Author: Father Cioppi

“Do you love me?” John 21:1-19

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Ever since Holy Saturday Evening, we have been encountering the risen Christ. Everywhere we look, we see signs of Him. Every day at Mass, we hear of his appearances to His Apostles and Disciples and have come to believe that the tomb was really empty.

But, there are people in the world today that do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, or those who have chosen to ignore it. And so we come together as a parish this weekend to be strengthened in our worship of God because you see, we see the Risen Christ! We can touch Him!

We can testify together to this Truth that Jesus is alive and dwells among us. We look to this Altar and say like Peter, “It is the Lord.”

My friends, we come here every weekend to encounter the Lord Jesus, Who died and rose again in a very personal way. When we experience Him in the Eucharistic Bread, our lives are changed; they are lifted up, expanded, spilling over with love.

And so Jesus asks us, “Do you love me” more than material things? Then teach others to do the same. “Do you love me more” than your self? Then teach others to do the same. “Do you love me” enough to give me away to others who need me? Tend my sheep.

Jesus is alive and lives among us. Be bold in your witness like the Apostles who were ordered to stop speaking in the name of Jesus but continued anyway and they rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of His Name.

You can do it! You encounter Jesus, take Him with you and give Him away to those who need Him! He is risen, Alleluia!

 

EASTER JOY!

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“The splendor of Christ risen from the dead has shone on the people redeemed by His blood, Alleluia.” (Antiphon from Easter’s Morning Prayer)  May we continue to live the transformation that we have experienced in our lives  during this past Lenten Season.  Let us continue to release the Divine Presence through our actions.  Jesus is alive in us, the people of Mother of Divine Providence Parish.  ALLELUIA!

LENTEN REVIEW

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During the past five weeks, our parish community has prayed, fasted and given alms with a special focus on the poorest members of our global  community.  Our lives were touched by learning about the people of Burkina Faso, East Timor, Lesotho, Dominican Republic and Pakistan.  Through our Lenten prayers and donations to the Rice Bowl we have touched the lives of millions of people served by Catholic Relief Services, our representative to the poorest countries in the world.  Thank you for your generosity.

If you would like to learn more about the Social Teachings of the Church, may we suggest reading Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action by Thomas Massaro, SJ.

Entering into Holy Week with Joy! Luke 22:14- 23:56

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Today marks the beginning of a holy week of remembrance. Through the Scripture, Song and Sacred Ritual, we  commemorate Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. Our journey to God leads us now to the gates of Jerusalem where ‘Jesus emptied Himself and accepted death on a cross.’ We come to this time and place, open to the wonders  of the power of Christ’s death; a power that brings new life to those who have lost hope, a home to the confused, and healing to those who suffer.

We find encouragement on this journey from the Gospels. The Pope said this morning, we should “not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, from knowing that with Him we are never alone!”

We are meeting Jesus on His Way through Jerusalem. He is here for a purpose: to be proclaimed a King. But, what kind of King? Jesus is a King who is humbled, who suffers, who will be sacrificed.

As we walk along this road with Him we come to understand our own frailties and see in His poverty a heart still young and strong, fired with love for us. We will watch Him fall three times and in each fall see in ourselves an opportunity to rise again and keep on walking, close to the cross, like Simon the Cyrene.

My dear friends, this is the moment to draw out of our busy lives the love we have for Jesus; to feel our hearts pumping with the excitement of knowing the person of Jesus; of seeing in faces around us a need to be cared for, an encouraging word, a simple towel with which to wipe their faces.

Take these moments of holy week and savor them, for they are, in each minute, a love song for you to offer the God Who is ever present in your life and wishes only that you love Him in return.

“Christ’s cross embraced with love does not lead to sadness, but to joy! The joy of being saved and doing a little bit what He did that day of His death.” (Francis, Pontiff)

With young hearts that “never grow old,” “let us welcome the Lord as He comes, with songs and hymns, let us run to meet Him, as we offer Him our joyful worship and sing: ‘Blessed be the Lord.” (Canticle Antiphon)

What draws you to Confession? – John 8: 1-11

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It is difficult for a priest to go to confession, to be ‘on the other side’ of the screen. I am embarrassed by the repetitiveness of my sins so often and disappointed with myself that I did not do better to perfect myself in the spiritual life.

