We’ll conclude our look at how the Church uses the Scriptures at Mass.

The Responsorial Psalm: The psalm is meant to be our response to the Word proclaimed. The Psalms are the prayer book of the Bible containing God’s words that we can make our own in every human circumstance: in joy, sorrow, love, grief, comfort, pain, security, or rest. When we pray the psalms we pray the same words Jesus used to pray to the Father. We praise God in the psalms and hear Jesus’ voice echo in ours and ours in his (St. Augustine).

The Second Reading: As the First Readings and Gospels show us some aspect of Jesus revealed, the letters of the New Testament show us different aspects of how Jesus works in the Church. The life of the Church in New Testament times was far from simple; Paul, Peter, James, John, and many others had their work cut out for them! We read in Paul’s letters of the many different matters of faith (like the mystery of the crucifixion in today’s reading from 1 Corinthians 2) the early Church was trying to comprehend under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hearing the letters should increase faith, hope, and love, and the fruits of the Spirit, in our Church today.

This is the Church’s plan for reading the Scriptures every Sunday. You’ll hear a good amount of the Bible at Mass, but not all of it. It is up to every Catholic, every family and parish, to continually set aside time to hear and read the Scriptures, but most importantly to pray with them. God is speaking to you. His voice is not so unrecognizable, nor his message so far off. “For this command which I am giving you today is not too wondrous or remote for you… No, it is something very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it” (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14).

Written by Reverend Brian Meldrum

Saint Valentine

   St. Valentine was a widely recognized third-century Roman saint, commemorated in Christianity on February 14. St. Valentine was a bishop who ministered to Christians who were persecuted. Since the High Middle Ages, his feast day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love.

Today we hear from Luke’s Gospel because of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, but normally this liturgical year we hear from Matthew’s Gospel. God in his goodness and the Church in her wisdom give us plenty to feast upon when we hear the Scriptures proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word.

The Gospel: Our Sunday Gospels follow a 3 year cycle. Matthew’s Gospel is known for his sermon on the mount (which we will begin hearing from next week) which portrays Jesus as the new Moses, going up the mountain to teach and deliver the law of the new covenant. We pray Matthew’s version the Our Father at Mass. In Christian art, Matthew is often portrayed as the human face, using imagery associated with each Evangelist from the prophet Ezekiel (1:10) and the Book of Revelation (4:7).

The First Reading: While the Gospel readings follow a sequence from week to week, unique Old Testament readings are paired with each Gospel. Sometimes the reason is easy to discern, and sometimes it is more challenging! Making these connections is one of the tasks of the homilist, so pray for those who preach the word. The Church has paired the readings together to show us some aspect of Jesus visible in the Old Testament. Often this is a miracle or parable, but sometimes it is an identity like priest, prophet, king, redeemer, or beloved son.

 Read today’s first reading and Gospel again with family or friends and ask: how do the prophet Malachi (3:1-4) and the Evangelist Luke (2:22-40) describe the Lord’s coming to the Temple? How is the Christ-child both a purifying fire and a light to the nations? God was present in the Temple, but where is he present in the Church today: The word? The Sacrament of the altar? The tabernacle? The heart of each person?

Reverend Brian Meldrum

 Confirmation Commitment Service

All are invited tomorrow tonight to the Church at 7 p.m. to support and encourage our 19 Confirmation Candidates. The candidates will stand before everyone and tell why they want to be confirmed, what Saint name they have chosen and what type of service projects they have been doing to prepare for the Sacrament in March. We hope to see you there!

         Next week, on the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, we will celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God for the first time. Last year Pope Francis instituted the Sunday of Word of God, “so as to appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people” (Misericordi et Misera, 7).

  The Scriptures are treasures filled with countless riches! From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks to us in human language. By speaking to us, God reveals his part in this great love story: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 John 4:16). In the Archdiocese of Detroit, we hear a lot about the power of the Word of God. We speak of the Gospel as something to be unleashed. We recognize that the Word of God has the potential to change hearts. When we proclaim the Word to others, they encounter the power of the Word and the person of the Word: Jesus Christ. But have you personally spent enough time hearing what Jesus is saying to you through the Word? Pope Francis is asking everyone in the Church, every diocese, parish, family, and parishioner, to read and listen to the Word of God anew.

  In preparation for the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God, consider your favorite Scripture passage.

· How has God used it to speak to you, change your heart, lead you, or bring you peace?

· Ask yourself how can I be open in these coming days to receive the gift of loving the Word of God more?

· How can I make my own these words from today’s psalm, “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8-9)?

Reverend Brian Meldrum

Gratitude

     The true meaning of Christmas is giving and sharing the love and reaching to those who have touched our lives. It’s a time to count our blessings and be grateful for them. My heart is filled with joy and happiness to appreciate all of you for sending me beautiful Christmas cards and wishes. In a special way, I would like to thank you for your generosity and kindness. you are greatly appreciated. It’s been my pleasure to be with you celebrating Christmas and New Year. Wish you God’s abundant blessings on your families.  

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC

Some of you may be surprised that my vacation time has come up again so quickly. I had just returned back from vacation towards end of May 2019 with memories still fresh. This year I had to change my plans as my mother is going to celebrate her 85^th birthday on February 23^rd. It was in 2015 that I had gone to celebrate her 80^th birthday. Time does fly by. I’ll be leaving on January 20^th so that I can get the opportunity to attend the Feast of our Founder St. Vincent Pallotti on January 22^nd, and will be back on February 25^th, just in time for Ash Wednesday.

And so, while I am gone we will have changes in the daily Mass schedule beginning January 21^st up until February 25 a day before Ash Wednesday – Monday’s and Tuesday’s Mass at Our Lady of Loretto at 8.30 am. Thursday’s and Friday’s Mass at St. Valentine. Although Thursday’s Mass will be at 8.30am, while Friday’s School Mass will be at 8.15am. 

Please keep me and my family in your prayers and be assured of my prayers for you.

Christmas Collection:

 Before Christmas I always try to write a note reminding you to be generous towards the Church while making the Christmas offering. And I want to thank you for being so kind in listening to me. I know you always do. Our 2019 Christmas collection was totaled to $101,363.67. My sincere THANKS to each and everyone for your generous contributions, towards the Church especially during the season of giving, “Christmas.” St Paul tells us that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2Cor.9:7). May God Bless you and your generosity, and reward you a hundred fold.

52 Sundays – A Guide to Reclaim the Lord’s Day For Faith and Family.

“A new reflection guide created by the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools seeks to offer families a way to spend the Lord’s day together in prayer by focusing on the Scriptures, family conversations and meals together. The program, called 52 Sundays, is available in book form English and Spanish or online at 52Sundays.com, to guide families through weekly exercises based on the Sunday Gospels. It also includes reflections on the saints, a specific prayer activity and a recipe for each week. Families can also follow along with each week’s lessons and activities on the Unleash the Gospel Facebook page.”

Just to give you a taste of the book or online – On 52 Sundays – Here’s a Family Prayer that is taken from the Book.

Gather your children’s baptismal candles and light them during the prayer. Place a small bowl of holy water on the table. Choose a leader for the prayer.

Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, you created all the people of the world, and you know each of us by name. We thank you for the gift of baptism and for making us a part of your family. Bless us with your love and friendship that we may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

 All: Our Father… Amen.

 Leader will then use the holy water to trace the sign of the cross on the forehead of each family member.