who is attending Our Lady Chapel; it also is of great assistance to us in record keeping [for our friend, the IRS] of any contributions which you may make.

VULNERABLE — LIKE A BIRD: Life is precious. Not because it is unchangeable, like a diamond, but because it is vulnerable, like a little bird. To love life means to love its vulnerability — asking for care, attention, guidance, and support. Life and death are connected by vulnerability. The newborn child and the dying elder both remind us of the preciousness of our lives. Let’s not forget the preciousness and vulnerability of life during the times we are powerful, successful, and popular.


14

THE DEMANDS OF PHONES AND COMPUTERS: A comedian recently quipped that today’s information technologies have effectively rendered a number of things obsolete — most notably phone-books and human courtesy. That’s also true for human rest. Today’s information technologies — the internet, email, software programs like Facebook, mobile phones, IPhones, pocket computers, and the like — have made us the most informed, efficient, and communicative people ever. We now have the capability — all day, every day — of accessing world events, world news, whole libraries of information, and detailed accounts of what our families and friends are doing at any moment. That’s the positive side of the equation.

Less wonderful is what this is doing to our lives — how it is changing our expectations, and robbing us of the simple capacity to stop, shut off the machines, and rest. As we get wrapped up more and more in mobile phones, texting, email, Facebook, and the internet in general, we are beginning to live with the expectation that we must be attentive all the time to everything that’s happening in the world and within the lives of our families and friends. The spoken and unspoken expectation is that we be available always and at every moment to others. We used to send each other notes and letters and expect a reply within days, weeks, or months. Now the expectation for a reply is minutes or hours, and we feel impatient with others when this expectation is not met and guilty inside of ourselves when we can’t meet it.

And so we are — daily — becoming more enslaved to and more compulsive in our use of mobile phones and the internet. For many of us, it is now existentially impossible to take off a day, let alone several weeks off, and be on a genuine holiday or vacation. Rather the pressure is on us to constantly check for texts, emails, phone messages, and the like; and the expectation from our families, friends, and colleagues is precisely that we are checking these regularly. The sin-du-jour is to be, at any time, unavailable, unreachable, or non-communicative.

Can we step off the treadmill of phones and computers on Sundays and be genuinely available to celebrate Sabbath? But the rhythm of time as God designed it is meant to give us — regularly, weekly — some time off the wheel, some “Sabbath-time” when ordinary life, ordinary pressures, ordinary work, and ordinary expectations are bracketed and we give ourselves permission to stop, to shut things down, and to rest. Today, nowhere is this more appropriate and urgent than in regards to our use of phones, notebooks, and computers. They — more than anything else — constitute regular time, servile work, and the occupations and preoccupations from which the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath ask us to refrain.

I know a woman who works for her church, as does her husband. Since they are both in ministry, they need to work on Sunday mornings, and often into the afternoon as well. So they begin celebrating the Sabbath late afternoon on Sunday. Here is how she describes what they do: “We start our celebration of the Sabbath at 4:00 PM on Sunday, and we begin it symbolically by unplugging our computers, turning off our mobile phones, disconnecting our house phone, and turning off every information gadget that we own. For the next 29 hours we don’t receive any calls, and we don’t make any. We are on a cyber-fast, non-contactable, off the wheel, unavailable. At 9:00 PM on Monday night we end our Sabbath the way we began it — symbolically. We break our cyber-fast and fire up again our phones and our computers and begin answering our messages. We get back on the wheel for another week. Sometimes making ourselves unavailable like this irritates our families and friends, but if we are to celebrate Sabbath, given our pressured lives, this pulling away is the most important single thing that

July 8-9, 2017

7

THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT: St. Paul’s letter to the Church at Rome is one of the most important theological writings in Scripture — so much so that we spend all summer reading it. Not only that, but we spend the next 4 weekends reading from the 8th chapter of that writing. Paul uses the word “flesh” to designate all the factors in human nature that incline us against God; he uses the word “spirit” to designate the dimension of the unified human person that is fundamentally open to union with the Spirit of God — and, more broadly, all that attunes us to God. Employing this distinction, Paul reminds Christians: “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you” [Romans 8:9-14].

