A Spiritual Communion

15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In absence of the celebration of Mass, please join us in this prayer which unites us to Christ and to each other at Saint Hubert. It may be very appropriate to light a candle as we spend this time in prayer. 
 
Opening Our Heart to God
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
 
Lord, I know you are with me, always.
I am ready to prepare my heart and soul for this time of prayer and spiritual communion. 
As I acknowledge my sins, show me your mercy.

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
 
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth, peace to people of good will!
 
Opening Prayer
God, our Father,
your light of truth guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him reject what is contrary to the Gospel.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
 
The Word of God: The Words of Life
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071220.cfm
 
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
The Lord tells us that just as seeds planted in the earth produces grain to feed us, so does His word. It achieves its purpose.
 
Responsorial: Psalm 65
The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.
 
Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23
Paul helps us see that all of God’s creation eagerly awaits the revelation of Jesus Christ in our world and in our lives.
 
Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23;
Jesus teaches the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. It’s one of the only parables Jesus explains to his apostles—and to all of us.  It provides a way for us to learn how to interpret the other parables, which give us insight into the Kingdom of God. Using parables—stories with a moral—were Jesus’ preferred way to explain it.
 
A Reflection by Fr. Mike
Did you ever have one of those weeks when things don’t go so well, or the things we can’t control, or the challenges we face, begin to really weigh on you? I had one of those weeks. I tend to be positive and look to what’s possible, but by the end of the week I have to admit I was a little discouraged and feeling a little down. 
 
So on Friday, when I realized I wasn’t in a great place, I knew I had to stop my pattern.  I had to put my work aside, my projects aside and to do the needful thing: to take some quality time to talk through my worries and problems with God in a prayerful way and put my life back into his hands. I realized I was trying to do everything myself this week, and not letting God have a chance to work through me.
 
And then something remarkable happened a couple of hours later. On Friday afternoon, two women rang the bell at the Parish Ministry Center. When I answered the door, they said “we need to see a priest!” I had thought something was wrong. But I learned otherwise. It was the opposite—something was right. They were from Minnesota, and told me they were on a mission. They couldn’t explain it, but they felt called by God to come to the Chicago area and to reach out to as many priests as they could because they had a message to share.
 
The message was to trust Jesus when he says, “don’t be afraid.”  They said, “Jesus is with you, guiding you, and encouraging you to keep going, keep plowing through, keep doing what you’re doing. He is with you. “
 
And then they closed their eyes, and randomly opened up the gospels. And by pure chance, they read the passage we reflected on a couple of Sundays ago about priorities: when God is the first and most important relationship we have in our lives, everything else falls into place. Hardships, worries and suffering are a part of our human journey; but God stays with us through them. Jesus was reminding me of what he said.
 
The whole thing really touched me, because on Thursday and Friday the gospel readings in Mass those days were about the 72 disciples Jesus sent in pairs to bring the good news to people who needed to hear it.  And here they were—a pair of disciples in front of me, bringing the good news, and bringing a message of hope and encouragement I needed to hear at the time I needed to hear it: The Kingdom of God is here.
 
I probably will never see those two women ever again. As I took it all in, I couldn’t help but be amazed by God’s grace. Some people would say what happened was a coincidence.  But Fr. Britto Berchmans, a great parish mission speaker, would say “it’s not a co-incidence; it’s a God-incidence.” 
 
God-incidences happen in our life all the time. The gift and joy is in recognizing the incidences when they happen, and thanking God that they do. Jesus puts it better, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
 
I mention all this because of Jesus’ parable we just heard about planting seeds.  As we heard in the first reading from Isaiah, the seed Jesus is talking about is God’s word—which always is meant to achieve its purpose. The reality is that when it comes to God’s word, our lives are like the farmer’s field in Jesus’ parable.  We have paths that are shallow within us.  We have rocky places that don’t allow God’s word to take root, maybe because we think there’s a better way. 
 
We have thorny places where God’s word gets choked by all those things we go through every day that can distract us from what’s truly important—that’s where my heart was this week. I was choking God’s word. But, we also have rich soil within us, too. And every one of us have the ability to allow God’s word to penetrate the heart and to let it take root in who we are as people.  So even though it’s a parable about seeds, it’s really a parable about hope and being aware.
 
In the end, because we’ve been baptized, we’re all planting seeds. But when we plant God’s seed—his word and teaching—into someone else’s heart, maybe it’s exactly what they may need.  So, if the impulse hits us to say something to someone else to encourage them, or to remind them about who they are, or to anchor them to the truth of things—and it’s rooted in God’s message of hope, mercy and truth—then say it. It just may take root and it may be the exact thing they’re meant to hear. 
 
I learned that this week from two women who had a lot of courage to go on a mission to spread the good news.  And it really is good.  We’re meant to spread it like a farmer planting seeds in a field.
 
Consider sharing some of your own perspectives or spend some time in personal reflection. Have you ever experienced a “God-incidence” when you needed to hear something or be reminded about something, and then heard it through the voice of another?
 
All I Believe
As an alternative to the Nicene Creed, the Church also encourages Catholics around the world to profess the most ancient creed of our faith, The Apostle’ s Creed.
 
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son Our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.
 
The Prayers of the Faithful
Good and gracious God, in union with my brothers and sisters at St. Hubert, we bring our prayers to you.
 

• For people who have lost their faith to find their way back to God and the Catholic Church, we pray to the Lord.

 

• For world leaders to better listen to the people of their nation, to work for peace and to generously share resources with one another, we pray to the Lord.

 

• For our nation’s leaders to guide us safely through the pandemic looking out for the best interest of all, and for increased efforts to work against the sin of racism in all its forms, we pray to the Lord.

 

• For people to listen to God’s calling to live out their faith, we pray to the Lord.

 

• For the sick, may they be cared for and comforted including Saul Danza, Jennifer Pfeifer, Diana Pfeifer, Jerry Goggin, Audrey Palmer, Dan Moutvic, Mary Margaret Bregin, Charlene Perri, Fernando Wolff, Julie Nistler, Scott Bergbreiter, Alian Lesnicka, Kathy Murtha, Mary De Angelis, Cathy Kennedy, Mary Stump, David Blumenthal, Celia Pappas, Anna Maria Bruck, Patricia Marple, Bob and Janet Goldberg, Goldie Einecker, Richard Van Hoesen, Joseph and Trevor Morgan, Tina Kaiser, Nancy Pala, Yumi Dupont, Debbie O’Connor, Helen Ngoy, and all those suffering through COVID-19, and for those for whom you would like to pray (pause to add in those you would like to pray for today), we pray to the Lord.

 

• For those who have died, may they find eternal peace including Monica Garofalo, Jose Montenegro Atienza, for those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus, and for those you would like to remember (pause to add those for whom you would like to pray), we pray to the Lord.

 

• For those we are remembering in prayer this weekend: Walter E. Sundquist, Shirlee Brooks Stacy, Lou Buchenot, Federico Amacio and for all our Saint Hubert Parishioners. We also pray for the needs of those listed in the Book of Prayer Intentions and for your own needs (pause to add your intentions), we pray to the Lord.

May these prayers be answered according to your will, O God. We ask them all through Jesus Christ, our Lord.Amen.
 
A Spiritual Offering
During the Mass, we bring up gifts of bread and wine and thank God for them, because he gave them to us. Those gifts are then returned to us. God gives himself to us through Jesus Christ.  What do you offer to God today of yourself, that can be returned as a gift to others?  Who would you like to remember or offer this time of prayer for?
 
Longing for Communion
As we contemplate our desire to have Jesus Christ in our life, we prepare our hearts—knowing the angels and the saints are in communion with the One we long to be with.  Let us lift up our hearts to the Lord.
 
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God
through Christ our Lord.
 
For just as through your beloved Son
you created the human race,
so also through him
with great goodness you formed it anew.
 
And so, it is right that all your creatures serve you,
all the redeemed praise you,
and all your Saints with one heart bless you.
Therefore, we, too, extol you with all the Angels,
as in joyful celebration we acclaim:
 
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
 
The Prayer that Unites Us
United with my brothers and sisters at St. Hubert and with Catholics around the world, with one voice we pray the prayer Jesus teaches us to pray together.
 
Our Father, who art in heaven…
 
A Time for Peace
Lord, Jesus Christ,
You said to your apostles, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you”.
Please graciously grant peace to all of us,
to those in our family
and to everyone in our parish.
Allow us to be of one mind and heart.
Allow us to be an instrument of your peace.
 
(If praying with others, offer a sign of peace to one another.)
 
A Time for Spiritual Communion
As we long for the Eucharist, we long to be with Christ and share in his life.  Let us spend some moments now in prayer uniting our life to the life of Jesus Christ.  (You may even want to look upon a crucifix or hold it, or look upon an image or statue of Jesus Christ.)
 
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there,
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
 
A Prayer for Hope and Peace
Heavenly father, I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
I need hope for a calm and joyful future.
I need hope for love and kindness.
I pray for peace and safety.
Some say that the sky is at its
darkest just before the light.
I pray that this is true, for today seems stormy and dim.
I need your light, Lord, in every way.
I pray to be filled with your light.
Help me to walk in your light, and live
my life in faith and service.
In your name I pray, Amen.
 
Pastoral Note:
For those who may want to experience a more contemplative form of prayer, allow the Holy Spirit to pray within you. One way is to center ourselves by being conscious of our own breathing.  Slowly breathe in.  As you hold your breath for a second or two, picture Jesus Christ or even his name in your mind.  Then slowly breathe out. You can repeat this type of spiritual exercise until you are ready to close in prayer. This can be done as easily with children as with adults. It can be very comforting, peaceful and a way to find communion with God by feeling His presence. 
 
A Closing Prayer
Lord,
As we seek this spiritual communion
and desire Your presence,
we pray, that You will protect us in these uncertain times.
Please give us the hope we need day by day,
strengthen our desire to help one another,
and keep our St. Hubert Parish community close to You.
 
We long to be together again to worship You
at your altar of praise.
In the meantime, please give us your care and protection.
 
We ask all our prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
Going Forth
Thank you, God, for this time we have shared.
I know you are with me.
 
Send me out on the mission to make you
known wherever I go.
 
Send me as an instrument
of your love and peace
to glorify the Lord by my life.
 
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.