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September 12, 2002 Edition

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Fr. Stillmank -- Word of God, Word of Life
This week's readings
Pope's Prayer Intentions
Prayer for Healing

This week's readings
Week of Sept. 15 - 21

Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002
Reading I: Sir 27:30--28:9
Reading II: Rom 14:7-9
Gospel: Mt 18:21-35

Monday, Sept. 16, 2002
Reading I: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33
Gospel: Lk 7:1-10

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002
Reading I: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a
Gospel: Lk 7:11-17

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002
Reading I: 1 Cor 12:31-13:13
Gospel: Lk 7:31-35

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002
Reading I: 1 Cor 15:1-11
Gospel: Lk 7:36-50

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002
Reading I: 1 Cor 15:12-20
Gospel: Lk 8:1-3

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002
Reading I: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13
Gospel: Mt 9:9-13


Pope's Prayer Intentions
September General Intention

That young people may have strong and wise teachers of the faith: That children and youth in Catholic schools may be provided with strong and wise educators to help them develop their faith and their healthy attitudes toward life.

September Mission Intention

Full reconciliation of the Korean people: That the Holy Spirit may use ecclesial Communities to help the two States of the Korean peninsula rediscover the deep reasons for the reconciliation they are embracing.

How many times?:
Forgive from your heart

photo of Fr. John G. Stillmank
Word of God 
Word of Life 

Fr. John G. Stillmank 

In human beings intersect the material world of what can be seen and the spiritual world of what cannot be seen. In human beings meet the finite and the infinite, the mortal and the immortal, the created and the divine.


"Do not waste the time and the energy in your life holding grudges, but forgive from your heart. 'Forgive, forgive, forgive!' Jesus says. Don't hold back."

Often when we reflect on this reality, we see the limitedness of the material, the finite, the mortal, the created. We, human beings, are always searching for more money and possessions, more time, more experience, more of the world. And yet we recognize that gathering more to ourselves does not give us more of what we seek: life.

"None of us lives for oneself," teaches Saint Paul, "and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." We human beings, who are the intersection of the material world with the spiritual world, find our true life in the Lord who created us that way.

Readings for
24th Sunday
in Ordinary Time
(Sept. 15)
Sirach 27:30--28:9
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4,
9-10, 11-12
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35

Our everyday lives are filled with experiences that remind us that this life, in this world, is a limited one. Friends and relatives die. We run out of time to do the things we want. Our money can only go so far. Our energy can only do so much. We are limited - and yet we are wasteful.

Wasteful! We have only so much time and we use it unwisely; only so much money, and we use it carelessly; only so much life, and we spend it as if there would always be another tomorrow.

Think of a person in your life who needs your forgiveness. Think of someone who needs to forgive you. There won't always be another tomorrow to mend that broken relationship. Tomorrow will come, and the chance may be gone.

Jesus taught that forgiveness can be a powerful intersection of the spiritual, the infinite, the immortal, the divine with our earthly human life. He teaches unlimited forgiveness! "Not seven times but seventy-seven times!" Do not waste the time and the energy in your life holding grudges, but forgive from your heart. "Forgive, forgive, forgive!" Jesus says. Don't hold back.

When we forgive out of the love in our hearts, we are most like God who teaches us to forgive. With his divine love in our hearts and lives, we really become that intersection between the things of God and the things of the world - we become most human.

How many times should we forgive? There seems to be no limit in Jesus' mind, if we forgive from our hearts as we should, fulfilling that image and likeness of God which we are. We are unique in being both flesh and spirit, and especially in the opportunity to allow the Spirit of God which is within us to direct us in all things, especially by living for God when we, like him, forgive always.


Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.


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Prayer for Healing

(This is a Prayer for Healing suggested for the Aug. 14 and 15 days of reparation for the harm done by priests who have sexually abused children or minors.)

Leader: Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, God sent his Son to redeem the world. Let us pray that God will bring healing and hope to our sinful world once again.

God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong:
your only Son was delivered into the hands of the wicked,
yet healed us with the blood of his cross.

May the gentle Jesus join to his own suffering
the pains of those abused
by Bishops and Priests who have betrayed your love
and by servants of your Church whose sin has brought us shame.

May Christ hear the cries of those abused,
may he quell their restless fears with faith in your protection,
their doubt with confidence in your love,
and all rage with trust in your healing mercy.

Grant all Shepherds of his Church
the compassion to protect his lambs, the strength to guide his flock,
and the wisdom to model their lives on Christ, the Good Shepherd.

God of justice and compassion,
protect all children from abuse
and deliver us from hate.
May we seek only justice and truth
and trust in your unending mercy.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Copyright United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Reprinted with permission.





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