But, I know it is important for me to go; not just as a priest, but also as a person  who is journeying toward heaven, like you. The reason I go is contained in the Gospel this morning: A woman’s sins become public and a mob of self-righteous people has hauled her into the street. The mob becomes more and more hateful as they drag her in pre-judgment to her death.

Along the way, they meet Jesus and to see what He would say, almost making a mockery of Him Who teaches mercy as well as justice. Jesus challenges directly: ‘Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

On which side of Jesus are we standing? Both need the mercy of God, but only one is asking for it. – Jesus in response offers her forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  It was a though Jesus had been waiting for her all along; to meet her face to face, waiting from all eternity for that single moment, where He could speak the words of God: “Come back to me with all your heart.”

This is what draws me to confession. How about you?

LENT: GRACE IN ABUNDANCE

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During the Lenten Season as we pray, fast and give alms. These are days in which grace is in abundance.  We just need to reflect on  this Sunday’s Gospel of the Prodigal Son to see this reality.  The father says to the older son — “My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours.”  Imagine these words being spoken to you.   St. Paul tells us that “every blessing in the heavens is ours”.  So now, how do we use this abundance of grace?  Allow this grace to be the force behind your pray and actions.  This week, let us pray for and assist with alms the people of the Dominican Republic.

Country Spotlight:  Dominican Republic   In the Dominican Republic 42% of the population currently lives below the poverty line.  Catholic Social Teaching: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers  —  The opportunity of work to earn a living is a right of all people.  All workers have the right to a fair wage, to organize themselves and to work in good conditions.  How CRS helped: CRS has developed Savings and International Leading Communities which is a methodology to target the poorest populations who lack access to formal financial services and who are often overlooked by major micro-finance institutions.  Reflection Question:  A common human reaction may be to be judgmental of other’s neediness.  How can we strive to go beyond our own biases or prejudices toward the poor and hungry?

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“Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them” Luke15:1-3, 11-32

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“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2.

Jesus was always able to confront the Pharisees with the Truth about their religious practices and how these practices connected with the heart. While Jesus made judgments on the actions of people, He left the judgment of people to God.

Today, society uses the term ‘tolerant,’ to mean that we cannot judge the acts of people or people themselves. But that is not exactly right. Actions of people can be sinful and endanger a person’s spiritual or material life and thus endanger the common good.

Fraternal correction, means bringing the Truth about a persons actions and whether or not these actions reflect the intentions of the heart something Jesus did.

The Prodigal Son acted selfishly and squandered his inheritance. He must live with the consequences of his actions, as we all must. But when he repented his father did not scold him, or make judgments. The father embraced him with compassion; in other words, the father took upon himself the sufferings of the son and shared his pain.

The father was not tolerant of the son. He did not approve of his actions. Rather the father loved the son. Tolerance is not pretending wrong things are right. Tolerance is acknowledging people as worthy of human dignity while being responsible for the consequences of their actions.

Sometimes we can be like the Pharisees can’t we? We can fall into the same trap of drawing conclusions about people with little or no information about them. They probably aren’t going to be fishermen form Galilee, or lepers or tax collectors, but they could be our neighbor, someone at school or in our parish, someone with problems we can’t even imagine or even someone who is pretending to know the real truth when in fact they are denying what is right for selfish reasons.

People deserve our patience and love rather than our harsh judgment and gossip. Perhaps taking the example of Jesus and sharing a meal with them would go along way in understanding others rather than excluding or isolating or alienating them.

After all, Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” How could we do less?

LENT, A TIME OF PRUNING

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As we come to the third week of Lent, our Lectio Divina sessions give us time to pray over the scripture and reflect on the barren fig tree.  The gardener allows for one more year so that the fig tree can be nurtured, pruned and cultivated so that it will produce good fruit.  Lent is that time for us.  The Lord offers many graces and opportunities for us to grow closer to Him.  This is our Lenten Prayer.

Our Rice Bowl Collection gives us the opportunity for Alms Giving.  The Catholic Relief Services gives assistance to many countries in need.  Read about this week’s country and please be generous to the collection.

Country Spotlight:  Lesotho (Africa) Lack of education does not allow people to move out of the cycle of poverty.  Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities   We must take responsibility to protect the rights of all people.  These rights include the right of life, food, shelter, education and employment along with political and cultural rights.  How CRS helped: CRS works with the Good Shepherd Sisters to ensure the right of orphans and vulnerable children to high-quality early education opportunities.   This education focuses on five key areas of development:  physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional.  As a result the children are better prepared to follow instructions from teachers, sit in a classroom and socialize with one another.  Reflection Question:  In the parable of the fig tree, why do you think Jesus places so much emphasis on bearing fruit?

LENTEN PRACTICES

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During Lent our focus is on Prayer, Fasting and Alms Giving.  Our Lectio Divina Prayer Series continues on the Thursdays during Lent up to and including March 14th.  We meet in the parish office building after the 8 A.M. Mass and at 7 P.M.  Our hope is that these times can accommodate all who wish to attend.  If you are not able to be with us, scroll down to the Lectio Divina  “Lesson” in this blog for the steps for this prayer with Sacred Scripture.  We use the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday.

Our Rice Bowl Collection is a way to participate in Alms Giving.  Each week we highlight a country that is helped by our donations to Catholic Relief Services and how that donation is used.  Let us reflect on the help needed in East Timor and be as generous as possible.

Country Spotlight:  East Timor (an island nation near Australia)  Tuberculosis is a major health crisis for the close knit people.  Catholic Social Teaching:  Community and Participation  —  Human beings are not only sacred, but also social.  How we participate in our families and communities, from our daily actions to our policy decisions, affects each and every person.  How CRS helped:  CRS is working with health centers, prisons, boarding schools and orphanages in East Timor to help reduce the incidence and burden of TB using several strategies:

  • Advocate, Communicate and Mobilize-encourage the people to look for signs and symptoms of TB
  • Community-Based Care — CRS provides training to local health partners to help monitor the treatment of TB patients.
  • Capacity Strengthening — CRS helps to train local partner organizations in financial and human resources management so that community-based care is as efficient and effective as possible.

Reflection Question:  If you recognize Christ in the faces of the human family, what new steps might you take this Lent to draw closer to Him?  Can you commit to one of those steps?

Confront the reality of sin; reveal the reconciling love of God. Luke 4:1-13

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The Church has been through a lot this week. Our Holy Father has confronted and revealed his human weakness and in humility has retired from the Petrine Ministry given him.

The Holy Spirit moves in mysterious ways and so when Jesus becomes ‘filled with the Holy Spirit,’ as He does in today’s Gospel, He is moved into the desert to confront and reveal. Jesus was just not pretending to be tempted. His humanity was so complete that the devil himself felt arrogant enough to approach Jesus face to face.

Jesus confronts these temptations and from these temptations He reveals the Truth that conquers lies.

The first lie is that you need material things to satisfy your hunger for sin. But Jesus reveals that there is more to life than material things. The second lie is that if you make other people gods and allow them to lead you into sin, you will have power and glory. But Jesus reveals that we should worship God alone and be led by Him to heaven. Him alone do we serve.

And the third deception is if you put God to the test by trying to bargain with Him. If you try to use Him as an excuse for why you make bad decisions or why bad things have happened to you.  If you make yourself God, the angels will help you and lift you up. Jesus reveals, ‘You shall not put the Lord to the test.’

We confront these temptations every day. We need prayer and spiritual disciplines to face these deceptions and be open to the revelation of Jesus from the Cross on Calvary. We need to call upon Jesus to help us.

When Saint Paul tells us “no one who believes in Him will be put to shame,” he means that we will never be left alone. We will always have parishioners to help us, the Sacraments to strengthen us, Saints to lift us up, and Jesus to love us. We are not alone.

Today begins our parish’s special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. These next Forty Hours will be a turning point in our lives if we leave off our temptation not to participate and make every effort to attend.  There is great power here. We have much to pray for, much to be thankful for and much to adore.

Friends, like life, Lent can be difficult, but it is also a gift that helps us confront the reality of sin in our life and reveal the power of His reconciling love.