2, Scripture Readings – Summaries of the readings of each Sunday Mass (by Chris Oliver)

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Num 21:4-9;   Ps 77;   Phil 2:6-11;   Jn 3:13-17

The Book of Numbers carries Israel’s story forward from the giving of the covenant to Moses on Mount Sinai, to the end of their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God walked with them throughout, always caring for them, often in face of their grumblings. Today we hear how they were still grumbling even as they neared the Promised Land. The rebellious people are forgiven for the last time before leaving the wilderness. Moses raised up an image of a fiery serpent on a standard which cured the serpents’ bites. Incense was later offered to a bronze serpent standing in the Temple. Serpents appeared to regenerate themselves by shedding their skins, so they were seen as symbolising life.
Paul is generally believed to have written this letter to the Philippians from Ephesus around 57 AD. The Christians in Philippi were suffering both internal divisions and antagonism from their neighbours. Paul is united with them through his own suffering, and together they are united with Christ in his suffering. He exhorts them to selflessness, encouraging them by quoting this early Christian hymn.
These readings come together in John’s Gospel: Jesus tells Nicodemus that “the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert”. Through the Cross “everyone who believes” in Jesus as God’s Son “may have eternal life”.

Psalm Response:Never forget the deeds of the Lord

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART by Father Bernadino Andrade

HAPPINESS IS MY DECISION

A 92 year old, petit, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by 8 o’clock, with his air fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. 
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he manoeuvred his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
“I love it”, he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year old having just been presented with a new puppy.
– “Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait”, I replied. Happiness is something you decide ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have put in.
So my advice to you would be to to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. (Anonymous)

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Ezek 33:7-9 Ps 94 Rom 13:8-10 Matt 18:15-20

Ezekiel says the authority of religious leaders comes with a daunting responsibility – and penalty for getting it wrong. If religious leaders fail to instruct the people correctly, they will suffer the same fate as the sinners they have failed to guide wisely, just as God threatened Israel’s leaders during the exile for leading the people astray. After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, Ezekiel promises hope for a future return to Jerusalem – but only if the people accept individual responsibility for sins and purify themselves of false gods.
Paul’s advice to the Romans on Christian living continues: obey secular authorities, whose authority comes from God, and pay the taxes and respect that is their due. Above all “love your neighbour as yourself”.
The first reading helps us to understand the Gospel. But the awesome authority of the Church to bind and loose on God’s behalf is put into context by the last verse of the Gospel reading. “Where two or three meet in Jesus’ name”, Jesus will be in their midst – and by implication he will be guiding their decision-making, so their decisions will be in tune with God’s will. The Church’s power to include or exclude individuals is not to be exercised carelessly, but only after due deliberation by the whole Christian community.
Psalm Response: O that today you would listen to his voice! “Harden not your hearts”.

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART by Father Bernadino

WEDDING RINGS SOLD FOR LOVE

It happened just a few hours ago. My eyes are still wet and my heart still bleeding. For the first time I saw this young couple inside the Chapel of the Hospital to attend my 12:00 o´clock Mass. He is 26 years old and she is 25. His mother attended Mass with them. After Mass they entered my office with a special request. They wanted me to bless their «Wedding Rings». They have been married for six years. As a normal couple they exchanged their wedding rings during the ceremony and were very happy with their marriage and with their wedding rings. This was six years ago.

After three years of a happy marriage both lost their jobs. No food, no medicine, no money no hope. But there was love and their wedding rings.They had a few pieces of gold – among them their wedding rings. What to do when there is not a glass of milk, a slice of bread, an egg? When there is not a spoon of rice, a slice of potato? When there is nothing to eat. Among other things this precious young couple decided to sell their wedding rings. It was the only way they had to buy food and survive.

It happened that his sister had an engagement ring. The relationship with her fiancée didn´t work. Both engagement rings were offered to her brother and her sister in law. They were golden rings. In my office this precious young couple exchanged their wedding rings «as a sign of their love and fidelity» with a special blessing of the church. Three years with their wedding rings. Three years without wedding rings. A life to share their commitment to love each other for better and for worse.

