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My Prayer Box
the
Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
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A Moment of
Reflection
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Federico Fellini's film La Strada opened in
1954 and became a classic. In it a young woman has
grown weary of trying to love unlovable people, and
she want nothing more to do with them. As she was
about to leave the clown she was speaking to says to
her, "But if you don't love these people, who will
love them?" |
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Pentecost Sunday
This feast
commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the
Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, on
the ancient Jewish festival called the "feast of weeks" or
Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). Whitsunday is
so called from the white garments which were worn by those
who were baptized during the vigil; Pentecost ("Pfingsten"
in German), is the Greek for "the fiftieth" (day after
Easter).
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Joseph
The
Reunion with His Father in Egypt |
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Introduction |
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This is the fourth and last part of the Story of Joseph.
Joseph tests his brothers and they bring
Benjamin back to Egypt, although their
father, Israel was reluctant.
When his brothers arrive back
in Egypt, they were reunited with their
brother Simeon who was held in prison until
they returned. His brothers then presents
their youngest, Benjamin, to Joseph, who
holds a fest for them. Joseph allows them to
buy food, but again puts them through a
test.
After this he finally reveals himself and
they are re-united. Pharaoh orders Joseph to
bring his fathers household into Egypt to
live off the best of the land. His brothers
go back to Canaan and tells their father
that Joseph is alive!
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Joseph is Alive! |
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When
Joseph's brothers arrive the land of
Canaan, they tell Israel that Joseph is still
alive, and that in fact, he is ruler
of all the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. They recount to him
all that Joseph had told them. And when he sees
the wagons that Joseph had sent for his
transport, the spirit of their father Jacob is
revived.
Israel declares that he must see his son Joseph
before he dies. |
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Jacob Goes To Egypt |
Israel sets out with all that
is his and at Beer-sheba, he offers
sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
There God speaks to Israel in a vision by
night. The LORD tells Jacob to be not afraid
to go down to Egypt, for there He will make
him a great nation. He also tells Jacob that
He will not only go down to Egypt with him;
He will also bring him back here, after
Joseph dies.
So Jacob departs from Beer-sheba, and the
sons of Israel put their father and their
wives and children on the wagons that
Pharaoh had sent for his transport. They
take with them their livestock and the
possessions they had |
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acquired in the land of
Canaan. Thus Jacob and all his descendants
migrate to Egypt.
Israel sends Judah ahead to Joseph, so that
he might meet him in Goshen. On his arrival
in the region of Goshen, Joseph rides to
meet his father Israel. As soon as he sees
him, he embraces his father and weeps a long
time in his arms. |
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Joseph then says to his brothers and his
father's household that he will go and
inform Pharaoh that his brothers and his
father's household have come. He also tells
them that when the Pharaoh summons them and
asks what their occupation is, they must
answer that they are his servants and, like
their ancestors, have been keepers of
livestock from the beginning until now in
order that they may stay in the region of
Goshen, since all shepherds are abhorrent to
the Egyptians.
Joseph Presents His Father and Brothers to
Pharaoh
Joseph goes to tell Pharaoh that his father
and his brothers have come from the land of
Canaan, with their
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flocks and herds and everything else they
own; and they are now in the region of
Goshen.
Joseph then presents to Pharaoh his brothers.
Pharaoh asks them what their occupation is and
they answer that they are shepherds, and have
come from Canaan where there is severe famine.
They then petition Pharaoh to let them to settle
in the region of Goshen.
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Pharaoh says to Joseph that
they may settle in the region of Goshen. He also
tells Joseph that if he knows of any of them who
are qualified, Joseph may put them in charge of
Pharaoh’s own livestock.
Then Joseph brings his
father Jacob and presents him to Pharaoh. After
Jacob has paid his respects to Pharaoh, Pharaoh
asks him how old he is. Jacob replies that he is
a hundred and thirty years old.
Then Jacob bids Pharaoh
farewell and leaves. As Pharaoh had ordered,
Joseph settles his father and brothers and gives
them holdings in Egypt on the pick of the land,
in the region of Rameses. And Joseph sustains
his father and brothers and his father's whole
household with food.
Egypt Falls into Slavery
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Due to the extremely severe famine the
lands of Egypt and Canaan languish from hunger.
Joseph gathers in, as payment for the rations
that are being dispensed, all the money that is
to be found in Egypt and Canaan, and he puts it
in Pharaoh's palace.
When all the money in Egypt and Canaan are
spent, all the Egyptians come to Joseph,
pleading for food. Joseph replies for them to
give him their livestock in return for bread. So
they bring their livestock to Joseph, and he
sells them food. Thus he gets them through that
year with bread in exchange for all their
livestock.
