R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Bear with me for a moment, and allow me to point out four Greek ionic pillars of the Basilica — four of which are closest to me.  Let them help me organize my thoughts about Word of God Sunday.  Thank you for your openness to this crutch!

Pillar one: The Pope in 2019 (four years ago already!) gave this third Sunday in Ordinary Time the name Word of God Sunday as Saint John Paul II gave the Sunday after Easter the new name, Divine Mercy Sunday. Francis, then, gave the name to this Sunday Word of God with a great desire to invite all believers and members of Church to freedom from the bondage of selfishness, to lead us out of darkness, into the light.  In fact we do live in a world that has come to be very dark. He calls God’s Word God’s love letter to you. Make room inside ourselves at every Mass for His love letters.  Pope Francis says further, ‘Let us each day read a verse or two of the Bible.  Keep it open on the table, carry it in our bag, read it on our cell phones.  Discover that God is always close.’ 

Pillar Two: What are we doing as a parish, as a pontifical basilica? MagnifiKid for our children, the monthly refection, Word Among Us, Catholic Bible Study by Ignatius Press which has been very well received these past three years, and a special series this year, “Unlocking the mystery of the Bible,” in eight sessions — a very good response to date.  And for our parents and our kids a Gospel weekly reflection each time they meet together. As Your pastor, I am committed to do things for you that reflect this Word of God Sunday. 

 

Pillar three: Pause, Silence, Listen. There is a cry room for the kids — kids will be kids — I think it is friendly. Let it benefit us. In essence, are you really a good listener?  Let me put it this way:  If you listen to the Word of God, you become a better listener with people you love. If you do not really listen to the Word of God at Mass or each day, you may not be a good listener with the people you love.

  

Pillar Four: Each year every Catholic college or university begins the year with the Red Mass of the Holy Spirit. The president and the professors of theology  take an Oath of Fidelity. At the Mass it happened one year at Walsh University in our Diocese that there was no Bible for the president and the professors to take the Oath of Fidelity to uphold Catholic identity,  truths of the Word of God, and the teachings of the Church. Someone came to the rescue. He ran off to an office and came back with a paperback of a Catholic Study Bible. The study bible was tattered, filled with bookmarks, underlined, Post-Its everywhere — well used and also far from fancy. But that is what was so good! Its condition showed that some on the University level were taking the Word of God seriously.  That is pillar number four.  Whenever you take the Word of God seriously, others see the Word of God lived out as an apostle like Peter or Andrew.  You help them as an example to be freed from the bondage of selfishness and darkness and bring them into the Light who is Christ. 

Let us celebrate with all that we have this Word of God Sunday.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.