The Rest of All

All Saints Day functions for living Christians in various ways. Patron saints come to mind, even though they have their days during the year. Exemplars and models of hope-filled living also glow in the solemnity. Yet no human knows all the saints, a reason that the snippet from the Book of Revelation read at mass is appropriate: during his vision of the heavenly worship the Seer heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands [5.11].

The festival of the saints not only spurs on Christians to share in glory. Its more valuable function prepares Christians to endure the cost to reach it. Preparing Christians is a reason relics have been prominent from the beginning. In an archived post at ThinkingFaith Jan Graffius traces the relics of a Roman martyr connected regions of Italy, England, northwestern France and the capital of the United States.

Jan Graffius explains how the physicality of Christian faith contributed to the value placed on relics, and describes how one saint’s relics help us to think about Christian witness. https://t.co/1Nce3GmYqK #AllSaintsDay

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) November 1, 2020

First Letter to Corinthians at Weekday Masses

To help appreciate St. Paul’s letter Thinking Faith delved into its archives and posted Jesuit Nicholas King’s consideration of it. He described Paul’s opening thanksgiving as “something of an unexploded bomb.” The beginnings of Paul's letters contain crucial elements that on which he elaborated.

What do we learn in today's first reading about Paul's solution to the problem of Christian disunity? https://t.co/7xbJq71HwW

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) September 2, 2020

Insight into Sunday’s Gospel

P athways to God made available Jesuit Fr. Peter Gallagher’s homily. It offers fresh insight into the gospel of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. It is easy to feel with the disciples that we have little or nothing to offer others.

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Wiki-image Miracle of loaves and fishes by “James Tissot | PD-US"

Appeal More than Reflection

Dismissing the crowds, [Jesus] went into the house: easy to miss phrases in the gospel selection remind that Matthew allowed Jesus’ original parable to speak to his hearers, his faith community. Contemporary hearers may consider how the parable of wheat and tares (a weed that resembles wheat in its early stages of growth) illuminates and encourages them.

Jaime L. Waters considers how this parable shapes those who welcome it to work for justice.

How the parable of the weeds compels us to fight for justice https://t.co/dPNPO14nBQ

— America Magazine (@americamag) July 19, 2020

Focus: 18-35

For the Sunday Mass via Zoom on 12 July.

Are we still harvesting hope amid Covid19 ?
Longing for some quality preaching during the lockdown? Join the Young Adults ‘zoom-in’ tomorrow evening at 7pm.

Contact: yam@jesuit.org.uk or WA: +44 7989173069 for the Zoom link. pic.twitter.com/2sSEZapLOB

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) July 11, 2020

Benefit of Doubt

“The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples.” [Pope St. Gregory the Great, Homily 26.7]

Jesuit Harry Elias is in good company when he acknowledged, “I am not convinced that [doubting] is a fair descriptor” of the Apostle Thomas. Another convincing quality for today: Father Elias wrote his reflection after leading a bible study with “immigration detention centre residents.”

Doubting Thomas and faith in the resurrection: https://t.co/hFctFM3aUE #feast

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) July 3, 2020

Hefty Demands

The threads of prophets and of reward for welcoming them (it is life itself in the first reading) unite the First Reading and the Gospel. In the Gospel Jesus speaks about those who welcome his witnesses. Jamie L. Waters reflected on the Sunday readings at mass at America Magazine.

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Wiki-image Glass of cold mineral water by “Arria Belli | CC BY-SA 2.0"

Medieval, 17th and 20th Centuries

Today’s moveable Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary seems to have medieval roots. Yet isn’t old because Mary’s heart was thematic in the 20^th-Century experience of Fatima. Read more at Saint of the Day.

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Wiki-image stained glass window of the Immaculate Heart of Virgin Mary by “Jebulon | PD-self"

Cosmos and the Body of Christ

Early in his tenure as pope Francis called attention to contemporary gnosticism, “a purely subjective faith whose only interest is a certain experience or a set of ideas and bits of information which are meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings” (Joy of the Gospel, 94). Early in its life the church faced gnosticism. St. Irenaeus of Lyons was confronted by it and responded to it.

Jesuit John Moffatt noted that the ancient bishop “a story affirming God’s relation to the cosmos that binds the Eucharist into the goodness of the created order and the practice of social justice and care of creation.” Most fitting as contemporary Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

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Wiki-image Procissão de Corpus Christi (Goiânia, Brasil) 2019 by “Eugenio Hansen, OFS | CC BY-SA 4.0"

“Joyful, but…more quiet”

Donna M. Cox reported Christian singing has Judaic roots and that “choral singing…brings individuals into oneness in Christ.” However, the pandemic and efforts to prevent infections has “hit church music programs hard — some more than others.”