When their money and livestock are gone, they
come back to Joseph and offer themselves and
their lands to Pharaoh in exchange for food.
Thus Joseph acquires all the farm land of Egypt
for Pharaoh and the people in the whole of Egypt
are reduced to slavery.
Joseph gives to them seed for sowing the land
with the condition that when the harvest is in,
they must give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, while
they keep four-fifths as seed for their fields
and as food for themselves and their families.
Thus Joseph makes it a law for the land in Egypt
that a fifth of its produce should go to
Pharaoh. |
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To read the
Complete Story of Joseph, please use this
links. |
Joseph
Is Sold to the Ishmaelites
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Joseph Becomes a Caretaker of all Egypt
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Joseph Meets His Brothers in Egypt
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Joseph Is Reunited with his Father in Egypt
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The Sunday Readings |
May 27, 2007: Pentecost Sunday
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First Reading From the Acts of the
Apostles: |
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Acts
2:1-11 |
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When the time for Pentecost
was fulfilled, they were all in one place
together. And suddenly there came from the sky a
noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled
the entire house in which they were.
Then
there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which
parted and came to rest on each one of them. And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit
enabled them to proclaim.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under
heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they
gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own
language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking
Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in
his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and
Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as
well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and
converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we
hear them speaking in our own tongues of the
mighty acts of God.” |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps
104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 |
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R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew
the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew
the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew
the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are
created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew
the face of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia. |
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Second
Reading from the First Letter to the
Corinthians |
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1 Cor
12:3b-7, 12-13 |
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Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the
Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of
spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are
different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God who
produces all of them in everyone. To each
individual the manifestation of the Spirit is
given for some benefit.
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all
the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For
in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. |
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Second
Reading from the Letter to the Romans |
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Rom 8:8-17 |
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Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But
you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only
the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not
have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But
if Christ is in you, although the body is dead
because of sin, the spirit is alive because of
righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from
the dead will give life to your mortal bodies
also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not
debtors to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you
will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body, you will live.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of
slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a
Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, “Abba,
Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ, if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him. |
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Reading From
the Gospel of John:
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Jn
20:19-23 |
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On the evening of that first day of
the week, when the doors were locked, where the
disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace
be with you.” When
he had said this, he showed them his hands and his
side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As
the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and
said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins
you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you
retain are retained.” |
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or |
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Jn
14:15-16, 23b-26 |
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Advocate to be with you always.
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father
will love him, and we will come to him and make
our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words; yet
the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. The
Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you everything and
remind you of all that I told you.” |
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References |
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Read more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides
those who not only fill the pulpits across
this country but also all interested in
the cultural world in which Jesus lived
with a lot of pertinent information that
sheds light on a lot of areas that have
been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers and
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Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Readers' Corner
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This space is waiting for your
letter. Write about your parish, community or
school. |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If
you have any comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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Foods to Boost Your
Health
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High blood LDL
cholesterol and triglyceride levels increase the
risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
This risk is even greater if you have diabetes.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance that can
clog arteries and interfere with the flow of
blood. It comes in two forms: LDL (bad)
cholesterol, which clogs the arteries with plaque
and HDL (good) cholesterol, which helps remove the
bad cholesterol from the arteries. Some
researchers believe that the bad cholesterol also
may injure the blood vessels when it changes from
a liquid into a solid inside the blood vessels.
When this happens, the cholesterol expands and
tears the arteries’ walls.
Healthy food choices, regular physical activity
and medicines (if needed) can help you meet the
cholesterol and triglyceride goals set by the
American Diabetes Association. In addition to
following a healthy lifestyle and taking medicine
as directed, you also can get added help in
reaching your heart-healthy goals from some
commonly found foods and supplements.
Oats
Many studies show that eating oats and other whole
grain foods with fiber offers significant
heart-healthy benefits. A study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003)
showed that people who consumed whole grains in
place of refined grains had a lower risk of
developing coronary artery disease.
To include oats
in your day, sprinkle some into meatball or
meatloaf recipes, bake them into muffins and
cookies or enjoy a tasty bowl of hot oatmeal at
breakfast.
Garlic
Garlic contains a substance called allicin that
helps encourage a moderate, short-term reduction
in total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and
triglyceride levels, as demonstrated in studies
published in a variety of scientific journals.
Raw, roasted, dried or powdered garlic can be
added to many recipes, including soups, sauces,
salad dressings and vegetable dishes.
If you take a
garlic supplement and will be having a surgical
procedure, be sure to discontinue the supplement
prior to the surgery. It can thin the blood, which
could cause healing problems.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed, the subject of numerous studies,
contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which may help
reduce triglyceride levels and improve HDL levels.
Ground flaxseeds can be baked into muffins or
breads or sprinkled onto breakfast cereal or
low-fat yogurt. Whole seeds can be used, as well,
but the benefits are the greatest when the seeds
have been crushed or chewed well.
Fish Oils
Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, lake trout,
herring, sardines and albacore tuna, contain two
beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids. These may help
reduce the risk for heart disease and blood vessel
cardiovascular disease. Fish oil capsules usually
have more concentrated doses of the fatty acids
EPA and DHA. This may help reduce triglyceride
levels and may enhance the effectiveness of statin
drugs that are used to improve cholesterol levels.
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Sunscreen or
Sunblock?
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Before you head
out under the sun make sure you are protected. |
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How Many New cases of Skin Cancer will be
Diagnosed this Year?
According to the
American Academy of Dermatology, more than one
million new cases of
skin cancer will be diagnosed this year--almost
one every hour. The majority of these cases are
the result of sun exposure, and the majority of
them could be prevented with some cursory
understanding of modern sun protection technology.
What are
Sunblocks and Sunscreens?
The first line of
defense against sun damage is sunblock or
sunscreen. Actually, the two words refer to very
different chemical compounds.
The first,
sunblock, is usually composed of zinc oxide. Zinc
oxide basically acts as a series of tiny mirrors
that coat your skin and reflect sunlight away. The
protection is almost complete against both UVA and
UVB radiation.
Sunscreen
typically employs titanium dioxide as the active
ingredient, which takes an entirely different
approach. Titanium dioxide does not block the
sun's rays; instead, it interacts with them to
convert them into heat energy, which is then
dissipated harmlessly throughout the protective
coat.
Most
dermatologists agree that sunblock is more
effective for one key reason: titanium dioxide has
a tendency to absorb into the skin, leaving the
skin vulnerable to sun damage. Worse yet, some
scientists have recently argued that the absorbed
titanium dioxide, combined with sun exposure
actually increases the risk of premature aging and
skin cancer.
Unfortunately, "sunblock" and "suncreen" are not
official terms, and, sometimes, they are used
interchangeably by manufacturers. If you want to
be sure you're safe, look for zinc oxide on the
label.
What is SPF?
SPF
is perhaps one of the most misunderstood terms in
the consumer community.
Most
people believe that the SPF refers to the
effectiveness of the sun protection. Actually,
SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a multiplier of
the time you can spend in the sun
without developing the harmful aftereffects.
For
instance, if you can usually spend 10 minutes in
the sun before you begin to burn, an SPF 15 would
allow you to stay out in the sun for 150 minutes,
or 2-1/2 hours, before skin damage occurs. Now,
there are two important points that must be
understood when utilizing sun protection.
First, the clock does not reset if you reapply the
sunblock. So, you can't simply put more sunblock
on after 2-1/2 hours to extend your time to 5
hours. There is a law of diminishing returns here.
You will more likely gain only another 15 minutes
of safety.
The
second point is that even sunblock absorbs
completely into the skin within 3-4 hours (more
quickly if water or sweating is involved). This is
why sun-protection manufacturers are now required
to cap their products at SPF 30+, no matter how
much protection the products could potentially
offer.
So, even if your SPF increases your estimated safe
time to 4 or 5 hours, get out of the sun or wear
protective clothing after 3. Your skin will thank
you later.
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How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit? |
Unique Up On It. |
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How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit? |
Tame Way. |
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How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest ?
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They Take The Psycho Path |
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How Do You Get Holy Water? |
You Boil The Hell Out Of It |
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What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete
Wall? |
Dam! (Sorry folks) |
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What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice
too Long? |
Polaroid's |
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What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't
work? |
A Stick |
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What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?
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Nacho Cheese |
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What Do You Call Santa's Helpers? |
Subordinate Clauses |
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What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In
Quicksand? |
Quattro Sinko |
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What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow? |
Spoiled Milk |
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What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With
a Vampire? |
Frostbite |
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What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And
Twitches? |
A Nervous Wreck |
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What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And
Pea Soup? |
Anyone Can Roast Beef |
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Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs? |
Right Where You Left Him. |
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Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?
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Because They Have Big Fingers |
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Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
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Because It Scares The Dog |
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What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
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Sanka |
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What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a
Hoover? |
The Location Of The Dirt Bag |
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Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?
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Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their
Hat |
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How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee
Divorce The Same? |
Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If
you have any comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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