This reflection is published in the January 2019 issue of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press in Minnesota and is based on the scriptures for today’s Mass. 

We Still Proclaim

The Real Presence of Christ Jesus rests in my hands at Mass. Just before offering communion; I humbly list up the Body and Blood of Christ from the altar and verbally point the assembly’s attention to what we will receive and what we all become.

Breathing deeply into these ancient words, I pray again, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…” I voice the assertion that John the Baptist uttered to proclaim repentance and forgiveness. John spent his life pointing in the direction of Jesus, and my heart aches to imitate such a messenger’s life.

I gaze past he sacred bread and wine, knowing what love the Father has bestowed on those before me, all of us children of God. I am no aware of the very hunger or pain before my eyes, but I see the widower watched his wife waste away from cancer. I know the father who longs to communicate with a daughter lost to the effects of alcoholism. I stand at the altar knowing that God is willing again to satisfy the most complicated hungers and restore the most disparate hearts, including my own.

We proclaim the Most Holy Name of Jesus in every Eucharist. We still echo John’s testimony that in and through us, God is creating hope for all people on earth. I this Christmas season, our bodies partake in the Incarnation celebrated in the Eucharist, where God forgives the sins of the world.

Fr. Ronald Raab

Ronald Patrick Raab, CSC, is pastor of the Tri-Community Catholic Parish in Colorado Springs. He formerly served as associate pastor at Saint Andre Bessette Church in Old Town, Portland, OR. Lean more at w.w.w. ronaldraab.com

January 1, 2019

Mary, Mother of God

Let us pray that Mary, Mother of Mercy, will continue to protect the Church. May grace set us free from corruption and secrecy. Like Mary, may we reflect the mystery of Christ within our hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us hear the Word of God and be amazed at the work of God on earth. May we live the message of mercy and peace in our generation. We pray that hope will prevail.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all mothers and expectant mothers. We lift up the women who give us life, love and consolation. We pray for miracles here on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for lasting and courageous peace among all nations, peoples and in every human heart. We pray that peace may outlive violence, that peace may resist heartache, that peace may blanket our nation with compassion.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for healing among us. We pray for people who are receiving chemotherapy, for people restless about a possible diagnosis of disease. We pray not to stifle hope for any human being.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for those who have died. We pray that our hearts not become drowsy with grief. At this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.

December 30, 2018

Holy Family

Let us pray for our Church Universal, that we may seek to serve with integrity and justice. We pray that power will turn into humility, that secrecy will give way to transparency.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for families in crisis, that they may find our helping hands and understanding hearts. For foster families and families separated by war, violence or mental illness. For families searching for the basics of life.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to live the message of Christmas on earth. We pray for people who live on the margins of society, for people who struggle to make ends meet, for people exhausted from unexpected suffering, loss and grief.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for courage in family life. We pray to raise our children and grandchildren with love and compassion. We pray to silence our cell phones and seek face-to-face conversations with loved ones. We rejoice in the gifts of our children and their children.

We pay to the Lord.

Let us pray for hope in this Christmas season. May healing abound for people recently diagnosed with disease or living with misfortune. We pray for people who most need compassion and tenderness.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead. We remember our loved ones who have died during this past year. In this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.

Sister Wendy Beckett, Contemplative and Art Critic, died at 88

Sister Wendy Beckett lived her life as a contemplative and art expert. Her life of deep silence enabled her to comment on art from around the world with keen insight and faith. In the 1990’s she became a BBC star, inviting people from around the world to open their eyes to the profound nature of creativity, art and beauty. She changed the way many people view art and life, creativity and faith.

I am one of those people. I watched her shows over and over again, waiting for her response to some of the most beautiful and important art in the world. However, it was her book of prayer, “Sister Wendy on Prayer” that still captivates my attention. Her text on prayer is one of my favorite invitations to find God that I have ever read. This book was published in 2006. I always admired her fresh eyes and soulful understanding of the world, especially because she lived as a hermit.

She died this week at the age of 88. I pray with her life as a piece of God’s art, an invigorating journey toward the real life she desired, a life designed to rest in her Creator.

New York Times Obituary: CLICK HERE

The Holy Family: Painting by Ronald Raab, CSC (The original painting is located in the loft of Sacred Heart Church)

CLICK HERE FOR full bulletin

Dear Followers of Jesus,

Today’s gospel, Luke 2:41-52, illustrates a parent’s worst fear, a missing child. With much miscommunication, Jesus stayed behind to preach in the Temple without the knowledge of his parents, Mary and Joseph. We can all imagine the fear that ran through the minds and bodies of Mary and Joseph searching diligently for Jesus in the caravan.

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple. Jesus does not seem concerned that his parents were frantic. This gospel begins to outline his death and resurrection, even though he is still a youth. First, he is lost and then his parents find him after three days. This refers to his passion, death and resurrection. After three days, he becomes a new person. We see this visibly in the Temple, where he is preaching and answering questions. In other words, his real identity emerges, his place among the leaders of faith. He was lost but now is found among those whom hear his message of peace.

