Censings

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION September 03, 2017 Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs CA Rev. David Justin Lynch Sirach 38:27-32A  Wisdom 10:15-19, 20b-21 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 Matthew 6:19-24        + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. When I meet someone new, one of the first questions I ask is, “what sort of work do you do?” I ask that because more than anything else, our work, or lack of it, at least partially, describes who we are.  The response to that question gives me an insight into someone’s soul.   What work one does is part of one’s identity. The work we do is bound up with our dignity as human persons. Human dignity is the cornerstone of Catholicism. Psalm eight sings our praises. We were created “a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor,” and given dominion over all creation.  Catholicism gets its focus on human dignity from Jesus Himself. Recall the story of the crippled woman healed on

August 27, 2017 Emmaus Community, Olympia, WA Rev. David Justin Lynch Isaiah 22:19-23 Psalm 138:1-3;6-8 Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20             +In the name of God, our Father and Mother, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN. At least a few of you may have come to church expecting an excoriation of the Roman Catholic Church about the mischief of Petrine Primacy.  I’m not going to go there. Instead, I will look at today’s readings on a much deeper level. I see today’s Gospel as about faith, the rewards of being faithful, and by implication, the universality of Jesus’ call to all Christians. I see Peter as representing all of us, and Jesus’ response to Peter as addressing the entire church, not just clergy. When someone asks, “What faith are you,” most of you would respond, “I’m Catholic.” That is how I’m tempted to respond as well, but that’s not how I do respond. One of the most misused words in the English language is “faith.” It’s commonly used t