january 19, 2020 the second sunday in ordinary time · january 24 8:00 a.m. jack hardy january 25...

Parish of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Melrose and Saugus

January 19, 2020The Second Sunday in Ordinary TIme

Behold the Lamb of God

Anthony Falbo

Incarnation Parish Bulletin

The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time January 19, 2020

Dear Friends,

Blessed be the name of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has Blessed us with every spiritual blessing. As you realize, Christmas time is over and so we have started a new season on the church calendar. It is my prayer and hope that together, we shall experience the work of the Spirit among us as we desire to be Holy and grow closer to God.

Ever since I joined this wonderful community seven months ago, I have primarily been struck by the joy, hospitality, and the sense of mission among us. In so many ways, I feel at peace and happy to be here. There is so much that I am learning especially regarding American culture. Trust me, every day that passes by, I learn something new. I thank my pastor and staff and everyone for being patient with me as I go through this experience. You all know that I love to be here and I want to offer my best.

Perhaps a few of you may remember that I can sing, and that I sang for Pope Francis on his maiden visit to Africa. I see music as a means through which we can share God’s unconditional love across the board. For me, it is in the words of

Pope Francis, “a means through which we share the fragrance of Christ.” It is the mission of every baptized person to share Christ’s love. And we do so in different ways.

On my part, I have recorded a new album entitled, “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.” Through these songs I share

my journey with the listener utilizing sound, drums and melodies. I aim at counting all the blessings God has given me. I ask God to guide me so that I may serve Him wholly and ask Him to give me peace when I feel alone. I am hoping that somebody else can be inspired. Through the generosity of a friend I was able to record a video. Please take a minute and look at it;

https://youtu.be/NExAiUQGhUsOr listen to the songs on.

Apple Music https://open.spotify.com/album/6lDeyPQQ5GwN22K4ukGNSS

Itunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1492217845?ls=1&app=itunes

All proceeds will go towards building a retreat canter for youth in Uganda.

Fr Michael [email protected]

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MILESTONES

Please remember family and friends in need of prayer, especially Sarah Fradkin, Bill Connors, Maureen, Irene Lawless, Perry Brown, Betty Howard, Stephen Gaeta, Jim R., Ted Ayotte, Robert Burke, Sandra W., John Anderson, April Crouse, Adele Maciejowski, Colleen Sullivan, Debbie Saschuk, Julia G., Donna Correia, Sandra V., Don Marsden, Georgia Rose Okerholm, Donna Page, Denise, Sr. Mary Shaun, Nicholas Ward, Frank Zizzo, Helen Staunton, Domenic DeLuca, Maia DeLuca, Joseph Connelly, Jeannette Bailey, Anita V., Leona Dewhurst, Jacqueline, Chuck Giorgio, Kathleen O’Neill, Ken Kartes, Thomas M., Michael Lester, Sydni Simpson Garrity, Mary S. and Frank S., Carole R. , William L., Patricia Zibroski, Anthony S.,Janice T.,Mary Monticello, John Maciejowski, Bonnie Strudas, Helen Giorgio, Andrew Reczeck and parishioners facing surgery.

If there is anyone you wish to add to the prayer list, please contact the rectory. Please note: All names will remain on our Prayer List and will be prayed for unless our office is notified to remove an individual.

Please pray for Lillian Ventura and Joseph Milligan, whose funerals were celebrated this past week.

GRAND ANNUAL APPEALOur Grand Annual Appeal began this week. Each registered household should have received a letter from Fr. Steve this week as we begin this important fundraising appeal. If you did not receive a Grand

Annual letter, it means you are not registered in our membership data base. Please call Gina at the Rectory Office. If you would like to contribute to the Grand Annual Collection and did not receive an envelope, you can contribute online through our website:www.incarnationmelrose.org, or use one of the envelopes available at the doors of the church.

CALENDAR

January 18 4:30 p.m. Lindsay Sampson Doran

January 19 8:00 a.m People of Incarnation

10:30 a.m. Juan Guillermo Heredia

January 24 8:00 a.m. Jack Hardy

January 25 4:30 p.m. Barbara P. Rinfret (One Year Anniversary)

January 26 8:00 a.m. Nancy Barry

10:30 a.m. Edio Pesaturo and Norman Sementelli

FINANCIAL REPORT January 6, 2019 – January 12, 2020 Offertory Online $1,545.00 Basket 3,171.00 $4,716.00

Monthly Maintenance Online $96.00 Basket 363.00 $459.00

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GENERATIONS OF FAITHUPCOMING DATES:Tues 1/21 Grade 1Wed 1/22 Grade 2

Sun 1/26 10:30 Grade 10 Mass & Rehearsal

BREAD BAKING MINISTRYIf you worship with us at the 10:30 Mass, you have experienced communion with our freshly baked

eucharist. This is a special ministry that is made possible by a number of committed parishioners who take turns baking six loaves of bread each Sunday morning. We are grateful for the work of our bakers! If you would like to become involved or to learn more about this enriching ministry, please contact Ann Lahiff at the rectory ([email protected] or 781-662-8844).

MY BROTHER’S TABLE

Sign up now for February and beyond!This monthly volunteer opportunity is open to all ages. Singles, pairs, groups, families -- all are welcome. Meet in the church parking lot to coordinate transportation, or meet us there. Please go to www.tinyurl.com/incarnationMBT to get more information and to sign up. This link can also be found at www.incarnationmelrose.org. Join us and enjoy this uplifting and important event.

DIAPER BANK DROP OFF HERE!

The Greater Lynn Postpartum Help Coalition has partnered with My Brother’s Table to open a diaper bank for the Lynn community! This diaper bank is open to anyone in need. The diaper bank is located at: Aspire Developmental Services176 Franklin StreetLynn, MA 01904Diapers can be dropped off here at Incarnation in the bins for our Food Bank collections, which are located by the Upham St. vestibule and the driveway side door.

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SOCIAL JUSTICEFor parishioners interested in supporting immigrants, here are some ways to get involved:• The Burlington Area Clergy 4 Justice sponsors a

monthly solidarity walk. Check their Facebook page for dates and information

• Connect online with Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN), which supports immigrants by accompanying them through legal and settlement matters

• The Immigrant Learning Center, Malden (781)322-9777, which offers classes in English speaking.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND"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." Work to live in your marriage as God desires by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Weekends are Mar 13-15, 2020 in Duxbury, MA and Apr 18-19, 2020 in Brewster, MA. For more information, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at 800-710-9963 or visit them at https://wwmema.org/.

BOSTON COLLEGE~STM ONLINEA Catholic View of Today's Families Jan 22 - Feb 11 Discuss the pastoral challenges and opportunities in the changing realities of post-

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modern family life in the U.S. Enter the dialogue through family stories voiced by persons who experience them.A non-credit, online enrichment course from Boston College’s STM Online: CrossroadsPlease register by January 17th at bc.edu/crossroads. Fee: $25

THE 2ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY

TIME

JANUARY 19, 2020

Behold the Lamb of GodAmong the prayer methods of Ignatius of Loyola, there is a device in a retreat called “repetition.” If a praying session went particularly well, or sometimes if it went badly, Ignatius would instruct the retreatant to repeat the exact same topic for their next session.

“Oh no, not again,” I would groan. This was the method I disliked most when I first made the Spiritual Exercises. Only later did I begin to understand something of what repetition was about.

It was not that one should try again to experience the same feelings they had the first time on this topic. Not even that they should try to meet God in the same manner that they did before. Nor to rake their mind more vigorously so they could overwhelm it with brain-power.Instead, repetition meant that I should go to the same shady spot in the forest, the place where God and I visited each other last time. I go to that area

again to see if that is the locale where we will meet again. And even if we do not, I might still remember what happened last time, like Mary “pondering these things in her heart” (Lk 2:19), and this might give God a way to find me.

I mention this because on Sunday the Church prescribes a reading that is, in effect, a repetition of last week’s Baptism of the Lord.

Maybe there was some kind of mistake in the ordering of the readings?

But what if this repetition has a purpose. Let’s use another sort of Ignatian method to

sort it out.

First, what do you notice in the Gospel reading? Pause here if you want to go through that reading again and get your own ideas. Personally I am struck by the words the Baptist spoke when Jesus approached: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

We hear this phrase at every Mass (“This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”) but you and I probably have not thought much about it.* It contains a mysterious idea, as follows.

In the Jewish temple lambs had their lives taken as “sacrifices.” Perhaps it was thought that their innocence could go up to God’s pure heaven by this means—making a bridge between God and the people.

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Jesus allowed himself to be sacrificed this same way on behalf of his people. He was already at one with God, as we know, but he was also a (sinless) member of a sinful people. So he carried the plague of their sins before God’s bosom.

Can you picture a simple little lamb munching grass in a pasture? Spend time with it. Then see Jesus willing to love us with the same simplicity, unto death, so that he could be our bridge.

And that is a repetition. Finding God in a different way in the same place.

A scholar named Joachim Jeremias held that the original word for “lamb” in Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) was “talyã’,” which meant not only “lamb” but also “slave” or “servant.” Maybe the Baptist intended both meanings!

