Reflections of the Kingdom

  Lectionary: 134 Reading 1 - Wis 2:12, 17-20 Responsorial Psalm -  Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8 Reading 2 - Jas 3:16—4:3 Alleluia - Cf. 2 Thes 2:14 Gospel -  Mk 9:30-37 “The Wicked say …”  When I told my wife that I would be talking about wicked people today, she responded with a hopeful “Wicked-Awesome People?” Sadly, it seems that the wicked awesome people all come from the Boston area, so they are not found in today’s reading … but the sentiment is still the same …. because no-one truly wants to be associated with the “wicked” … nobody is the villain in their own story; however, that does leave us with a question … who exactly Are the wicked? Our first reading implies that the wicked might be identified by their desire to attack the just. We find that the wicked cannot live very long with the righteous before their guilt and resentment against the unspoken judgement they feel from the example of those living by God will pushes them to violence. Of course, the goal o...

My Ordination on the Feast of St Matthew There should be a lot that is familiar to Catholics at an Ordination Mass for Deacons ... it is basically the standard Novus Ordo, with the Rite of Ordination inserted between the Gospel and Communion.  Of course ... everything is Much Much bigger and more solemn ... for example, the procession alone probably had more than 100 people in it (we were at the front, then a train of deacons and priest ahead of the Cardinal).  Finding space to everybody to put on their appropriate vestments must have been crazy ... however, for our part, they put us into the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament with our "vesting" clergy (the deacon, priest or bishop that helps the new deacon put on his shiny new stole and dalmatic).  We started the whole process with just the plain white alb and rope cincture (for some of us).  They had us there 45 minutes ahead of time, so we had plenty of time to reflect and pray before walking out to a packed house .....

Just in case you are looking for gift ideas ... I made a list of cool deacon nice to haves ... >

  Assignment Policy [of the Archdiocese of Boston] The assignment procedures for Newly Ordained Deacons is set forth in “Deacon Ministerial Policy for Parish Collaboratives” document dated March 19, 2014 and included in Appendix J of the "The Official Aspirant and Candidate Handbook" approved in June of 2016 ... which was expected to be updated and republished sometime during my four years in formation (and is still pending as of today).  Although no longer available for download, in the absence of the superseding publication, I am presuming it is still the rule (or at least close enough to it).  In that regard, here is the policy ... The Archbishop of Boston makes the final determination for the assignment of each Deacon, with the assistance of the Office of Clergy Personnel, in accordance with the needs of the Archdiocese and the gifts, abilities, and availability of the Deacon. Deacons will carry out their assigned ministry under the direction of a Pastor (or superviso...