THE FEAST OF THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Readings:
Isaiah 49: 1-6
Acts 13: 22-26
Luke 1: 56-66,80.

This fest, a segment of Advent in the season of Ordinary Time, makes us aware of the wonderful inner relationship between the sacred mysteries; for we are still in the midst of one Church year and already a bridge is being erected to the coming year of grace.

Ordinarily the Church observes the day of a saint’s death as his feast, because that day marks his entrance into heaven. To this rule there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of Blessed Mary and of St. John the Baptist. All other persons were stained with original sin at birth, hence, were displeasing to God. But Mary, already in the first moment of her existence, was free from original sin (for which reason even her very conception is commemorated by a special feast), and John was cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother. This is the dogmatic justification for today’s feast. In the breviary St. Augustine explains the reason for today’s observance in the following words:

“Apart from the most holy solemnity commemorating our Savior’s birth, the Church keeps the birthday of no other person except that of John the Baptist. (The feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin had not yet been introduced.) In the case of other saints or of God’s chosen ones, the Church as you know, solemnizes the day on which they were reborn to everlasting beatitude after ending the trials of this life and gloriously triumphing over the world.

“For all these the final day of their lives, the day on which they completed their Earthly service is honored. But for John the day of his birth, the day on which he began this mortal life is likewise sacred. The reason for this is, of course, that the Lord willed to announce to men His own coming through the Baptist, lest if He appeared suddenly, they would fail to recognize Him. John represented the Old Covenant and the Law. Therefore he preceded the Redeemer, even as the Law preceded and heralded the new dispensation of grace.

In other words, today’s feast anticipates the feast of Christmas. Taking an overall view, we keep during the course of the year only two mysteries, that of Christ’s Incarnation and that of His Redemption. The Redemption mystery is the greater of the two; the Incarnation touches the human heart more directly. To the Redemption mystery the entire Easter season is devoted, from Septuagesima until Pentecost; and likewise every Sunday of the year, because Sunday is Easter in miniature.

The Christmas season has for its object the mystery of God-become-Man, to which there is reference only now and then during the remaining part of the year, e.g., on Marian feasts, especially that of the Annunciation (March 25) and today’s feast in honor of the Baptist. In a sense, then, we are celebrating Christ’s incarnation today. The birth of Jesus is observed on December 25 at the time of the winter solstice, while the birth of His forerunner is observed six months earlier at the time of the summer solstice. Christmas is a “light” feast; the same is true today. The popular custom centering about “St. John’s Fire” stems from soundest Christian dogma and could well be given renewed attention. St. John’s Fire symbolizes Christ the Light; John was a lamp that burned and shone. We Christians are called to be the light of the world.

Excerpted from The Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Join in the world wide mission of Jesus… July 14 and 15 we are invited to take part in our Church’s worldwide mission by special “prayer and sacrifice” through the Propagation of Faith Appeal.

Catholics have extended their love and generosity to the missions of the world through the Propagation of Faith, the Church’s central source of mission support.

This year, the missionary priest from the Philippines, Rev. Joey B. Manaran of the Disciples of Mary will be sharing his missionary experience among the young people in the Philippines. We would like to invite you to take part in his mission apostolate through your prayers and donations as he reaches out to so many youth who are confronted with the serious challenges of addiction, materialism, violence, and abuse.

What an opportunity you will have on July 14 and 15 to respond to our baptismal call to take part in our Church’s missionary challenge…and to receive the full graces of the Eucharist offered for us by this missionary priest.

Please be as generous as possible in responding to our Lord’s call to each one of us to take part in His mission to all people.

1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearance, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10)Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

My name is Mark DeCelles. You may have seen me at Mass this past weekend, but for those who have not….I am a seminarian for the Diocese of Scranton and I am in my second year of theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.

I am thrilled that the diocese has assigned me to Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament Parishes for the summer!

My family and I are parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church in Scranton, where we got to know Monsignor Delaney many years ago. I am a native of Dunmore and I studied at St. Clare’s, St. Paul’s and Scranton Prep. I have a Ph.D in theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC; my Bachelor’s and Master’s came from the same school.

I am looking forward to getting to know you all over the next several weeks. God Bless You!

.......Mark DeCelles

God our Father, You made each of us to use our gifts in the Body of Christ.

We ask that You inspire young people whom you call to priesthood and consecrated life to courageously follow Your will.

Send workers into Your great harvest so that the Gospel is preached, the poor are served with love, the suffering are comforted, and Your people are strengthened by the sacraments.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Deacon Edward Casey and Deacon Ryan Glenn have been ordained priests of the Diocese of Scranton by our Bishop, Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L. on Saturday, June 9.

Congratulations to Father Casey and Father Glenn. May God bless them with many happy years of service to the Church of Scranton.

Readings:

Today’s celebration of the Body and Blood of the Lord originated in the Diocese of Liege in 1246 as the feast of Corpus Christi. In the reforms of Vatican II, the feast was joined with the feast of the Precious Blood (July 1) to become the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Today, we celebrate the Christ’s gift of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our life together as the Church.

Today’s Gospel is Mark’s account of the Last Supper. At the Passover meal marking the First Covenant, Jesus, the Lamb of the New Covenant, institutes the New Passover of the Eucharist.

The ancients believed the source of life was contained in blood – blood, therefore, belonged to God alone (that is why even today a devout Jew will never eat any meat which is not completely drained of blood). In marking Israel’s covenant with the Lord who brought them out of slavery and into freedom, Moses splashes half of the offerings’ blood on the altar, the symbol of God, and sprinkles the other half on the people, joining the covenanted people to their God (first reading).

This understanding of the sacredness of blood is central to the theme of the letter to the Hebrews (second reading). Jesus is both priest and victim on the cross, whose own blood seals a new covenant and creates a new Israel.