The Apostle uses the word spirit in a second way as God’s own spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, and who dwells within us. We call that Spirit the “Holy Spirit” — the third person of the Trinity. The Spirit unites us to Christ, who shares his risen life with us. Paul concludes his reflection by saying: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” This reminds us that our everyday decisions have consequences — contributing to our fundamental option for either evil or good, for flesh or spirit, which ultimately leads to either eternal damnation or eternal life with God.

This fundamental spiritual insight could serve as a warning to individuals tempted to specific deeds of the flesh. Kirk, an alcoholic, must be careful not to take even one drink of alcohol because one could lead to another — to a binge and a total relapse. When Jill is depressed she must be extra careful not to overeat which could set back her efforts to establish better eating habits. When Bill attends a social gathering he must concentrate on being a good listener because otherwise he will dominate the conversation and fuel his egocentricity. Dan must always tell his wife about interactions with a female colleague at work as a way of keeping that relationship from becoming inappropriate.

What temptation of the flesh poses the greatest danger to your spiritual life? —taken from the writings of Father James Bacik which appear on the internet

FROM BEING DRIVEN TO BEING DRAWN: When I was a young man, I liked ideas and books quite a lot, and I still read a great deal. But each time I come back from a long hermitage retreat, I have no desire to read a book for the next few weeks or even months. For a while I know there is nothing in any book that is going to be better, more truthful, or more solid than what I have just experienced on the cellular, heart, and soul level.

If you asked me what it is I know, I would be hard pressed to tell you. All I know is that there is a deep “okayness” to life — despite all the contradictions — which has become even more evident in the silence. Even when much is terrible, seemingly contradictory, unjust, and inconsistent, somehow sadness and joy are able to coexist at the same time. The negative value of things no longer cancels out the positive — nor does the positive deny the negative.

Whatever your personal calling or your delivery system for the world, it must proceed from a foundational “yes” to life. Your necessary “no” to injustice and all forms of un-love will actually become even clearer and more urgent in the silence, but now your work has a chance of being God’s pure healing instead of impure anger and agenda. You can feel the difference in people who are working for causes; so many works of social justice have been undone by people who do all the fighting from their small or angry selves. If your prayer goes deep, your whole view of the world will change from fear and reaction to deep and positive connection — because you don’t live inside a fragile and encapsulated self anymore. In meditation, you are moving from ego consciousness to soul awareness — from being driven by negative motivations to being drawn from a positive source within. Through a consistent practice of contemplative prayer, you will find yourself thinking much more in terms of both/and rather than either/or. This is what enables mystics and saints to forgive, to let go of hurts, to be compassionate, and even to love their enemies. —Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M.


8

A CALL TO OPENNESS OF HEART: Reading Old Testament prophecies often needs “translation” because the language used is what would be understood by the people at the time of writing. That would explain why Zechariah presents the Savior as a King. But instead of the usual conquering-hero kind of King that we might have expected, this King is presented as a humble peacemaker who goes so far as to banish weapons from his Kingdom.

Through our study of the Old Testament we understand that with each passing generation, the hopes of the people in a future Messiah are gradually being modified. Slowly — over long periods of time — the prophets gradually change their presentation of the kind of hero the Messiah is going to be. They start out predicting a great warrior who wins battles and only slowly end up predicting the kind of Messiah that Jesus is actually going to be.

In Zechariah’s prophecy, we see this process at work [Zechariah 9:9-10]. Although the Messiah is still an earthly King, he is one who has relinquished the trappings of majesty — which is why he comes riding on a donkey. Indeed, this prophecy could be seen as a direct prediction of Jesus as he entered the Holy City riding on a donkey on the first Palm Sunday. And like Jesus, Zechariah’s Messiah preaches a message of peace which is strikingly different from previous mentions of the Messiah in the scriptures.

Following in these same steps, Paul addresses the Christians of Rome and reminds them to focus on the spiritual and not the material — most especially not on the things of the flesh [Romans 8:9-14]. He holds out hope for those who get their priorities right, and who put their faith in all that is spiritual — “if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

Our true fulfilment is to be found by putting our physical bodies under the control and direction of the Spirit. We should understand that this is not a rejection of the body; rather it is realizing that the physical ought to be subject to the spiritual. This will then mean that we use our bodies and all that is material in the proper way.

In Matthew’s Gospel, we find one of Jesus’ most compassionate statements — “Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest” [Matthew 11:25-30]. Countless generations of believers have taken great hope from these words. Oftentimes they have helped people get through the very worst situations in life. When all other hope has been used up, these words of Jesus remain and give people the courage they need to carry on in the very direst of situations.

Some have interpreted Jesus’ words as referring to those who have exhausted themselves in the search for truth. They see this search for God as intellectually exhausting. However, according to Catholic belief, it would be very unusual to find God in this way — we do not generally believe that God can be found through an intellectual struggle.

We do not find God; rather God who finds us when we open our hearts. In fact, it is only when we have given up our intellectual search for God — and enter into an experiential search — that God comes into our lives. Our understanding is that is when we try very hard to find God we are most likely to overlook him. God usually comes to us in unexpected ways — and more often we find him in beauty and in relationships rather than through the use of reason or logic.

With this in mind, Jesus is probably not referring to a tiredness resulting from a search for God; it is much more a tiredness resulting from the cares of the world. Jesus is holding out hope to all who are heavily burdened or who suffer in any way. He invites them to come to him and to experience his loving embrace.

Jesus has certainly experienced suffering, and so these feelings of exhaustion are very familiar to him. He has a warm and loving heart, and he wants those who suffer to realize that he understands them,

July 8-9, 2017

13

CHILDREN’S BULLETINS: Each week, we are making available a Children’s Worship Bulletin. There are two editions: [3-6] and [7-12]. They are available on the table as you leave. The Bulletin focuses on the readings for the week. These are wonderful tools for your children to learn more about the scripture readings for the week. We hope you will take them for your families or your grandchildren. Thanks.

Spirit. The Spirit of God dwells in us. The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead gives us life. We need to put our trust in God. He is our hope — our hope not just for the future, but our hope for the present. Jesus tells us to pick up our crosses and follow Him, follow Him to Calvary living His sacrificial love, and follow Him to the joy of eternal union with God. [Romans 8:9-14]

And just as the strong father, carries his little baby into Church, our Lord carries us into the Father’s eternal Temple, into heaven. His actions are motivated by love — his love for us, and his love for His Father who told Him to bring us to Him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The One who carries us is strong — stronger than our fears; stronger than our struggles; stronger even than that man who used to carry us into Church — infinitely stronger.

—taken from the writings for Father Joseph Pellegrino, which appear on the internet.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK:

Monday: Genesis 28:10-22, Matthew 9:18-26

Tuesday: Genesis 32:23-33, Matthew 9:32-38

Wednesday: Genesis 41:55-42:24, Matthew 10:1-7

Thursday: Genesis 44:18-45:5, Matthew 10:7-15

Friday: Genesis 46:1-30, Matthew 10:16-23

Saturday: Genesis 29:29-50:26, Matthew 10:24-33

Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23 15th Week in Ordinary Time:

Tetélestai 40th ANNIVERSARY SUMMER PERFORMANCES: Tetélestai — the stirring musical production about the last week of Jesus’ life is celebrating 40 years of passionate performances. The dramatic stage production and timeless music tell the story of Jesus’ trial, execution and resurrection in a visual way that has left a lasting impression on over 100,000 audience members over the past four decades. Tetélestai is normally presented in the winter months during the 8 weeks of Lent that lead to the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. This year, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Tetélestai has invited alumni cast and crew members from the past 40 years to join in two special summer performances. These performances will be held at Ss. Robert & William Church, 367 E 260th St in Euclid, Ohio on Friday, July 28th and Saturday, July 29th at 8:00 PM. Currently, over 200 alumni are registered to participate in this unique event. The production is free of charge with seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free-will donations are accepted at the conclusion of the production.


