Thursday after Ash Wednesday Reflection
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Readings: Deuteronomy – Chapter 30 verses 15-20 / Psalm 1 verses 1-4, & 6 / Luke – Chapter 9 verses 22-25
Gospel:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Reflection:
Friends, God does not want us to suffer. God knows that life alone has its
own sufferings and things that happen in our lives, our world brings
enough of its own struggles and strife. We see the struggles and God
knows that the struggle is real. With the struggles that take place in our
lives, yes, we are to work through them as best as we can through the
grace of God. When we let certain things that distract us from God, it
keeps us from being our true selves. When we are not our true selves, we
are unable to truly receive the blessings that God has for us. We are no
good to ourselves or to anyone else. Once we free ourselves from all that
does not serve God, our eyes and minds, and hearts will be ready to
receive what our God has in stored for us. All we have to do is give up our
egos, letting go of all that we have held onto awaiting the new
transformation, the new way of life that awaits us. Are we ready for that
healing love?
Bishop Michael Theogene
Co-Pastor
The CACINA Catholic Parish of Saint Benedict &
Abbot of the Benedictines of Peace and Justice
The Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA)
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Fr. Michael Ellis, Chancellor
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South Burlington, Vermont 05403
Sunday Mass Fourth Sunday of Lent
Father Victor Ray, is the Pastor of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community. He is assisted by Deacon Barbara Fichter. The Church is a CACINA parish located at 3803 Haines Road North in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Pinellas County) The church shares space at Allendale United Methodist Church.
Website: https://www.stoccc.org Facebook.com/St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community
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Fr. Joseph Reynolds, Chancellor
9314 Doris Dr.
Oriental, NC 28571
CACINA Presiding Bishop Anthony Santore FCR
Saint Jude the Apostle Mission – Home of the Presiding Bishop of CACINA Bishop Anthony Santore FCR. Also assigned to St. Jude is Associate Pastor Father Joseph Reynolds, CACINA Chancellor and treasurer. St. Jude the Apostle is based in Oriental, North Carolina. (Pamlico County) Facebook.com/ Saint Jude the Apostle Mission Live streaming Mass daily at 9:00am
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A reflection by Bishop Michael Theogene
The good Samaritan stops to help the man in need as others just pass him by.
MONDAY OF THE TWENTY – SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Monday of the Twenty – Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Galatians Chapter 1 verses 6-12 / Psalm 111 verses 1B-2, 7-9, & 10B /
Luke Chapter 10 verses 25-37
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saints Faustina Kowalska, Virgin
Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 14-19 / Psalm 103 verses 1bc-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18a / nting
Matthew Chapter 11 verses 25-30
Optional Memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest
Friends, ever wonder when we are in some type of relationship with someone, for example like a co-worker or friend and then all of a sudden that person disappears from your life not wanting anything to do with you? For whatever rhyme or reason. It sort of makes you wonder, especially when you know for sure or really ponder what did I do to that person? Did I do something wrong to offend them?
When people come into our lives, it is for a reason, the people we encounter are messengers. Whether we invited them or not. There definitely is always a learning process through our encounters with one another.
What happens to the people who are in our lives when we do not respond to them or they do not respond to us?
One particularly important vow that I appreciate the most when in community is the vow of stability. Yes, we may and others in our lives may step in out of said relationships for certain and appropriate reasons, but what about all those other times when people become comfortable to be part of the throw away culture. We dismiss people at the drop of a hat when we feel that they have wronged us in the slightest way, and we leave with no true communication or effort to reconcile.
Do I want to hang out with only people who agree with me, who I like, and they like and approve of me all the time? What about the people who do not agree with me? Am I not called to like them as well?
Sisters and brothers the God of our understanding stands on no formalities. God makes God self-available through our everyday existence. God never appears to tap out and says okay I had enough, and surly God never leaves.
bp. Michael Theogene
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Sunday Mass 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mother Monica Kennedy is the Pastor of Saint Charles of Brazil which is a CACINA parish located at 116 Marydell Road in Linthicum, Maryland (Anne Arundel County). The church shares space with St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church.
Website: https://www.stcharlesofbrazil.org Facebook.com/St. Charles of Brazil Independent Catholic Church
YouTube.com/ St. Charles of Brazil Livestreaming Mass every Sunday at 10:30am on Facebook and YouTube.
