July 04, 2010
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I admire Mormons and Jehovah Witness. They walk their faith and ring doorbells. I don't. This missionary zeal is found in our Gospel today. Jesus sends out 70 of his disciples, in pairs, to announce the Kingdom of God. They are to travel light trusting in the providence of God and in the hospitality of the persons that receive them along the way. As Catholics we have forgotten that evangelization is a constituent part of our faith. Us older folk can recite from the Baltimore Catechism the three principal parts of the Mass: the offertory, consecration and Holy Communion. Today, after the 2nd Vatican Council, we better understand the integral parts of the Mass: the opening rite or gathering, the liturgy of the Word, the Eucharistic prayer including Holy Communion and the dismissal. The dismissal gives us the name for Mass. In Latin "Ite, missa est!" or in English "Go, the mass is ended" is a commissioning to take who/what we have received and are becoming in Christ into the world. St. Paul cautions the Corinthians that upon receiving Holy Communion they do not recognize the body of Christ. At the end of Mass we are sent to bring the good news of God's love and mercy to others -- those in prison, migrant workers, persons/families without health care. When we do kindness to the least of our sisters and brothers, we do it unto Christ. On this Independence weekend, we celebrate our freedom and responsibility as citizens of a realm that has no patriotic borders -- God's kingdom of justice and compassion.
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13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
