Kathleen will receive a copy of The Catholic Youth Prayer Book, a $15.75 value.

Help youth understand the meaning of Christian prayer. Introduce them to traditional and devotional prayers of the Church, as well as to contemporary styles and methods. Assist youth in developing the habit of daily prayer. This all-in-one resource for prayer forms was specially written for teens, in the PRAY IT! STUDY IT! LIVE IT!® model, like The Catholic Youth Bible® and The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth. It is the most expansive prayer book for teens. But The Catholic Youth Prayer Book does more than teach about prayer. It helps teens become prayerful people.

The Catholic Youth Prayer Book
ISBN: 978-0-88489-559-6, paper, 264 pages

If there ever was a Scripture verse for summertime, this is it: "Come to me, all you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:27–29 GNT).

Childhood memories of the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" have imprinted our psyches, so even those of us who stay at our posts during June, July, and August think of the summer months as months of rest and relaxation. The academic calendar apparently remains a template for our inner selves. Summer is the time when we try to get outside more, spend weekends exploring new places near and far, and, when the summer sun gets to be too much, seek out the nearest hammock—whether that be on the porch, on the deck, or under a tree.

For some of us, however, a time of vacation (which is related to the word vacant, or empty) can be just another reason to be a bit manic. A vacation trip can become another "to do" list, a list of "things to be accomplished" not at home but in a different location. For those of you planning to go away for a time: Take time to slow down, relax, and pace yourself and your family.

My own father remains an excellent example of the right way to get into vacation mode. We did not have the budget for big trips (we only took two as a family: one to California to visit relatives, and another to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., the year I graduated from high school) so my dad took us on little trips. His schedule for the two weeks of his yearly vacation was this: Day 1, take the kids on the train to Chicago, with one and only one objective in mind (one museum, or the Lincoln Park Zoo, or other attraction); Day 2, stay home and rest. Day 3, Chicago. Day 4, stay home. And so on. In this way, alternating activity and rest, we all benefitted from both.

Even when we were in California he kept to his vacation routine: one day touring San Francisco, one day in the motel. On motel days, as I remember, Dad and Mom rested by lingering over breakfast, reading the newspapers, and chatting with the other guests, while we kids swam in the pool. Dad later remarked, "I don’t think the kids would have cared if we never left the motel." Really, I did appreciate San Francisco. I still remember Fisherman’s Wharf and Mission Dolores. But it was also very nice to have a pool right outside our door! How wise of Dad to give us both activity and rest.

Now that I am an adult, I realize that resting—whether at home or on vacation—takes discipline and decision. This balance of activity and rest is also necessary for inner growth. Even though our spirituality can often resonate with the title of Malcolm Boyd’s famous book from the 1960s, "Are You Running with Me, Jesus?" summer is a good time to balance out the year. Summer is a good time to accept Jesus’ invitation to come to him, to accept the gift of rest that he gives.

Until my vacation time rolls around, I am going to stock up with library books and make an appointment with the glider in my back yard. Whatever your vacation plans, take some time for resting. "Are you resting with me, Jesus?"

See this newsletter (Make It Happen) for a guided meditation on the theme of resting with Jesus. You may want to save it for use during retreat days or at another appropriate time during the year.

Blessings on your ministry and on your summer!

Peace and joy,

Joanna

A note on the Year of Faith: If you go to the Vatican Web site and click on the menu to the left, at the top ("Annus Fidei" with the icon of the barque of Peter), you will find the general audience of June 5 listed, with Pope Francis’s remarks on the environment and the "culture of waste" in which many of us live. There is also a video link, which seems to be more like a slide show of papal activities. In other news, the Vatican reports that Pope Francis will not repair to Castel Gandolfo, the papal villa outside Rome, for the summer. He will stay in Rome and endure the stifling heat with everybody else. Let us hope that he, too, will find ways to rest at home!