12

THE STRONG ONE: In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to come to Him, and then He tells us that He is “Meek and humble of heart” [Matthew 11:25-30]. What does that mean: “meek and humble of heart?” How can we understand this? I was turning this over in my mind when an image came to me that I see every Sunday and that you most probably witness every day. Let me set it up this way: We are blessed to have many families in our parish. They take attending Church together seriously — and as a family. I love seeing them come in and getting their tribe in line. The largest member of the family is most often the father. Some of our fathers are very big men. I love it when I see them carrying their baby into the church . I really have a smile when I see a huge man carrying his one or two year old little girl. She might be tiny, and he may be large, but she has taken control of her Dad. And he is quite happy about it. As one of our new father’s said: “I have become my little girl’s jungle gym. I lie on the floor, and she climbs all over me. She slobbers on me — or worse — but I love it.” I am sure that the toughest man is a pussycat when it comes to his baby girl. He will be fierce when it comes to protecting his daughter, but for her, he is meek. He is also humble of heart. None of our fathers — or mothers for that matter — think that they are too lofty, or too important, to care for their children. From changing diapers to drying tears, good parents cannot be arrogant. Their love for their children won’t let them be anything other than humble of heart.

And Jesus said: “Come to me, I meek and humble of heart.” God loves us like a good parents loves His child. Only more so — infinitely more so.

There are many times when we feel overwhelmed by the world, our responsibilities, and even our efforts to grow in the most important relationships of our lives your marriages. For me, my relationship to my people. And for all of us, our relationship to God. We watch the news, listen to commentaries and witness all we hold dear being mocked. We read how our children and Teens are being exploited by drugs, alcohol, and sex — just to name a few. We see images of turmoil in the world — ISIS in Iraq, Russians in the Ukraine, and terrorism everywhere. We witness all this and feel that the world is too much for us. “Come to me,” the Lord says, “I am meek and humble of heart.”

I know how you feel. You think the world is falling to pieces and you fear for your family. Jesus asks us to entrust them to him. Entrust yourself to me, Jesus says. I will care for you. I will care for your family. I am God, but I have not distanced myself from you. I love you too much to do that. I am that big man, and you are my little child. Come to me.”

Many respond: “But how can I provide all that my family needs.” Jesus answers: “I am all that they need” — everything else will fall into place.

We are called to give our relationships to the Lord. Relationships take a lot of hard work. Marriages take a lot of hard work as husbands and wives continually sacrifice their own wants — even their own points of view — for the sake of those whom they love so much. Relationships with people outside of our family take work. It takes humility to allow other people to be themselves and not to be what we think they should be. Our relationship to God takes the greatest amount of work in our lives. Every day is another chance to let Him enter deeper into our lives. But this means denying ourselves. It means setting more and more time for Him. It means sacrifice — even when what we really want to do is pull a Jonah and go Southwest when God tells us to go Northeast [see Jonah 1]. Sometimes we come before the Lord and say: “I can’t seem to get along with anyone, beginning with myself, and including you.” And Jesus says: “I’ve got you; I’ll teach you how to love. Just let me hold you, and care for you. I want to help you. Come to me, I am meek and humble of heart.”

St. Paul, in his letter to the Church at Rome, encourages us. We are not in the flesh — we are in the

July 8-9, 2017

9

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AN ALTAR SERVER or LECTOR? We continue to be in need of Servers and Lectors. Any student who is in the 3rd [and up] grade

is invited to become an altar server; any student who is in the 5th [and up] grade is invited to become a lector. These are both wonder ful ministr ies — a great way to serve God and the faith community. If you would like to take advantage of these opportunities, please give your name to Father John. You do not have to attend Gilmour to be an altar server, lector, or to be involved in any other ministry at Our

Lady Chapel. Please call the Chapel office [440-473-3560].

SERVING THE LORD IN THE POOR: Sat. July 15 For the past year, our teens have been volunteering at Our Savior Lutheran Church Food Pantry [located r ight across the street from the chapel]. The Pantry is open on the third Saturday of every month from 11:00 AM – 1:30 or 2:00 PM. Our Savior Lutheran’s Food Pantry was formed to serve those in emergency situations and/or with on-going need in the cities of Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Highland Heights and Gates Mills. The Food Pantry respects social and cultural diversity and upholds the worth and dignity of those it serves. All those in the area with need will be served equally, as supplies allow. The food pantry is a member of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. During the course of the past year, the food pantry at Our Savior Lutheran Church served an average of 141 households each time. Our teens have loved this ministry and have been very faithful to it. We would now like to open this ministry up to our entire Chapel Community. If you would like to help on any given third Saturday, please call Patty at the chapel office [440-473-3560] to let us know that you are going to volunteer, or email Elina Gurney at [email protected]. Come as a family or by yourself .

and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Most of all, he wants them to understand that in due time they will experience salvation and healing.

You might tend to think that Jesus addresses these words to those who are up in years — or at the very least to the mature among us — since they are the ones most likely to be carrying burdens and to have experienced tragedy in their lives. However, it is interesting to note that these beginning part of Jesus’ message is directed to those who are young — children. Jesus appears to be addressing his Father in prayer, and is thanking him for revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom to mere children — while presumably hiding the mysteries from the worldly wise. But the truth is that Jesus is talking to all those who accept the Gospel in a childlike way. What it requires is openness and the willingness to accept the truth of Jesus words.

St. Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Church at Rome [8:9-14] when he emphasizes the priority of the spiritual over the material. The innocence that Jesus is referring to is the openness to the things of the spirit — the willingness to accept that there is another reality that is far more important than anything we can see or touch here on this earth.

You can imagine that Jesus — after several long years of teaching in the towns and villages of Palestine — was probably exasperated at the difficulty the educated people of the land had in understanding his message. But here we see the delight he takes in the poor and simple people who embrace his Gospel wholeheartedly. Indeed, Jesus is so happy that he praises God for the depth of their faith. The key element here is not education or social standing, but our attitude — the willingness to make the necessary changes in our lives.

If we have the right attitude, we will easily see that love is at the heart of all that Jesus is teaching, and we will instinctively know that our task in the world is to live a life of love and so bring peace and joy to those around us. —taken from the writings of Father Alex McAllister S.D.S., which appear on the internet


10

I NEED A FIDGET SPINNER FOR MY SPIRITUALITY: Almost every time I talk about my prayer life to a friend, it starts like this: “Well, if I somehow stop thinking about my favorite sports team, or the best kind of noodle, or what’s going on in my life during the rest of the day — or tomorrow — God really speaks to me. My internal monologue sounds more like a babbling, excited toddler home from her first day of preschool than a wise, articulate saint — or even just a normal, conscious human being. Sometimes I’m worrying; sometimes I’m daydreaming or replaying old memories; sometimes my brain is just looping a Whitney Houston song while I stare blankly at a stained glass window. There are days when it feels like I’ll never be able to finish an “Our Father” without wondering what character I’d play in Stranger Things.

This can get frustrating, to say the least. I want to be mentally present in Mass; I want to say a Rosary in profound meditation; I want to be attentive to the nuances of the Holy Spirit speaking as I read through Scripture. Most days, though, I cannot make my intention — focused, deep, persistent prayer — match reality — a holy hour where I spend 58 minutes thinking about eating my favorite ice cream.

Actually, in prayer recently, this was one of my few coherent thoughts — I could really use one of those fidget spinners for my brain; then, maybe it’d calm me down just a bit so I could pay attention to God’s voice.

I’ve been blessed enough to have mentors and spiritual directors who have guided me to realize a few things. Usually, I start off by asking them for tips on how to be less distracted, but they — in their wisdom — remind me that “solving the problem” of distraction isn’t the only goal of prayer. According to the Catechism: “prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours” [CCC #2560]. Prayer springs forth from the fact that I seek God, and God seeks me. It is always God offering the invitation and seeking me first [see 1 John 4:10] — I can only respond.

This is freeing because it takes the pressure off. God wants me, loves me, and calls me. Prayer is not about earning His love or approval with my perfect piety or my astounding focus; He wants to hear what I have to say — whether it makes a ton of sense or not. Jesus is working in my heart and we are growing closer whenever I say “yes” to His invitation to pray. It’s not like He takes His mercy away if, while praying a Divine Mercy Chaplet, I think about the hilarity of dogs with human-sounding names.

It’s important to be persistent in prayer and to keep returning to it [see 1 Thessalonians 5:17], but I’m learning to trust that it’s God’s job to heal, to offer mercy, to give grace, and to transform me. Lazarus was literally dead when Jesus resurrected him [see John 11], so I’m sure Jesus can work on my heart even when my mind is occupied with an idea for the plot of Toy Story 4.

