church of the nativity, burke va 19th sunday in ordinary ... · to be ready for these long...

Church of the Nativity, Burke VA 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 12, 2018

“Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you'“

- 1 Kings 19:4-8

My dear parishioners,

An image of life that we often use is: “journey.” We take many journeys in our lives that are exciting, long, challenging, joyful and hopeful. We must wait for babies to be born, for spring to arrive after a hard winter, for vocations to be made clear. We find ourselves waiting for medical tests, for treatments to take effect, for building permits and completion of new projects, for parish leadership and ministry to continue to flourish, for our favorite sports teams to win championships, and for friendships to deepen. At the close of our lives, we will wait for death, and Jesus, and the new life of heaven. To be ready for these long journeys, we’re told to“get up and eat”, to sustain ourselves for the times when we might be in need of the nourishment of grace and encouragement. That’s why the “Bread of Angels”, the “Bread of Life” comes to us. It’s the food for the journey. That’s why we have Eucharist. Love and Summer Blessings,

Fr. Bob Cilinski

Pastor

A Message from our Pastor Fr. Bob Cilinski

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I invite you to join me in a Novena for the legal protection of human life, from now through September 28.

The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and the nomination of his successor have once again engendered debate in our society regarding the need for the legal protection of the right to life of unborn children. Each Friday during the Novena, we have the opportunity to pray and fast so that a change in the U.S. Supreme Court will move our nation closer to the day when every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life. During this time, we must also look for opportunities to educate our family and friends about why this right—the right to life—is paramount.

As part of this initiative, participants may receive weekly prayer reminders by text message or email. In addition to the current invitation to fast on Fridays, participants will be encouraged to pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for this protection of human life and will receive important facts about how Roe v. Wade is not health care, is bad law, and fails women.

Please encourage your friends to sign up at www.usccb.org/pray for this and the “Call to Prayer” initiatives. Additionally, please ensure you keep up with the Diocese on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we will be sharing resources, reminders and inspirational messages related to this Novena.

With our voices raised to God, perhaps we will one day live in a country that protects the most vulnerable of people, the child in the womb, and that mothers would know of the support and help the Church is ready to offer whenever they face a challenging or unplanned pregnancy.

Know of my continued prayer for you and your families. Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Bishop Michael F. Burbidge Bishop of Arlington

Altar Server Appreciation Baseball Game

All Altar servers are invited to join Fr. Bob, Fr. Vaccaro and Sem. Peter McShurley for a baseball game in Nationals Park on:

Sunday, August 19th The Nationals will be playing the Marlins at 1:35pm

A bus will leave from the parish at 12:15pm

Please RSVP by August 13 to [email protected] and don’t forget to drop by the parish office, or sacristy to fill out a permission form! We look forward to seeing you there!

St. Lucy Food Drive Update and Thank You

Catholic Charities of the Arlington Diocese reports that Nativity Parish broke every record with the St. Lucy food drive!! Nativity parishioners donated 13,524 pounds of food and over $6,000 in cash, checks, and gift cards! No other parish has donated so much to the St. Lucy project.

We want to thank you all for your incredible generosity in helping to feed the needy in the Diocese! We also want to thank those parishioners who gave their time to help distribute the blue bags and to collect the food donations!

You are all what makes Nativity Parish so special!

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.“ -Mahatma Gandhi


Chinese Catholic Community

The Arlington Diocese Office of Multicultural Ministries has established a Diocesan Chinese Catholic Community. Several

Chinese Catholic families from the Diocese are getting together for a monthly prayer meeting in Chinese to learn more about

our faith and share our spiritual thoughts. This Chinese Catholic Community meets at the Church of the Nativity. All Chinese Catholics are welcome to join this Chinese Prayer Meeting every 3rd Saturday of the month from 7:15 pm to 9:15pm. Please come join us in Cantonese/Mandarin Chinese hymn

singing, rosary, prayers for special intentions and bible sharing. For further information, contact Joe Moy at

703-698-0482 or Diana Huynh at 703-250-4760.

WOMEN OF NATIVITY THANK YOU

The Women of Nativity wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the parishioners who donated so generously

to the annual Back to School Supplies Collection. Through your generosity, we were able to send school supplies

to Carpenter’s Shelter, Catholic Charities, ECHO, Lorton Community Action Center, and Salvation Army.

Baptisms take place the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. The next baptismal class is scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2018 at 7:30pm

in the Nativity School Art Room. Please call the office at 703-455-2400 to sign up.

Prayerfully consider volunteering to

teach in our Religious Education Program.

We are in need of Catechist volunteers

for all grades and all sessions

(catechist, catechist assistants, substitutes,

office aids and High School Assistants).

Volunteers receive tuition discount.

For more Information please contact the

Religious Education Office: 703.455.0372

or visit our website:

ww.nativityburke.org/nativityccd

-There is still time to register for classes-

List of volunteering opportunities:

“It’s not how much we give but how much

love we put into giving.” - Mother Teresa

Session Day Time Grade # of Volunteers Needed

1 Sunday 2-3:15pm 3 4 5 6 7

3 2 2 2 4

2 Sunday 3:45-5pm K 3 5 6 8

2 4 2 3 1

3 Sunday 7-8:15pm K 1 3 4 5 6 7 8

3 2 3 2 1 2 2 3

4 Monday 4:30-5:45pm

5 6

1 1

5 Monday 7-8:15pm K 1 2 5 7

2 2 2 2 3

5 Monday 7-8:15pm RCIC 3

6 Tuesday 4:30-5:45pm

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

4 2 2 2 4 2 2 2

7 Tuesday 7-8:15pm K 4

2 2


“In 1943, when France was occupied by German Nazis, the search for Jews began. In the face of grave peril, Sister Agnes convinced her mother superior to open their convent and offer refuge to a Jewish family. …Let us devote ourselves anew to following wherever the Lord leads. Let us take courage from their example of faith.

” USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, “Understanding Conscience,” www.bit.ly/understanding-conscience

A WOMAN’S CHOICE is a pregnancy resource center that provides free pregnancy testing, referrals for medical treatment,

housing, social service assistance and tangible support for pregnant women, including clothing and equipment. www.awomanschoicecenter.com or (703-538-4305).

Mass and Healing Service at Nativity Church

The Catholic Healing Ministry of the Diocese of Arlington will celebrate a Mass and Healing service on Thursday,

August 23rd at 7:30pm at the Church of Nativity. Fr. Tuck Grinnell will be the celebrant.

For further information please call 540-347-0809 or visit www.healingministry.net.

2018 Marriage Jubilee Mass Sunday, October 14, 2018

The annual Marriage Jubilee Mass in the Diocese is a chance for jubilarian anniversary couples to offer Mass for the gift of their

silver (25 years) or golden (50 years) wedding anniversaries, meet the Bishop and receive a blessing from him.

This year's Marriage Jubilee Mass will be on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.

Check the bulletin for information closer to the date.

Save the Date: Prayer Workshop for Couples Saturday, October 20, 2018

Join us for a Communication and Prayer Workshop on Saturday, October 20th, at the Church of the Nativity from 9:00am – 2:30pm.

The event begins with Holy Mass and will feature talks on expression and understanding, Q&A, and time for prayer. Cast out into the deep, and enrich your already profound

relationship with God and your fiancé/e or spouse. Breakfast and lunch are included, the cost is $55 per couple.

Registration details coming soon!

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary A Holy Day of Obligation Wednesday, August 15th

This week the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. Declared by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, this Dogma states, “The Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven” (Papal Bull Munificentissimus Deus).

Wondering about Mary and devotion to her, since Scripture has only a handful of references to her, I began to do some searching. In a wonderful little book: Catholic Customs and Traditions by Greg Dues (XXIII Publications, 1992), I came across some interesting information. Here is some of what I discovered. Mary, following the death of Jesus, lived her remaining years with the Christian Community at Ephesus. Because the early Christians were influenced by the many martyrs during the years of persecution, she had no following as such. Towards the end of the Second century and the beginning of the Third, attention began to shift towards Mary, based on the teachings and writings of the early Church leaders. Following the Council of Ephesus (431 AD), devotions to Mary increased considerable. Feast days and churches dedicated to her began to multiply. By the beginning of the 6th Century, local churches were celebrating Mary’s falling asleep or “Dormition”. This was considered totally appropriate by the people, since the body which gave birth to the Messiah certainly should not and would not decay.

This early celebration would later be described as her bodily assumption into heaven and become the basis for the feast which we celebrate this week.

It’s Not Too Late -- A Few Preschool Seats Left This Fall: Preschool Day Extends; Week Lengthens

This Fall, our Preschool class will meet Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to NOON, with an OPTIONAL

Preschool Afternoon Extension from NOON to 2:30 p.m. An Extended Care Program may are available as well.

Photo: Having fun on the playground! We’re accepting applications for the 2018-19 School Year

now. Come join us -- take a tour, visit our classroom, and see our campus. Learn how we spend the rest of our school

day! For more information, please contact Mrs. Mazzella, our Early Childhood Education Program Director,

at 703-455-2300.


Monday, August 13 7:30am † Corrine Blix

Tuesday, August 14 7:30am † Melanie Crotty 7:30pm † Richard Ferraro Wednesday, August 15, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:30am † Josephine Morreale 9:00am † Danielle E. Roseberry 12:00pm † Robert “Bob” McCleary (Burke HC) 3:00pm † Thomas Kelly 5:00pm † David Hadsell 7:00pm Mass

Thursday, August 16 7:30am Special Intention for Rodolfo Arca Friday, August 17 7:30am † Leslie Brown Saturday, August 18 9:00am Special Intention for Our Lady of Knock 5:00pm † Robert Mason Green Jr. 7:00pm † Julia Plaza

Sunday, August 19 7:30am † Albert and Elizabeth Presto 9:00am Parishioners 11:00am † Rosita V. Arambulo 12:45pm † Nellie Rawski 5:30pm † Lanie Valentin

The priest schedule for Masses is found on our webpage: www.nativityburke.org

In prayer, let us remember the sick and deceased of the parish.

ALTAR FLOWERS Donated with Love by

Barbara and Jennifer Wright In Loving Memory of Jim Wright

During the Month of July, through the Sacrament of Baptism, we joyfully welcomed the

following into our Parish Community:

Austin Thomas Crane Eva Isabel Herrera Maceo Andres Galvan James Philip Clark Dorian Andre DiIenno Archer Edward Festog Franchesca Juliette Portocarrero Claire Marie Endicott Peter Alexander Prunka Luke Daniel Tinsley Aidan Ross Larson Lucy Isabella Castillo-Manzano Emelyn Joan Scarola Summer Grace Stringer Teagan Jane Hanna Benjamin Aaron Rivera Michael Eugene Ayoub

CONGRATULATIONS!

We’ve Got a Few Seats Left in Second Grade -- we’re looking for a couple of rising Second Graders

to join us. From Sacraments to Social Studies, we may be just the school for which you’ve been searching!

Come tour our campus and meet our staff by contacting Shannon Murphy at [email protected].

Bishop Burbidge will be the celebrant and homilist on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

this Wednesday, August 15, at the 12:05 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” Your faithful response to your vocation gives joy to the heart of God. Perhaps priesthood or consecrated life awaits you. Contact Fr. Michael Isenberg at (703) 841-2514, or write: [email protected].

Please Consider Adding ‘Searching for More’ to Your Podcast List! ‘Searching for More’ features interviews and discussions on a range of topics affecting Catholics in today’s world.


There will be a Prayer Shawl summer meeting on Monday, August 20th at 9:30am, in the Fr. Ready Room.

http://www.nativityschool.org

NATIVITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL

A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

Join the Knights! Do you want to make a difference as a Gentleman? Then join the Knights of Columbus! Please contact DGK John Ostrowski at [email protected] if you are interested in joining our order or know someone who is. If you want a quick easy alternative way to join the Knights, try **Online Membership**! In only 5-10 minutes, just type in the link below, fill out the needed information, and put Council 7992 as your preferred Coun-cil. Contact us if you have any issues with the online registration at: https://www.kofc.org/apps/newjoin/en/registration/index.html

Note: Knights who join online are not initially full members of our Nativity Council when they join…. but they can attend our meetings as a non-voting "visiting" Brother Knights. Online members are able to easily transfer to Nativity Council 7992 then participate in an Admission (1st Degree) ceremony to become full members in our Council.

Knights' Families Summer Picnic: We will meet at Burke Lake Park on Saturday, August 18th from 11:00am to 3:00pm at Burke Lake Shelter B. Join us for another fun family event! This year we'll have a pot luck. All families are encouraged to bring a favorite dish. Please sign up as a family and provide the number of family members in the comment: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090945adae2ba0fd0-knights1 Council Meeting: The next council meeting is Thursday, 16 August. The rosary starts at 7:15pm and the meeting will start at 7:30pm. We will also have a first degree ceremony.

The following are nearby opportunities to advance in the degrees of our Order: 1st Degree (Admission): Monday,13 August at 7 :00pm, Council 12846, St. Raymond of Penafort Church, Springfield. 1st Degree (Admission): Thursday, 16 August at 7:30pm, Council 7992, Father Sikora Council, Nativity Parish. 2nd Degree (Formation): Thursday, 27 September at 7:30pm Council 12846, St. Raymond of Penafort Church, Springfield.

Please contact DGK John Ostrowski at [email protected] if you'd like to participate in these ceremonies so that we can coordinate with the host Councils.

Got an Inquisitive Preschooler? Introduce Us!!

We Have a Couple of Seats Open in Our Fall Class and We’d Like to Offer One to Your Preschooler. Come Tour Our Cam-pus, Visit the Classroom, and Meet Our Students and Teachers.

Learn How We Spend Our School Day! For more information, please contact Mrs. Mazzella, our Early Childhood Education Program Director,

at 703-455-2300.

**************************************

FIRST GRADERS EXPLORE THE NATIONAL ZOO AND THE INSECT ZOO (AT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY)

Our First Graders traveled to both the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Museum of Natural History -- two very kid-friendly places. At the National Zoo, students were drawn to the Lions, Tigers and Bears -- oh, my! -- and roamed the grounds in search of Elephants, Giraffes, and others. At the Museum of Natural History, students focused on the Insect Zoo, where they observed live Tarantula feedings while learning

that Arthropods — animals with jointed legs and exoskele-tons — are the most diverse animal life form on the planet. As the museum staff iterates: ‘Life as we know it would not exist without these indispensable animals.’

Photo Top: Student holding a cockroach at Insect Zoo.

Photo Below: Students gather on Mall grounds for lunch and relaxation.

Join us at Nativity to see how your child would spend his or her days here -- learning, praying, sharing, and laughing.

We may be just the school for which you´ve been searching! Contact us at www.nativityschool.org, (703)455-2300,

or [email protected].

http://www.nativityburke.org/nativityschool/

http://www.nativityschool.org/

mailto:[email protected]

Website: www.nativityburke.org 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 12, 2018

OUTSIDE THE PARISH

ECHO News and Updates

This month, ECHO’s Pantry needs pancake syrup, boxed potato products, 2 lb. bags of sugar and flour as well as shaving razors, detergent and toilet paper. The Clothing Department needs children’s sneakers, girls’ jeans (sizes 6-18) and new pacifiers. What does ECHO do with baby pacifiers, anyway? ECHO has a volunteer who assembles layettes from the donations of infant items, and our volunteers give them to expectant moms.

Do you have a working toaster you never use, a clothing iron just gathering dust in your closet? ECHO’s Housewares Department would love to have them. There is also always a need for shower curtains and shower curtain rings.

ECHO’s 2018-2019 Teen Volunteer Program will begin on Wednesday, September 12. Teens may learn more about the program on ECHO’s website, www.echo-inc.org under the Volunteer Tab. Students between the ages of 13 and 18 may use this program to earn service hours for schools or organiza-tions by working at ECHO once, or many times. The program is very popular and limited slots are available. Registration for each month begins the first week of the month prior, so those interested in September slots should sign up now.

If your family is planning its Back-To-School shopping expedition, please don’t forget that ECHO’s Backpack Program brings joy- and relief- to families who are struggling financially. These students are thrilled to get a new backpack filled with school supplies. ECHO continues to collect supplies to reach its goal of distributing 1000 backpacks. Spiral notebooks, new backpacks, 2” binders, tabbed subject dividers, and wide-ruled composition books top ECHO’s list of needs, but the complete list is posted on ECHO’s website, www.echo-inc.org, under Donate/School Supplies.

Volunteers with IT technical skills are needed to help ECHO refurbish donated desktop computers that are then distributed to clients with children in school. Several (non-Apple) computers are received each month, and they need to be cleaned of old software and loaded with licensed software, then tested. Refurbishing may require cleaning the hardware, as well making some simple repairs such as replacing memory or hard drives. The volunteer(s) can work from home and make their own schedules. If interested, please contact Bob Vitter by e-mail to [email protected].

All donations are gratefully accepted at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, on weekdays from 9:30am to 12:30pm, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 7:00 and 9:00pm.

Do you want to become a CITIZEN?

Apply now! Come to a citizenship application workshop hosted by Catholic Charities Hogar Immigrant Services. WHEN: August 25th, Doors open 10:00am - 1:00pm WHERE: St. John Neumann COST: $110, cash or credit CONTACT US TO PRE-REGISTER: (571) 208-1572 or hogarimmigrantservices.org/workshop. **You must have been a legal permanent resident for 5 years to qualify for citizenship.

Help Without Enabling: Balance and Boundaries Friday, August 17, 2018

Join Dr. Michael K. Horne, Director of Clinical Services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, as he speaks on how to help without enabling through balance and boundaries. From 10:00 -11:30am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21371 St. Theresa Lane in Ashburn, VA 20147. For more information type in the link below. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/uploadedFiles/CDA/Events/Family_Life/Family_Life/Help%20Without%20Enabling%20Flyer.pdf

Lunch N’ Life

Are You 50 or Better? Please join us for the next Lunch N’ Life sponsored by the Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke on Thursday, September 20th, (12:00-2:00 p.m.) at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. Entertainment will be “Let Me Tell You What It’s Really Like”, a one act play about living with bipolar disorder, performed by Jennifer and Kate Ives. For reservations, call Bea Stephenson at 703-273-5730 by September 14th. The cost is $10.00; checks payable to SCFB. If transportation is needed, call the SCFB office (703) 323-4788. See www.scfbva.org for more information or type in the following link for the flyer:

http://scfbva.org/files/lnl_flyers_sept_pdf_2018.pdf

The 26th International Week of Prayer and Fasting coalition

In collaboration with the Marians Fathers, Legion of Mary and Priests for Life, are asking for individuals, families, prayer groups and parishes to unite for nine days (Sept. 29 – Oct. 7, 2018) of prayer and fasting for the following goals: Conversion of all Peoples and Nations, to Build a Culture of Life, to Defend the Sanctity of Marriage and Family Life, to Pray for Peace and to Implore God’s Mercy.

For the opening day, on Saturday, September 29th, please join us at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm for the International Day of Prayer. Registration is FREE, but please register online at www.iwopf.org to receive a free prayer card at the Basilica event.

The Celebrant and Homilist for the noon mass is Bishop Roy Edward Campbell, Jr., Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.iwopf.org or call 888-478-PRAY (7729).


Contact Director: Alison Fram [email protected], cell: 703-577-5329

Find us on the parish website

COLLEGE MINISTRY and

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Young Adult Ministry Serving people ages 21-39

Facebook Group - “Catholic Life Young Adult Ministry”

Instagram - @nativityya

Weekly: - Every Tuesday - Small Group from 7:30-9:00pm in the Youth Room.

Thursday, 8/23 - Basketball returns! 8:30-10:30pm in the Gym. This is a favorite YA event with pick-up games open

to people of any skill level.

COLLEGE MINISTRY

Serving people ages 18-21

Monday, August 20 | 6:30 pm Food & Drinks, 7:30 Talk | The Auld Shebeen TOPIC: “Worth the Wait: A Love Story”

by Marcus Guevara. Please RSVP on Facebook! :)

Saturday, August 18 | 9:00 am | Fr. Ready Room

Saturday, September 15 | 9:00 am | Fr. Ready Room

Do you have children Pre-K and younger? Want to connect with other young families in the parish?

Dads & Moms are welcome to join us for a discussion on faith and parenting one Saturday every month!

Bring the kids with you.

Have you have heard the call to work with youth? YOU can make a difference in the life of a young person - leading them closer to Christ.

College-Age, Young Adults, Parents, Grandparents, Retirees… all are welcome to share the Catholic faith! Contact Ms. Ingrid to inquire how YOU can help.

Serving students in Grades 6 thru 12 in a variety of

teen groupings

YOU are wanted and needed to make this ministry strong. Consider making a

difference in the life of a teen— Leading them closer to Christ!

For Complete Information on what we offer visit the Nativity web site — Youth & Family

September 2018 — June 2019

High School - Weekly Sundays - LifeTEEN - 6:30pm dinner, 7:00pm ministry Wednesdays - Go Deeper Girls - 7:00pm Thursdays - Go Deeper Boys - 7:00pm

Middle School - Grades 6, 7, and 8 - Weekly Sundays - EDGE - 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Seasonal

Service Opportunities, Fun Outings & Diocesan Events offered throughout the year

One Act Theater Ministry - Fall RALLY - Diocesan Event - Fall Trunk or Treat - Fall (Family Event) Life Is VERY Good - Winter Living Stations - Lent VBC, Work Camp - Summer

One Act Jr Theater Ministry - Fall Trunk or Treat - Fall (Family Event) BASH—Diocesan Event - Spring VBC, Camp EDGE - Summer

Weekly CYM Update! Find out what’s going on in Youth Ministry

Send Email to Ms. Ingrid [email protected] - Include Child’s Name, School, Grade and Birthdate, Cell - Parent/Guardian names, cell numbers, emails Receive CYM Update Wednesdays starting in September.

nat ivi tycym

F nat ivi typrym Nativity Youth Ministry

mailto:[email protected]


LA VIDA NO ES SOLO COMER

Domingo XIX Javier Leoz

1. Nunca como hoy, la humanidad o gran parte de ella, ha dispuesto de tantos adelantos: comunicación por aire, tierra y mar. Recursos de alimentación o bienes materiales en abundancia y, por contraste, en algunos

lugares con tanta escasez y desigualdades. Nunca como hoy, la humanidad, ha tenido tanto y, por lo que sea, nunca ha tenido tanta sensación de insatisfacción, de infelicidad. Algo ocurre en nuestro globo cuando, tanto personal, dice tener poco apego a la vida. Cuando, la droga, el suicidio u otras prácticas de riesgo se convierten en una llamada de atención que nos debiera de hacer reflexionar: la vida, no sólo es tener, acaparar, aparentar, conquistar, consumir o comer. Es mucho más. Tenemos que descubrir o llegar a al-go más que le dé sentido. No es de extrañar, precisamente por eso, que mucha gente encuentre en el sano altruismo, en la entrega generosa hacia los demás, muchas razones para vivir o sentirse realizado. Y, al contrario, no es de extrañar tampoco que otros –teniéndolo todo- no sepan por donde tirar para alcanzar un equilibrio razonable en su vida. ¿Dónde está la respuesta? Para nosotros, los cristianos, en Cristo. Y desde ahí hemos de trabajar. De poco sirve ser los más adelantados; que la ciencia vaya conquistando campos hasta unos años impensables; que los grandes descubrimientos de-jen a parte de la humanidad con los ojos asombrados o que, por ejemplo, el bienestar del hombre –en algunos rincones del mundo- haya alcanzado cotas impresionantes. ¿Es positivo si luego, a continuación, fallamos y faltamos en lo esencial: el hombre? 2. La apariencia, lo material y lo puramente superficial, se pueden convertir en un cruel muro que nos impida dar el salto a Dios. A los judíos les aconteció lo mismo: estaban tan aferrados a la ley (y a sus propios privilegios) que el paso del códi-go de normas a Jesús les resultaba escandaloso, imposible, inadmisible. Entre otras cosas porque, aquello, suponía desmontar muchas ideas y muchos intereses; apearse de muchos caballos domesticados a su propia medida. Hoy, como entonces, también nos encontramos con escenas muy parecidas: ¡creo en Dios pero no en la Iglesia! ¡Yo me confieso directamente con Dios! ¡A mí con creer en Dios me basta, me sobran los curas! ¿No será en el fondo que se-guimos sin creer en el Dios encarnado? ¿No será que, muchos, seguimos o siguen pensando que Dios es un Dios a nuestro antojo, capricho y sometido a nuestra propia ley? Ojala, amigos, sigamos avanzando en el conocimiento de Dios. Pero, no lo olvidemos; para llegar hasta El, el único camino es Jesucristo. Que no reduzcamos nuestra vida a “un ir tirando comiendo.” Que nos preocupemos de buscar siempre razones, momentos, profetas, ayudas para “un ir viviendo creyendo en Jesús”.

