The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher

Father Christopher points out that it is not our own power that overcomes our fear and anxiety, but trust.

The darkness of fear and anxiety overtakes the much-needed remedy, which is trust.  The lack of trust also brings disappointment and failure, and these rise to the surface in today’s St Paul’s Epistle and in St Mark’s Gospel.  Lack of success in human endeavor is painful and hard to endure.  Rejection, a very difficult thing to handle, strikes at our sense of self-esteem.

Read the full text of Fr. Christopher’s homily here:

View and listen to Fr. Christopher’s homily here.

The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher

Open post

FORMATION FRIDAY – Admonition #1 – The Body of Christ – July 5, 2024

Please share with your fraternities (En español abajo) Korean translation attached in a separate PDF.

 

Admonition #1 The Body of Christ By St. Francis

 

Since July is the month of the Precious Blood, and we are also celebrating the three-year Eucharistic Revival, we repeat some of our previous posts on the Eucharist this month.

[I. The Body of Christ]

1The Lord Jesus says to his disciples: I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 2If you knew me, you would also know my Father; and from now on, you do know him and have seen him. 3Philip says to him: Lord, show us the Father and it will be enough for us. 4Jesus says to him: Have I been with you for so long a time and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me sees my Father as well. Jn 14:6-9

5The Father dwells in inaccessible light, 1 Tm 6:16 and God is spirit, Jn 4:24 and no one has ever seen God. Jn 1:18 6Therefore He cannot be seen except in the Spirit because it is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh has nothing to offer. Jn 6:63 7But because He is equal to the Father, the Son is not seen by anyone other than the Father or other than the Holy Spirit.

8All those who saw the Lord Jesus according to the humanity, therefore, and did not see and believe according to the Spirit and the Divinity that He is the true Son of God were condemned. 9Now in the same way, all those who see the sacrament sanctified by the words of the Lord upon the altar at the hands of the priest in the form of bread and wine, and who do not see and believe according to the Spirit and the Divinity that it is truly the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, are condemned.10[This] is affirmed by the Most High Himself Who says:

This is my Body and the Blood of my new covenant [which will be shed for many]; Mk 14:22 11and Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. Mk 14:24 12It is the Spirit of the Lord, Jn 6:55 therefore, That lives in Its faithful, That receives the Body and Blood of the Lord. 13All others who do not share in this same Spirit and presume to receive Him eat and drink judgment on themselves. 1 Cor 11:29

14Therefore: children, how long will you be hard of heart? Ps 4:3 15Why do you not know the truth and believe in the Son of God? Jn 9:35 16Behold, each day He humbles Himself as when He came from the royal throne Phil 2:8 into the Virgin’s womb; Wis 18:15 17each day He Himself comes to us, appearing humbly; 18each day He comes down from the bosom of the Father Jn 1:18 upon the altar in the hands of a priest.a

19As He revealed Himself to the holy apostles in true flesh, so He reveals Himself to us now in sacred bread. 20And as they saw only His flesh by an insight of their flesh, yet believed that He was God as they contemplated Him with their spiritual eyes, 21let us, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, see and firmly believe that they are His most holy Body and Blood living and true. 22And in this way the Lord is always with His faithful, as He Himself says: Behold I am with you until the end of the age.

Questions to discuss or to answer in your journal

+ After reading this admonition carefully, note what Francis’s feelings are about the Eucharist.

+What do you believe about the Eucharist? What part does receiving the Eucharist play in your spiritual life?
https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/the-admonitions/144-fa-ed-1-page-128

A good video by Bishop Barron on the Eucharist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgy_TFeIyiM&t=126s (Real Presence)

Visit the Eucharistic Revival website: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/

Julio es el mes de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo—Admonición #1 de San Francisco 5 de julio, 2024

Dado que julio es el mes de la Preciosa Sangre, y también estamos celebrando el Avivamiento Eucarístico de tres años, repetimos algunas de nuestras publicaciones anteriores sobre la Eucaristía este mes.

