**In no way does this advertisement imply that our very own Fr. Daniel Syverstad, OP will be joining us.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Drinks with the Dominicans
Join us this upcoming Wednesday, July 29th at the Blue Star Cafe & Pub in Wallingford (4512 Stone Way N) for Drinks with the Dominicans. We're particularly blessed this month as there'll likely be not one, not two, not three, but even more Dominicans**! So come on out for drinks and good conversation and hang out with your favorite OPs.
YAYA Camping Trip!
Save the date for the *YAYA Camping Trip. We’re heading out to the ocean (Twin Harbor State Park) on Saturday morning (September 5th) of Labor Day weekend for a two-night stay. Fr. Jordan (aka the YA-ther) will be saying Mas at the campsite. We’ll also be sure to incorporate all good camping traditions--Maybe you can introduce us to some new ones since neither of us claim to be experienced campers ;) More details including cost coming soon….
*YAYA —A member of the Blessed Sacrament Young Adults. A derivative of the acronym “YA” (young adult). The term was developed by Father Jordan Bradshaw, OP, the self-proclaimed “YA-ther.”
July Holy Hour Reflection
Mk 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
*************************************************
Reflection by Teresa Dion:
Several years ago, I once heard it said that “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” The saying struck a chord with me at the time and I have continue to bring this bit of wisdom to mind quite often in my own life when I feel that I lack the resources, energy, know-how, charisma or virtue to deal with a particular challenge. It always brings me confidence—the kind of confidence that can only be born out of faith since it acknowledges my own human insufficiency. I find myself comforted in knowing that God will account for whatever it is I seem to be lacking at the time.
Perhaps it is odd then that in this Gospel, Jesus asks the twelve “to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts,” just some sandals for the road and the tunic on their back. After all, this doesn’t seem like the packing list for a successful journey—Maybe the apostles don’t have their own supplies, but isn’t Jesus going to help them plan out their expedition? Isn’t he going to offer them a road map of sorts? Don’t his directions for this mission seem inadequate?
He says, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” The apostles might well have asked: “When do you wish us to return?” “Who do you wish us to visit?” “Why me?”
Yet, contrary to what we might expect, the apostles respond with unquestioning obedience. The Gospel simply states, “They went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”
Reflecting on this story, how can one not be inspired by the deep faith demonstrated by Jesus’ apostles? They express no worries about the lack of supplies for the journey or the question of where their journey will end. Equipped only with the authority given to them by Jesus, they set out to cure the sick and drive out demons—a mission that surely seems daunting even to those of extraordinary faith. Yet rather than shrinking in fear, the apostles recognize the power of Christ’s call and they respond by wholeheartedly embracing that call, setting aside any worries, distractions, questions, or excuses that may easily have held them back.
Today, I think about all the times in life that I am tempted to respond with “Why me, Lord?” “Don’t you want to ask someone more qualified?” or even “I’m just so busy. Maybe next year I’ll get around to that.” But today we all are challenged by the example of the Twelve not to question the mission that lies before us, but to respond with heroic faith and simple obedience. It is only in doing so that we will open ourselves up to the grace of God so that he may work in us and through us, just like he did with the Apostles. We may not set out on our journey with the supplies we expect and we may worry that we are ill-equipped, but if we listen to the Lord's call and trust in His voice, we will accomplish great deeds for the glory of God.
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
*************************************************
Reflection by Teresa Dion:
Several years ago, I once heard it said that “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” The saying struck a chord with me at the time and I have continue to bring this bit of wisdom to mind quite often in my own life when I feel that I lack the resources, energy, know-how, charisma or virtue to deal with a particular challenge. It always brings me confidence—the kind of confidence that can only be born out of faith since it acknowledges my own human insufficiency. I find myself comforted in knowing that God will account for whatever it is I seem to be lacking at the time.
Perhaps it is odd then that in this Gospel, Jesus asks the twelve “to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts,” just some sandals for the road and the tunic on their back. After all, this doesn’t seem like the packing list for a successful journey—Maybe the apostles don’t have their own supplies, but isn’t Jesus going to help them plan out their expedition? Isn’t he going to offer them a road map of sorts? Don’t his directions for this mission seem inadequate?
He says, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” The apostles might well have asked: “When do you wish us to return?” “Who do you wish us to visit?” “Why me?”
Yet, contrary to what we might expect, the apostles respond with unquestioning obedience. The Gospel simply states, “They went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”
Reflecting on this story, how can one not be inspired by the deep faith demonstrated by Jesus’ apostles? They express no worries about the lack of supplies for the journey or the question of where their journey will end. Equipped only with the authority given to them by Jesus, they set out to cure the sick and drive out demons—a mission that surely seems daunting even to those of extraordinary faith. Yet rather than shrinking in fear, the apostles recognize the power of Christ’s call and they respond by wholeheartedly embracing that call, setting aside any worries, distractions, questions, or excuses that may easily have held them back.
Today, I think about all the times in life that I am tempted to respond with “Why me, Lord?” “Don’t you want to ask someone more qualified?” or even “I’m just so busy. Maybe next year I’ll get around to that.” But today we all are challenged by the example of the Twelve not to question the mission that lies before us, but to respond with heroic faith and simple obedience. It is only in doing so that we will open ourselves up to the grace of God so that he may work in us and through us, just like he did with the Apostles. We may not set out on our journey with the supplies we expect and we may worry that we are ill-equipped, but if we listen to the Lord's call and trust in His voice, we will accomplish great deeds for the glory of God.
