Think for a moment how you would react if our government, because it is running short on money, decided to sell any or all of our national landmarks, like Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the Washington Monument, the Wright Brothers site at Kitty Hawk, NC, etc. to developers so they could turn them into high rises, high end condos, or carve them up into cookie cutter developments? Not a pleasant thought is it? Something akin to that is happening right now in Miami, Florida that is very close to our Emmaus hearts.
Many years ago a center was opened by the Dominican Order for the purpose of offering Days of Renewal, Days of Reflection, Marriage Encounters, various retreats, and numerous other encounters that were spiritually uplifting for the thousands who attended over the years.
Several years ago, the Dominicans felt they could no longer continue running the retreat center and sold it to the Archdiocese of Miami, and turned the administration of it to St. Louis Parish which was adjacent to the center. The new name of the center is the Morningstar Renewal Center. Now the Archdiocese has decided to put it on the block because it "needs the money."
The Morningstar Renewal Center is very dear to me, as well as to thousands of Emmaus brothers and sisters. The Emmaus Retreat had its genesis at St. Louis Parish in Miami/Dominican Retreat Center.
The first women's retreat took place there in 1977.
The first men's retreat took place in 1985.
I was on the team that presented the first Men's Emmaus retreat, as well as many subsequent ones.Eight men from St. Max attended an Emmaus retreat at the Dominican Retreat Center, and subsequently formed the first team that introduced the Emmaus Weekend to Charlotte County in 2001.
Ten Women from St. Max attended an Emmaus retreat a year later and that's how the Women's Emmaus got started in St. Max. St. Louis Parish and the Dominican Retreat Center have spawned the widespread proliferation of what has become one of the most dynamic spiritual exercises seen in the Catholic Church in a long time.
The thousands of men and women who have experienced the power of the Emmaus Weekend are living testimony to this. Our Emmaus family in Miami has asked us to pray for a solution to the problem that would permit the Morningstar Renewal Center to continue in operation. What that solution is . . . we'll leave that up to the Lord.
Our job is to place this before the Lord in prayer, beseeching the Lord to preserve the Morningstar Renewal Center as the beacon that it has become for everyone seeking a closer relationship with Jesus, a renewal of faith, and spiritual uplifting.
Certainly, if any one of us was to win the mega million power ball, a few million to rescue the center wouldn't be a problem. But, that isn't what this is all about. Keep in mind that the primary success of the Emmaus Retreat has been based on an approach, unique to the Emmaus Weekend . . . lay men and women ministering to lay men and women. Let us all join as, spiritually empowered lay people, to prayerfully find a happy ending to this story.Remember, between all of us and the Holy Spirit, there is nothing we can't accomplish.
Jesus Christ Is Risen - - - He Is Risen Indeed.
sid glaser, class of 1985
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
RE: 08.26.09~Readings for Sunday August 30th - with discussion questions
August 30, 2009
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 125Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel
Reading 1Dt 4:1-2, 6-8Moses said to the people:“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the landwhich the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,which I enjoin upon you,you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully,for thus will you give evidenceof your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,who will hear of all these statutes and say,‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’For what great nation is therethat has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to uswhenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decreesthat are as just as this whole lawwhich I am setting before you today?”
(1) What is a ‘great’ Nation?
(2) [Nor] subtract from it… Keep the Commandments
(3) Reading IIJas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
(4) Dearest brothers and sisters:All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of lights,with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truththat we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(5) Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in youand is able to save your souls.
(6) Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
(7) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:to care for orphans and widows in their afflictionand to keep oneself unstained by the world.
(1) Are we doers of the Word nowadays? Not hearers only
(2) Being Christ-like? Kind to widows and orphans…
(3) GospelMk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalemgathered around Jesus,they observed that some of his disciples ate their mealswith unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,do not eat without carefully washing their hands,keeping the tradition of the elders.And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the eldersbut instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded,“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:This people honors me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
(4) He summoned the crowd again and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;but the things that come out from within are what defile.
(5) “From within people, from their hearts,come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,adultery, greed, malice, deceit,licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.All these evils come from within and they defile.”
(6) Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
(1) Watch out for what comes from WITHIN
(2) Evil –Where is it?
(3) Responsorial PsalmPs 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5R. (1a)One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;by whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these thingsshall never be disturbed.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
(4)
Saved as: 08.26.09~st.max.bible.study
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 125Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel
Reading 1Dt 4:1-2, 6-8Moses said to the people:“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the landwhich the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,which I enjoin upon you,you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully,for thus will you give evidenceof your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,who will hear of all these statutes and say,‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’For what great nation is therethat has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to uswhenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decreesthat are as just as this whole lawwhich I am setting before you today?”
(1) What is a ‘great’ Nation?
(2) [Nor] subtract from it… Keep the Commandments
(3) Reading IIJas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
(4) Dearest brothers and sisters:All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of lights,with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truththat we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(5) Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in youand is able to save your souls.
(6) Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
(7) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:to care for orphans and widows in their afflictionand to keep oneself unstained by the world.
(1) Are we doers of the Word nowadays? Not hearers only
(2) Being Christ-like? Kind to widows and orphans…
(3) GospelMk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalemgathered around Jesus,they observed that some of his disciples ate their mealswith unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,do not eat without carefully washing their hands,keeping the tradition of the elders.And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the eldersbut instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded,“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:This people honors me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
(4) He summoned the crowd again and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;but the things that come out from within are what defile.
(5) “From within people, from their hearts,come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,adultery, greed, malice, deceit,licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.All these evils come from within and they defile.”
(6) Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
(1) Watch out for what comes from WITHIN
(2) Evil –Where is it?
(3) Responsorial PsalmPs 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5R. (1a)One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;by whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these thingsshall never be disturbed.R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
(4)
Saved as: 08.26.09~st.max.bible.study
08.26.09~Welcome To Email/Blog/Comment of St. Max Bible Study
Greetings!
After much thought and deliberation amongs the facilitators, we have collectively come to the conclusion that many would benefit by having the notes-and-questions available in an online resource, such as, this one on blogspot.
A blog offers the opportunity to read, reflect, but also add a few comments. Even if it is just a a very hearty "Amen!"
For our community at St. Max -- with many away for the summer -- or only here during the winter months, this blog may yet evolve into an opportunity to remain connected, albeit, even from a distance with our weekly Bible Study.
If you have thoughts or comments, then please do feel free to add them.
With an open spirit and many abundant blessings, I do hereby present:
st.max.bible.study
After much thought and deliberation amongs the facilitators, we have collectively come to the conclusion that many would benefit by having the notes-and-questions available in an online resource, such as, this one on blogspot.
A blog offers the opportunity to read, reflect, but also add a few comments. Even if it is just a a very hearty "Amen!"
For our community at St. Max -- with many away for the summer -- or only here during the winter months, this blog may yet evolve into an opportunity to remain connected, albeit, even from a distance with our weekly Bible Study.
If you have thoughts or comments, then please do feel free to add them.
With an open spirit and many abundant blessings, I do hereby present:
st.max.bible.study
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