Themes:

Eucharist: becoming the body of Christ.

“If you have received worthily,” St. Augustine preached, “you are what you have received.” The gift of the Eucharist comes with an important “string” is attached: it must be shared. In sharing the body of Christ, we become the body of Christ. If we partake of the one bread and cup, then we must be willing to become Eucharist for others – to make the love of Christ real for all.

Eucharist: the table of the Lord.

Christ calls us to his table, offering his peace, affirmation, support and love. We come to the Eucharist to celebrate our identity as his disciples and to seek the sustaining grace to live the hard demands of such discipleship; we come to the Eucharist seeking the peace and hope of the Risen One in the compassion and support we offer and receive from one another. At Christ’s table, we are always welcome. In celebrating the Eucharist, we make our parish family’s table the Lord’s own table, a place of reconciliation and compassion.

Prayer is nothing else than union with God. In this intimate union God and the soul are like two pieces of wax molded into one; they cannot anymore be separated. It is a very wonderful thing, this union of God with his insignificant creature, a happiness passing all understanding.

……..St. John Vianney

Our Lady of the Rosary

Mary, Mother of Christ, tech us to pray your rosary as it should be prayed. For these ordinary beads strung on threads hold within themselves all the mysteries of our holy faith and all the main ways of prayer. Mary, Queen of the Rosary, open to us its holy secrets. Let it be our door to the heart of your son, his Father, and the Holy Spirit. ………….Catherine Doherty

"May is a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. This is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month is which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne."

……..Pope Paul VI

We are most grateful to Bishop Bambera for assigning Mark DeCelles, seminarian in preparation for priestly ministry for our diocese, to serve in our parishes from May 29 to August 5. We look forward to getting to know Mark and in Mark getting to know us!

A NOTE FROM BISHOP BAMBERA

Dear Monsignor Delaney,

Congratulations to you and your parishioners for surpassing your parish goal for our 2017 Diocesan Annual Appeal.

I appreciate your commitment to helping us once again raise more than $5 million in gifts and pledges to support all of our Diocesan ministries. Thank you for “walking together in the light of Christ” to bring joy and hope to all who seek our assistance.

Kindly extend my gratitude to your parishioners for their generous spirit and faithful service to your parish and to our Diocese. When we open our hearts to extend God’s mercy and love to our sisters and brothers, we grow as disciple of Jesus Christ. May God bless you and your parishioners as you continue to share His mercy6 and love in all that you do.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Joseph C. Bambera
Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton

As always thank you for your generosity.

Msgr. Michael J. Delaney
Pastor

Join us at Kelley Hall at 12 Noon each Wednesday for a free community meal. The nutritious meal, prepared at St. Francis Kitchen, Scranton, is served cafeteria style. All are welcome.

SOCIAL CONCERNS MEETING

Mark your calendar. The next Social Concerns Committee meeting will be May 21 at 6:30 PM in Kelley Hall at Holy Cross Parish. We will be hosting a guest speaker, Cassie Rose Kobeski, M.F.A. Cassie is the Compassionate Care Hospice Volunteer Coordinator. She will be giving a presentation on the role of a Hospice volunteer and why volunteers are in such need. If you are a kind, patient and caring individual and want to make a difference in the lives of others, please consider attending this meeting to learn more about this program and how you might be able to assist others.

Catholic Social Services of The Diocese of Scranton offers compassionate counseling in a safe, comfortable environment where your privacy is always respected. Counseling is about self-discovery and can be used for personal growth or when distressing conditions exist and you need a bit of extra support… help is available. Anyone who struggles with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions or a variety of emotional or psychological conditions is welcome. For more information or to make an appointment, call 570-207-2283.

Unexpected Pregnancy

An unexpected pregnancy may cause one to panic and feel their entire world is falling apart. Pregnancy counseling is available to every pregnant woman regardless of age, race, religion, or marital status. Supportive counseling is also offered to anyone affected by the pregnancy. For assistance or more information call Catholic Social Services at 800-982-4310.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING

Are you or someone you know struggling with problems related to Drugs or Alcohol? For over 80 years Catholic Social Services has helped individuals and families deal with substance abuse. For more information please call Catholic Social Services at 570-829-3489.

CHRISTIANS IN ACTION (Youth Group)

Our linked-parish youth group will meet on Sunday, January 15 at 5:00 PM in Kelley Hall, Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant.

Come join us as we begin a new year of activities, service projects and events. All are most welcome.

CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN

Will hold their meeting on Sunday, April 8, 2:00 PM Kelley Hall. All are welcome.

THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN is seeking new members!

The Confraternity is one of our parish’s oldest and most dedicated ministries. Members of the Confraternity serve Holy Cross Parish by living out their call to holiness distinctively as women, who are the backbone of this spiritual and charitable organization, which is under the banner of our Blessed Mother. They share a social bond as well as a love of their parish, and the need to participate in helping it grow and prosper. While primarily a spiritual group, the Confraternity also helps organize and run a number of different events throughout the year. Members are also active in volunteering with other parish ministries. Meetings are held monthly. The Confraternity of Christian Women welcomes women of any age for prayer, community, spirituality, service and friendship.

Parents who are sitting in the choir loft with their children, are asked NOT to sit in the first row due to safety issues. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.

Know a Marriage That Needs Help?  Throw them a lifeline and tell them about Retrouvaille, an international program that helps couples who are experiencing marital difficulties. This program is for all couples, at any stage of marriage that needs help to communicate with each other in a more attentive and loving manner. The next program in the Scranton Diocese begins Feb. 26-Feb. 28, 2016, at The Ramada Inn, Clarks Summit, PA. Please call 800-470-2230 for more information or to register or visit the website at www.helpourmarriage.org.