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Msgr. David Ratermann
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Prophets |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Sunday, 31 January 2010 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time “C”
Rdg. 1. Jeremiah tells us how he was chosen to be a prophet even before he was born.
Rdg. 2. Paul describes, insofar as that is possible, God’s way of loving; and he notes that we are destined to live that love forever. Faith and hope will cease; yet love will go on forever.
Rdg. 3. Jesus challenged his fellow citizens of Nazareth to live and love as God does. And what happened? They were scandalized; they rejected Him and even wanted to kill Him.
In our readings for today, as usual, there’s a relation between the first reading and the Gospel. In the first reading, Jeremiah identifies himself as a PROPHET, who is, chosen by God to announce God’s Word, God’s Truth. And Jeremiah is aware that it’s a dangerous job, a certain way to get into trouble. Jeremiah had lots of trouble. And so did Jesus, even in his home town.
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Two Widows Sunday |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Sunday, 08 November 2009 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
32nd SUNDAY (B) NOVEMBER 8, 2009 - TWO WIDOWS SUNDAY
I Kings: 17:10-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9: 24-28
Mark 12: 38-44
The widow of Zarephath (city outside Israel in pagan territory) acted with gracious hospitality in spite of her extreme difficulty brought on by widespread famine that meant almost certain death for her and her son. Whatever faith she had in whatever god, her behavior was an extremely generous and gracious example of hospitality to a STRANGER, a prophet of Israel, God’s chosen people! The widow confides totally and absolutely in her god… or is it the God of the prophet Elijah?
I’ve been the recipient of a similar kind of hospitality from Indian women out in the distant provinces (or counties) of the Bolivian highlands 100 miles from the city of a Paz. I remember visiting homes there and how in one case, an Indian woman literally had two eggs in the house. She prepared them both for me! And I asked myself: What’s going on here? She is hospitable to an extreme beyond extremes, just like the widow of Zarephath… and just like the widow Jesus praises in today’s Gospel!
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The Good Shepherd |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Sunday, 19 July 2009 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
Jeremiah 23:1-16: “Woe to the shepherds who scatter my sheep. I myself will gather them.”
Ephesians 2:13-18: "Christ is our shepherd who made both groups one, i.e., Jews and Gentiles."
Mark 6:30-34: “They are like sheep without a shepherd”, says Jesus, the Lord.
Remember the 10 Commandments? They are written in the book of Exodus, chapter 20, where God says: “You shall have no gods except me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or likeness of anything in heaven, here on earth, or in the waters under the earth!” Jesus is the living image of God and so it was that in the early church, the faithful began to make images not of any other thing but only of Jesus. Among the first images that they made of Christ Jesus – the Good Shepherd – was most popular.
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Come and See |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Wednesday, 21 January 2009 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
(“Come and see,” Jesus says to thee.)
I Sam. 3:3-10, 19: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
I Cor. 6:13-15, 17-20: “You are members of the Body of Christ.”
Jn. 1:35-42: "They saw where Jesus lived and they stayed with him."
What time of the day was it when the first disciples went and stayed with Jesus? Anybody remember? The Gospel notes that it was at about four in the afternoon. What’s so important about that? It reminds me of a dear friend of mine who remembers the exact day and time of her first date with the man who later on became her husband and the father of her children. What does that say? Can you remember details about something really important that happened in your life? I can, and I bet you can, too. No doubt, you’re thinking about an important moment, maybe even an encounter with Jesus.
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The Baptism of Jesus |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009 |
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Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
(John is John and I am Jesus; we’re related, but we’re not the same.)
Is. 55:1-11: “Come for water without paying! Listen to me and you will live!”
1 Jn. 5:1-9: “The spirit, the water and the blood.”
Mk. 1:7-11: “You are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased!”
Jesus goes to John for baptism. What’s that all about? Shouldn’t John go to Jesus? Jesus is all-HOLY! In the first place, Jesus is in continuity with John. Jesus has to authorize and confirm John in his mission. Jesus is doing it (with signs): “I am indeed the Savior, whom John has been announcing! John is out here in the desert to announce my mission; however, John can’t do my mission. I alone can do it! My mission is different! My mission is to take upon myself the sins of all the people and remove all sins! I have to be baptized by John to make it clear that I make myself the main sinner, the one who assumes the weight and the responsibility for all the sins of the world. ‘I am the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!’ My mission is different! John demands penance! I offer pardon! John is for fasting! I’m for feasting! John is for mortification! I’m for liberation! The time has come! The Kingdom is here! The Kingdom is among you! Yet you must accept and embrace it with all your soul! When you do embrace the Kingdom with all your heart, you are really embracing me...” says Jesus. Or, in other words: “You can’t really embrace me without embracing the Kingdom,” says Jesus.
Where do we stand? Is our mission that of John, the Baptizer? Or should we rather embrace the mission of Jesus himself? I do believe that God and the Church are calling us to both missions. It is not an “either or” situation; rather it is a “both and” situation!
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Advent Reflection: The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed and All People Shall See It Together |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Thursday, 18 December 2008 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
When the snow fell on November 30, I arose very early and sat at a window in the chapel where I live. Snow was falling and there was just enough light to see it come down; not like the rain, but in slow motion, delicate flakes of snow that floated very gracefully and landed covering the earth with a white blanket. I had not seen that sight for many years because I had been in Bolivia. I was fascinated as I gazed at that beautiful manifestation of the glory of the Lord in creation. "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all people shall see it together."
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Mission Sunday Sermon |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Monday, 20 October 2008 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
 My grandnephew, Ben, wanted to celebrate the birthday of his grandma, my sister, Mary. She told Ben not to spend money on a gift for grandma since she really does not have any great needs now in her old age – 86 years completed.
So what did Ben do?
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Do You Live in the Old Testament? The New Testament? Or Both? |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Monday, 13 October 2008 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
I spent many years in ministry in Bolivia. In the early sixties I was tagged to help organize a retreat with fellow diocesan priests from La Paz. About halfway through the retreat we received news that a brother priest suffered in a car accident and was in the hospital needing a blood transfusion. I was the one designated to ask the brothers to volunteer giving blood. To my amazement, they were very hesitant in offering that much needed help and I wondered why. Actually I was tempted to think dark thoughts about their relationship with Father N. who was seriously ill and urgently needing blood. What were they saying?
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Farewell Homily |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Sunday, 08 June 2008 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a Saint Louis priest missionary, serving in Bolivia since 1956, and is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate.
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – June 8, 2008
(“I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE,” SAYS THE LORD)
Hosea, 6:3-6 – For God, any sacrifice is empty unless it includes love and compassion for the neighbor.
Rom. 4:18-25 – Abraham is model of Faith; he believed the Promise even though it was apparently impossible.
Mt. 9:9-13 – Matthew, the publican, answers Jesus’ call and Jesus celebrates with him and the “sinners.”
God’s Word invites us to practice Mercy: “I desire Mercy and not Sacrifice!”
The merciful love of Jesus works wonders in Matthew, the tax collector and enemy of his own people. In the twinkling of an eye Matthew becomes a disciple of the Lord, and later on, apostle and evangelist. So strong and so wonderful is God’s mercy. And that mercy is alive and well today!
Let me share with you a personal example: You, my dear sisters and brothers in Bolivia, treated me with patience and mercy when I arrived here 52 years ago. I spoke no Spanish; your customs, your food and your wonderful way of celebrating were all foreign to me. I did not know how to live in Bolivia. With much patient love you accompanied me and, little by little, I became “Bolivianized” through many, many encounters and experiences. So today we are really celebrating two wonderful gifts: Your gift of kind and loving patience reflects and imitates the goodness and mercy of the Lord. And I have been wonderfully enriched by half a century in this marvelous adventure.
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Twenty Bucks |
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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a Saint Louis priest missionary, serving in Bolivia since 1956, and is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate.
In most parishes the folks who assist at daily Mass are a pretty steady crowd. They pray for the parish and also for the whole world on a daily basis. An important ministry … only God knows the effects of their fidelity.
Today as I was celebrating the morning Mass, I noticed a new face in the back of church. At the end of Mass I greeted the regulars as they left for their homes and/or other activities. The stranger asked to have a word with me.
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Archdiocese of St. Louis: Mission Office
20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63119 • missions@archstl.org
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