Thoughts on the Days Readings

Jer 20:7-9        Ps 62   Rom 12:1-2    Mt 16:21-27

Jeremiah, probably before 600 BC, and so before the exile, criticised Israel for worshipping other gods. So Pashtur, the chief priest, beat Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. Next day, when he was released, Jeremiah told Pashtur that he would go to Babylon, where he and all his friends would die. Jeremiah then continued with this lament that God had misled him, because he had to suffer so much on the Lord’s behalf, and had begun to wonder – or doubt – whether his call from God was real.
After marvelling last week at the impossibility of understanding God’s plans, Paul goes on to encourage the Romans to “let your behaviour change”. Like Jeremiah, they must “not be conformed to this world”, but be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”, discovering and doing the will of God.
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus starts to instruct the disciples how he is to suffer, in accordance with God’s will. Peter objects, but Jesus turns on Peter with similar words he used to Satan after his Baptism. Poor Peter! He has just been given the power to bind and loose, but now he is told he is not on God’s side, but is thinking like the world!
 
Psalm Response:         My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART .. by Father Bernadino

SIX O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING

Mrs. Smith was an elderly and lonely lady living by herself in a big and almost empty house. One day she decided to call the nearest hotel. On the other end of the line a receptionist answered with a tender and kind voice.
Good morning. May I help you?
Good morning, said Mrs. Smith, also with a sweet and frail voice. Could you please tell me, what time is it?
It’s six o’clock in the morning.
Thank you. You are so kind. Have a beautiful day.
Have a beautiful day too.
The following morning Margaret repeated what started being her daily ritual. She called again the same number. On the other end of the line the same receptionist, the same kindness. Again, the following morning, the same call, from the same person with the same question.
Good morning. May I help you?
Yes. Would you please tell me what time is it?
At this point, the receptionist became inpatient, changed the tone of her voice and answered:
It’s six o’clock in the morning. Can’t you buy a clock and see the time by yourself without bothering other people every day?
I am so sorry for bothering you. I am really sorry. Please forgive me. In my house I have three alarm clocks, three wrist watches and two hall clocks But when I wake up in the morning not one of them tells me «good morning» the way you do. I am sorry. Have a wonderful day.
At this point it was the receptionist who, keeping the receiver in her hand for long time, felt very sorry. God is in every corner and every place and every person we find in our lives, but He is especially present in those who are lonely, who are excluded, in those who bother us, who don’t know how to follow rules. Yes. He is especially present in those who are most repugnant and are good for nothing. (Math. 25)

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Is 22:19-23      Ps 137 Rom 11:33-36            Mt 16:13-20
A good example of the Old Testament helping us to understand the New. In Matthew’s gospel reading today Jesus gives Peter power to “bind and loose”. Isaiah, predicting the expulsion of self-seeking officials, describes what this power means: Eliakim, newly appointed as “master of the palace”, is given complete authority to decide who may enter the House of David – and who may not. And he is to be “a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the House of Judah”. Like Eliakim, Peter, and – in chapter 18 – all the apostles, are given authority to make eternal decisions, which will be upheld by God. In last Sunday’s reading from chapter 11 of Romans, Paul suggested that he was sent as the apostle to the pagans “in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them”. Israel, even while attacking the gospel, is still God’s “beloved”, since God never takes back his promises. This week Paul brings us to gasp in awe and wonder at the daring brilliance of God’s plan, which we can never fully comprehend.
This chapter of Matthew’s gospel began with Jesus finally breaking off discussions with the Jewish authorities. Now recognised as divine, Jesus, begins to form his disciples into a community to continue his work after his death.
 
Psalm Response: Your love, O Lord, is eternal: discard not the work of your hands.

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

NOW CARRY ME

Bob was a busy sales man. He used to travel a lot but his marriage and his family were always first. Every time he travelled Bob would bring home special gifts for his wife and children. Bob’s little daughter was paralized. One day when he came home Bob brought a big box for his wife and greeted his daughter seated on the floor waiting for him.
    – What’s that daddy? 
    – A special gift for your mother.
    – Daddy, she asked, give it to me and let me take it to mommy.
    – It is too heavy, darling. You can’t carry this weight.
    – Pease, Daddy. Give it to me. I want to take it to mommy. 
    – Sweet heart, you know that you can not walk. Your legs are very week. You have no strength in your arms and legs to carry this box.
    – Please, please give it to me. 
    – OK. I will give it to you and you will immediately see that you will not be able and have no strength to carry this box by yourself and give it to your mother. Then Bob gently put the box on her daughter’s knees.
    Bob’s little girl grabbed the box with her arms and, smiling, looked at her father and said:
      – Now daddy you carry me.
    Somtimes the burdens and the decisions in life look to heavy for us. The solution is to look to God in intimate prayer and say:
    – Abba, Father, now carry me.

