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Follower of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

4th Sunday of Lent, March 14, 2021

The Word, John 3.14 – 21

Jesus talked with Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews in Jerusalem

14 [Jesus said:}   Just as Moses lifted up- the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted  up,

15 So that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn  the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.

21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

A REFLECTION

Our Gospel reading this Sunday is from John’s third chapter. This chapter follows the gospel of last week when Jesus went to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover, the great feast of the Jewish people recalling their liberation from slavery in Egypt. We heard that Jesus first went to the temple and there drove out those who are selling animals for sacrifice and overturned the tables of the money changers. The event we hear today possibly happened during that week.

The meeting of Jesus with Nicodemus takes place one evenings while Jesus was there in Jerusalem. Nicodemus is one of the high officials of the temple and therefore of Jewish life in those times. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the high place of religious decision-making in Jerusalem and well respected by all.

The first part of this Chapter Three (which we do not hear today) is the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about what it means to be born again. Jesus had to emphasize it means to be born again by the Spirit, not a human rebirth.

Our reading today contains three themes —

  • the Son of Man to be raised up (on the cross)
  • God’s love for us
  • the Light in the world

Each of these will be themes for our prayer –

MY  PRAYER

To start: Sit quietly for a minute or so:

  • Recall that you are in God’s presence and that the Lord God is with you
  • Read again the gospel passage – note it’s three themes
  • Pray to listen intently – as Nicodemus did
  • Repeat the prayer below as often as it touches your heart
  • Jesus – You will be raised up for my eternal life – I believe – help me to believe intensely
  • Father – Thank you for your mercy – for not condemning us –Thank you for sending Jesus your Son to redeem us
  • Jesus – I desire to walk in your Light – you, the Light of the World –Take me from the darkness of self-centeredness –Take me from thoughts that destroy, words that hurt, actions that are selfish –

     I want to walk in your light – I want to walk in your light –

Jesus, Light of the World, help me to walk in your Brightness!

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies                                                           

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

Cleansing of the Temple.

3rd  LENT  SUNDAY, March 7, 2021

THE WORD, Source:  John 2.13-25

Cleansing of the Temple.

13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.

15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables

16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture,i “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”

19 Jesus answered and said to them,“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 Then Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”

21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

23 While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.

24 But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,

25 and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

A REFLECTION

The first reading at Holy Mass today brings to us the 10 Commandments as given to Moses. These represent the human part of a mutual covenant of God and human beings –  He is our God and we are His People.

The Holy Gospel at our Mass, the cleansing of the temple – my Father’s House –can be seen as an allegory – the cleansing we need as we are God’s People. (At a later time, Jesus will be even more gracious – God is our Father and we are His Children)

We cleanse ourselves on three levels –

  • the Ten Commandments – focusing on self and family and community “which is greatest  commandment?”; love God and love neighbor as oneself –
  • “I give you a New Commandment ” Even at the Last Supper, “Love one another as I have loved you.”  – to love as Jesus has loved us – compassion, mercy, forgiveness –

   St. Ignatius pointed out: Love is shown in deeds, not words.

MY  PRAYER

As you can imagine  –  it is time to cleanse your temple – an important Lenten activity

  • I sit quietly, in expectation –
  • I recall the Lord God is present with me as Jesus promised
  • I ask for the grace of the moment – to be cleansed –
  • How will I conform myself to the Ten Commandments; My conduct – my life – within my family and among others – I review the Commandments one by one –
  • How do I stand — loving God above all? How do I accomplish this? — loving others as myself –how do I fix my relationship with others?
  • Can I love as Jesus loves – compassionate, merciful,  forgiving – I desire this – I pray for this grace –

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me – from Psalm 51

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ Loyola House of Studies Scripture from the New American Bible                                                                                     

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28, 2021

The  Word, Source:  Mark 9.2-10

The Transfiguration of Jesus.

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.

5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

2nd-Sunday-of-Lent-pic The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer
Image from Google.

REFLECTION

As you may have noticed, we have made a great jump from Mark’s first chapter to the ninth chapter. Those first eight chapters layout Jesus action style – preaching and healing and preparing his disciples. At this particular moment he wants to share his full identity with Peter, James and John. They were among the very first disciples chosen to follow Jesus and now he reveals himself to them in his glory and through a powerful voice from Heaven.

We hear that they are bewildered by the events, but most surely strengthened in their trust in Jesus of Nazareth. But as they go down the mountain Jesus asked them to keep events secret until “ . . . the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” If the Transfiguration was a moment of glory, this is a disturbing end to the day. They were bewildered – we will see how it works out in a few weeks.

MY  PRAYER

Today’s Gospel is quite graphic, even brilliant. It lends itself well to the power of imaginative prayer. So, as we settle in quiet prayer, we let our imagination picture the event – Jesus in glory.

     As you prepare yourself for this time of prayer –Set yourself quietly for a few moments, Read again the story of the Transfiguration above

  • Consider what grace, what blessing you desire at this moment for your life:
  • a renewal of God’s blessings for you;
  • a renewed sense of God’s presence, Jesus presence in your life;
  • a sense to live the reality of being a son, a daughter of God in the spirit of Jesus.

See Jesus and the brightest of his bright white garments. See Moses and Elijah – the Law and Profits of the Old Testament

I pray – 

  • Jesus – It is good to be here  (say that again and again; repeated again and again – )
  • Jesus – Let me prepare a place for you – (repeat and repeat)
  • Jesus – speak and help me to listen – 
  • I thank the Lord Jesus – that in him God is my Father –

Thank you, Jesus, that you have called me to be with you –

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible 

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POPE FRANCIS’ LENTEN MESSSAGE 2021

POPE-FRANCIS-LENT-2021

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

1st Sunday of Lent 2021, February 21, 2021

The  Word (Source:  Mark 1.12-15)

The Temptation of Jesus. [Jesus was baptized by John at the river Jordan.]

12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert,

13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry.

st-Sunday-of-Lent-2021 The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer
Image from Google.

14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

A REFLECTION

Perhaps there are three keywords for this week’s reflection and prayer: Listen – Repent — Gospel = Good News (the meaning from old English). Consider these three for a few moments:

Listen – how well the picture captures the intense attitude of those with Jesus; that will be the first grace we will pray for – to listen –

Repent – to be sorrowful for evil/sin done and to ask for forgiveness.

Gospel – hearing Good News, can we live it and share it with others. The good news – the gospel – is that the Father loves us in Jesus; the One who would come among us and die for us and be raised in glory. By reading the Gospel each day of the Lenten season and reflecting even for a few moments on this testimony to Jesus we can ask for grace to know and love and to follow the lifestyle of Jesus. This is a grace that is in the Ignatian spirit as one contemplates the Gospels.

MY  PRAYER

As we move to this time of personal prayer,  I quiet myself – recalling who I am and where I am. I recall that I am always in God’s presence — and that God in Jesus is always with me. I offer a prayer of thanks for God’s grace that has touched my life in so many ways. I pray to the Lord for the grace that I need, that I desire, at this moment.

Lord, I want to listen – help clear my mind my thoughts for this short time – Keep me still so I can better listen to Jesus your Son – Grant me the grace to be moved by his words, to act in accord with directions.

Lord, help me to see my true self, especially my sins and shortcomings – give to me the grace to change and to live by your grace that my life may be a blessing – not a curse – to my family and those who share my life and even those beyond my close circle.

Lord, help me to live the lifestyle of your son, Jesus. I too am your daughter, your son, bless me with the spirit of Jesus – what I think, what I say, what I do. I desire to live in his style – for others – bringing to them the Good News.

I ask for the grace:  to know, love, and to follow the lifestyle of Jesus –– compassion, generosity and forgiveness –

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies,  Scripture from the New American Bible. Images from Google

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The Word

Gospel of Mark  1:40-45, February 14, 2021

40 A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”

42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 

44  He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;that will be proof for them.”

45  The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He remained outside in deserted places,and people kept coming to him from everywhere.He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.

Fr. William “Bill” Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

4th Sunday of the Year 2021 January 31, 2021

The  Word Source:  Mark 1.21-28

The Cure of   a Man Possessed by an Evil Spirit

21  Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

24*  he cried out, “What have you to do with us,* Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25   Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”

26   The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. and with a loud cry came out of him.

27   All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

28   His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

A REFLECTION

This Sunday’s gospel continues the beginning of Jesus public life –

Jesus is baptized at the river Jordan – three weeks ago; Jesus meets two disciples at the Jordan  – two weeks ago; Jesus calls Peter and Andrew and James and John to follow him – last week. Today – Jesus, with his disciples, exhibits his power as a teacher and his power over evil spirits.

