Scripture Reflection: June 30, 2024 – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Mk 5:21-43
 
In this Sunday’s readings Jesus said to Jairus, the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, just have faith”. Really? Just have faith? I want to Just have faith, but I don’t always know how. I am not always able to JUST DO IT, as they say.
 
Many, many nights I lay awake in the dark of night worried for my children. My only solace is prayer. I pray for God to help my children through their pain. I ask God to give me rest, to quiet my mind. I pray the Our Father, I pray the Hail Mary, I recite the Serenity Prayer. I say these prayers to myself over and over again. And you know? I surrender, I relax, I sleep (most of the time).
 
And on some mornings, when I haven’t slept, I am still able to enjoy my day. I walk in the garden, barefoot. I see the light of the morning. I see how the plants have changed since the day before.
 
I am filled with gratitude. Grateful for the willingness to pray, to surrender.
 
“At night fall, weeping enters in but with the dawn, rejoicing. I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me. You changed my mourning into dancing. O Lord, my God, forever I will give you thanks.”
 
Bernadette Patten
Anam Cara Community
Houston, TX

by Genie Packard, Night Luminaries, Lake Jackson, Texas

Our Eucharistic Procession on June 2, the Feast of Corpus Christi, was a joint effort with between neighboring parishes: St. Jerome, in Clute, Texas and St. Michael parish in Lake Jackson, Texas. Theresians Maria Macaraeg, Helen Anderson, and I were so impressed by the fervor of the Clute planners! On the day of the procession, we arrived at St. Jerome to a wonderfully festive scene of automobiles decorated with fresh flower wreaths, tulle bows on the car doors, and window flags that read "Jesus, I adore you!" The participants even wore t-shirts bearing the iconic symbol of the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance! The prayerful one-mile walking procession was followed by a police-escorted motorcade to our church, where about 300+ persons from both parishes assembled for another mile-long procession. Our Eucharistic Lord stopped to bless residents and staffers at three senior living facilities in addition to our local hospital. No one suffered from heat exhaustion, and all were exhilarated to gather in the church for Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The event was followed by refreshments in the hall where the joy was quite palpable. It was obvious that those who participated were deeply in love with the Lord. Jesus shared His abundant graces and blessings with us that day because we believe that He is truly present among us...truly present in the Holy Eucharist! Many thanks to Night Luminaries Donna, Morgan, Lisa, Jet, and Edna who prayed for a successful event, and to Mary, Janet, Yvonne and Traci, who helped keep participants safe in the heat of the day. I felt the intensity of His love that day, and pray that I am never separated from that love. 

Scripture Reflection: June 23, 2024 – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary time

Jb 38:1, 8-11
Ps 107:23-31
2 Cor 5:14-17
Mk 4:35-41
 
Today we are reminded that God creates all and has power and control over all of creation. God questions Job and asks, “who was there when I set limits and who shut within doors the sea?” (Jb. 38:8) God addresses Job to remind him of God’s  power over creation. In the Gospel Jesus also speaks of this power. While the disciples were in a boat a storm came up and tossed them about. All the while Jesus was asleep in the boat. They woke Him and He said to the sea, “Quiet! Be Still!” and the wind ceased (Mk. 4:39). Only Jesus can calm the storms in our lives. So, when we are tempted to think we can control the storms in our lives we must remember that God has all of this in His hands. We must be “Quiet! Be Still!” and trust that God will calm the storms in our lives.
​
Loretta Ortego
Flowers of the Prairie Community
Eunice, LA 

by Jet Booth, Night Luminaries, Lake Jackson, Texas

JESUS IS TAKING TO THE STREETS! These are the headlines that should be hitting the national news nightly. It somehow is not but we know what is happening. The National Eucharistic Revival is happening across the USA and we have been part of this epic, historic moment in so many ways. We jumped in when our Night Luminaries community planned our theme for 2023-2024. We chose the book Beautiful Eucharist by Matthew Kelly. We shared at every gathering our insights, our readiness to get closer to Christ in the Eucharist, and to participate in the St. Juan Diego route of the Pilgrimage when it came through our area of Houston, Texas. I joined members of the Wildflowers Community in Sugarland, Texas, on May 31 for Mass and Adoration. I experienced the worst rainstorm ever that morning as I drove to the Mass. Torrential rain had me crying out loud in the car "I'm coming, Jesus!" I knew I had to make it to process with the perpetual pilgrims making their way to Indianapolis. The rain and lightning kept coming. Our hopes to witness to Jesus and see Him in the streets of Houston had to change. Our outside procession in the streets was moved inside because of the continued stormy weather. We were sad but relieved and I was still glad to participate in Adoration with a packed church of believers. On our knees we still joined all those across the USA to carry Jesus across this nation.

The revival and Pilgrimage is still going on! Theresians share your experience! Members of Night Luminaries spearheaded a procession in Lake Jackson and will comment on that experience in the next two weeks in Sacred Touchstones.

How has this revival affected me? I started out feeling tired of going through the motions at the time of communion. By praying, reading and striving with my sisters I fell in love with Adoration time before Jesus. I still struggle to really believe and surrender to Christ in His humble, hidden presence in the host and ask for more faith every time I receive Him. Instead of thinking about my grocery list or other distractions, I have become more alert, standing on tiptoe receiving HIM and trying not to receive in an empty, bored, glum way.

Scripture Reflection: June 16, 2024 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
Psalm 92:2
 
I love the beautiful imagery captured in this Sunday’s readings.
​

•  A majestic cedar
• Every winged thing in the shade of its boughs
• And the smallest mustard seed that, when fully grown, “puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

But it’s the responsorial psalm that stirred my heart.

I recently listened to an interview with Julie Andrews where she shared that, when she recorded, “My Favorite Things,” she sang it as a meditation on the goodness of life and those things for which she is most grateful.

• Raindrops on roses
• Whiskers on kittens
• Bright copper kettles
• Warm woolen mittens

It reminded me of who I strive to be. A person who notices how God is Good and showers me/us with a multitude of gifts that I want to see and acknowledge throughout my days. My husband and family, of course, but all the other things, too.

• The monarch caterpillars feasting on my milkweed
• Refrigerator magnets that commemorate wonderful getaways
• My washer and dryer
• Sanitation workers who come twice a week to carry away our discards
• The enticing aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans
• Wordle

I could go on and on, and I bet you can, too. What’s on your list?
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For such a time as this, Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
 
Heidi Clark
​Wildflowers Community
League City, TX

Scripture Reflection: June 9, 2024 - Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Genesis 3:9-15
Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 2:20-35

Three words came to mind during my reflection on this Sunday’s readings: Family, Disappointment and Abundance.

The first family of Adam and Eve followed by the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. And my family from a societal point of view is composed of my immediate family as well as my extended biological family. However, I know I have other family members in my Theresian sisters, both in my community as well as nationally and internationally. These sisters support me in both the happy and sad times of my life.

I wonder if Mary was disappointed when Jesus said, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?” As a Mom myself, I think she was happy that Jesus had found a family in all those who were doing the will of God.

Adam and Eve disappointed God by deciding they wanted to experience that specific “forbidden fruit” even as He had provided them with a garden that would provide them with everything they needed. I know, at times, I have disappointed my family and friends and it’s hard to ask for forgiveness. But it’s possible to reconcile, even when I realize my wrong and am hesitant to take the next step. I find that it is possible to reset the connection by asking for a friend’s/family member’s forgiveness. Just as it is with God.

Sharon Staffel
Anam Cara Community
Houston, Texas

By Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director
I would like to introduce you to a new podcast called “Skinny Thoughts on Christ’s Peace” hosted by Dr. timone davis (lowercase intentional). In the podcast, Dr. davis “invites you to lift your spirits with these sermons and meditations on Christ’s peace.”
I have had the good fortune of studying with Dr. davis as part of my Master of Divinity coursework at Loyola University – Chicago. She is a powerful storyteller who will inspire you to encounter Christ in new and bold ways. I hope you enjoy her message as much as I do.

​The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Exodus 24:3-8
Hebrews 9:11-15
 
On this solemn feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the first two readings are about blood. The Hebrew people saw blood as the life force of a person or animal. They would sacrifice animals and offer the blood, the life, of the animal back to the creator.  In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, following the LORD’S ordinances, Moses took half the blood and splashed it on the altar. The other half was splashed on the people to signify the covenant the LORD made with his people.

The people must have known the LORD was not like the other gods. These gods would have wanted all the sacrifice to themselves, but the LORD used their gift of blood and turned it into something to show the LORD’S love for the people and to help sanctify them. I bet the people thought it couldn’t get any better than that, but the LORD was preparing them for something much greater.

The letter to the Hebrews tells us that the LORD himself became one of his people and with his own blood, through the Holy Spirit, became the offering and obtained eternal redemption for his people. We remember this (anamnesis) at every Mass, when Jesus tells us to take this chalice, the blood of the new covenant and drink.

As Catholics today, we are fortunate to be able to receive the fullness of the sign of the Eucharist. We can take and eat and take and drink.
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Lynda Knoche
Women at the Well Community
Sugar Land, TX