The importance of song in Christian worship can be traced to its Judaic beginnings. Throughout the biblical canon, the Apocrypha, there are hundreds of references to Christians singing.https://t.co/6zLDWkP3TY

— NCR (@NCRonline) June 12, 2020

Theology of Joy

The Yale Center of Faith and Culture explored the Theology of Joy and the Good Life according to a variety of topics. It recorded several video interviews with those who participated. Ellen Charry, emerita professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, conversed about the “Theology of Joy.” These days, especially, people of faith benefit from holding on to a virtue embedded in religious tradition.

Pope Celebrates Solemnity on Sunday

#PopeFrancis will celebrate the feast of #CorpusChristi in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, with a Mass followed by solemn Adoration and Benediction.https://t.co/6uvgl5PP4Z

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 8, 2020

Relationship

The relations of the Persons of the Trinity form nothing abstract. In an archival post at Thinking Faith Jesuit John Moffatt noted: “if the single origin of all things is in essence relationship, we can begin to see why the deepest truth in the universe around us is not the laws of physics, but the law of love.”

The #Trinity represents a truth, that the single origin of all things is in essence relationship. https://t.co/ciRTybYdZg

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) June 6, 2020

Reflections on Scriptures for Sunday

This is the psalm of someone who has loved God all their lives. Theirs is a proven love, a long faithfulness. As we look back over our own lives in humility and gratitude, we might speak a similar prayer.  https://t.co/neLhXb5fIu

— Renee Yann, RSM (@ReneeYann) June 5, 2020

Memorial Recently Established

In 2018 Pope Francis decreed that a universal Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost. The Congregation for Divine Worship issued its decree soon after. America Magazine that year had reported more about today’s Memorial. Its scripture readings may be found here.

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Wiki-image Virgin of Lourdes by “Fernando de Gorocica | CC BY-SA 4.0"

Unity in Diversity

The de facto motto of the the United States long was “out of many, one.” Humans everywhere have great difficulty holding together unity and diversity. The Christian Solemnity of Pentecost recognizes unity in diversity is a divine gift. Cooperating with that gift is ever the goal.

At mass in the Basilica of St. Peter Pope Francis indicated three enemies of unity. Video is included.

#PopeFrancis urges Christians to ask the Holy Spirit to free us from the paralysis of selfishness to dedicate ourselves to serving others and doing good. #Pentecost https://t.co/kJODq0hLm5

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 31, 2020

Healthy Look of Public Places

The pictures taken during the 1918-20 pandemic indicate how people adapted to protect others and themselves. Places of worship are public places. Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about Christian communion and safety.

Read @MikeOLoughlin's interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on what he thinks we need to do before we can safely open churches again. https://t.co/7N2iAOARD8

— America Magazine (@americamag) May 28, 2020

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Wiki-image 1918 Precautions taken in Seattle, WA by “Unknown author | PD-US" 

Sensitive to Holy Spirit

The first reading at mass today can speak to contemporary experience. The passage is a window on St. Paul’s continual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Even in a legal setting—which lost its decorum to mob-action—Paul remained attentive. Holy Spirit abides daily, even in the stresses of pandemic.

In today's first reading, Paul calls himself a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. His letters reveal a man who is totally Jewish and who lived according to Jewish practice according to the Pharisaic understanding before encountering Jesus: https://t.co/iCeEd3N4xw pic.twitter.com/nSBscSmnRH

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 28, 2020

“Ascension Withdrawal” & Maturity

For the Solemnity of the Ascension Jesuit Peter Gallagher reflected that both aspects in the title are interrelated. Joy is also present.

Peter Gallagher’s homily for the Ascension this year included Mary. One conviction: “Supported by the grace of God, inspired by the example of Mary, we allow ourselves to be carried up into the divine presence.”

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Wiki-image Ascension of Jesus Christ 04 ies.jpg by “Frank Vincentz | CC BY-SA 3.0"

Upcoming

Some locales celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension on 21May; more will celebrate on 24May. Thinking Faith offers archived resources: one surveys the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus’ closing words to his disciples speak to contemporary people; and 

"Ignatius was no sentimentalist. If he used kingly language to speak of Jesus it was quite simply because he knew Jesus as a King." Why does @DamianHoward8 think this is key our understanding of the #Ascension? https://t.co/B519mOfJZM

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 20, 2020