Note: Optional teacher remarks are given in brackets. At the end of the meditation, a report of the outside temperature reading is given. Please have that accurate information ready ahead of time.

For the next few minutes, we will be given the opportunity to listen to and meditate on the Word of God. We prepare for this meditation as if we were preparing for a plane flight. We will be leaving our usual earthbound dimension and entering another dimension, a dimension of deep concentration and peace. So, first, make sure all electronic devices are turned off. It would be very jarring to hear ringing, dinging, and buzzing during the meditation.

Second, make sure tray tables are in the upright and locked position. That is, make sure there is nothing in front of you [on your desk or around you, like books, backpacks, etc.] that can be a distraction. Surround yourself with a neat, clean, clear space.

Third, make sure all carry-on items are stowed. That is, make sure nothing can "trip you up" during this flight. This can include physical possessions [as above] or mental concerns. Try to clear your mind of major and minor problems: the test coming up, what is happening this weekend, etc. Try to put any "carry-on baggage" out of sight for awhile.

Take a deep breath. Breathe out. Relax. [Do this two or three times, slowly.]

Lean back in your seats, close your eyes, relax, and enjoy the flight! And so we begin:

Jesus said to his Apostles,

"Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest awhile." So they started out in a boat by themselves to a lonely place (Mark 6:31–32 GNT).

You find yourself in the midst of this group of Apostles. How did you get here? You were specially invited. Perhaps the Apostle John, as the youngest of the Apostles, and knowing how much Jesus loves young people, invited you to come along. So here you are.

You get into Peter’s boat with everyone else. There is a space in the stern [the back of the boat] with built-in benches and pillows lying around. Jesus and the Apostles head for that spot, and you do, too. You sit down on a bench and enjoy the bobbing of the boat on the water. You feel the bright sunshine and the brisk sea breeze. Peter, of course, is the captain and is busy yelling instructions to his brother Andrew as they shove off. But, even in the midst of his work, Peter has time to tease the other Apostles, particularly Matthew, the former tax collector, who knows nothing about boats:

"Hey, Matthew, climb up here and give us a hand! Let’s get this sail up! Or are you being useless again?"

"No thanks, Peter, you’re doing a good job of it. Just wait until you need me at tax time!"

Peter is just kidding, of course. He knows that Jesus has called all kinds of people, with all kinds of talents and interests, to follow him.

But suddenly you feel a jab in the side! What is that? "Jesus is calling your name!" whispers John.

You look up, and there, smiling at you, is Jesus. Imagine Jesus calling your name. What does he say to you? (Pause for a few moments.)

What do you say to Jesus? Take a few moments to tell him something important about yourself or your current situation. (Pause a few moments.)

Does Jesus say anything in response? ([Pause a few moments.) Take a few moments to just be with Jesus, in the boat, among the little band of Apostles. Enjoy being called by name, called apart to rest awhile, to be with Jesus and among his friends. (Pause a few moments.)

You sense that this special time is coming to an end. Ahead of you is a sandy beach. You feel the boat jerk and sway as the bottom scrapes the shallows. "All ashore!" calls Peter. "You may have to wade a bit."

Slowly, everyone climbs or jumps out of the boat into the shallow water and heads for shore. You are amazed to see a crowd waiting already, waiting for Jesus, waiting for his word of life. How do you feel after being with Jesus for this special time? (Pause a few moments.) What do you think you will do or say next? (Pause a few moments.)

We are about to leave this special dimension. Prepare for landing by slowly opening your eyes and praying together the prayer that Jesus taught us: "Our Father . . . . " And welcome back to (name your town or city). The outside temperature is (name the degrees). We hope you will fly with Metropolitan Meditation Airlines again soon!

(Ask volunteers to share their experience. You might like to review the various segments, beginning with Jesus calling the young person by name, and ask "What happened when . . . ?")

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 23, 2013
Luke 9:18-24

Opening Prayer
You may use the following short prayer or the prayer on page 6 of the peer leader's guide, or any member of the group may want to pray in his or her own words.