Though relationship — not perfection — is my goal in prayer, I still think there are some “fidget spinners” for our spiritual lives that can help us become more attentive to the voice of the Lord. If the goal really is relationship, then we should come to prayer ready to engage with Jesus and converse with Him. Jesus raised Lazarus, yes, but Lazarus also had to choose to walk out of the tomb! Here are some conscious choices we can make so that we don’t let the distractions stay in control.

Get in the zone. This wor ld is fast-paced and crazy, so entering into prayer can sometimes feel like slamming the brakes in a speeding car. To start to calm down, you can find a quiet space, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and repeat a simple phrase like “God is here” or “God loves me” before you launch into prayer.

Intercept the interruptions. The things you think are drawing you away from your prayer could be the very things Jesus wants you to bring to Him. Worries, joys, or even the events of your day — if they keep “interrupting” your prayer, maybe they’re exactly what you should include in it. Offer whatever is on your mind to the Lord, no matter how silly or “shallow” it may seem, and see if He wants to speak into those thoughts. Some of my most transformative prayer experiences started when I told Jesus how much I love the soundtrack

July 8-9, 2017

11

DRESSES FOR HONDURAS: One of the nurses in our Gilmour Clinic is involved in a dressmaking project for the children of Honduras. They have devised a method of making sundresses out of common pillowcases, and then adorning them with other items for decoration. And that is where you come in. If you have any old buttons, ribbon, ric-rac, lace or other sewing trim, please bring them in. The group would like to collect these items to help decorate the dresses they are working on. This is an on-going project; the dresses will be sent to Honduras every time there is a mission trip. The next trip is scheduled for March of 2017. There is a basket in the narthex of the Chapel to collect any donations you may have. Thank you for your help!

CHILDREN’S INTERNATIONAL SUMMER VILLAGE: We’d like to send our sincere thanks to Gilmour and Our Lady Chapel families for opening their homes and their hearts to welcome our little peace ambassadors. The host families had an incredible experience as a number of Gilmour and Our Lady Chapel families hosted our delegations during the first home-stay weekend upon their arrival.

Our Village is fully active on Gilmour’s campus — 43 eleven-year-olds, 11 leaders and 6 Junior Counselors from all over the globe are living here on campus for four weeks. From Brazil to Portugal, and El Salvador to Sweden, from Costa Rica to Switzerland, and Mexico to Canada, 11 nations are represented in this veritable miniature world, as these young ambassadors live together in a camp-style setting on Gilmour’s campus.

These youth delegates will spend the month at Gilmour, but host families are still urgently needed for July 14-16 homestay! During home stays, these wonder ful international delegates experience our local culture while your family has an experience to remember, and you and your children build wonderful, global friendships.

Please consider hosting two or four of these incredible 11-year-olds. For more information or to apply, email [email protected].

from Hamilton.

All write. Keeping a journal can be a great practice. It keeps you focused in prayer , because it’s a bit more active than something contained entirely in your brain, and you’ll be able to look back at the journey Jesus has taken you on and see just how deeply He’s worked in you.

Sleep —before you get to the chapel. If you find yourself dozing off in prayer, or constantly in that weird state where you think you’re praying but you’re really just dreaming about Jesus enjoying some guacamole with you, maybe consider your sleep habits. Not getting enough shut-eye could be making it easier for your mind to drift. Don’t feel too bad about falling asleep in prayer. St. Thérèse and I — and maybe you — have frequent chapel naps in common. But if it’s affecting your ability to think and/or sit up straight, try to hit the hay a little earlier.

Whether you leave your prayer time with a heart full of the Lord’s movements or with a profound, unintentional reflection on the most ergonomic chair design, be encouraged by the fact that you desire to grow with the Lord and that He’s calling you to Himself. God delights in your efforts to pray well, of course, but He delights in you even more. It’ll surely be a lifelong learning process, and it isn’t nearly as simple as spinning a little toy in your hand, but going deeper in prayer is always worth the effort.

—taken from the writings of Courtney Kiolbassa, an associate of the Bible Geek, which appear on the internet

FREEDOM: For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. —Nelson Mandela

week in ordinary time vol. xxii, no. 31 july 8 closing...

Documents