June Holy Hour Reflection
Mt 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
********************************
Reflection by Thuc Vu:
In these four lines, we have so many themes and lessons. We have
· An example of steadfast adherence to the command of Jesus even though there is doubt present
· His acceptance of our worship, our faith, even with our doubts for Jesus did not admonished them in their doubtful worship of him.
· Our commission, our last command given to us by the risen Christ to “make disciples of all nations”
· The Trinity
· And his promise to be with us “until the end of the age.”
What does all this tell me? What does it mean for me? It gives me hope. I have absolute hope that through baptism, I will be able to enter into eternal beatitude. “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments” (CCC1257). That, even with all my doubts, all my questions and my unsteady footsteps towards God, He will still love and accept me into his folds. As many of you know, I am not baptized. I was raised a Buddhist/Atheist. I am apart of this “all nations.” When he tells the disciples to make disciples of all nations, he is talking about me. Not just me, thought, but you also. For, you are apart of “all nations” too. Without this last command and this example of doubt, consider where you would be now. I personally would be in utter chaos, and I’m not just being overly dramatic.
What can I do with his hope, this hope in his power through my baptism? Well, that is simple enough. I go make disciples of all nations. He told me so right there. But how can I do this? How can I, little doubtful me, make disciples of others, for this was his last command of me? I teach. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” I live according to his word, and I show others, as Christ has shown me, that it is possible. Through my way of life, I teach others what Christ has taught me. I, then, become a witness as Christ is a witness to me.
He is with me always. The one true God, the Father, Son and the holy Spirit, is with me always. We must never forget his last words to us, his last, comforting word. With my hope in Christ, I am certain that God is “with [me] always, until the end of the age.”
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
********************************
Reflection by Thuc Vu:
In these four lines, we have so many themes and lessons. We have
· An example of steadfast adherence to the command of Jesus even though there is doubt present
· His acceptance of our worship, our faith, even with our doubts for Jesus did not admonished them in their doubtful worship of him.
· Our commission, our last command given to us by the risen Christ to “make disciples of all nations”
· The Trinity
· And his promise to be with us “until the end of the age.”
What does all this tell me? What does it mean for me? It gives me hope. I have absolute hope that through baptism, I will be able to enter into eternal beatitude. “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments” (CCC1257). That, even with all my doubts, all my questions and my unsteady footsteps towards God, He will still love and accept me into his folds. As many of you know, I am not baptized. I was raised a Buddhist/Atheist. I am apart of this “all nations.” When he tells the disciples to make disciples of all nations, he is talking about me. Not just me, thought, but you also. For, you are apart of “all nations” too. Without this last command and this example of doubt, consider where you would be now. I personally would be in utter chaos, and I’m not just being overly dramatic.
What can I do with his hope, this hope in his power through my baptism? Well, that is simple enough. I go make disciples of all nations. He told me so right there. But how can I do this? How can I, little doubtful me, make disciples of others, for this was his last command of me? I teach. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” I live according to his word, and I show others, as Christ has shown me, that it is possible. Through my way of life, I teach others what Christ has taught me. I, then, become a witness as Christ is a witness to me.
He is with me always. The one true God, the Father, Son and the holy Spirit, is with me always. We must never forget his last words to us, his last, comforting word. With my hope in Christ, I am certain that God is “with [me] always, until the end of the age.”
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Practice Makes Perfect: Virtue Ethics Yesterday and Today
July 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
Do you have questions about how you make choices? Do you wonder how Catholics have thought about ethics for centuries? Many of us are unaware of the patterns of thought, feeling, and acion that shape our moral lives and help determine our ethical choices. Please join us for a lively lecture and discussion with Conrad Cahill and Br. Christopher Fadok, OP, Thursdays in July at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall.
Talking about Virtue: How Do You Say It? (July 9th)
Rules, Laws, and Action: How Do You Think It? (July 16th)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: How Do You Do It? (July 23rd)
Friendship: How Do You Live It? (July 30th)
Rules, Laws, and Action: How Do You Think It? (July 16th)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: How Do You Do It? (July 23rd)
Friendship: How Do You Live It? (July 30th)
For more information, contact Tara Simons at 206.732.7345 or tsimons@bspwa.org.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
God, Sex, & the Meaning of Life
Christopher West
Blessed Sacrament Church
Tuesday, July 7th
7:00pm - 9:30pm
Christopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. He is also one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today, having delivered more than 1,000 public lectures on four continents.
(For more information, contact Janet Heva, Campus Minister at the Newman Center, 206.527.5072 or janet@uwnewman.org)
Knights of Columbus All-Parish Barbeque
Sunday, July 5th
Priory Backyard
11:00am - 3:00pm
Join the Knights of Columbus for a fun-filled, old-fashioned, summer-time barbeque! Great food with all the fixings will be provided by the Knights. Visit the backyard of the Priory after the 9:00 am and 10:30 am Masses for Coffee and Conversation. Then, the grill fires up at 11:00 am for the barbeque!
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