Jesus, as we take time to share our reflections grounded in your word, may we come to recognize you in a deeper way as the Messiah of God. As Saint Peter gives witness to your true identity as the Messiah, may we also give witness through our lives to your true identity as the Messiah of God. Amen.

Context Connection
In the Gospel of Luke, Peter's proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah of God (9:20) directly follows the feeding of the five thousand (last Sunday's reading) and precedes the Transfiguration. Chapter 9 of Luke's Gospel contains all three of these accounts.

In verse 18, we find Jesus once again at prayer, a recurring event in the Gospel of Luke. Each time Luke recalls Jesus' embarking upon a major decision or event, we find Jesus at prayer. For Luke this is the model for the disciple--that all important decisions or great understandings can happen only in the context of prayer. It is in this context, at prayer and alone with his disciples, that Jesus presents this question: "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (9:18). The disciples mimic back the responses they have heard the crowds voice: "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen" (9:19). This parallels the information that King Herod receives in verses 7-8. These two passages seem to indicate that this was the general perspective of the people at that time regarding Jesus' identity. Jesus, in reply to the disciples, is very direct: "But who do you say that I am?" (9:20). Peter's response is immediate: "The Messiah of God" (9:20). Peter does not hesitate to speak this truth, which had been revealed to him, on behalf of all the disciples. Jesus does not deny this truth, but he commands the disciples not to speak of it to anyone: "[Jesus] sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone" (9:21). Jesus goes on to say that proof that he is the Messiah will come from the course of events the disciples will soon witness: "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (9:22). This is the first of three Passion predictions in the Gospel of Luke. The other two occur in 9:43b-45 and in 18:31-34. Jesus is very straightforward with his disciples in telling them what will happen to him in order for him to be recognized as the Messiah. We know that, even after these events happened, some people still did not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Then Jesus clarifies what it means to be his follower: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (9:23). The followers must imitate the Messiah, putting others before self, enduring harsh treatment in pursuit of sharing the truth of God, and always remembering that in the cross there is first suffering and then glory. Sunday's Gospel ends with Jesus saying: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it" (9:24). In other words, taking up one's cross of self-denial for Christ's sake serves as a witness in the world. It serves as a means to bring others to Jesus. Because of Luke's emphasis on salvation, the idea of saving one's life takes on added significance. The way of the cross is the way of salvation.

Tradition Connection
"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (9:23). Taking up one's cross each day is a commitment to ongoing conversion. "Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right,1 by the admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1435). The commitment to take up one's cross daily begins at Baptism. We are connected to Jesus' cross through our Baptism. "Baptism . . . unites us to Christ's death and Resurrection" (Catechism, paragraph 790). In the baptismal rite, the celebrant prays that all who are buried with Christ in the death of Baptism will also rise with Christ to newness of life. After a baptized individual receives the white garment, an outward sign of his or her Christian dignity, and the baptismal candle, a symbol of the light of Christ, the celebrant proclaims that the baptized has "put on Christ."2 "Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies" (Catechism, paragraph 1227).

The word "Baptism' is derived from the Greek word bapitzein, which means to be plunged or immersed into water. When a person is baptized by immersion, she or he experiences the dramatic symbolism of being buried with Christ in the waters of Baptism and of rising with Christ out of the water as a new creation--just as Jesus did at his Resurrection. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).

Baptism also makes a person a member of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. "The unity of the Mystical Body triumphs over all human divisions: 'For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus'"3 (Catechism, paragraph 791). Therefore, what a Christian does each day as a way of picking up her or his cross not only renews that person's connection to Jesus through Baptism but also builds up the Mystical Body of Christ.