How blessed we are that people remember the stories and wrote them down and so, have invited us to be present.

Presence and healing will be our prayer today –

MY  PRAYER

As always, take time to recall God’s presence in your life and at this moment. – Look at the picture, or close your eyes and ask for the grace to be present with the apostles and to be healed –Yes – to be healed  – not just to be present – of the evil within me – 

Holy One of God – drive out the evil within me – anger, resentment, jealousy, vengeance, laziness of spirit and body, total self -absorption –

Holy One of God – give to me a new spirit – give to me a spirit of love and service for my family and those who share my life –and others – especially those neglected and those in need –

Jesus, Holy One of God – be with me always

                                                                                                         

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The Word, A Reflection and Prayer

3rd Sunday of the Year 2021, January 24, Source:  Mark 1.14-20

The  Word

Jesus Calls the First Disciples   

14 After John [the Baptizer]  had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.

17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.

20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

3rd-Sunday-2021 The Word, A Reflection and Prayer
Image from Google.

A REFLECTION

It was just last week that we read the gospel about Jesus meeting two disciples of John the Baptist who wanted to talk with him. One of them, as we know, was Andrew. He in turn shared his experience of Jesus with his brother Simon. They were both fishermen. We recall that it was Jesus himself who gave Simon the name Peter. Perhaps, after this first experience, they all met a few times. Jesus knew who they were.

Today we hear that Jesus had begun his ministry of teaching and healing. And he desired that others would share that experience with him. So, he looked for those whom he knew – Peter and Andrew and the two brothers John and James. They were all fishermen.

Jesus called them and asked/invited them to journey with him, to learn from him, to share his ministry of Good News. And so, they all left their nets and their fishing boats and their families to go with Jesus. They were invited to share the ministry of Jesus.

MY  PRAYER

To get started in this time of prayer, put yourself in a quiet comfortable mode – Recall that God is always with us as promised. Ask for the grace to hear the call to ministry – and to accepted and live by it

What is the ministry of Jesus?

Pope Francis and others have put it like this – Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness, Healing,  Generosity, Kindness

>>   Reflect and pray over each of these – Do I bring these ministries of Jesus to others? Is there something holding me back? Anger? Resentment? Hurt feelings? Jealousy?…..

>> Ask for the grace to be a minister of blessing – as in each of the above- in the spirit of Jesus – Father give me the grace to know and to love and to share in the ministry of Jesus!

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible                                                      

                                                                                     

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

           

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The Word And A Reflection and Prayer

2nd Sunday of the Year 202, Invitation of Jesus, January 17, 2021

The  Word

Source:  John 1.35-42, The Invitation of Jesus

002-jesus-calls-disciples-1 The Word And A Reflection and Prayer
Image from Google.

35 The next day John [the Baptizer] was there again with two of his disciples,

36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

37 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

38 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.*

40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him,“We have found the Messiah” (which is translated anointed).

42 Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said,  “You are Simon the son of John;* you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).a

A  REFLECTION

This event, the two disciples meeting Jesus, happened sometime after Jesus’ baptism. Many people had gone to the river Jordan to be cleansed.  Many were looking for a Messiah. We know that John said that he was not the Messiah, only a prophet crying in the wilderness. But he did understand that Jesus’ was very special – he called him the “Lamb of God.” And he pointed him out to these two seekers. Andrew and another (perhaps evangelist John himself) were among the seekers. Some want to say that this is an autobiographical remembrance. The two were excited by the words of John and bold enough to follow that Lamb of God.

We in turn, 2000 years later, are still called into the scene – “Come and see.”.”

MY  PRAYER

May I start with a few words of direction?

When entering into this prayer period, try to set yourself comfortably and quietly for a few minutes. Then read the Scripture story again to put yourself in place, perhaps see yourself in the picture – with Jesus. The prayer time may be short – five or 10 minutes – or longer as your heart desires. Give full concentration to Jesus as these two men do. You might try to do this same prayer two or three times during the week as possible.

  • I first thanked the Lord Jesus for the invitation to “Come and see.” I am called – that is why I am here at this moment.
  • What would I want to say to Jesus ?
  • What would I want to hear him saying to me :
    • what comfort or peace do I need
    • do I need to ask for forgiveness
    • can I say to him – “I thank you and I love you.”

Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me – I love you – I want to be with you and you with me.

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible