St. Joseph Catholic Church - Toledo, OH

Hebrews 12:5-7 Homily Preparation Notes

Initial Observations

–The Hebrews (who they are we do not exactly know) are experiencing some sort of persecution/intense trial...

–this passage occurs just after exhortation to consider the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us… then to consider Jesus himself, the founder and professor of our faith… then to realize we have not yet struggled to the point of shedding our blood…

–the recipients have forgotten the “consolation” (paraklesis)… a word connected to the Holy Spirit

–recipients are spoken to as “sons”, told not to “take lightly” the discipline/training (paideia) of the Lord… also not to wear out/faint at his punishment

Luke 12:13-21 Homily Preparation Notes

St. Ignatius of Loyola's First Principle and Foundation

“The human person is created to praise, reverence and serve God Our Lord, and by so doing to save his or her soul. The other things on the face of the earth are created for human beings in order to help them pursue the end for which they are created.

It follows from this that one must use other created things in so far as they help towards one’s end, and free oneself from them in so far as they are obstacles to one’s end. To do this we need to make ourselves indifferent to all created things, provided the matter is subject to our free choice and there is no prohibition.

Thus as far as we are concerned, we should not want health more than illness, wealth more than poverty, fame more than disgrace, a long life more than a short one, and similarly for all the rest, but we should desire and choose only what helps us more towards the end for which we are created.”

Luke 10:38-42 Homily Preparation Notes

• He who is Lord of all and God entered as a guest and a pilgrim

• St. Augustine: Suscepit famula Dominum, aegra salvatorem, creatura creatorem, spiritu pascenda in carne pascendum, dignatione, non conditione. The servant receives the Master, the sick person the Savior, the creature Creator, the one welcoming in spirit the one pastoring in the flesh, with esteem and no limitation.

• The virtue of hospitality is praised in Martha. Receiving a man, she likewise receives God who blesses her and her entire household.… similar to the way Abraham showed hospitality to three men who were angels

Luke 9:18-24 Homily Preparation Notes

–It says he is praying in solitude, yet the disciples are with him

• a spiritual meaning here? Prayer always involves the solitude of your conscience and the Father's presence/voice.
• There is the eternal divine part of Jesus' relationship with the Father that we can only image and never fully comprehend or share

– Note the contrast between Peter's identification of Jesus as “the Christ of God” (which means “anointed, chosen one”) and Jesus' calling himself the Son of man...

• Peter's title implies successful appointment and mission, exaltation
• Jesus' self-title implies the lowliness of suffering in his humanity... Son of Man
• Both are true... and Jesus wants both to be understood and be held in tension.... His mission as the anointed one involves, requires his mission as the suffering Son of Man

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP BLAIR

As we celebrate Easter, I ask that this year we offer a special prayer for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and for the Church in reparation for the sin of sexual abuse.

I already pray every day for all the victims of such abuse. Soon after becoming your Bishop, I asked everyone to do the same. Today there is new outrage at the horrendous sins and crimes of some of the Church’s priests and at the inexcusable failure to respond properly on the part of some of her bishops. However, nothing good is served by hurling accusations at Pope Benedict based on a deficient, even falsified, presentation of facts.

As of January 3rd, 2009, our parish has revised its Policies for the Reception of First Sacraments (First Confession, First Communion, Confirmation). The primary change is families must be registered members of the parish in order to receive first Sacraments. Father's complete explanation and specifics around the timing and requirements of each Sacrament can be found in Father's First Sacraments Letter.

The letter references additional sacrament resources on the diocesan website. These are available at the following address: http://www.toledodiocese.org/content/view/730/207/