Wisdom Connection
Luke invited the Christian community to assess its motivation for following Christ. To be a true disciple of Jesus means to deny one's very self. "Losing one's life" does not mean suppressing the ego in a way that is psychologically harmful, but rather it means giving up control over one's destiny. The Gospel calls us to be open to the truth and knowledge revealed to us by Jesus, which is the true meaning of life, and to lay aside false images constructed from worldly illusions about the meaning of life. By our Baptism we are called to live for others and to embrace the difficult grace of God, the cross. The cross is a sign of contradiction in a world that grows more self-absorbed and egotistical. As Christians we must push our desires beyond self. Our hearts need to desire what God desires. Our souls should thirst for God and what God alone can offer.

Acknowledgments
The scriptural quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The quotations labeled Catechism are from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Endnotes cited in quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1. Cf. Amos 5:24; Isaiah 1:17.
2. Galatians 3:27.
3. Galatians 3:27-28.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 30, 2013
Luke 9:51-62

Opening Prayer
Jesus, as your disciples we want to understand more clearly through your word how we can embrace what it means to be a disciple, to be individuals who are able to focus on the goal of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Give us the vision and the courage to be this kind of disciple. Amen.

Context Connection
The opening sentence of this week's Gospel discloses the reason for Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. "When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem" (9:51). Earlier in chapter 9, Jesus tells us he will have to undergo great suffering (verse 21). Later on, during Jesus' Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah, Luke speaks of Jesus' departure--his Ascension. "[Moses, Elijah, and Jesus] appeared in glory and were speaking of [Jesus'] departure" (9:31). Luke helps us understand that Jesus is resolute about doing God's will when he says that Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem" (9:51). Why Jerusalem? For a devout Jew, Jerusalem symbolized many things. Jerusalem was the sacred city, the place of the Temple with its Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was also the city selected by King David to be the capital of the kingdom. If any change were to take place, it would need to happen in Jerusalem.

The easiest way to travel from Galilee, in the north, to Jerusalem, in the south, was to travel through the region of Samaria. See map 6 in The Catholic Youth Bible®. In preparation for traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus has some of his disciples go ahead and acquire places of hospitality for rest on the journey. In a particular situation, his followers come to a Samaritan village, where they are not welcomed to stay because they are Jews, who worshiped at Jerusalem: "On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for [Jesus], but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem" (9:53). Historically the Jews and Samaritans had a mutual dislike for each other. This hatred can be traced back to 537 BC and earlier. Under Kings David and Solomon there was one kingdom of Israel. However, after the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided into the northern kingdom, Israel, and the southern kingdom, Judah. Israel was defeated by the Assyrians in 721 BC. Under the Assyrians most of the native population was deported. They also resettled Israel with foreigners to replace the deported Israelites. The Israelites that remained intermarried with these foreigners and were labeled by the Judeans as impure, non-full-blooded Jews, and the Judeans would have nothing to do with them. This group of people would later become known as Samaritans.

In 587 BC the Babylonians defeated Judah. The whole population was deported and exiled in Babylon, becoming a ghettoized group that completely retained its Jewish identity and did not intermarry with foreigners. The Judeans returned from the Babylonian Exile in 537 BC to rebuild the Temple. The Samaritans wished to assist the Judeans in rebuilding the Temple, but the Judeans rejected them because they were considered impure people. In turn the Samaritans rebuilt the ancient city of Shechem around 313 BC and a little later built a Samaritan temple to Yahweh on Mount Gerizim.

When James and John suggest that they punish this village for its inhospitality by commanding "fire to come down from heaven and consume them" (9:54), it is possible they may be alluding to 2 Kings 1:10, when Elijah commands fire to fall upon his enemies. Jesus rebukes them for harboring these feelings of prejudice and moves on to another village without doing anything.