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Fr. Joseph Reynolds, Chancellor
9314 Doris Dr.
Oriental, NC 28571
Sunday Mass 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Parish of Saints Francis and Clare is a CACINA parish located at 2300 NW 9th Avenue (Powerline Road) in Wilton Manors, Florida (Broward County) the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Fr. Joseph Spina, OSF is the Pastor and is accompanied by Fr. Vincent Treglio, OSF, Associate Pastor. Assisting clergy are Fr. Peter Sanchez, OSF and Fr. Paul Pfadenhauer. The Franciscan Friars of Fort Lauderdale are the Guardians of the parish. Francis and Clare rents an entire building. Livestreaming Mass every Sunday at 10:30am on Facebook. Homily posted on YouTube.
Website: https://www.stsfrancisandclare.org Facebook.com/stsfrancisandclare Youtube.com/stsfrancisandclare
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Our mailing address is:
Fr. Joseph Reynolds, Chancellor
9314 Doris Dr.
Oriental, NC 28571
CACINA Welcome video
Video designed by Bishop Tony Green
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Fr. Joseph Reynolds, Chancellor
9314 Doris Dr.
Oriental, NC 28571
A reflection by Mary Desantis – St. John of God Parish CACINA
If you would like to have a reflection considered for publication, please send your writing to Bp. Tony Green at revtonygreen@gmail.com
Ordinary Time
A reflection by Mary Desantis – St. John of God Parish CACINA
The word TIME can be a topic of reflection all on its own. For example: What is it? How is it used? How does it impact life? How do we view it? All are valid ways of reflecting on time. My reflection today has been influenced by the Liturgical Calendar, which in the Catholic Tradition is used throughout a year to refer to different liturgical periods. Presently the liturgical season being observed is called “Ordinary Time”. Only a few major feasts occur in this liturgical season in contrast to other seasons of the Church Year like Advent, Christmas, Easter, etc. This is what is particular to Ordinary Time.
However, Ordinary Time it is NOT! Not in our society today! Not within our everyday lives currently being reflected in our culture. This is a time of deep division, civil unrest, frustration, deaths occurring in our streets, total disregard for human life, etc. Coupled with this is a health pandemic the wake of which has not been experienced before in our country. And we are told by scientific data that it is not over by any means as others might have us think. Most want to see it contained if not eradicated all together. Too many lives have been lost to death and/or changed forever by this beastly virus. Ordinary Time it is not.
In the midst of all this suffering, where is God? Where God always is: right in the struggle with us. Does God have a message for humanity as we endure the trauma of this time? No matter what takes place in human life God always has a message. No different now, here in this time than in other times. Part of the message always is that God continues to be among us, continually loving us because God is Love. However, another part of the message from God always contains an expectation of us. What might that be in these dark times?
Perhaps it is to be light for the world, to be salt for the earth, to take a stand against evil, to speak out against injustice, to show compassion. LISTEN to one another. Really Listen. Learn from one another. “Work” together, side-by-side sharing your talents and resources in building a future far better than the present for everyone. We are in grave circumstances that threaten the very life of the soul of humankind and this country.
By no means is this Ordinary Time. But we can make it a productive time, a cohesive time. A time we can right the wrongs of history, set a new course that is an all-inclusive one, bury the division among us, quit the blaming and move forward. Not an ordinary nor an easy task but one that is very much doable. The next generation deserves no less a legacy from us.
Amen
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Copyright © 2020, Catholic Apostolic Church in North America, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
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A reflection by Mike Ellis – CACINA Seminarian
If you would like to have a reflection considered for publication, please send your writing to Bp. Tony Green at revtonygreen@gmail.com
A Conversation With Jesus
A reflection by Mike Ellis – CACINA Seminarian
“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak . . . the man touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled . . .Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God . . .’ ” Genesis 32:24-25,28 (NIV)
It had been one of those conversations that just goes on and on. You think you’re done with it, and then, discovering there’s another piece of it, something left unsaid, unprocessed and unredeemed, it resurfaces, intruding on your day, your mind, your heart, and your relationship.
