by Adam Mitchell | Jan 26, 2020 | Podcast, Prayers
“They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.”
Matthew Chapter 4, verse 21
How spontaneous are you? Do you look for challenges? We can only admire the apostles James and John who had the heart-stopping courage to leave their comfort zone as fishermen and take up a new calling. “Come after me,” said the preacher from Galilee, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Today’s Gospel is a remarkable lesson in commitment and renewal. I know, it’s only the fourth Sunday of a new year and resolutions are still fresh in our minds. But it’s still a good time for us to ask: What are we willing to commit ourselves to as believers? And do we believe we can live up to our commitments?
When James and John left their nets to follow Jesus, they modeled a kind of radical shift that not only changed their thinking, but the way they lived. In fact, their zeal was so great, Jesus gave them the nickname of Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder.”
Friend, we don’t have to announce our faith to the world with rolling thunder. But Jesus is asking us to leave our nets behind—our personal comfort zone—and live our call to mission with courage and deep faith. We have the Gospel; we have each other. That’s all we need to make our light shine for the world.
Prayer for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lord, open my lips to praise You
open my mind to know You
open my heart to love You
and open my soul to receive You.
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp
for my feet on the journey of life.
Give me the wisdom to hear Your call
the courage to respond and
the patience to await Your mercy.
Help me, Lord, to let go of anything
that keeps me from loving You and
all my Brothers and sisters for whom
You gave up Your life.
Everything comes from You, O God,
so into Your hands I commend
all that I have and am
for the glory of Your Name and Reign.
Amen.
Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso
I hope today’s reflection has special meaning for you. This is Father Ray Finch, sending you a blessing for the week, and an invitation to listen in again next Sunday.
by Adam Mitchell | Jan 19, 2020 | Podcast, Prayers
“I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6
I love the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25): They showed us unusual kindness.
Here’s the background: When St. Paul arrived in Malta with his disciples, carrying the light of salvation, the people welcomed him with “extraordinary hospitality.” (Acts 28:2) The weather had turned bad, but the hosts lit a fire and welcomed their guests with kindness.
An act of kindness can be a game-changer in any relationship, a gesture of reconciliation that brings people closer together. As the Church begins a week of prayer for the unity of all Christians, let’s remind ourselves that “unusual kindness” can make a difference in reaching what may have felt like an unreachable goal.
Where’s a good place to start? Our mission calling is to love and serve the Lord by witnessing his compassion, so begin there. Listen to others first before judging. That was a lesson I learned during my years among the indigenous people of South America’s Altiplano. The communities were divided between Catholic and evangelical Christian, each with different ideas of worship and religious expression. It took time, but we were able to overcome divisions just by inviting people to listen first. By showing respect and understanding, somehow the differences became less divisive. This is how reconciliation among Christian communities can begin.
Friend, we have two assignments during the Church’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Pray for healing. Then witness the compassion of Our Lord where it is needed most. That way, I am confident one day all will be one in Christ.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.
Prayer for 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lord Jesus, You prayed
Your disciples would be united
under the banner of faith, hope, and love.
Help us strive toward that unity for which
You suffered and died; help us recognize
true friends even among strangers and above
all open our ears to listen to the highest
hopes and deepest hurts of our
Brothers and sisters.
May we welcome each guest
as if they were Christ himself
and may we offer hospitality to all
as Abraham and Sarah once
entertained angels unawares.
Grant us healing, O Lord
that we may serve You and Your people
with renewed strength and zeal.
Let us look beyond the things
that divide us and help us help
each other along the paths of righteousness
according to Your will.
Amen.
Prayer by Father Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.
by Adam Mitchell | Jan 12, 2020 | Podcast, Prayers
“He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Acts Chapter10 Verse 38
Here’s a suggestion for the early days of January: Let’s make 2020 a “Francis Year.” If I sound mysterious, I don’t mean to. Our Holy Father wants us to be inspired to greatness, constantly renewed in the Spirit. So let’s check in with him and see how we can make this New Year our personal best as missioners.
“Ask yourselves this question,” says Pope Francis. “How often is Jesus inside and knocking at the door to be let out…?”