The second part of the Gospel talks about the expectation Jesus has of his followers. Jesus makes it clear that he wants resolute followers, ones that will not look back, but rather will keep their eye on the goal. To emphasize this, Jesus uses a shocking statement in response to the comment, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father" (9:59). Jesus says: "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God" (9:60). The most sacred duty of a Jew is to give honor to his or her parents by giving them a proper burial. This duty is connected to the Fourth Commandment, honor your father and mother. For Jesus, in this passage from Luke, there was an urgency to proclaim the Gospel that superseded the duty of burying one's parents. Even Elijah, in 1 Kings, gave Elisha permission to say goodbye to his family (19:19-21). The emphasis in Luke's Gospel is that the call to proclaim the Reign of God is more urgent than burying a dead parent. Is Jesus telling his disciples to neglect this responsibility? No. What Jesus is saying is that, as important as it is to honor the dead by burying them, the proclamation of the Gospel is even more important. Jesus is cautioning his disciples not to allow themselves to be derailed from their commitment to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Just as Jesus is willing to keep his focus on Jerusalem and make the ultimate sacrifice, being a follower of Jesus also has its costs.

Tradition Connection
The goal of discipleship is to help others to come to know Jesus intimately, to evangelize. The disciple is to extend an invitation and support to all people to become a member of the Mystical Body of Christ--a member of God's family. "Christ stands at the heart of this gathering of men into the 'family of God.' By his word, through signs that manifest the reign of God, and by sending out his disciples, Jesus calls all people to come together around him" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 542).

Before his Ascension Jesus commissions his disciples to take his Good News to Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth. We continue that mission today. It is our turn to leave our fingerprints on the lofty goal. Just as the first disciples were given the goal of taking the message of God's love for humankind to all parts of the world, we are given the same goal. As modern-day disciples we are called to share the story of Jesus--a story of love--so others can come to have a personal and profound encounter with the person of Jesus and then, as a result of this encounter, have their spiritual life deepened and stretched. All people come together in Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that "above all in the great Paschal Mystery--his death on the cross and his Resurrection--he would accomplish the coming of his kingdom. 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.' Into this union with Christ all men are called"1 (paragraph 542).

In becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, we pay a price. In this Sunday's Gospel Jesus gives his disciples a glimpse into the future as to what this cost will be. For the disciples the proclamation of the Kingdom of God has to be the main focus of their lives. This does not happen without some sacrifice and possible suffering. But just as Jesus experienced Resurrection, those who follow Jesus and proclaim his message will also experience resurrection and become a new creation in Jesus Christ.

In his World Youth Day address on April 1, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that young people today cannot be satisfied with letting others lead them here and there. The Pope emphasized that youth cannot be satisfied with what everyone else does or says. But rather, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, young people can never stop probing for God, seeking God. Benedict XVI implored youth not to let the question about God dissolve in their souls, but rather to desire to know God more and more each day. Youth today must be people who scan their surroundings seeking the face of God.

Wisdom Connection
Luke makes two points in this Sunday's Gospel. First, Jesus challenges his disciples' attitude toward the Samaritans. James and John express a commonly held prejudice toward the Samaritans. Jesus rebukes them for holding such hatred for Samaritans. For Jesus, prejudice has no place among his followers. Jesus presents us with this same challenge today. Do we hold any prejudice in our heart toward another individual or group that would cause us to wish them destruction rather than wholeness of life?

Second, Luke is clear on what is expected of a person who wishes to follow Jesus. The Christian disciple must be completely focused on the end goal. Just as Jesus was willing to keep his eye on the goal of doing God's will--all the way to Jerusalem without wavering--he expects the same of his followers.

The person who offers himself or herself with absolute availability is truly open to what Jesus is asking of his disciples. Jesus' only guarantee in this life is that his followers will have less security than foxes in their dens and birds in their nests.

Acknowledgments
The scriptural quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

The quotations labeled Catechism are from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference, Inc.--Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

The Lord's Prayer is taken from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. Copyright © 1988 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

Endnotes Cited in Quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1. John 12:32; cf. Lumen Gentium 3.

If we were vacationing in Rome at the end of June, we would be looking forward to celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul with music, entertainment, fireworks, and fairs. This solemnity is a holy day of obligation in some European countries, and in Rome is an annual public holiday.