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

“Preparing the Future That We Need”

At his 05August General Audience Pope Francis began a catechesis-series entitled “To heal the world”: ”In the next few weeks, I invite you to tackle together the pressing questions that the pandemic has brought to the fore, social ills above all. And we will do it in the light of the Gospel, of the theological virtues and of the principles of the Church’s social doctrine.” 

Catholic News Service has posted about the pope’s series.

In light of #COVID19 #Pandemic Pope Francis will begin new series of audience talks on social doctrine https://t.co/Sq8ExtOReD via @CatholicCourier pic.twitter.com/3hqXtynEgl

— Catholic News Service (@CatholicNewsSvc) August 5, 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.

___________________

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

Perfection or Fruitfulness?

From the Thinking Faith archives spiritual director Christopher Chapman offered a way into Sunday’s gospel selection. His conviction remains current: “Old or young, God will dare us once more to emerge into being. The Spirit will lead us beyond ourselves in fruitful generosity.”

In tomorrow's #gospel, the sower who scatters seed amidst rocks, birds and thorns is not being wasteful: this is how the field is. But the sower also knows there are pockets of good soil and so is liberal in the sowing. https://t.co/nb9u4BmL1I #gospel

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) July 11, 2020

Radical Rethink

Pope Francis has called this time of pandemic one of conversion: “…pass from the hyper-virtual, fleshless world to the suffering flesh of the poor. This is the conversion we have to undergo. And if we don’t start there, there will be no conversion.” The turn toward “suffering flesh” is not immediately inviting.

At Thinking Faith Karen Eliasen considers a story to assist this turn, the “story of Miriam’s wilderness bout of...‘a harmful skin disease’.” Ms. Eliasen notes the story of Miriam speaks to today's circumstances: “...in a complex mix of power struggle, emotional outbursts, disease, isolation–and even spitting. Add to this already compelling mix the timeless ur-issues of gender and prayer, and the juicy ingredients are all there to be squeezed for contemporary pandemic relevance.”

Are you familiar with the story of Miriam in Numbers 12? An episode that reads as a heated and traumatic encounter with Moses, Aaron and God might well lead us towards something entirely more hopeful, suggests Karen Eliasen. https://t.co/Yy4GsGAjQ0

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) July 4, 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.

___________________

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

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.

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

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.”

___________________

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

Bring Them Along

One help to praying that St. Ignatius of Loyola counselled was: engage with anyone present in a scripture that focuses one’s prayer. The Ascension of Jesus involves his disciples. It helps prayer to bring them along, particularly if we are grieving.

What Jesus’ ascension can teach us about coping with grief https://t.co/BkCqddTjqk

— America Magazine (@americamag) May 21, 2020

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

Today’s 2nd Reading

The figure of St. Paul dominates the latter portion of the Acts of the Apostles. Mission dominated his life.

Paul's masterful speech at the Areopagus, which we hear in today's first reading, has been called the climax to Acts of the Apostles and been recognised by the Church as a model of mission. https://t.co/YESKaLUoYV pic.twitter.com/rGkIdqhkqp

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 20, 2020

Praying Into Sunday’s Readings

Challenging to take Jesus at his word. Consoling if one takes the chance.

Jesus said to his disciples; ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.'
Pray with today's readings:https://t.co/uevk3d6jjY pic.twitter.com/HNlMugUTi5

— Jesuits in Britain (@JesuitsBritain) May 10, 2020

Sunday’s 2nd Reading

T hinking Faith reposted Jesuit Peter Edmond’s guide to selections from the First Letter of Peter, read this year on the Sundays of Easter. Tomorrow’s verses remind: “Jesus is not the only building stone. The people can take pride in being living stones who build themselves up in God’s sight not as a temple but as a holy priesthood.”

In the second reading for the fifth Sunday of Easter, we are invited to join pilgrims of old on pilgrimage to God’s temple in Jerusalem: https://t.co/xdZJmtRdSa pic.twitter.com/ugDQavOrS2

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 9, 2020

Unlikely Pair

Human thinking may not readily pair beauty and conversion. They may, in fact, be close kin. This morning Pope Francis prayed for at mass for makers of beauty, because it  help us “understand the gospel.” The gospel invites conversion in ongoing fashions.

The pandemic has allowed more time to notice beauty and to ponder personal meaning. Such pondering opens hearts to conversion. The “extreme situation that we are living through can change us, individually and collectively, says Mauricio López Oropeza.” By a close reading of a classic novel and our “extreme situation” Oropeza nudges one to consider changing.

It falls on all of us to ask how the extreme situation that we are living through can change us, individually and collectively, says @redamazonia's Mauricio López Oropeza: https://t.co/1U2ZU7Zp9T #coronavirus

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 7, 2020

Francis Prays for Makers of Beauty

Pope Francis prayed for artists at mass. Makers of beauty are essential. Beauty helps us “understand the gospel.”

#PopeFrancis prays at Mass for artists, and invites Christians never to forget we are part of the chosen people of God. #HomilySantaMarta https://t.co/mK2FCwVxUC

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2020