“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands.  Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.” (Psalm 96:1-3)

You can take center stage today.  This is your moment to “sing a new song” by sharing God’s love with the world.

World Mission Sunday is an affirmation that we are chosen not necessarily to do great things—although I’m sure you have—but to join God in doing what is already at work.  Pope Francis calls this action of the spirit “the universal sacrament of God’s love for the world.”  When we witness our faith, he says, God continues to manifest infinite love in ways that “transform hearts, minds, bodies, societies, and cultures in every place and time.”  This is what we celebrate today on World Mission Sunday.

Our celebration is tempered this year for all the reasons we know—but it’s also an invitation to renewal.  Like the apostles caught in a storm and fearful for their lives, we realized that we can only deal with adversity when we care for one another.  When we all pull together.  In his address today, Our Holy Father Pope Francis acknowledges the immense suffering of people all over the world from the global pandemic.  But in recognizing our human frailty, Francis says we are reminded of “our deep desire for life and liberation from evil.”  In this context, the Pope says our call to mission is “an invitation to step out of ourselves for love of God and neighbor.”  It’s an opportunity for sharing, service, and prayer. 

The mission that God is calling us to always leads away from fear to a new understanding of mercy and compassion.  By giving ourselves over to others, we experience God’s merciful love.  Yes, in mission we are “called, sent, and transformed.”

Friend, when the prophet Isaiah heard the voice of God, he said, “Here I am Lord.  Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8).  He had complete faith that God would show the way.  On World Mission Sunday, I invite you to trust in God, too, for you have all the tools and resources you need to witness the compassion of Our Lord, transforming yourself—and transforming the world.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 3^rd Sunday

Help us to hear and answer Your call,

O Lord God, savior and redeemer

of the human race.

Fill us with Your life-giving spirit

that we too might step outside

our circle of comfort

and reach out to all

especially those who have not

experienced the joy of knowing You

and surrendering to Your will.

We pray too for the church around the world

especially communities or individuals

persecuted or oppressed for the Gospel.

May our prayers and the presence of

the Holy Spirit give them the courage to

overcome all hardships and to share

the Good News of salvation to everyone

they meet today.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” (Psalm 23:4)

I can’t argue with today’s wisdom from the Book of Psalms.  But there is another prayer that never fails to comfort me when times take an unexpected turn—and this year has been no exception.  I listen to the words of our patroness of missions, St. Teresa of Ávila, and I find God’s peace.  Here’s what she says:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things;
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.

I celebrate St. Teresa’s feast day on October 15 in thanksgiving for her gifts to the Church—and her example of the missionary spirit.  She never left her cloister, but Teresa founded convents throughout Spain, welcoming many women into religious life.  She never preached from a pulpit but Teresa was a mystic and great writer whose theological works inspire the faithful to this day.  If you have never read two of her greatest masterworks, The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, begin your journey of the soul here.  You will be deeply rewarded.  In recognition of her contribution to the Church’s teachings, St. Pope John Paul II named Teresa a Doctor of the Church, a rare distinction especially for a 16^th century woman.

If peace is what you seek, spend some time this week with St. Teresa of Ávila.  She says the deepest meditation possible is the conversation we have with God.  Pray with your own words and hear God’s voice, not outside yourself but within your soul, the place she calls our “interior castle.” 

Friend, understand that God dwells within us.  Then know that all things are passing away but God never changes.  That is the wisdom of our beloved St. Teresa of Ávila.  May she help you find God’s promise of peace today and always.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 2^nd Sunday

Patron of mission and of Maryknoll

the world was Your convent

and each human heart a cell

where God dwells in peace and light.

Help us to see God’s presence everywhere

especially in those we meet today and in those

who suffer poverty or persecution.

Give us a worldwide heart like Yours

that through our prayers and penances

we might extend God’s love and mercy to all.

Let nothing disturb us, nothing frighten us

for you, Lord, walk ever at our side.

From our hearts and homes, Lord, expel

all fear and doubt and fill us

with hope and joy

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Brothers and sisters:  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-9)

Walking humbly in the footsteps of St. Paul, today I want to reassure you.  Not that you won’t have to face difficulties in life—haven’t we all this year?  But that no matter what happens God is always with us, offering signs of love and compassion to those with eyes of faith.

Saint Paul was one of those visionaries who saw God’s presence and became deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News.  His faith was unshakable even in adversity.  Remember, the early days of the Church were full of conflict and struggle. 

Francis of Assisi was another visionary—the saint whose feast day we celebrate today.  He abandoned a privileged life—among the 1% of his day—to follow the Gospel.  When he heard God calling him to “fix my Church,” Francis first thought that meant fixing the small chapel in his beloved Assisi.  But God had bigger plans.  Once again, the Church was in disarray and Francis was called to be a reformer.  He began a movement known as the Franciscans who witnessed God’s love for the poor by living lives of poverty, prayer, and peace.  Humble Francis would transform the world, performing work that has lasted nearly a thousand years—carried on now by missioners like you.  He led by example, famous for having said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”  This is the saint that Pope Francis honored by taking his name.

Friend, perhaps you are grieving a loss or a personal setback right now.  Our Maryknoll family has suffered losses this year, too.  But I know that saints like Paul and Francis live among us, witnessing God’s love.  They are the healers, the peacemakers, the friends and parish neighbors who always manage a kind word.  They are the candles that light our way home to God.  Through them—and with prayer—God is always at work.  As Paul says, make your requests known to God.  Then, yes, be assured. 

Please feel free to send us your Special Intentions and a Maryknoll priest or Brother will respond as your partner in prayer.  We are always here to pray with you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 1^st Sunday

We place our trust and confidence

in You, my Lord and God,

who called Paul to preach

and Francis to teach the world

about Your love and mercy.

In times of danger, they provided

shelter in the storm and

in the darkest hours

they shone the light of Christ.

May Your word, O Lord,

be a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path

to show us the way to You.

Into Your hands, Jesus, we commend

the souls of our friends and family

who died during these difficult times.

Believing in Your merciful love

may we walk safely through

this Valley of Death

ever mindful You are ever

at our side.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.  Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus…”  (Philippians 2:3-5)

I think of kindness and everyday concern for others in the same way you probably do:  These are the virtues that civilize our time on earth and give us a sense of completeness as caring human beings living the Gospel of compassion.

St. Paul has sound advice for those of us trying to improve our human condition.  Care for one another as Jesus would:  love one another as you love yourself, as God loves you.

When relationships are built on a mutual caring, the outcome is always the same:  give more/get more.  The more a married couple gives to one another in honor and respect, the closer they become.  The more family members accommodate one another’s needs, the stronger the ties.  We can apply our formula to relationships in our parish and neighborhood, and into bigger circles beyond that.  Not surprisingly, the foundation first built at home is often the one we carry with us throughout life.

Today’s Gospel reinforces a second important message that all relationships flourish when we’re honest, especially with ourselves.  We may have a tendency to see faults in others before we see our own.  But Jesus showed us the way:  everyone has the possibility of redemption, even the most sinful among us.  The first step is looking at ourselves honestly and then asking for God’s blessing.   

Friend, our actions can always be a reflection of God’s love if we make it so.  And isn’t that our goal?  The greatest gift we have is the invitation to eternal life, the very gift we celebrate as missioners.  By caring for one another as Jesus has asked, we are giving and receiving in great abundance, and inviting everyone we know to salvation in Christ.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 4^th Sunday, September 27, 2020

Your gospel, Lord Jesus, is a mirror

reflecting back the truth of our world

and the condition of our souls.

Help us see the world aright

and view ourselves with

honesty and humility.

Help us, Lord, to look at others

through Your eyes

to speak to them with Your words

to help them through Your hands

and to love them, if possible,

through Your heart.

Help us to die to ourselves that we

may overcome our selfish ego

and live for others even as You lived for us.

Accept our service and sacrifices

as an offering in spirit and truth

to help You build Your kingdom

here on earth.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The idea of fairness is ingrained in us going all the way back to childhood.  From the playground to the classroom and back to the dinner table, our caregivers always told us to treat people fairly.  So what’s wrong with today’s Gospel?  Nothing really.

Jesus gives us an important lesson in understanding God’s concept of fairness—or better yet, generosity.  In a telling parable, he recounts the story of aggrieved laborers who were paid the same amount as workers who came into the fields later in the day.  “Why should they get paid the same as us when we did most of the work?” went the argument.  After listening to the grumbling, the wise landowner explained that he paid everyone exactly as promised. 

You could say God wasn’t playing fair.  But you could also say that God is all about giving us more than we deserve according to our needs.  In fact, if we only got back in divine grace what we earned, we would be an unhappy lot!  We depend on God to shower us with blessings.  So today’s lesson, for me, is practice generosity and don’t look back.

When I first went to Peru as a young missioner, I had to learn something about generosity myself.  Every year, the Aymara people would hold an extravagant fiesta for the entire community that cost what I’m sure was a small fortune.  I was scandalized.  What a waste of time and money, I thought.  Eventually, I learned that this annual event was one of the things that held the community together.  A celebration of life with food, music, and local custom was an act of generosity, and a community-building experience.  I realized that I was wrong, and they were right.  Being generous is a reflection of God’s infinite goodness.

Friend, no one is unemployed in the Kingdom of God as Pope Francis is fond of saying.  We are all called to do our part, toiling in the vineyards of life.  If we have moments when something seems unfair, we can remember that the compensation we seek—salvation in Christ—is not always merited but freely given by a loving and generous God.  That’s seeing beyond the horizon of our own limitations—and accepting our hoped-for reward.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 3^rd Sunday, September 20, 2020

God of justice, fairness, and truth

You do not punish us as our sins

deserve nor repay us as our guilt demands,

but pour on our self-inflicted wounds

mercy, forgiveness, and love beyond measure.

O Lord of infinitive compassion,

teach us to judge with an open mind

and give with a generous hand

even as You have bestowed upon us

every good gift and blessing.

Sharing the bounty of sea and earth

may we imitate Your boundless love

to build and celebrate the reign of God

in our day and in our midst

turning strangers into friends

and friends into family.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?  As many as seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

I hope you enjoy a good challenge.  Today is Part II of the conversation I began with you last week about seeing God in everyone, including people we disagree with. 

The challenge I have in mind today is forgiveness.  Do you think of forgiveness as something you measure out, depending on the why and wherefore?  That must have been Peter’s thought when he asked Jesus if it was OK to forgive someone “seven times,” using an expression that in ancient cultures signified completeness or perfection.  To Peter, that must have seemed like quite the gesture.  But to Jesus it left a lot of room for improvement.  “Seventy-seven times” is what Our Lord said in reply, taking Peter and the rest of us beyond our human calculations to the expansiveness of his heavenly Father.  In God’s world, there are no limits to forgiveness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to forgive generously—even extravagantly—just as our Father in heaven is forgiving.  The reason why was never more clear to me than when I served in mission among the Aymara of Peru years ago.  They taught me that forgiveness brings as much reward to the one who gives as the one who receives.  Before the start of Mass, the Aymara would hold a communal pardoning.  If there were 100 people there, it didn’t matter.  However long it took, each person asked someone for forgiveness.  They would repeat this ritual at planting time or any public event.  What I came to understand is that each of us has something that needs forgiving.  The only way to restore a relationship is to take the first step—and that’s asking for forgiveness.   

Friend, the “arithmetic of the day” is simple:  forgive, then be forgiven.  No matter the challenge, recognizing the presence of God in everyone is where the healing starts.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 2^nd Sunday, September 13, 2020

Begging Your forgiveness, Lord,

I come before You on bended knee

not daring to stand nor raise my head

in Your loving presence

till You have mercy on me.

Not clinging to grudges or resentments

I come before You, Lord,

with open, empty hands,

ready to receive Grace to forgive

others even as You forgive me.

Freed from fear of faults and failure

may my heart willingly offer others all

I have received from You

who gave up heaven to come to earth

and sacrificed Your life that all

who believe in You might truly live.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”        (Romans 13:8)

Love is always easy… when we’re the one being loved back.  But loving the way Jesus asked—unconditionally and without exception—well, that’s another story.  What to do when love isn’t exactly a two-way street?

I can only tell you how I try to live up to God’s expectation of me:  first, by recognizing that each person I meet may be different but still created in God’s image and therefore worthy; and second, by admitting that it’s always more fruitful to sit in judgment of my own actions before judging someone else’s.   

Learning about differences and discovering God in the process is the essence of our mission lives.  It’s certainly true for our fathers and Brothers who witness the Gospel in many countries amid many cultures and traditions.  And it’s true for those of us serving closer to home where relationships within our own families and circle of friends can be challenging—and instructive, too.

St. Paul isn’t saying we can’t—or never will—have differences worth arguing over.  Remember, Jesus himself didn’t hesitate to call out the hypocrites of his day.  His message is more about bringing God into the conversation, recognizing the divine source of all life.  Once we have that insight, the possibility for being true missioners becomes a reality.  We see creation for what it is:  a reflection of God’s infinite love, full of differences and rich in beauty.

Friend, the presence of God is everywhere, waiting to be acknowledged and received.  Through it all, we are being called as missioners to move beyond our differences to fulfill the law by living as Christ did.  Hard work, yes.  But as St. Paul reminds us, love is always the answer.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 1^st Sunday, September 6, 2020

Lord of love, You shower the earth

with Your merciful grace

calling forth a variety of spiritual gifts:

joy, peace, hope, and love

each bearing fruit in due season.

Help us to imitate You:

to love without expecting to receive;

to help without expecting thanks;

to give without counting the cost.

Even as a garden produces every kind

of flower and plant though all receive

warmth and life from the same sun

so may all the diverse peoples of earth

of every race and language,

of every culture and country

give You praise and thanks, O Lord,

for all You have given us.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

”Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Knowing what God wants of us… that’s the challenge for every person of faith.  And I am one of them.

Sometimes life tests us more than we would like—and that’s when our relationship with God can change.  We’re convinced we have the answers as is “I know what’s best for me, Lord. Are you listening?”  Today’s gospel reminds us with a bit of urgency that God’s ways aren’t always our ways.  When Jesus foretold his own suffering and death, Peter became agitated and rejected all such talk.  Jesus immediately reminded him that he was thinking the way human beings do.  Not as God does.   

Honestly, I have some sympathy for Peter.  After all, who among us can think like God?  But what Jesus is saying is that God’s plan may be beyond our comprehension.  We must have faith that God’s way is always better than our own.  Our role is to be open to our special calling, and to serve others with the gifts we were given, especially the gift of salvation in Christ.  And that means sharing our hope of eternal life in the face of happiness as well as sorrow.   

Friend, conforming to the expectations of the modern age isn’t always a winning formula, as St. Paul reminds us.  But placing our trust in God is.  So always have hope.  Believe that you are in God’s hands.  Answer your call to serve with grace, and you will gain new life just as Jesus has promised.   

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 5^th Sunday August 30, 2020

To You we lift our minds and hearts,

Lord God of mercy and compassion.

Raise us up beyond our limits

and call us out of our small world

that we may see Your plan and Your will

for ourselves, for others, and for the earth.

Help us hear Your voice

in the cry of the poor and

see Your face in those

who suffer oppression.

Let not the noise and tumult

of this passing world

make us deaf to Your truth

or blind to Your presence

in creation, in others, and

in ourselves.

Into Your hands, Lord,

we commend our spirit,

our efforts and our projects.

Use them according to Your will

and make us coheirs and

co-creators of Your kingdom on earth.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso