St. Francis of Assisi Weekly Reflections

Adore Jesus in the Eucharist - Serve Jesus in your Neighbor

05-29-2016Weekly Reflection

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Lectionary's Year of Luke presents a Gospel in which Jesus, who has welcomed, taught, healed, and shown God's mercy to the multitude, refuses the Twelve's demand to dismiss the crowd before him. Instead, he says, "Give them some food yourselves" (Luke 9:13). In Jesus' hands, what little the Twelve has feeds five thousand ("men," and probably as many women and children), leaving twelve baskets so the Twelve can continue Jesus' ministry of mercy. Pope Francis has asked how we celebrate and live the Eucharist. Do we keep it to ourselves? Or do we "commune" not only with Jesus but with the multitude whom Jesus has given us to cherish? Entrusted to Jesus and shared with others, our limited resources can go a long way. Recognizing Jesus in the Eucharist demands that we recognize Jesus also in the hungry crowd. Adoring Jesus present in the Eucharist requires that we serve Jesus present in our neighbor.

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

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Kind and Merciful Like the Father

05-22-2016Weekly Reflection

The word mercy, Pope Francis declared in his announcement of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, "reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity" (Misericordiae Vultus, 2). For mercy is how God comes to meet us; mercy is the fundamental law helping us recognize everyone as brothers and sisters; mercy is the bridge connecting God and humanity, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness. God's self-revelation as a life-giving, love-sharing Trinity of Persons draws us closer to God in friendship and communion. Both Judaism and Islam consider mercy one of God's most important attributes. Israel unceasingly proclaims God boundless in mercy. Islam addresses the Creator as "Merciful and Kind," believing divine mercy limitless, its doors always open. May this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis prays, open us to more fervent dialogue, deepen our mutual understanding, eliminate all closed-minded disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination.

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
Papal quotes Copyright © 2015, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

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The Way, The Truth, and The Life

05-15-2016Weekly Reflection

Announcing the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis challenged us to proclaim God's mercy "to everyone without exception...again and again, with new enthusiasm and renewed pastoral action" (Misericordiae Vultus, 12). Pentecost proclaims that the door locked for fifty days is thrown open at last. No longer closed in on itself, the community speaks to crowds from different backgrounds, distant lands, exotic languages. Everyone hears their native language. The Spirit does not restore Babel's uniformity, but forges unity-in-diversity of language, race, nationality—embracing all without exception. During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pentecost's Spirit summons us afresh from mediocrity and isolation to share God's mercy with the world. "This is our mission!" Francis exclaims. We are "given the gift of the 'tongue' of the Gospel and the 'fire' of the Holy Spirit, so that while we proclaim Jesus risen, living and present in our midst, we may warm the heart of the peoples, drawing near to Him, the way, the truth, and the life" (Regina Coeli address, Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015).

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
Papal quotes Copyright © 2015, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

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Be My Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

05-08-2016Weekly Reflection

As the liturgical year—and this Jubilee Year of Mercy—unfold, we reflect on what Jesus' Ascension meant for the first disciples and means now for us. Stay in Jerusalem, Jesus had instructed, awaiting "the promise of the Father. In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:4–5, 8). Despite Jesus' absence, they wait "with great joy...continually in the temple praising God" (Luke 24:52–53). But as we join them, waiting and worshiping, the enduring challenge—theirs and ours—is delivered by "two men in white" (Acts 1:10). In every age, disciples must stop looking at the sky, head down the mountain, and go back into the world, "commissioned," says Pope Francis, "to announce the mercy of God, the beating heart of the Gospel," inviting everyone to find "in our parishes, communities, associations and movements, wherever there are Christians, an oasis of mercy" (Misericordiae Vultus, 12).

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
Papal quotes Copyright © 2015, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

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It is the Decision of the Holy Spirit and of Us

05-01-2016Weekly Reflection

In formal documents, presentations, and homilies outlining the purpose of this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis explains that compassion and understanding for those in difficult situations is not only our individual responsibility, but something the whole Church officially needs to manifest. Today's Acts of the Apostles reading presents a moving example of the early church doing precisely that. Prayerful openness to the Holy Spirit assures the assembly that they have not acted alone in discerning the correct resolution: "It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us." And they have chosen the compassionate response: "not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities" (Acts 15:28). Yet how daringly creative—the Jewish majority sets aside lifelong rituals that establish spiritual identity and express covenant fidelity. How radically trustful—the church affirms universally valid principles while respecting uniquely local and personal situations. Exactly the grace Pope Francis prays this Jubilee Year will renew in today's Church!

—Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

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