MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION FOR AUGUST 4, 2008

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VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

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MISSION: To provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

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GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people.

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KEY VALUE: Hospitality

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On Sunday (18th Ordinary Time Sunday, Cycle A) we read in the Gospel how Jesus provides food for the body and the spirit for thousands gathered to hear him, be healed by him, and come to know him. The prophet Isaiah tells of a time, both now and in the future -- like the Kingdom of God -- wherein those who are weary, in need, tired, poor, are called upon to come to the Lord for refreshment. Jesus organizes the 5,000 men, not counting women and children, to sit together and share their food -- a model of the Eucharist.

In Catholic Charities, we are that organized charity of the Bishop to be the place where those who are weary, tired, poor and in pain can come to find refreshment and peace. We are that place of hospitality and hope that makes the Kingdom of God alive now and as a foretaste of the future. Like St Paul, we are there to remind each person/family that comes to us that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

During this past week, I spent some time with the seven families impacted by the recent ICE raid (thanks to Joe Miles, Jeff Stewart and Nazario Mendoza for their help with organizing a workshop and for planning support; much thanks also to Nancy Voitus, George Garchar, Naomi Hokky and especially Meg Andersen for their support and advice since we needed many persons to help plan our response). In today's Gospel we read that there were 5, 000 men, not counting women and children, "feed" by Jesus. Of those remaining from that ICE raid, only the women and children were left. Catholic Charities is called upon, again and again, to respond to the widow, the orphan, and the stranger among us. Thanks for all you do.

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Some important date(s) this week:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6. Transfiguration of the Lord. All three Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36). With remarkable agreement, all three place the event shortly after Peter’s confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus’ first prediction of his passion and death. Peter’s eagerness to erect tents or booths on the spot suggests it occurred during the Jewish weeklong, fall Feast of Booths. In spite of the texts’ agreement, it is difficult to reconstruct the disciples’ experience, according to Scripture scholars, because the Gospels draw heavily on Old Testament descriptions of the Sinai encounter with God and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. Certainly Peter, James and John had a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity strong enough to strike fear into their hearts. Such an experience defies description, so they drew on familiar religious language to describe it. And certainly Jesus warned them that his glory and his suffering were to be inextricably connected—a theme John highlights throughout his Gospel. Tradition names Mt. Tabor as the site of the revelation. A church first raised there in the fourth century was dedicated on August 6.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8. St. Dominic. 1170-1221. Born of wealthy Spanish nobility. Son of Blessed Joan of Aza. When she was pregnant, his mother had a vision that her unborn child was a dog who would set the world on fire with a torch it carried in its mouth; a dog with a torch in its mouth became a symbol for the order which he founded, the Dominicans. At Dominic's baptism, Blessed Joan saw a star shining from his chest, which became another of his symbols in art, and led to his patronage of astronomy. Founded the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1215, a group who live a simple, austere life, and an order of nuns dedicated to the care of young girls. Reported miracle worker who brought four people back from the dead. Legend says that Dominic received a vision of a beggar who, like Dominic, would do great things for the Faith. Dominic met the beggar the next day. He embraced him and said, "You are my companion and must walk with me. If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us." The beggar was Saint Francis of Assisi

(http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/saints/)

PAPAL INTENTIONS:

AUGUST 2008
General:
That the human family may learn to respect God’s plan for the world and become ever more aware that Creation is God’s great gift.
Mission:
That the answer of the entire people of God to the common calling to holiness and mission may be promoted and fostered by means of careful discernment of charisms and constant commitment to spiritual and cultural formation