That’s a very personal question. But one worth pondering. We can start our spiritual check-up with those who have always meant the most to us: our families. This is where relationships are born and cared for—and where misunderstandings can cause the most hurt. In one of his talks on family life, Our Holy Father said something I’ve never forgotten: “A healthy family life requires frequent use of three phrases: “May I?” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry.” Never, never, never end the day without making peace.”
Friend, in today’s Gospel Jesus acknowledged his call to serve when he received the gift of baptism. Pope Francis reminds us that through baptism each of us is called to be a missionary disciple, too. From that day forward we were anointed to do good and witness the joy of the our faith. So with these blessings, I wish you what I’m calling a “Francis Year.” Our Holy Father keeps things simple. He says, “Whether the New Year will be good or not depends on us choosing to do good each day.” May each of us choose to do good and pass it on.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.
Prayer for The Baptism of the Lord
At Your baptism, Lord Jesus,
the Holy Spirit set Your heart ablaze
with love for sinners, the poor,
the oppressed, and those on the margins
of society, the church, or perhaps even
our friends and family.
Make our relationships healthy and holy
through Your spirit of reconciliation.
Give us the courage and humility
to ask “May I…?”
the strength to say “I’m sorry”
and the wisdom to say “Thank you”
to all people through whom
You bless and fill my life.
May my baptism compel me
to cross every border,
to travel any distance, great or small,
to leave the comfort of this world
to seek, find, and share with all
Your gospel of peace, mercy and truth.
Amen.
Prayer by Father Joseph R Veneroso, M.M.
by Adam Mitchell | Jan 5, 2020 | Podcast, Prayers
“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1
Everyone has a ritual for ringing in the New Year and mine is pretty simple. The first thing I do is pause and thank God for my blessings.
The year has been rich in Gospel witness—a blessing with so many rewards. Thanks to you, our Fathers and Brothers have brought the compassion of Our Lord to more families in need. Many of them have joined us as members of the faithful, taking on important pastoral roles as teachers, deacons, and leaders of prayer. Our Church is growing!
Faith is what motivates us to be who we are, the belief that when we witness the Gospel as missioners, more people come to know Christ and faith grows. Want to “rise up in splendor” and shine your light of faith? Here’s my suggestion: Share a blessing—a kind word, a visit, a helping hand. This is the essence of mission. So let’s live it!
A New Year is an opportunity for renewal, for starting over. The experiences we share as people of faith always bring us closer to God. And that includes our Journey of Faith each Sunday. The conversations you and I have are one of the blessings that add richness to my life, and I hope to yours. I look forward to another year of prayer and renewal in your company. Be sure to share your thoughts with me throughout the coming year and the ways mission is enriching your life.
Friend, my prayers are with you for a New Year filled with blessings. God will be with us, I know, because our mission faith is strong. I can’t think of a better way to begin anew than with encouragement from St. Paul: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.” (Roman 8:28) May our year be rich in goodness and every expression of God’s love.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.
Prayer for the Epiphany of the Lord
Lord, we have on earth no lasting city,
but you, Creator of the new,
eternal Jerusalem, you chose
to live here below among men and women
with Your Son, Jesus Christ,
the Lamb of God,
as the Temple not made by hands.
While we wander in the world
remind us of our heavenly home
where all the righteous are citizens.
Walk with us each day of
our earthly exile
and draw us closer to yourself
by drawing us nearer to each other.
Let Your radiance shine through Your people
to guide to Your throne of mercy
all who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death
that everyone might be reborn anew.
Amen.
Prayer by Father Joseph Veneroso, M.M.
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 29, 2019 | Podcast, Prayers
“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another…”
~ Colossians 3:12-13
Time to get dressed up in your best finery. No, I’m not thinking of New Year’s Eve, although I love a good party just as much as anyone! I’m thinking of Paul’s advice— to put on the mantle of compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness… you add the rest.
Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? Because we want to be better people of faith than we were before. At their deepest level, I think of New Year’s resolutions as profound expressions of faith—a desire to bring God into our plan for personal improvement! And we know that God’s presence is the one ingredient that insures success.
In the course of a new year, there will be detours and distractions aplenty. That’s why we have prayer and the Sacraments to keep us grounded. And we have each other. Those of us on this Journey of Faith are joined together in prayer all year long. The more we pray together, the deeper our relationship with Christ and one another.
