Moving Back into the
'Ordinary Time' of Discipleship
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presence with and for us. Our pandemic time has given us a new appreciation of this as well, as most of us have longed for the Eucharist and the presence of one another at Mass for many months. The presence of Christ in the Eucharist is an immeasurable treasure.
Lay Formation
us nowhere because we are running from who we are called to be and what we are called to do. Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Remain in me, as I Todd Graff remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on Director of Lay Formation & RCIA its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can tgraff@dowr.org you unless you remain in me.’ (John 15:1-8) Running away is not true to our deepest nature as people who are created in God’s image, after God’s very likeness. In our most perfect self, we are so close to God there A selfish faith would be an unreal faith. Whoever is no distance between us. When we are faithful to our believes in Jesus Christ and enters into the dynamic of baptism, we are united to Jesus and to one another. As love that finds its source in the Eucharist discovers true disciples, we find the strength we need in the power of joy and becomes capable, in turn, of living according to the Holy Spirit to remain rather than run. the logic of gift. God is not isolation, but glorious and “Remaining with Jesus roots us in God’s love. Like joyful love, spreading outward and radiant with light. branches on a thriving vine, we gain sustenance and -Pope Benedict XVI life in the Lord who remains in us, as we remain in him. It is difficult for us to grasp the immensity of God’s love reetings of Peace, Friends in Christ! and the abundance of God’s grace that is offered to us As I write this in mid-June, we have just finished through Jesus Christ. Yet, this abundant life is freely celebrating the great 50 days of the Easter Season – given us. We have only to accept it and to live it. culminating in Pentecost Sunday – and the beautiful Rooted in God’s love, we will bear good fruit. St. and profound feasts of the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus John Neumann captured our call to bear the fruit of Christi, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the God’s love profoundly: "God sees every one of us; He Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is such a rich time in creates every soul … for a purpose. He needs, He deigns our liturgical year! to need every one of us. He has an end for each of us; As we move through Ordinary Time during these we are all equal in His sight, and we are placed in our summer months, I want to hold onto and savor a bit different ranks and stations, not of the spiritual riches offered to to get what we can out of them us from the past few weeks of our Impact is a monthly resource for ourselves, but to labor in them liturgical life so as to guide us in our for parishes which seeks “to form for Him. As Christ has worked, we “ordinary” and day-to-day lives of people as disciples and good stewtoo have but to labor in them for discipleship. ards who share their gifts and Him. As Christ has His work, we To do this, I will share some con- faith, making an impact in their too have ours; as He rejoiced to do tent from the May and June issues of lives and the life of the world. His work, we must rejoice in ours the faith resource Impact, created Each month, Impact focuses on also.” by my colleague and friend, Leisa themes found in the Sunday readThe primary way that Christ Anslinger, and produced by Catholic ings, connecting Mass with the call to discipleship, growing as remains with us, and we are Life and Faith. I am most grateful for good stewards, and sharing faith united with him, is through the her permission to reprint from this in daily life.” celebration of the Eucharist. We excellent resource! celebrate the Eucharist in every In the latter weeks of the Easter For more information and to see a season of the church year, and in Season, our gospel readings for sample issue, go to: a special way on the Solemnity of daily Mass are taken from the “Last www.catholiclifeandfaith.net/ the Most Holy Body and Blood of Supper Discourse” in the Gospel discover-impact. Christ (“Corpus Christi”). In the of John. Jesus is speaking with his celebration of the Eucharist, we disciples in a very intimate way as ‘become what we receive – the he prepares them for what will take Body of Christ’ (Saint Augustine). We are united to place in the coming events of his death, resurrection, Christ in this most personal and intimate of ways. and ascension. He urges them to “remain in [him],” And, through our Holy Communion with him, he as branches on a vine. By remaining in him, they will invites us to be his “Body,” his presence, to the world. “bear much fruit and become [his] disciples” [see John 15:1-8]. “Without Measure” From the June Issue of Impact “Remain, Be Rooted, and Bear Fruit” From the May Issue of Impact What is the greatest gift we can give another person? When we really reflect on this question, our deepest We might say it is in our common human tendency to response will most certainly be ‘presence’. To give run away. As toddlers, many of us packed a few of our another the gift of our attention, care and love is a most precious belongings and left home in search of present that is never outdated and is everlasting. We freedom or simply because we had to see what was may be more aware of this now than ever before. If beyond the doors of the familiar and loved. Our tenthere is one lesson we may carry from the pandemic it dency to run doesn’t stop as we mature. We fight the is that we need others. There is something significant temptation to run away – from difficulties, commitmissing in our lives when we are unable to be present ment, even from God – throughout our lives. or to know another’s presence. Jesus knows how often we resolve to follow him Our presence is a share of our self, as Christ’s only to backtrack when the going gets tough. He love is a share of the immense love of God. We who understands how easy it is for us to turn away from have been baptized into Christ offer that love to othGod’s divine plan and will. We may for a time feel we ers through our presence as stewards of all we are are heading somewhere. Yet Jesus knows that we will and have and will be. Through participation in the only find fulfillment and peace when we are close to Eucharist, we are given all we need in Christ’s gift of him. The Lord knows that ultimately our running gets
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And what is the measure of God? Without measure! The measure of God is without measure. Everything! Everything! Everything! It’s impossible to measure the love of God: it is without measure! And so we become capable of loving even those who do not love us: and this is not easy. To love someone who doesn’t love us…. It’s not easy! Because if we know that a person doesn’t like us, then we also tend to bear ill will. But no! We must love even someone who doesn’t love us! Opposing evil with good, with pardon, with sharing, with welcome (Pope Francis, June 22, 2014).
Our prayers, our gifts of time, talent and our material resources are signs of our awareness that we are blessed beyond measure. Recognizing that we are ‘fearfully, wonderfully made’, the gift of self, our presence, is a true sign and blessing that cannot be diminished over time. “When Tiny Becomes Mighty” From the June Issue of Impact
Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - the smallest of all the seeds on the earth, which springs up and becomes a large plant. If God’s kingdom is the reign of love, then even our smallest actions on behalf of love can grow beyond our imagining. Think of all the opportunities we have to show and to share love every day. Times when we put impatience aside, linger with someone who is struggling, give our time in service. These small acts expand our hearts and make Christ’s presence known. Tiny seeds of mercy, compassion, and caring grow into mighty expressions of the incredible love of God. Doing this is simple but it is not always easy. It requires us to make the perspective of the Lord our own, to have as our greatest desire that all will know and share love. What tiny seed of love will you plant today? How does the Eucharist shape and nourish you to be a sower of the seeds of Christ’s presence? What might be the mighty impact of your sharing in the lives of others and for the life of the world? Deo gratias!
Thanks to Jesus and to his Spirit, even our life becomes ‘bread broken’ for our brothers. And living like this we discover true joy! The joy of making oneself a gift, of reciprocating the great gift that we have first received, without merit of our own. This is beautiful: our life is made a gift! This is to imitate Jesus. I wish to remind you of these two things. First: the measure of God’s love is love without measure. Is this clear? And our life, with the love of Jesus, received in the Eucharist, is made a gift. As was the life of Jesus. Don’t forget these two things: the measure of the love of God is love without measure. And following Jesus, we, with the Eucharist, make of our life a gift. -Pope Francis
July 2021 w The Courier w dowr.org