PAN VIVO, EN UN MUNDO MUERTO Javier Leoz Fortaleces, con tu pan, al que hambriento de otros panes cae bajo el peso de su propia debilidad. Nos sacias, Señor, con tu ternura y, cuando falla el calor humano, te haces encuentro, caricia, abrazo, respuesta y amor entregado Eres pan vivo, Señor, en un mundo que, creyéndose seguro, es zarandeado al viento de su propio egoísmo. Eres pan vivo, Señor, que, cuando se recibe con fe, produce el milagro del amor sin farsa el milagro de la fe sin fisuras el milagro de las manos abiertas el milagro de darse sin agotarse Eres pan vivo, Señor, y quien te recibe, vive eternamente quien te recibe, cree y espera quien te come, ama y se entrega quien te comulga, perdona y olvida

Eres pan vivo, Señor; ayúdame a responderte con mi fe enséñame a ver más allá de mi mismo condúceme hasta tu regazo para que, allá donde yo vaya, siempre contigo me encuentre. Y, cuando yo crea sentirme demasiado vivo, haz que, con tu pan, comprenda que el mundo está demasiado muerto cuando es incapaz de reconocerte como el pan vivo y verdadero sustento. Amén.


Y al final de los tiempos... el anticristo ¿Quién es el Anticristo? ¿Es una persona? ¿Cómo reconocerlo? Por: Germán Sánchez Griese | Fuente: Catholic.net ¿Quién es el mentiroso sino el que niega que Jesús es el Cristo? Ése es el anticristo, el que niega al Padre y al Hijo. (1Jn. 2,22)

Los católicos creemos que al final de los tiempos Cristo vendrá para acabar con el mal de este mundo, siendo la muerte el último mal en ser aniquilado. Sin embargo, antes de que esto suceda, la Iglesia deberá pasar por una prueba final que sacudirá la fe de nu-merosos creyentes. Así lo expresa Jesucristo: “Y al crecer cada vez más la iniquidad, la caridad de la mayoría se enfriará”. (Mt. 24, 12). Él mismo nos hace ver que la persecución será la compañía de los últimos días de la Iglesia en la tierra: “Si fuerais del mundo, el mundo amaría lo suyo pero, como no sois del mundo, porque yo al elegiros os he sacado del mundo, por eso os odia el mundo. Acordaos de la palabra que os he dicho: El siervo no es más que su señor. Si a mí me han perseguido, también os perseguirán a vo-sotros.” (Jn. 15, 19-20).

Muchos quieren ver en estas persecuciones o en estas pruebas la figura de un Anticristo. De acuerdo al Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, el Anticristo es “la impostura religiosa suprema... un seudo-mesianismo en que el hombre se glorifica a sí mismo colo-cándose en el lugar de Dios y de su Mesías venido en la car-ne” (Catecismo de la Iglesia católica, 675).