Friend, as you begin a New Year, remember the unique gifts that God gave you in Baptism. Whatever your New Year’s resolutions, infuse them with the faith of a missioner committed to witnessing the Gospel and sharing God’s eternal love. I know it will be bountiful year. Prayer will make it so.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.
Prayer for Feast of the Holy Family
God of all time and space
You left eternity and heaven
to dwell with us on earth.
Into Your merciful hands
we commend this passing year
with all its joys and sorrows,
victories and failures,
to do with what You will.
And from the wellspring of Your mercy
let me draw refreshing waters
of renewal and rebirth.
God of past, present, and future
I consecrate this new year to Your
name and dedicate it to help
building up Your kingdom here on earth:
a kingdom of peace and justice,
a kingdom of love and understanding,
that all peoples may come to know
Your saving grace, and praise Your Holy Name
till the end of time.
Amen.
Prayer by Father Joseph Veneroso, M.M.
This is Father Ray Finch saying thank you for taking your journey of faith with me today. Until next time, you are always in my prayers.
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 22, 2019 | Podcast
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”
~ Isaiah 7:14
Dear friend,
Trust in God; do not be afraid. The Christmas story is filled with these comforting words.
I think about the shepherds in the fields terrified at first by the appearance of an angel. But then they were immediately comforted with these words: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10
I think about St. Joseph who was unsure of his role but prepared to accept the child born of a woman to whom he was betrothed because he believed that God’s will was best.
The unexpected in life can frighten us at times, and like the shepherds we need reassurance. That is why we have the “comfort and joy” of Christmas. Our Savior has come with the promise of salvation. We are safe in his love.
Thank you for taking this Journey of Faith with me during the four weeks of Advent. I have enjoyed the sharing, and hearing back from many of you. For now, may you be surrounded by love this Christmas. And as the faithful missioner I know you are, may you give love and comfort to all you know—now and always. I wish you and those dearest to you a very Merry Christmas.
Prayer for 4th Sunday of Advent
Prince of Peace, come again into our world
to calm every fear and comfort our hearts.
You who stilled the storm
and quieted the wind and waves,
extend Your hands of mercy
toward us, lost and confused,
in this land of our exile.
May we extend Your peace on earth
and share Your goodwill with all
who seek to do Your Will.
May angels surround our family
with their protection and glory
and may the Morning Star arise
in our hearts to lead us all to You.
Amen
Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso
I hope today’s reflection has special meaning for you. This is Father Ray Finch, wishing you a blessed and merry Christmas and an invitation to listen in again next Sunday.
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 15, 2019 | Podcast
“Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.”
~ Isaiah 35:4-6
Dear Friend,
What is your deepest longing? That’s the question I’ve been exploring with you these past few weeks of Advent.
Perhaps it’s having more time to spend with the people you love the most: family, friends, fellow volunteers who are making the world a better place. Longing can also be a desire for healing, for health, or just peace of mind. I think about the gospel stories of the blind who want to see and the lame who want to walk. We all have longings. So what are you asking God for during Advent? What do you really need?
Only you can answer these questions. But once you do, why not ask God to help you find the way, keeping in mind the season of prayer we are in. The word “Advent” doesn’t only mean “arrival” or “a coming toward” in Latin. The Romans used the word “Adventus” to refer to the glorious entry of an emperor into his imperial city. On Christmas Day, we will welcome the arrival of our king who is both God and man—fully human, fully divine. Advent is how we prepare for the arrival of our Savior.
Friend, this is what I believe: at the root of all our longings is a desire to be in God’s presence all the time… the desire to experience a love that is divine and pure and everlasting. That is the gift we have in the Christ Child. Thank God, Christmas is almost here.
As a deer longs for running streams
so my soul is thirsting for You my God.
You are my heart’s deepest longing
for only in You do I find rest.
Help me, Lord, to prepare a dwelling place
fit to hold the King of Kings.
Close my eyes to the passing glories
and false lights of this world
that I might recognize Your presence
in everyone I meet, especially the poor,
the lonely, the elderly, and the oppressed.
Help me hear Your voice in scripture
and recognize Your gifts that fill
my life with everything that is good.
Amen.
Prayer by Maryknoll missioner, Father Joseph R. Veneroso
Thank you for spending your time with us, this is Father Raymond Finch wishing you a blessed Advent.
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 11, 2019 | Podcast
Interview with award winning author, Lynn Monahan
In this episode, Fr. Joe Veneroso and Megan Fleming sit down with Maryknoll Magazine editor-in-chief and award winning author Lynn F. Monahan.
You will be inspired by Lynn’s reflections from reporting in Central and South America, along with his time spent with missioners in Asia and Africa. Only someone in his unique role at Maryknoll can share with us such a range of transformational experiences from the lives in service of Maryknoll missioners in the field.
We are also excited to share with you details about his recent award-winning fiction novel, Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes, which was inspired by his time living in Peru. His book received the 2018 Catholic Press Association first-place award for novels.
We know you are going to enjoy this interview with Lynn F. Monahan.
SHOW NOTES
Contact Lynn: lmonahan@maryknoll.org
Book: Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes or directly from the publisher at https://actapublications.com/pistaco/
Visit Maryknoll Magazine
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 8, 2019 | Podcast
“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:9
The lion resting with the lamb… the leopard reclining with the kid. These are just two of the traditional images of Christmas that convey our message of peace and good will.
The birth of the Christ Child is nothing less than the transformational event of our lives. We call the Infant Jesus our Savior and Prince of Peace because God is asking us to become messengers of peace, too. Are you ready to transform your world with the gift of peace?
We become peacemakers by accepting the grace we received at Baptism and sharing it with a generous heart. So these are my thoughts for the second week of Advent: Do all you can to care for God’s gift of Creation… for the people who enrich your life… for the faith that sustains you… and for the possibility of peace and reconciliation that we see in the Christ Child.
Friend, I look forward to a world in which the lion and the lamb lay down together. Where relationships are at peace. Where the gift of Creation is cared for and ready to be passed on to the next generation of caregivers. More than anything, Advent is the time we prepare ourselves to receive the promise of salvation. We know it’s within our grasp because God gave us the Christ Child.
Prayer for 2nd Sunday of Advent
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him;
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,
and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1 through 10
I hope today’s reflection has special meaning for you. This is Father Ray Finch, sending you a blessing for the week, and an invitation to listen in again next Sunday.
by Adam Mitchell | Nov 24, 2019 | Podcast
“Let us give thanks to the Father who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.”
Colossians 1:12
Gratitude is the memory of the heart, according to an old French saying. When the heart is nurtured well in God’s image, we can’t help but give thanks because gratitude is a natural expression of who we are. We are God’s children.
Today, I have gratitude for the abundance of our lives… especially our families, our parish communities, and the mission faith that sustains us. I will thank God on Thanksgiving Day for all of these gifts—and for you. You are the heart and soul of mission each time you live your faith with compassion. As you gather this week with loved ones, know that our Fathers and Brothers will remember you in prayer, deeply grateful for your commitment to serve beside us. Please say a prayer for us, too, because many of our missioners will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day far from home and loved ones.
I am also grateful for the ultimate mystery of our lives: God’s gift of creation. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Christ the King who reigns over all creation and imbues us with his love… another memory of the heart that encourages us to imitate Christ in all we do.
Friend, Thanksgiving is the holiday we celebrate as a nation. Christ the King is the feast day we celebrate as people of faith. May your celebration of holiday and holy day fill you with gratitude and joy. I always remind myself: giving away the gift of love costs nothing; and the reward for giving is knowledge of a life well lived in the presence of our God. May you experience the abundance of life this Thanksgiving.
Prayer for Feast of Christ the King
For life, health, family, friends,
we give You thanks, O Lord.
For food, shelter, clothing, books
we give You thanks, O Lord.
For creation: the seas and sky
the mountains, lakes and rivers,
the trees, animals, birds and fish,
flowers and butterflies,
we give You thanks, O Lord.
But most of all for the gift of Yourself,
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit
through whom You give us faith and forgiveness
and a heart overflowing with praise and love
for all the people You bless me with
now and forever.
Amen.
Prayer by Father Joseph R. Veneroso
This is Father Ray Finch saying thank you for taking your journey of faith with me today. Until next time, you are always in my prayers.