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Isa 56: 1, 6-7    Ps 66(67)     Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32     Mt 15:21-28
Third Isaiah was writing after 515 BC, when the Jews had returned from exile in Babylon and had rebuilt the Temple. But there is idolatry and injustice. Isaiah looks forward to a time when all peoples will be able to worship in the Temple, both foreigners and individuals with imperfect bodies. All that matters is justice and keeping the covenant.
Paul kept hoping his people would accept Jesus as the Christ. In his letter to the Jewish Christians in Rome he insists that God has not rejected his people: the Gentiles are a branch grafted onto the tree of Israel. In today’s reading he sees the Gentile mission as trying to make Jews envious and so also come to accept God’s mercy, as he has. But the Gentile branch can be broken off if they lose their faith.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus has criticised the Jewish leaders for insisting on external purity while disobeying God’s commandments. Nothing entering one’s mouth defiles, only what comes out. In Phoenicia, the only scene outside Israel in this gospel, Jesus heals the Canaanite child. But first he utters the memorable insult that “it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs”.

Psalm Response:    Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Never Give Up!

Many years ago in Illinois (USA), a young man with six months schooling to his credit ran for an office in the legislature. As might have been expected, he was beaten. Next he entered business and failed in that too, and spent the next seventeen years paying the debts of his worthless partner.

He fell in love with a charming lady, they became engaged – and she died. He had a nervous breakdown. He ran for congress and was defeated. He then tried to obtain an appointment to the US Land Office but didn’t succeed. He became a candidate for the Vice-Presidency and lost. Two years later he was defeated in a race for the Senate.

He ran for President and finally was elected. That man was Abraham Lincoln. 

Success doesn’t happen by accident. “Failure is never final”

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

1 Kgs 19:9,11-13        Ps 84   Rom 9:1-5      Mt 14:22-33
The books of Kings, Joshua, Judges and Samuel tell the story of Israel from entering the Promised Land until the exile in Babylon. Not simply history, they show the frequent unfaithfulness of the Chosen People, leading to their exile. After Elijah successfully called on God to produce rain, he killed all the failed prophets of Baal. Now he has had to flee from Jezebel’s threat of revenge, and has come to Mount Horeb, ie Sinai, the traditional site of God appearing to men. After Elijah recognises God in “a light murmuring sound” – “a sound of fine silence”, God promises a remnant of faithful Israelites will survive, and gives Elijah more tasks.
 Paul shows the Romans just how great is his agony that most of the Chosen People have failed to recognise God in Jesus: he would be willing to give up even his own hope of salvation “if it could help my brothers of Israel”.
 Matthew describes a small group who do recognise Jesus, and are willing to step out into the unknown to be with him. Jesus encourages them: they have “little faith”, but it is enough for them to believe that he is “Son of God”. (Matthew teaches what the disciples understood after the Resurrection, although Mark says “they did not understand”.)
 
Psalm Response:         Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

LOST OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Robert Schuler, was a Protestant Minister in California. He was one of my heroes in helping me to shape my Catholic Ministry. He used to say that «Hell will occur if one day God shows us the opportunities that we have missed in life»

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A man named Smith climbed upon the roof of his riverside house during a flood, confident that his God would save him miraculously. When the flood water had covered his feet, a neighbour in his canoe paddled past and shouted, «Can I give you a lift to a higher ground?»
«No thanks,» said Smith. «I have faith in the Lord and He will save me».

Soon the water had risen to Smith´s waist. At this point a motorboat pulled up and someone invited him to get into to boat and escape. But Mr. Smith adamantly refused the offer declaring his faith in the saving power of his God.

Later when Smith was standing on the roof with water up to his neck somebody from a helicopter dropped a rope and the pilot yelled at him, «Grab the rope before the water currents push you down.» – «No, thanks, said Smith. «I have faith in the Lord and He will save me». But after a while Mr. Smith lost his grip on the roof, fought for his life for a time and finally drowned.

As he arrived at the Pearly Gates he met his God and launched a complaint about this turn of events.
-«Tell me, Lord, he said, «I had such faith in You to save me and you let me down». Why? It was not fair.»
-The Lord replied, «What did you expect Me to do? I sent two boats and a helicopter to save you.»

How many opportunities I miss in my daily life, to grow in my relationship with God, with others, to help the poor, to heal relationships and so on. For me it is easier to blame God or the devil or others or bad luck.

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Is 55:1-3    Ps 144     Rom 8:35,37-39     Mt 14:13-21
Second Isaiah encourages the Israelites exiled in Babylon by reminding them that God had not forgotten his everlasting covenant with them. They are still invited to turn to him and to enjoy the heavenly banquet in the end days. But they must “listen, and your soul will live”. The Psalm says: God – of his nature – must be “just in all his ways”, but he is also “kind and full of compassion”.
 
Paul has now arrived at the tremendous conclusion he has been working towards through these four chapters of his letter to the Romans: “nothing can come between us and the love of Christ”. We have been justified by our faith in the gospel. God is on our side. Jesus himself prays on our behalf. We can be certain that, no matter who we are, nor what we do, God never stops loving us. How difficult it can be to accept this! This is what God’s covenant means: we will never cease to be his people.
 
The Gospel shows how readily God provides for our needs, just like he provided the manna in the desert. The feedings of the multitudes give us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet to come. And, foreshadowing the Eucharist, the disciples begin to take on some of Christ’s work.
 
Psalm Response:           You open wide your hand, O Lord; you grant our desires

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

A PRICE FOR RELATIONSHIPS

Rabindra Nath Tagore`s cook and house keeper did not come to work one time one morning. Like so many professional men of his mind-set, Tagore was utterly helpless when it came to the routine details of the day, getting his clothes together, making his breakfast, tidying up his place. An hour went by, and Tagore was getting angrier by the minute. He thought about all kinds of punishment. Three hours later, he no longer thought of punishment. He would discharge the man without any further consideration, get rid of him, turn him out. Finally the man showed up it was mid-day. Without a word, the servant proceeded with his duties as though nothing had happened. He picked up Tagore´s clothes and set to making breakfast. Then he started cleaning, Tagore watched all of this with mounting rage. Finally he said, «Drop everything! Get out! I can´t stand the sight of you. You are dismissed… fired!» The man, however, continued sweeping, and after another few minutes, with quiet dignity he said, «My little girl died last night».
«If you knew the pain of your worst enemy you would become his best friend»

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

1 Kgs 3:5,7-12             Ps 118             Rom 8:28-30                Mt 13:44-52

After David’s death his son, Solomon, was established as king. Before Solomon built the Temple, sacrificing to God in high places was acceptable. It was during one such sacrifice that God appeared in a dream asking Solomon what he most wanted. In humility Solomon asked for a discerning judgement, rightly earning God’s praise. The Psalm values ruling one’s life by God’s commands above everything.
 Our readings from chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the Romans continue describing life in the Spirit. Paul says that Christians should try to reproduce in themselves images of Christ by progressively sharing in his risen life. God prepares those called to do his work and cooperates with them. Each individual is called for some task in God’s plan for salvation. Those who love him will share in his glory. This includes not only Christians and others of goodwill, but also the Jews, “the ones he chose specially long ago”.
 Matthew’s Gospel compares the Kingdom of Heaven to the greatest treasure found either accidentally or after a search, and then compares the Kingdom to a dragnet: the good fish will be kept and those of no use will be thrown in the furnace. But there is a surprise ending: not all old treasures should be thrown away, some should be kept – like Israel’s Scriptures, our Old Testament.

Fund Raising Dinner at Moynihans Irish pub

A dinner was held at Moynihans Irish pub on the 26th July to raise funds for the People Helping People project. This was well attended and raised much needed funds for the project. Thanks to the management of Moynihans for their support.

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Wis 12:13,16-19 Ps 85 Rom 8:26-27 Mt 13:24-43

Psalm 85 really says it all this week: God is a loving God, a “God of mercy and compassion, slow to anger”, “good and forgiving, full of love to all who call.” Eventually “all the nations” – ie the Gentiles – will come to adore God.
The Book of Wisdom was probably written in Alexandria about 50 years before Christ, to encourage the faith of Jews living in a pagan Egypt. It wrestles with the age-old problem that evildoers are not punished in this world. Wisdom insists that God is just and merciful: he will reward the just after death, although this book does not say how. We can see that God moderates his own power with his justice from the way he gave the Canaanites time to repent during the exodus, and we should follow his example by showing mercy to those who hurt us.
The Gospel shows God’s mercy in action. Instead of venting punishment on sinners and immediately uprooting them, God patiently gives us time to repent. Even more, as Paul has been saying to the Romans, we may have confidence in the future life God has planned for us. God sends the Spirit to help us and to enable us to express our prayers more meaningfully.

Psalm Response:    O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

THE POOR WANT TO BE POOR

It was a very dramatic mission. This story was written by Hampton Sides in his book «Ghost Soldiers» and told by Fr. Tony Kadavil in his weekly publication. It happened during the World War II. On January 28th, 1945, 121 hand – selected Army Rangers slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines in an attempt to rescue 513 American and British POW’s who had spent three years in a hellish prison camp near the city of Cabanatuan. Hampton Sides describes the first effects of liberation as chaos and fear. The prisoners were too mentally brittle to understand what was taking place. Some even scurried away from their liberators. One particular prisoner, Berk Bank, refused to budge, even when a Ranger walked right up to him and tugged his arm, «C’mon, we’re here to save you», he said. «Run for the gate».Finally a smile formed on Bank’s lips as the meaning of the words became clear, and he reached up to the outstretched hand of the Ranger. The Rangers searched all the barracks for the additional prisoners, then shouted, «The Americans are leaving. Is there anybody here?» Hearing no answer, they left. The freed prisoners marched 25 miles and boarded their ship home. With each step, their stunned disbelief gave away to soaring optimism.
Did these people really want to continue that miserable life they had lived during three years in a miserable prison where there was no difference between garbage and human beings? This is what I have heard from many «experts» and «good people» who work with the poor. «The poor want to be poor. It´s their choice».
One day I arrived to a meeting where the group was discussing how to help this special person who had lived for 7 months in a miserable cave. The first thing I heard was, «We can not help those who don’t want to be helped». I am glad I arrived on time to say: «There is no one who need help more than the one who doesn’t want to be helped»

Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings

Acts 12:1-11 Ps 332 Tim 4:6-8; 17-18  Matt 16:13-19
This chapter of Acts is the last about the Jerusalem church before Paul’s missionary journeys. We hear about Peter’s third arrest, this time by Herod who is the grandson of the Herod when Jesus was born. The story of Peter being freed from prison is so lovingly told that the parallels with Jesus’ arrest may be missed. Like Jesus, Peter was arrested during the Passover, and was also taken for a ghost, here by the maid, Rhoda, who shuts the door in his face. The angel who proclaimed Jesus to be risen, and who frees Peter, goes on to strike Herod dead.

A rather lonely Paul, abandoned in prison in Rome, writes these encouraging words to Timothy. Paul has solemnly commissioned Timothy to take over his ministry, and Paul urges him to keep on preaching the true Christian message in its entirety. But this will inevitably lead to similar suffering and Timothy will need always to rely on the Lord’s strength.

Today’s gospel is Matthew’s version of Jesus asking who people say he is. It is similar to Luke’s version. But Matthew inserts the well-known commissioning of Peter to be the rock of the Church, the only reference in all the gospels to the whole Church, and probably added later.

Psalm Response:           From all my terrors the Lord set me free

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART

Fr. Bernardino Andrade

THE POOR ARE POOR BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT

Kazimerz Symanski of Poland was a prisoner of war during World War II.
There is no record of what happened to Symanski in the prison camp, but his experiences there obviously changed him. In his later years, Symanski seemed bent on reliving his prison experience. He even turned his small apartment into a prison cell. He put bars over the windows and constructed a small cage in which he slept. He refused to allow electricity or running water in his apartment. He seemed determined to live in the most primitive and confining conditions. Symanski died in 1993 from effects of his living conditions.
(Told by Fr. Tony Kadavil).
Did Symanski died in this dungeon because he liked it? Was it his choice? I would love to hear a group of psychologists and sociologists discussing this matter. Working with the poor during my entire life this has been one of the biggest accusations I have heard against the poor.
«They are poor because they like to be poor. They like to beg. They like an easy life».
When I ask help for the poor and people start lecturing me and giving me their «deep knowledge» about the poor accusing them of being lazy, abusers, liars, judging them and accusing them with all these kind of information, I just feel like saying «Thank you for your expertise about the poor. Don´t worry. But if one day you need help here is my phone number. I am part of a project called People Helping People. You can count on us. We are not experts in the field but we will be happy to help you if we have the money. I promise we will not humiliate you and call you names».
«LOVERS ALWAYS LOOK INSANE FOR THE NON LOVERS».