Algunos han querido ver en la figura del Anticristo a una persona concreta y así muchos lo identificaron con los emperadores roma-nos que persiguieron a los primeros cristianos. Otros lo identifican con sistemas políticos que proponen la felicidad completa y per-petua en este mundo, basados en diversos sistemas económicos. “Esta postura aparece esbozada ya en el mundo cada vez que se pretende llevar a cabo la esperanza mesiánica en la historia, lo cual no puede alcanzarse sino más allá del tiempo histórico a través del juicio escatológico.” (catecismo de la Iglesia católica, 676).

No hace mucho tiempo algunos creyeron ver en el comunismo la imagen del Anticristo por la fórmula de felicidad terrena que traía al hombre. Otros pensaba que podría ser una misma persona: Ne-rón o Diocleciano por la fiereza con la que perseguía a los primer-os cristianos. ¿Persona? ¿Sistema político? ¿Cultura? ¿Demonio? Cada vez que a los hombres se les proporciona una solución aparente a sus problemas mediante el precio de la apostasía, esto es, de la negación de la verdad, estamos hablando de una impos-tura religiosa. La impostura religiosa suprema, como lo apuntá-bamos anteriormente, es el Anticristo, de acuerdo al Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica. Quién nos ofrece esa solución aparente a nuestros problemas, ne-gando la verdad nos está ofreciendo a su vez una visión de lo que puede ser la figura del Anticristo. ¿La droga? ¿El sexo desligado de su verdad ética y moral? ¿Los sistemas políticos que glorifican a un tipo de hombre que sólo encontrará su felicidad en esta tierra? ¿El consumismo exacerbado de algunas cultura de Occidente? Cada vez que el hombre se glorifica a sí mismo colocándose en el lugar de Dios y de su Mesías podemos decir que estamos hablando de un Anticristo, bien sea éste una persona, un sistema político o una cultura.

La vida como una cadena de hechos Reflexiones para el cristiano de hoy En esa cadena, ¿cuál es mi responsabilidad? ¿Cuál la de otros? ¿Ha sido una casualidad? ¿Puede evitarse un daño futuro? Por: P. Fernando Pascual LC | Fuente: Catholic.net Un pinchazo en la rueda del coche. Un volantazo. El golpe. Ida al hospital. Una semana en reposo. Tiempo para reflexionar. Pensamos en lo ocurrido. ¿Por qué aquel pinchazo? Quizá se pudo haber evitado con una revisión a tiempo en el mecánico. O tal vez alguien dejó un objeto puntiagudo en la carretera. Empezamos a buscar causas y consecuencias, responsabi-lidades y medios para prevenir algo parecido en el futuro. Muchas veces vemos la vida como una cadena de hechos. Lo que pasa hoy se explica por lo que pasó ayer y prepara lo que ocurrirá mañana. En esa cadena, ¿cuál es mi responsabilidad? ¿Cuál la de otros? ¿Ha sido una casualidad? ¿Puede evitarse un daño futuro? Duele constatar cuando uno inició una cadena de eventos nega-tivos. Al revés, sentimos alegría si dimos el primer empujón a una cadena de hechos positivos. Entonces, ¿qué voy a decidir ahora? ¿Hacia dónde dirigiré mi mente y mi corazón? ¿Cómo dar inicio a algo bueno? ¿Cómo prevenir peligros para mí y para otros? El mundo tiene muchos rincones de misterio que conviven con zonas de responsabilidad. Los primeros explican tanta incerte-za. Las segundas nos abruman: mis decisiones a veces tienen consecuencias sumamente graves. Por eso ahora, entre las muchas opciones que tengo ante mí, necesito luz para decidir prudentemente. Una luz que viene desde la Palabra de Dios y las luces del Espíritu Santo. Una luz que también me llega gracias a amigos sensatos y reflexivos. En estos momentos, inicia una nueva cadena de eventos. Pido a Dios, humildemente, que esos eventos me hagan más bueno, promuevan la justicia, abran la historia humana a la belleza, y nos acerquen un poco al encuentro eterno con nuestro Padre de los cielos...

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