John Foley, SJ________* Before communion, whenever we recite the “Lamb of God” instead of singing it, the result is often “LammaGod-youtakeawaythesinsoftheworld-havemercyonus” One word. Once you have imaged the meaning, you will crave slowing it down!

Fr. John Foley, SJ, is a composer and scholar at Saint Louis University.

THE PERSPECTIVE OF JUSTICEThe Sin of the World

In today’s Gospel, John sees Jesus and exclaims: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” He doesn’t say “the sins of the

world;” he uses the singular: “the sin of the world” (peccatum in Latin, ten hamarten in Greek).

We all sin, and we sin in different ways and at different times. We can speak of “sins” (in the plural), but all our sins are of a piece: they are different manifestations of our sinfulness. The liturgy alternates between these two perspectives, acknowledging that “you take away the sin of the world” (Glory to God) and also that “you take away the sins of the world” (Lamb of God). The recently developed concept of social sin is an attempt to articulate the sinfulness of humankind. It isn’t just that we do wrong things: the fact is that we are basically “off center.” It is our “original” sin that matters most, our fundamental option for ourselves over and above God. The rest is expression, like coloring the picture or connecting the dots.

The wonder of Jesus is that he takes away not only the sins but also the sin. He fills us with the Spirit of sinlessness, who will “make us one in peace and love.”

The disturbances which so frequently occur in the social order result in part from the natural tensions of economic, political, and social forms. But at a deeper level they flow from man’s pride and selfishness, which contaminate even the social sphere.

Vatican II, Constitution on the Church in the Modern World,1965: 25

Gerald Darring

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HOW TO FIND USAs a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston, we are committed to excellence in liturgy, service, hospitality, and life-long learning, all centered in Christ. 429 Upham Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Office: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm1-781-662-8844 Office1-781-662-9340 FAX e-mail: [email protected] website: www.incarnationmelrose.org Follow us on Twitter @IncParish Like us on Facebook!PASTORAL and SUPPORT STAFF Fr. Steve Madden,[email protected]. Michael Ssenfuma, Parochial [email protected]. André Brouillette, Weekend AssistantDeacon Bob [email protected] Lahiff, Director of Faith Formation [email protected] Gelzleichter, Director of Music [email protected] Gina Distefano, Business [email protected] David E. Wiggin, C.F.X., Bookkeeper Jim Guiry, Maintenance ManagerDottie Ahlin, Household Assistant

LITURGY Mass Schedule~ Saturday 4:30; Sunday 8:00 am & 10:30amDaily Mass ~Thursday-Friday at 8:00.

SCRIPTURE STUDYEvery Friday morning after Mass we share coffee and conversation about God’s Word for the week. Everyone is welcome in this lively and interesting forum.

RECONCILIATION Saturday, 3:30 - 4:15 pm, or by appointment at any time.

JOINING THE PARISHNo matter what your journey has been, we want to be your companions for the next steps, to share the Gospel together and to help each other along the way.Please introduce yourself to a staff member, or drop in for

coffee on Sunday. You can register as a parishioner online via our website, or stop by the rectory. ADULT INITIATION, RCIAWe are always ready to begin the process by which an adult or older child becomes a Catholic, either by full initiation in baptism, or by reception into full communion. We are also happy to prepare you for adult Confirmation. Contact Deacon Bob Breen.

BAPTISM FOR INFANTSCongratulations! The baptism of infants is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month, or within the Sunday assembly. Fr. Steve is the staff contact person for preparation.

GENERATIONS OF FAITHWe are a community of life-long learners. Our parish program of inter-generational learning and celebration of faith is called Generations of Faith. Contact:Ann Lahiff.

MARRIAGECongratulations! The engaged couple must contact the Rectory at least six months in advance, preferably a year ahead

CARE OF THE SICK To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion for the home-bound, or Viaticum for the Dying, please contact the parish office. We normally send ministers out with communion after the eight o’clock on Sunday, and also schedule regular home visits during the week. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies. All you have to do is ask!

ORDER of CHRISTIAN FUNERALSWe will work with you to plan your own funeral liturgy or that of a loved one, and are prepared to celebrate the Vigil, also known as the “Wake,” in the Church building for those who choose.

BULLETIN INFORMATIONPlease contact Ann Lahiff at [email protected] with any questions, information or submissions for our bulletin.http://www.incarnationmelrose.orgTo view bulletin, click “bulletin archive,” and then, “Incarnation bulletins”

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january 19, 2020 the second sunday in ordinary time · january 24 8:00 a.m. jack hardy january 25...

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