In my case, it was further complicated because this was a conversation I was having, or at least attempting to have, with Jesus. And it seemed it just wouldn’t end. Either he or I just couldn’t let go of it and move on. Not yet, anyway.
Finally, exhausted and depressed, I gave up. “Ok Lord, I’ll apologize to her.”, I said. “Even though my intentions were good – you’re my witness – and she clearly overreacted, threatening to quit our volunteer group because either what I said or the way I said it hurt her feelings (how childish!), I’ll bite the bullet, be the bigger person, and somehow find some way of apologizing to her that doesn’t offend my own sense of integrity. Now can we just move on?”
But still it didn’t work. He wasn’t having it. And all my sincere pleas for him to quiet my unrest, to grant me peace, and to “return to me the joy of my salvation”, seemed to fall flat. He wouldn’t let it be. He wouldn’t let me be.
I was Christ-haunted.
I had experienced Jesus this way before. It usually started with some realization of vulnerability on my part, and, when that was not easily or readily processed by me, it progressed to anxiety. It was then that I would start talking to Jesus about it, and he would usually relieve me of it pretty quickly, sometimes in ways that seemed quite miraculous, both in their method and timing. (I mean, the stories I could tell! Really!)
But every once in awhile, he would respond differently. We’d go deeper, both into my brokenness and our conversation about my brokenness. And even though I was learning that he would walk with me through it, that we would eventually come out of it (we always had before), and that he would leave me with a deeper sense of belonging to him, I have to say I actually dreaded those times. They were hard on me, mostly because I wasn’t actually sure I would come out of it.
This was one of those times, and it went on and on.
It ended, finally, with this exchange:
Him: “Forget, forgive, love and laugh.”
Me: “I’ll try.”
Him: “Don’t let anything that anybody does to you change the way you treat them. Love everybody I send your way.”
Me: “I honestly don’t know how to do that. I just don’t feel that way towards everybody.”
Him: “Then treat them as you would treat me.”
Me: “Ok. . . That helps. . . (long pause) But they don’t always act like you.”
Him : “I know. . . (equally long pause) Will you just do this for me?”
Me: (heart-pierced) “For you? Yes.”
(then, after a very long pause) . . . “I can be pompous sometimes.”
Him: (silence)
Me: “This apology, it’s . . .”
Him: “ . . .my way of keeping you close to me.”
Me: (suddenly tearful) “. . . your way of keeping me close to you.”
“Israel is the name of everyone who has been made lame by God.” Elie Wiesel
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Reflection by Bp Tony Green Pastor of Saint John of God Mission (near Albany NY)
If you would like to have a reflection considered for publication, please send your writing to Bp. Tony Green at revtonygreen@gmail.com
Dear God,
Thank you for creating all of humanity in your image; all of your creation you have called good – each and every unique, colorful human being. (Genesis 1:27-31)
Humanity has not lived up to the great responsibility you gave us to care for your creation – particularly the care of and for one another, God. We have become arrogant, jealous, egocentric, racist, judgmental, inconsiderate, hateful, sexist, homophobic, and too often only care for ourselves. Yes – God – we know we are our brother’s and our sister’s keeper, but we have failed. (Genesis 4:9-10)
Help us, Lord. Help us to do as the Prophet Micah spoke: “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8)
You sent your son, Jesus, O God, to redeem us through his life, death, and resurrection. We pray we will strive to live out his greatest commandment to love you with all our heart, mind, and soul – and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-38)
Lord, help us to find a way to listen more than we speak – love more than we hate – learn more than we judge – create more than we destroy – and exhibit strength and unity in faith as we face the evil of racism and oppression that has divided. (Galatians 3:27-28)
Dear God – indeed, faith without works is dead. Help us to put our faith into action as we preach the Good News of Jesus, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sigh to the blind, and release to the oppressed. (James 2:17 – Luke 4:18)
Make us instruments of your peace, O Lord, that we will do your will and act in the image of Christ as we seek to end societal prejudice and bigotry, systemic racism, and the horrors inflicted on people of color.
We pray for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all who have died from inhumane and racist actions from individuals appointed to protect and serve as police officers.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
They kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory now and forever.
Amen.
Prayer written by: Bishop Tony Green
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Oriental, NC 28571
CACINA 
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