Calendar

Leader's School
Thur June 6, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri June 7, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri June 21, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Leader's School
Thur July 11, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA
RE classroom #8

Ultreya-Tulsa
Fri July 5, 7:00pm
St. Mary's, Tulsa

Ultreya-BA
Fri July 19, 7:00pm
St. Benedict's, BA

Men's Weekend #31
Sept 26-29, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

Women's Weekend #31
Oct 10-13, 2002
St. John's, McAlester

SPIRITUALITY 101
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 116
Deacon Jim Breazile o.c.d.s.

A gentleman visited one of Mother Theresa's hospitals in Calcutta. He was amazed at what he saw. Beggars, who had never in their life set foot inside a Church, were praising Jesus. He asked one of the sisters how Mother Theresa was able to convince so many that Christianity was their way to salvation. He asked "what catechism or Scripture teachings does she emphasize?" The sister said "I have seen many conversions in the hospital, but Mother doesn't refer to any teaching." She simply asks them, "do you want to learn about Jesus?" They would invariably say, "Is He like you?" Her answer was always, "No, but I try to be like Him." Their answer would then be, "I too want to be like Him."

We are all Baptized to be living witnesses of the Truth of the Lord's teaching. The world has heard the teachings of the Scriptures. It knows the teachings of the Catechism. The people of the world have rejected all these. They want proof of their truth and importance. They are waiting to see Christians who reveal Christ in their daily lives.

DEVOTION - Growth in love- 3rd stage
DEVOTIONALS- MEDITATION-SACRAMENTALS-THE ROSARY-43

The Mysteries of the Rosary-2
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES:
THE ANNUNCIATION: Luke 1:26-38

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, 'Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, 'do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' But Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?' And the angel said to her in reply, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.' Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her."

Reading this passage in Luke immediately takes our reflection back t the days of the rule of Ahaz, king of Judah (Isaiah 7:1). "The Lord spoke to Ahaz.....Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child , and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel..."(Isaiah 7:14). On the day of the Archangels visit, this promise of the Lord is announced in Nazareth to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is to become the instrument of its fulfillment. When invited to ask for a sign from the Lord, Ahaz hesitated. He had plans of his own for the delivery of his world from peril. The Virgin also hesitates, not because she had any plans of her own, but because she does not understand. The abandonment of her will to the Lord allowed the promise to come to fulfillment. Ahaz, refused to ask for the sign, but Mary placed herself at the service of God.

In both cases, the promised one is Christ, our Lord, Son of the Father, who came as Savior of the world. He is the child promised to Ahaz, would be named Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:5) By her word, "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord," reveals the necessary posture of every Baptized Christian. She was the first among the redeemed, who now is in Heaven with the Risen Christ, Emmanuel, shows us in this response the Way that He portrayed. It is clear that Christ is the means by which the people of God are to be gathered into one people, all of whom will give praise to His Father. The Lord will not grasp any person as though to force trust and love. He never imposes, He simply proposes, and waits for our response.

The world is still at peril. Some would say it is more imperiled than in the time of Ahaz and in the time of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It seems that in our time, a great wave of evil has passed over the earth with the aim of destroying the goodness of God's creation. Most importantly, it seems to be set upon destroying the goodness of God's people. Increasingly Christians are turning away from the faith that is necessary to serve the Lord and are living their life according to their individual life plans. It appears that Ahaz has been reborn among Christians. Because of his lack of willingness to follow the Lords way, God promised Ahaz that "The Lord shall bring upon you and your people and your father's house days worse than any since Ephraim seceded from Judah." We can see that the Lord's promise to Ahaz, will be fulfilled once again against the people who reject him today.

It is incumbent upon all Baptized Christians to live their Baptism, so that all will know that the Lord lives in them. In this way, the purpose of Christ on earth will be fulfilled. Christians will then "go therefore, making 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 (God) has commanded."(Matthew 28:19-20)

NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM
ARTICLE NO. 1099
The Spirit and the Church cooperate to manifest Christ and his work of salvation in the liturgy. Primarily in the Eucharist, and by analogy in the other sacraments, the liturgy is the memorial of the mystery of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the Church's living memory (Jn 14:26)

ARTICLE NO. 2000
The Word of God. The Holy Spirit first recalls the meaning of the salvation event to the liturgical assembly by giving life to the Word of God, which is proclaimed so that it may be received and lived:

In the celebration of the liturgy, Sacred Scripture is extremely important. From it come the lessons that are read and explained in the homily and the psalms that are sung. It is from the Scriptures that the prayers, collects, and hymns draw their inspiration and their force, and that actions and signs derive their meaning. (Sacrosanctum concilium No. 24)

Our Celebration is the Word of God
Deacon Jim Breazile o.c.d.s.

Celebrating mysteries we do not know
Only through our faith can we show
Our memorial to the gift of salvation
That raises our souls to heavenly station

Instructed through the Holy Spirit
Bringing Heaven's life triumvirate
Instructs the Church in holy knowledge
And recreates each person in Holy image

Holy Scriptures are our source
In which we find our holy course
Learn in homily, psalms and song
A Way and Life everlasting long

Celebrating the Eternal Word
That in creation is clearly heard
Festival brings from heaven to earth
Grace and mercy of our rebirth

Ó2002 DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon 
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS