Church of Saint Philip Neri

Pennsburg, PA 18073

June 13, 2010

Rev. Robert A. Roncase, Pastor

Deacon Michael J. Franks, Permanent Deacon

Rev. Edmond J. Speitel, Pastor Emeritus

Rev. John J. Scarcia, Retired Pastor

Rev. Raymond W. Smart, Retired, Resident

Shirley Misiak, Office Manager

Mark J. Meinzer, Business Manager

Catherine E. Faust, Director of Music

Patricia A. Schleeweiss, School Principal

Jeffrey W. Daley, Director of Religious Education

Colleen Daley, Parish Youth Minister

Sister Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T., Parish Outreach

Rectory Phone 215.679.9275

Rectory Fax 215.679.0386

School Phone 215.679.7481

Religious Education Phone 215.541.3120

Religious Education Fax 215.541.1398

Parish Social Hall Phone 215.679.8116

Parish Outreach Phone 215.679.2282

Neri Center Phone 215-679-6490

Church & Rectory Address:

1325 Klinerd Road

Pennsburg, PA 18073

Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Email Address: spnofc@comcast.net

Website Address: www.spnparish.org

School Address:

6^th & Washington Streets

East Greenville, PA 18041

Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Website Address: www.spnelementary.com

Religious Education Center Address

565 Main Street

East Greenville, PA 18041

Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Neri Center Address

6^th & Washington Streets

East Greenville, PA 18041

ROSARY: Prayed in the Chapel

Every Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass

Every 2^nd Monday at 1:00 PM

SCHEDULE OF MASSES

Saturday – Vigil Mass – 5:00 PM

Sunday – 7:30, 9:30, 11:00 AM

Weekdays – In the Chapel

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

Friday & Saturday – 8:00 AM

Wednesday – 7:00 PM

HOLY DAYS:

8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 7:30 PM

Eve of Holy Days –5:00 PM

CHAPEL OPEN FOR VISITS

The Chapel will be opened Monday thru Saturday

until 7:00 pm for your visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

CONFESSIONS

Saturdays: 4:00 – 4:45 PM

Eve of Holy Days: 4:15 – 4:45 PM

BAPTISMS

Celebrated the 2^nd & 3^rd Sundays of each month.

Please call the Rectory to schedule.

2^nd Sunday Baptisms are held at the

11:00 AM Mass

3^rd Sunday Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM

PRE-JORDAN CLASSES

1^st Monday of every month at 7:00 PM in the

Rectory meeting room.

MARRIAGES

Arrangements should be made at least SIX

MONTHS before the date of the wedding.

NEW PARISHIONERS

Welcome to your new home! Please stop by the rectory between 9:00 am - 3:00 pm to fill out a registration card. We are happy to have you in our parish and want to get to know you.

SHUT-INS

Please call the Parish Outreach Office.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING

Please call the Rectory.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Every 1^st Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the

church, followed by Benediction.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

If you wish to have a floral arrangement placed in front of the altar, please call the rectory.

OUR PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

WE ARE THE CATHOLIC PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. PHILIP NERI, ANSWERING CHRIST’S CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH WORD, SACRAMENT AND SERVICE.

WE PROCLAIM GOD’S HOPE AND LOVE TO ALL.

Serving at Mass June 13

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Marci Jaman Bob Piccone

LaRue Emmell Ed Tryon

Priest

Michael Edleman

Lisa Edleman

7:30 am – Mike Heveran Ernie Quartani

Jim Michels Pete Frank

Priest

Pat Scheerbaum

Paul Moser

Maureen Moser

9:30 am – Mary Weber Wendy Benner

Michael Sledgen Terry Benner

Priest

Sharon Shaak

Eleanor Brennan

Bob Brennan

11:00 am – Maryanne Charlton Linda Franks

Kevin Charlton Luke Verna

Priest

Deacon

Amanda Charlton

Anita Weilnau

Serving at Mass June 20

Extraordinary Ministers Lectors

5:00 pm – Trudy Moser Pete Frank

Dave Moser S. Hunsberger

Priest

Alice Swift

Dave Boone

Teri Boone

7:30 am – Joan Varallo John Guckin

Wally Varallo Mike Lynch

Priest

Denise Guckin

Chuck Rodgers

Maria Rodgers

9:30 am – Stephanie Greczek Susan DiMarco

Michael Dougherty Joe Cassarella

Priest

Deacon

Priest

Colleen Daley

11:00 am – DJ Williams M. Gehringer

Sandy Williams Eileen Davis

Priest

Deacon

Priest

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

June 13, 2010

Monday, June 14

8:00 am – Rocco & Concetta Gazzillo, (Elaine Roncase)

Tuesday, June 15

8:00 am – Joseph Carlisle, (Carol & John Johnson)

Wednesday, June 16

7:00 pm – In Thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother,

for a special Intention

Thursday, June 17

8:00 am – Joe & Helen Semancik, (Catherine Cressman)

Friday, June 18

8:00 am – For those enrolled,

in our Building Memorial Society.

Saturday, June 19

8:00 am – Ignatius Sagan & Anthony Tokarski,

(Henry & Rita Tokarski)

5:00 pm – Theodore Mikanowicz, (Edward Mikanowicz)

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

June 20, 2010

7:30 am – For the names on the Altar.

9:30 am – For the names on the Altar.

11:00 am – For the names on the Altar.

ROSE/FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

The red roses placed on the Blessed Mother and Sacred Heart Altars are in memory of Gregory Stump, requested by Florence Stump.

The floral arrangement on the altar is in Thanksgiving for great neighbors, John & Fay Katrinak, requested by The Danielson, Redl & Demetres Families.

WE INVITE YOUR PRAYERS

For the sick, those in hospitals, nursing homes, and also for their caregivers.

Please pray in particular for:

Rev. John J. Scarcia, Baby Robert Riegel Jr., Robert Rukstalis, Frances Cannon, Ethel Buck, Gary Lester Keller, Baby Lucy Littlefield, Charlotte Azarovich, George Bradford, Rick DeStefano, Tommy Slattery, Baby Olivia Enriquez, Carla Kozak, Janice Minnich, Jean Kosich, Patrick Malloy, William McAffee, Adam Canigiani, Jr., Jo Maturo, Elsie Connelly, Theresa Homan, Anna Hoffman, Colleen McMillar, Ron Leckey, Anthony Bonanno, David Campbell, Grace Guckin, Tony Interrante, Patti Kolb, Steven Gebhardt, Mary Blaszczyk, John Culbertson, (Father of Ellen Abramo), Evelyn Dixon (mother of Dawn Ellis) & Mildred Moyer.

For those who have died, and in particular for Christopher Bennetsen, grant them eternal rest and peace.

SUNDAY COLLECTIONS

June 7, 2009 June 6, 2010

Envelopes: $ 9,559.00 $ 9,523.50

Loose: 1,316.00 1,279.00

Children’s: 71.00 52.26

Total: $10,946.00 $ 10,854.76

MAY MONTHLY EXPENSES

Salaries: $ 49,949.61

Oil: 0.00

Electric: 2,712.11

Telephone: 378.86

Insurance: Parish 5,308.12

Insurance: Medical 5,875.00

Trash: 326.00

Assessment:

Maintenance/Supplies: 9,781.23

Water/Sewer -

(East Greenville)

Total: $ 74,330.93

Give a St. Philip Neri Memorial Gift!

For a donation of $35 or more, there is a beautiful folder recording the gift and donor to be presented to the family. A Mass is offered each month.

In memory of Wayne Brinckman, requested by:

Francis & Marlene Burgert.

We also have “Living Memorials” for those special occasions in life.

ACTIVITIES - *BINGO*

Kitchen opens 5:00 pm – Bingo – 6:30 pm

Working Thursday – June 17^th – Team #4

All regular games pay $50

FINAL COVER – ALL SPECIAL PAYS: $500

Because of our parish Carnival, there are no Bingo numbers to report.

Please note: Brown paper bags are needed for Bingo. If you have any to spare, please drop them off at the Social Hall on Tuesday’s or Thursday’s between 8:30 am & 12:00 pm.

BAKED GOODS NEEDED

Baked goods are needed for our weekly Bingo and monthly Breakfast. If anyone is interested in donating baked goods, please call Rita at: 215-679-7009.

JUNE – THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday – June 13^th

Children’s Liturgy of the Word 9:30 am Church

Knights of Columbus Meeting 7:30 pm Rectory

Men’s 30 & Over Basketball 8:00 pm Gym

Monday, June 14th

Charismatic Prayer Group 7:00 pm Chapel

Holy Rosary 1:00 pm Chapel

Pastoral Council Meeting 7:00 pm Rectory

SPN Quilting 1:00 pm Gym

Tuesday, June 15^th

Car Show Committee Meeting 7:00 pm Rectory

Garden Club – Church Grounds 5:00 pm

Choir & Cantor Practice 6:00 pm Church

Wednesday, June 16th

SPN Eighth Grade Graduation – Mass 7:00 pm Church

Thursday, June 17th

Bingo 6:30 pm Gym

SPN School – Noon dismissal

Friday, June 18th

Closing School Mass 9:00 am Churc

SPN Quilting 1:00 pm Gym

Saturday, June 19th

FREE DAY – NO ACTIVITIES

Sunday, June 20^th

Children’s Liturgy of the Word 9:30 am Church

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Calendar Meeting – Monday, June 21^st – Rectory – 7 pm

Charismatic Prayer Group – Monday, June 21^st – Chapel – 7:00 pm

Garden Club – Tuesday, June 22^nd – Church grounds – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Choir & Cantor Practice – Tuesday, June 22^nd – Church – 6:00 pm

“Babysitting 101” – ages 11-14 – Wednesday, June 23^rd – Social Hall – 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Rosary at Pennsburg Manor – Thursday, June 24^th – 1:15 pm

Bingo – Thursday, June 24^th – 6:30 pm – Gym

Respect Life – FOOD PREP for the Homeless – Thursday, June 24^th – Rectory – 5:15 pm

SPN Quilting – Friday, June 25^th – Gym – 1:00 pm

Parish Breakfast set-up – Saturday, June 26^th – Gym

Parish Breakfast – Sunday, June 27^th – 7am – 12:30 pm

Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Sunday, June 27^th – at the 9:30 am Mass

Men’s 30 & Over Basketball – Sunday, June 27^th – Gym – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

PARISH NEWS

MASS TIME CHANGE – WEDNESDAY’S

Effective January 1, 2011, the Chapel Masses on Wednesday’s will be at 5:00 pm instead of 7:00 pm.

ST. PHILIP NERI PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

For those who are not familiar with knitting, crocheting, or are just struggling, we will teach you! The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Monday, June 14th, June 21^st & June 28^th at the old rectory located at 565 Main Street, East Greenville - 7:00 pm.

Please call Jo Ellen Carr, 215-679-6547 with any questions.

Note: The Prayer Shawl Ministry will not meet in July.

PARISH LIBRARY -

BOOK SEASON HAS ARRIVED!!

The St Philip Neri bookcases are ready to be filled. We are looking for gently used or new books.

They must be pertaining to our Catholic faith. Examples would be Lives of the Saints, Scriptural, any reference material or children’s stories, any type of spiritual book. They can be novels, too.

We are looking for CD's or DVD's as well, movies or music. We can use the large print editions, too. Please drop off your books at the rectory during business hours.

If you don't have any books to donate please consider a contribution to be made "In Memory Of" and we will purchase the requested book and place a memorial marker inside of it.

SPN ROSARY SOCIETY

Come and pray the Rosary every 2^nd Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Chapel.

Our next prayer gathering is Monday – June 14^th.

SAINT PHILIP NERI CRAFT GUILD

The St. Philip Neri Craft Guild will meet on Tuesday, June 15^th in the Gym for 1:00 pm. There will be no Meetings in July; the next Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 3^rd – 1:00 pm. If there are any questions, please call Connie Marks at: 610-287-9829.

SHOWBOAT CASINO

Saturday – July 31^st

Cost is $30 with $25 in Slot Play return. Leave St. Philip Neri Church parking lot at 10:00 am.

Please call Kathy at: 267-923-5173 with your reservation requests.

Enrich Your Catholic Faith thru History – in Philadelphia!

Why not enhance your knowledge with our Adult Faith Formation Team and visit the Shrines with us in Philadelphia on Wednesday, August 18^th.

You will visit St. Kathrine Drexel, have a boxed lunch, go to Mass at St. John Neumann and a guided tour of both upper and lower churches; then we go to St. Rita Cassia Shrine and have a guided tour as well. We will finish the day at Crackerbarrel Restaurant on the way home.

All three (3) sites have gift shops to browse in.

The cost is $65 that includes the boxed lunch and all Shrine admissions. Dinner will be on your own.

Please call Kathy at 215-272-2130, or leave a message at the rectory for any other information you may want.

CEMETERY MEMORIAL TREES

Memorial Trees are available for purchase to be planted throughout our Parish Cemetery “Holy Cross”. The cost is $425; this covers the price of the tree, its planting and the Memorial Plaque.

Shade and Evergreen Trees will be planted throughout the cemetery where space is available. To purchase a Memorial Tree, please call the rectory.

ST. PHILIP NERI CHURCH

HOAGIE SALE

CHEESE, ITALIAN or TURKEY

Tuesday – July 13th

12:00 NOON – 6:00 PM

St. Philip Neri Social Hall

COST: $4.00

All orders due by:

Tuesday – July 6th

Please call:

Rita – 679-7009

Pat – 679-5675

PARISH CARNIVAL

Thank you all for your support of our parish Carnival. A huge thank-you to the Committee for the many months of work; our parish volunteers who set-up the Carnival; worked the many nights and all those who packed everything up so quickly.

When all our income and expenses are calculated, we will have a report for you in the Bulletin!

Congratulations to our CHANCE Ticket Winners!

1^st Prize - $500.00 – Helen Brazuk

2^nd Prize - 500.00 – Marion Leckey

3^rd Prize - 500.00 – Dennis & Carolyn Slattery

4^th Prize - 500.00 – Francis Burgert

5^th Prize - 500.00 – Chuck Diehl

6^th Prize - 200.00 – John Brazuk

7^th Prize - 200.00 – Barbara Robertson

8^th Prize - 100.00 – Elizabeth Puchert

Las Vegas Trip Winner: Dawn Ellis

Orlando Trip Winner: Donna Weller

Fifty/Fifty ($56.50) Claire Lepera

Home & School Drawing for the I-Pod was won by Kate Gerlach.

THANK YOU

Thank you to Pizza Como for the Pizza’s donated to our parish Carnival! The Pizzas were delicious and enjoyed by everyone! We were sold out before the Carnival ended on Sunday evening.

FREEDOM FEST & JULY 4^th CELEBRATION

July 3^rd – 10:00 am – 9:30 pm

New Goshenhoppen Park

Third Street

East Greenville, PA

The Upper Perkiomen Ministerium is once again sponsoring the area FREEDOM FEST CELEBRATION and FIREWORKS on Saturday, July 3^rd.

Saint Philip Neri Church will once again be involved in this local Event. We will be sponsoring a Food Booth in the kitchen with a limited menu of Hotdogs & Kielbasa w/sauerkraut, sausage & peppers, pizza, diet & regular iced tea, lemonade and spring water. Help is needed to sell food as follows:

July 3rd – 11:30am – 9:30 pm.

More details to follow!

Save the date!

ST. PHILIP NERI PARISH

EIGHTH ANNUAL CAR SHOW

Friday – July 23^rd

6:00 – 10:00 PM (registration begins 5:00 pm)

RAIN or SHINE!

Great Food

Music by Hodge Podge

ADVANCED SALE FOOD TICKETS will be available for purchase at the script table starting June 26 until July 18. Food tickets will also be available at the rectory from

June 28 to July 20. For every $5 purchased, you receive $6.00 in food tickets.

VOLUNTEERS will be needed for security, parking, kitchen and food stands. If you would like to volunteer you can fill out a volunteer form, call Shirley at 215-679-9275 or e mail Doris at gmomdecker@yahoo.com.

For information: call Shirley at 215-679-9275 (daytime) or Pete at 215-679-6942 (evenings)

Meeting Date change: The Car Show Committee Meeting scheduled for Monday, June 14^th, has been changed to Tuesday, June 15^th, 7:00 pm at the rectory. The main discussion theme for the meeting will be the review of Dash Plaque graphics, sponsor letter follow-up and door prizes.

END OF SUMMER BOOK DISCUSSION

Tuesday – August 24^th – 7:00 pm

St. Philip Neri Rectory Meeting Room

“MY LIFE WITH THE SAINTS”

By: Martin James, SJ.

A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2006. “An outstanding and often hilarious memoir of one man’s interaction with the saints of the Roman Catholic tradition”.

Winner of a 2007 Christopher Award for books that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit”.

Books will be ordered and available at a later date for purchase. The cost to you is $20.00

For more information, please call Madeleine Gehringer at: 215-679-0737 or call the rectory office at: 215-679-9275.

St. Philip Neri Grade School Tuition Assistance

Did you know that Tuition Assistance is available for your child to attend St. Philip Neri Grade School?

Tuition Assistance is available to those showing a real need. Address your request to:

St. Philip Neri Tuition Assistance Program

1325 Klinerd Road

Pennsburg, PA 18073

You will receive a letter asking for some information and you will be notified of any decision before the school year starts.

Guidelines for:

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Minimal Criteria

1. Tuition Assistance will apply only to students in grades K-8 who are enrolled at Saint Philip Neri Elementary School.

2. Parent or legal guardian must be a registered parishioner of St. Philip Neri Parish.

3. Must demonstrate financial need, subject to review and approval of Tuition Committee.

4. Must be active and volunteer in parish activities.

5. Tuition Assistance will be applied towards tuition as credit.

SAINT PHILIP NERI CRAFT GUILD

The St. Philip Neri Craft Guild will meet on Tuesday, June 15^th in the Gym for 1:00 pm. There will be no Meetings in July; the next Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 3^rd – 1:00 pm.

If there are any questions, please call Connie Marks at: 610-287-9829.

PARISH OUTREACH

MOTHER’S MARKET

Moms – Dads – and Grandparents:

The Elizabeth Ministry of St. Philip Neri is planning a Mother’s Market for this Fall of 2010.

Anyone interested in selling used baby and kids’ equipment, clothes or toys, please contact Kathy Hunt at 215-541-9180 or email her at: ElizMininfo@yahoo.com.

SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS

Did you know that . . . Governor Rendell has launched a new website to access social service programs?

The website is: www.heretohelp.pa.gov. If you see something that will be helpful to you, be sure to apply for it online.

ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS

PRE-8^TH GRADE

SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

June 28 – July 28

8:45 am – 1:00 pm

St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

1733 Girard Avenue

Philadelphia, PA

Spend part of your summer at the PREP and participate in the Pre-8^th Grade Summer Enrichment Program!

PROGRAM TOPICS INCLUDE:

Algebra

Athletics

Computer Science

Creative Writing

Drama

Transportation is available in Philadelphia, New Jersey and the Five County area. For more information, call the Summer School Office at: 215-978-1954, or visit our website: WWW.SJPREP.ORG/PRE8

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

You can change the future – by becoming a Foster Parent!

Foster families provide temporary homes to children of all ages, races, and religions whose families are in crisis. The love, service and example of Catholic Social Services foster parents has a lasting and positive effect on the children whose lives they touch. For information on how you can become a foster parent, please call 215-587-3960!

For Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse

A NEW SUPPORT GROUP

Facilitated by: Network of Victim Assistance of Bucks County (NOVA). Call if you are looking for a safe place to talk with others. Adult men and women, who were sexually abused as children by Clergy, regardless of where the abuse occurred, are invited to attend. There is no fee for the group. Funding is provided through the Victim Assistance Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Are you Deaf or know someone who is Deaf?

Contact:

CATHOLIC DEAF APOSTOLATE

Masses in ASL and Interpreted Masses

Religious Education/Preparation for Sacraments

Adult Faith Formation and Socials

Summer Camp for Deaf Children

Interpreters for Catholic Events

PCPDDEAF@adphila.org

215-587-3913 (V) (TTY)

267-507-1215 (VP)

Google: Deaf Apostolate Phila

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TRIBUNAL?

The Tribunal is a group of specially qualified priests, sisters, and lay persons whose responsibility is to come to the help of people who have experienced divorce.

When a divorce occurs, the Catholic Church always seeks to balance two realities. One is the unbreakableness of the bond of marriage. This is God’s law. It cannot be broken by human intervention. On the other hand, the Church is concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people involved. Was this a true marriage? Even though a Catholic marriage was celebrated, was there perhaps some weakness in the consent of the parties involved? The annulment procedure addresses this problem without affixing blame on either party. If you are divorced or married outside the Catholic Church, please telephone the Tribunal Office. Have no fear. All interviews are private.

Please write or call:

The Tribunal

222 N. 17^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-587-3750

AREA PARISH NEWS

ST. COLUMBKILL SENIOR GROUP

Calendar of Events:

Monday, July 19^th:

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

$25/members-$30/guests

Seats available

October 17-21

Charleston Trip

$409/members-$459/guests

For more information on availability or to sign up, please call Peg Bryan at 610-754-7516.

AREA NEWS

Montgomery County Health Department’s

2010 Rabies Clinics

Date Place Time

June 19^th Harleysville Sr. Ctr. 9am -11am

312 Alumni Ave

Harleysville

June 26^th Burnside Oakland 9am – 11am

Park

Burnside Avenue & Oakland Drive

West Norriton

MARRIED COUPLE PRAYER RETREAT

Marriage Retorno, a couple Prayer Retreat will be held July 10-11 at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli. Marriage Retorno is a Scripture based Couple Prayer Retreat for married couples wanting to deepen their relationship with one another in the Lord. While it is the second step of Marriage Encounter, couples do not need to attend ME first.

The cost is $290/couple (overnight) or $165/couple (commuting). Space is limited. For information, call Joe & May Ward: 215-362-8699 or the website at: www.marriageretorno.org.

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

The Baccalaureate Service for the 2010 Graduating Class of Upper Perkiomen High School will be held this Sunday, June 13^th at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Red Hill.

The service will begin at 3:00 pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Put some muscle in your love

Ever notice how many stories there are about Jesus being anointed by a woman during a dinner party? She’s anonymous. She’s a friend of Jesus. She’s a known sinner. These incidents are irresistible. All the senses are involved: the smell of perfume, a trickle of ointment or tears, the complaints of the Pharisees, a woman’s uncovered hair drying Jesus’ bare feet. One reason it’s important to remember these sense-drenched stories is to resist the tendency to over-spiritualize faith and love to the point that they become abstract and as ethereal as cotton candy. The women’s robust gestures expressed care for Jesus’ physical body, but how do we make our love for Jesus as concrete and real? After all, he is in one sense “gone.” Then again, there are those least brothers and sisters of whom he said: Do it for them equals do it for me.

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13; Galatians 2:16, 19-21; Luke 7:36-8:3 or 7:36-50

“The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Monday, June 14

Try a little kindness

When we observe someone behaving badly, our first response is not usually, “How can I be kind to this person?” Instead we tend to think, “How can I teach him a lesson?” We are afraid that an act of kindness will somehow reward the poor behavior. Yet Jesus demonstrates over and over that nothing could be further from the truth. If we want to be like Jesus, we don’t need to perform miracles; we only need to be kind. As Mark Twain remarked, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Make a commitment to be kind to someone today.

Today’s readings: 1 Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42

“But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.”

Tuesday, June 15

Words to live by

The Bible contains two kinds of words: those meant to comfort and those intended to challenge. Prophets like Elijah were commissioned to hand-carry the challenging kind to the seats of power. That is no ministry for the faint of heart, being the one to say to the boss (or parent, pastor, teacher, president): “You messed up. Your policy is hurting people.” Nor is it easy for any of us to hear these words directed toward us. The only way we can receive challenging scripture into our hearts is if we first cultivate the spirit of humility. It’s true: Sometimes we’re wrong!

Today’s readings: 1 Kings 21:17-29; Matthew 5:43-48

“I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.”

Wednesday, June 16

Feeling comfortable? Not so fast

Fasting and almsgiving have traditionally been linked as spiritual disciplines. Fasting brings home to us our humanity, spiritual hunger, and basic neediness as creatures. Almsgiving is the natural response to fasting: When we get in touch with our own neediness we are more open to responding to the needs of others. That is why creature comforts, for all their attractiveness, have their limitations. They can stunt our spiritual growth if we aren’t careful to balance them with practices such as fasting and almsgiving. Don’t lose sight of the hunger inside you—and all around you!

Today’s readings: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

“When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you. . . . When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.”

Thursday, June 17

Your kingdom come, your will be done

Prayer. We know it’s important, we’re drawn to it, but we’re not always quite sure what we are doing or if what we are doing is “right.” Jesus gives us examples of prayer throughout the gospels, including what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” We know the words, but do we know this prayer by heart—that is, do we tune into our relationship with God when we give voice to this prayer? Do we look to see whether we’ve allowed our relationship with God to flow into all aspects of our day and our life? Try praying Jesus’ prayer slowly, savoring each word. Try praying a different translation or your own version of the prayer to spark your imagination. Make this beautiful prayer truly your own.

Today’s readings: Sirach 48:1-14;

Matthew 6:7-15

“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases.”

Friday, June 18

Turn down the night lights

Oil lamps were the artificial illumination of choice during the biblical era. Today electric lights not only illuminate our nightlife they unfortunately create an increasing amount of light pollution. Step outside your home some clear night and count the stars—if you can see any. Only on camping trips or excursions to remote regions do most of us get an idea of what the night sky looked like when Jesus looked up. Factor in energy waste and damage to migratory bird patterns and it’s clear as day that light pollution is harmful to God’s good creation. Turn down the lights and check out EarthHour.org to be part of the solution.

Today’s readings: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20; Matthew 6:19-23

“The eye is the lamp of the body.”

Saturday, June 19

Feast of Romuald, abbot

Find the right balance

Thanks to the technology revolution, we live in an age of tremendous communication possibilities. Yet in this world of constant virtual connectedness, many people still experience profound loneliness and isolation. Perhaps, though, there’s another way. In the 11th century Saint Romuald established a kind of monasticism that combined community and solitude. It had opportunities for fellowship but also much time alone for individual prayer. Relationships with others and time for yourself are both human needs, and you don’t have to do one at the expense of the other.

Today’s readings: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25; Matthew 6:24-34

“Strive first for the kingdom of God.”