How ironic that we are celebrating the Incarnation during the Christmas season and today the real presence of Jesus is already lost. Jesus asks his parents, “Why are you looking for me?” Jesus assumes that his parents would know that he is in the Temple, doing the work of the Father. I want to hold on to Jesus asking me this question because so often I do not fully understand myself why I search for him.

We need to be honest about why we search for the Christ, the person of Jesus. We cannot live the mystery of our lives apart from Jesus. He is our hope when we are lost, when we get caught in personal sin, heartache and ill will. He is our direction when we believe we have all the answers, when we are confident that we can do life on our own. Jesus is our creative life even when we feel lost in our jobs or unimportant in our families. Jesus is the place we rest when we are tired and emptied from beating ourselves up when things just do not go the way we planned.

I wonder how we would answer the question Jesus poses to his parents? I desire with all my heart to find my way to his side, to his creative love for our world and for me. This Christmas season is just another step in our awkward search for Jesus, of being lost and found. Yet, Jesus makes a home within us. We already have what we desire, the love God has for each of us. Christmas is creating a home within our hearts to find that Jesus is not lost, but living among us today in all that we do.

The gospel tells us that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, held all these things in her heart. She pondered the mystery of his sorrows as well as his goodness. I hold on to the life of Jesus in this Christmas season within my heart, as I know we all long to do. For the mystery of the Incarnation is continuing to teach us how to love and how to live together.

Blessings,

Fr. Ron

Text: Ronald Raab, CSC

MORE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

I will be offering one of the twenty workshops for this conference in June, 2019. The title of my worship is: Fr. Ron Raab, CSC – Bending toward the Light: Our Posture of Solidarity through Preaching.

My presentation will offer a discussion based on my experiences working with people on the margins and learning how to interpret the scriptures through relationship with people in poverty and powerlessness.

Sacred Heart Church, Colorado Springs, CO 2018

Christmas Day

December 25, 2018

Let us pray that the Word-Made Flesh may find a home in every human heart this Christmas Day. May our voices herald Good News for all nations and all peoples in the joy of our Savior.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for Pope Francis and our Church leaders, that the Word of God may reveal compassion for all people surviving poverty and living in fear throughout the Church. May our leaders discover honesty and real concern for people.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people living on the margins of society. For people waiting for housing, healthcare, education and the essentials of human dignity. We pray that the Word of God becomes flesh in our service to people in need.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our families around our dinner tables this Christmas Day. For reconciliation among those we love. We pray for our children home from college and for our enthusiastic toddlers. We pray for our guests and strangers who dine with us this day.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all military families this Christmas Day. For all who serve our country, for all who serve far from home this year and for all who wait the return of loved ones.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all who have died since last Christmas Day. For our loved ones who rest in God’s Kingdom and who see firsthand the face of Christ Jesus. We pray for all who grieve on earth on Christmas Day. At this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2018

Let us pray to be open to the miracles among us this Christmas Eve. May our restless hearts rejoice where faith is born. Give us new hope and genuine love in this silent night.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the healing mission of the Church. For people searching for healthy food, adequate shelter and comfort for their ailing bodies. May the lonely and tired be wrapped in swaddling clothes in this holy night. May forgiveness find a home on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for Pope Francis and all Church leaders, that they may discover the love of the Incarnation. That hope may be made flesh for all people, especially our children within the Church, no matter our race, language or circumstance.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that children’s voices be heard on Christmas Eve. We pray for our own grandchildren far and near. For foster children, stepchildren, children at our country’s border and our children in jails. We pray for children trapped in cruelty and trafficking.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for comforting peace on earth. We pray for people who face tragedies of violence, fires, floods and addictions. That Jesus-made-flesh may show us how to become people of loving service. That peacefulness may be made known in every human heart.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead, especially for those who have died since last Christmas Eve. May our loved ones finally rest in the comfort of Jesus’ face, within his presence for all eternity. At this Mass we remember…

We pray to the Lord.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 23, 2018

Let us pray for our Church waiting for miracles this Advent. Let us pray for wise actions and loving responses for the needs of the world. Let us serve people with all our hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that we may receive love and acceptance in Advent. We pray for healing and forgiveness in our broken relationships and within every lonely heart. May love flourish on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that our hearts may leap for joy in recognition of Christ Jesus. For people searching for sobriety, for people who are healing from cancer, for couples seeking forgiveness in their marriage. May joy create a home in all people.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the dignity of family life. For students home from college and for our men and women home from deployment and for our children living far away. Let the face of Christ be revealed to us all.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for those who grieve this Advent. For people displaced by sudden storms, violence and fires, may they find our support. For first responders, medical personnel, all caregivers and people who provide emotional support across our country. Help us encounter Christ this Advent.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our loved ones who have died. Let us remember their voices as we all sing God’s praise. In this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.