Cap. I: Del cuerpo del Señor

1Dice el Señor Jesús a sus discípulos: Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida; nadie va al Padre sino por mí. 2Si me conocierais a mí, ciertamente conoceríais también a mi Padre; y desde ahora lo conoceréis y lo habéis visto. 3Le dice Felipe: Señor, muéstranos al Padre y nos basta. 4Le dice Jesús: ¿Tanto tiempo hace que estoy con vosotros y no me habéis conocido? Felipe, el que me ve a mí, ve también a mi Padre (Jn 14,6-9).

5El Padre habita en una luz inaccesible (cf. 1 Tim 6,16), y Dios es espíritu (Jn 4,24), y a Dios nadie lo ha visto jamás (Jn 1,18). 6Por eso no puede ser visto sino en el espíritu, porque el espíritu es el que vivifica; la carne no aprovecha para nada (Jn 6,64). 7Pero ni el Hijo, en lo que es igual al Padre, es visto por nadie de otra manera que el Padre, de otra manera que el Espíritu Santo.

8De donde todos los que vieron al Señor Jesús según la humanidad, y no vieron y creyeron según el espíritu y la divinidad que él era el verdadero Hijo de Dios, se condenaron. 9Así también ahora, todos los que ven el sacramento, que se consagra por las palabras del Señor sobre el altar por mano del sacerdote en forma de pan y vino, y no ven y creen, según el espíritu y la divinidad, que sea verdaderamente el santísimo cuerpo y sangre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, se condenan, 10como lo atestigua el mismo Altísimo, que dice: Esto es mi cuerpo y mi sangre del nuevo testamento, [que será derramada por muchos] (cf. Mc 14,22.24); 11y: Quien come mi carne y bebe mi sangre, tiene vida eterna (cf. Jn 6,55). 12De donde el espíritu del Señor, que habita en sus fieles, es el que recibe el santísimo cuerpo y sangre del Señor. 13Todos los otros que no participan del mismo espíritu y se atreven a recibirlo, comen y beben su condenación (cf. 1 Cor 11,29).

14De donde: Hijos de los hombres, ¿hasta cuándo seréis de pesado corazón? (Sal 4,3). 15¿Por qué no reconocéis la verdad y creéis en el Hijo de Dios? (cf. Jn 9,35). 16Ved que diariamente se humilla (cf. Fil 2,8), como cuando desde el trono real (Sab 18,15) vino al útero de la Virgen; 17diariamente viene a nosotros él mismo apareciendo humilde; 18diariamente desciende del seno del Padre (cf. Jn 1,18) sobre el altar en las manos del sacerdote.

19Y como se mostró a los santos apóstoles en carne verdadera, así también ahora se nos muestra a nosotros en el pan sagrado. 20Y como ellos, con la mirada de su carne, sólo veían la carne de él, pero, contemplándolo con ojos espirituales, creían que él era Dios, 21así también nosotros, viendo el pan y el vino con los ojos corporales, veamos y creamos firmemente que es su santísimo cuerpo y sangre vivo y verdadero. 22Y de este modo siempre está el Señor con sus fieles, como él mismo dice: Ved que yo estoy con vosotros hasta la consumación del siglo (cf. Mt 28,20).

https://www.franciscanos.org/esfa/escritossf.html#adm

 

Preguntas para discutir o responder en su diario

+ Después de leer esta Admonición con atención, apunte cuáles son los sentimientos de Francisco sobre la Eucaristía.

+ ¿Qué cree usted sobre la Eucaristía? ¿Qué papel juega el recibir la Eucaristía en su vida espiritual?

 

Un buen video (en inglés) del obispo Barron sobre la Eucaristía:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgy_TFeIyiM&t=126s (Presencia real)
Visite el sitio del Avivamiento Eucarístico: https://es.eucharisticrevival.org/

 
Diane F. Menditto, OFS
Vice Minister, National Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order USA
Listen – Discern – Go Forth National Theme 2022-2025
 

 

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Joshua Molidor, OFS

Many of us, who may have spent years living with our spouse, have been reminded of our matrimonial promise….to love, honor, and cherish. In sickness and health, for better or for worse, till death do we part.

Usually, it is our spouse who reminds us. Sometimes it is our parish priest, our family members, or our friends, for they were probably present for our wedding, and now see just how well we have kept this vow to our beloved.

Some of us have been blest with children and should remember the priest’s words “You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him or her in the practice of the Faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand this commitment that you are undertaking?” Again, another bold promise, with family, friends, and our parish witnessing.

How many of us contemplate the time when we placed our hands into our minister’s hands, in front of our fraternity members, our family members, and the Church, and “ask to be admitted to profession of the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order and to make a permanent commitment to the gospel life.”
I have heard some say they don’t even remember this milestone in their lives, which is so sad, as we told all our friends and family…three times…that “ This is what I want!”

Let us all go back and re-read our promise, beginning on page 20 in our Ritual. Read slowly, take it all in, and see if your heart speaks YES to you. Listen to your heart. Discern how you need to improve in your commitment to gospel living, and now go forth boldly into the world, giving witness to the Word! Let your renewed commitment stoke the fires of your fraternity, start taking on more responsibilities on your local/regional council, and participate more fully in the fraternity’s apostolate.

Spirit of God, be with us as we recommit to live more fully the gospel life that we promised so long ago.

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Puzzles & Important Information TAU-USA Digital #111

(These Puzzles and Important Information originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111 – GOSPEL TO LIFE BOOKSTORE INFORMATION IS UPDATED)

PUZZLES – Word Search Puzzle and Word Scramble Puzzle  & Solutions

PUZZLES-TAU-USA-111-pg15-16-18.pdf

From the National Treasurer:

Traditionally this issue of the TAU-USA, contains the financial statement of the National Fraternity for the previous calendar year. However, during the National Executive Council meeting March 7-11, 2024, it was decided that it would be prudent and in the interest of cyber security that we no longer print financial details in the TAU-USA. The financial statement for the year ending December 31, 2023, has been provided to Regional Ministers to share with members in their Regions. Please contact your regional minister for a copy. The financial statement is for members and is not to be shared with people outside of the OFS-USA. If there is a request from someone outside the National Fraternity, please ask them to contact National Treasurer, Claudia Kauzlarich, OFS,     claudiakauz.sfo@gmail.com.

 

Link for placing an order with Smoky Valley Printing:

Click to access Smoky-Valley-update-Dec2023.pdf

Opportunity to Serve-National Historian Position Opening_

The National Executive Council is seeking applicants for the position of National Historian. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, or if you would like to nominate someone for the position, please contact National Secretary Susan Ronan, OFS, at ofsusasecretary@gmail.com for an application form

prior to May 5, 2024.

 The qualities required for the position of National Historian include:

  • An interest in the history of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States
  • The ability to conduct research, and good writing and communication skills
  • Familiarity with the structure of the Secular Franciscan Order
  • A willingness to reach out to various Secular Franciscan Order groups, and the wider Franciscan family
  • Ability to travel, as needed, to do research
  • Willingness to gain knowledge of the OFS Archives at St. Bonaventure University
  • The time and ability to begin writing the next volume of OFS History in the USA

GOSPEL TO LIFE  –  OFS-USA BOOKSTORE

OFS USA has a new gmail account for the Gospel To Life Bookstore featuring the new soft-bound brown Rule book, fraternity registers, and the National Fraternity Journal printed to celebrate the Quinquennial. 

Email:  GospelToLifeBookstore@gmail.com

Bookstore-Order-Form_June20_2024_fillable.pdf

Puzzles & Important Information TAU-USA Digital #111

The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher

In his homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Christopher delves into today’s readings, revealing the nature of Jesus’ power over evil, sickness and death.

“The presence of Christ within you makes for peace and all good, and makes you more aware of the people around you, those with
whom you exchange life on so many levels, realizing it was not so much you, as Christ-within-you.”

Read the full text of Fr. Christoher’s homily here.

View and listen to Fr. Christopher’s homily here.

The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher

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Juan de Padilla