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"The New and Eternal Covenant"
January 20, 2019
As we progress into Ordinary Time, the ‘second movement’ of the great Symphony of Love that is the Church’s Liturgical Year, we see Christ’s ordinary life, observe His ordinary miracles, and witness His ordinary acts of mercy.
In today’s Gospel we hear about two young people who were wed at Cana. Though nameless, they have been immortalized in the Gospel because Jesus was a guest at their wedding. Any couple might be envious of them. Yet the story, as told by St. John and proclaimed to us in the liturgy, has a wider meaning than just the union of that Jewish man and woman some twenty centuries ago.
The first reading from Isaiah prepares us for this wider meaning. It is based on a favorite image of God in the Old Testament as the spouse of His people. The prophet says:
“As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.”
The story of Cana relies on this imagery and symbolically manifests the new, everlasting covenant between God and His people.
In secular society, marriage is considered a contract which is binding by law. In God’s view, marriage is a covenant which is binding by love. The setting of today’s Gospel should make us think of God’s covenant with us as one of faithful love – like that of dedicated spouses.
The detail of the Gospel story reveals that God’s love is generous and abundant. At hand were six stone water jars, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus directed that they be filled to the brim. Cana was a small town. Perhaps there were at most fifty guests, including some disciples of Jesus. When Jesus changed the water into wine the guests had much more than enough – some 150 gallons. God’s love is abundant like that. Theologically Cana is related to the Epiphany. The meaning of the Epiphany is that Gentiles as well as Jews are called to be disciples of Jesus. God’s love is abundant enough to include everyone in His new covenant.
The new wine at Cana was not only abundant, it was excellent. The waiter in charge observed to the groom, “You have kept the good wine until now." God, too, has reserved for us in the Christian era the abundant, choice wine of His new covenant.
We renew our relationship of love in the Eucharist celebration. At Cana Jesus transformed water into wine. In the Eucharistic celebration, He transforms bread and wine into His Body and Blood as the living memorial of His death and Resurrection. In the voice of the priest, we hear the words of Christ:
“This is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many...”
Since that beautiful day in Cana every wedding should remind us of God’s abundant love for us. Every dedicated couple should make us think of God’s fidelity. And above all, we should remember that in the Eucharist we celebrate the new covenant, our union with God and one another in the Church.
Father Storey
Deacon's Reflection"The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord"
January 13, 2019Today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord closes the Christmas season; tomorrow we begin the first week in Ordinary Time. We might be asking ourselves why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God, submit Himself to baptism? In Matthew’s gospel John the Baptist asked Jesus basically the same question and He answered, “it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, it is in the Father’s providential plan, so Jesus does so to fulfill His Father’s will. Okay, but still we ask, why? The scriptures and the Catechism (paragraphs 535-537) give us some further insights.
First, Jesus is sinless and has no need for John’s baptism but does so to identify Himself with sinful humanity. He shows Himself to be in solidarity with His fellow Israelites by entering the same waters as the repentant crowds have been entering. Secondly, His very presence lends credibility to John and his mission.
A third reason is alluded to by the voice of the Father from heaven in our Gospel today, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” Any first-century Jew hearing those words would understand their meaning. They allude to two Old Testament passages. “You are my son,” from Psalm 2:7. Psalm 2 is an important messianic psalm, where God addresses the newly anointed king as His son. And, “with you I am well pleased” from Isaiah 42:1, the first verse of a series of “songs” about a figure called the Lord’s servant from Isaiah 42-53. This servant will bring salvation to the ends of the earth, accomplishing this through suffering as he offers his life for sin. These words reveal Jesus as the suffering servant foretold by Isaiah and the messiah king anticipated by Israel.
Finally, we see a revelation of the Blessed Trinity – the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends as a dove.
It is important to remember that the baptism of John signified the need for inner purity but did not affect this in a sacramental way. It was a prefiguring Christian Baptism which most of us received as infants. When we received this, the first of the Sacraments, we were cleansed of original sin and our souls were filled with sanctifying grace, the Divine life of God. The virtues of faith, hope and love were infused into our soul and God the Father adopted us as His beloved child. We became members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. As you entered the church today you probably dipped your fingers in the holy water and made the sign of the cross. We do this as a reminder of our Baptism, that it is through the waters of Baptism that we first entered the Church! Today let us recall and give thanks to God for our own Baptism!
Deacon Steve White
Deacon’s Reflections"Be A Light"
January 6, 2019
Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we learn how God revealed Himself to all people of all nations, not just a chosen few. Our readings focus on light:
The beginning of the second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel announces the arrival of the three Magi in Jerusalem, seeking the newborn king of the Jews. These three men were astronomers by vocation, and for many years they had been studying the stars in the firmament. When this unusual new star rose, they knew that an extraordinary event had to have taken place. They were determined to find the cause of this star.“Rise up in splendor Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon
you. ...Nations shall walk by your light.” Is 60:1-3.
Led only by the light of this new star, they then set out on their trek. Their journey had to have been uncertain and perilous. After all, they had no maps, no one to guide them, only the light of this star. We can only imagine how they must have felt when the star disappeared from their sight in Jerusalem. They began to ask around, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”
King Herod met secretly with the Magi to find out what they knew. Herod then sent them to Bethlehem and instructed them to return to him after they had seen the child. Amazingly after they left Herod’s palace, the star reappeared to guide them, to lead them to the place where Jesus was. When they entered the house,
Like the Magi opened themselves to the revelation of God through the guidance of the star, so too, we can open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reveal His plan for each of us. He can help us recognize that God’s plan may not be our plan. His method of leading us to peace and happiness is straight and narrow. It may require us to let go of worldly distractions, change our bad habits, and fight temptations.“They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Mt 2:11.
We praise and thank the Lord for the revelation of His love and mercy through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. May we be faithful witnesses to His light. May our lives “shine as light in the world.” Phil 2:15.
May we always follow the light that shines from God, and may we reflect that light to all that we meet.
Deacon Phillip Nguyen
December 23 & 30, 2018
My Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As I started to write this message for Christmas Season 2018, two thoughts came to mind: Merry Christmas! and Come Home! Two special messages of love I want to convey to each and every one of you today.
Merry Christmas!
Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to His people on earth! This truly is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad! A special Christmas greeting to all members of our parish, and a warm welcome to family members and friends who are visiting. May all feel the true presence of Christ in this our home.
Welcome home to those who may not be able to join us each week due to work schedules, or just have gotten out of the habit of coming to Mass. I pray your hearts will journey back to be with us each week, for we truly yearn for your presence. If there is anything I can do to help you on your journey back, please do not hesitate to ask.
For people of faith, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and Messiah, the Savior of the World. Christmas is also the birthday of Christ the Priest. A beautiful theology of the Church sees the womb of Mary, our Blessed Mother, as the splendid cathedral in which the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus as the Great High Priest.
Come Home!
When I wrote a letter of farewell to my previous parish 3½ years ago, I was struck by the sense of love that prevailed and how truly difficult it was to say goodbye. While I am not saying goodbye, I do recall vividly some of the thoughts that were foremost in that letter; they just seem so applicable today that I want to share some of them with you.
I do want to convey how much each of you means to me. We read in Sacred Scriptures that the greatest gift God gives to any of us is the gift of love. Each of you have been a true blessing to me. When we see the strife, the scandals, and difficulties our Church is facing, we must rely on one another and on the promises of Christ who says love never dies nor does it fade away. It is something that we can cherish forever.
One of the most important things we can do for one another is pray for each other. My prayer is that this parish will always be a Christ-centered parish of love and caring for each other, always be guided by the Holy Spirit and protected by our Blessed Mother.
Remember to pray for atonement, reconciliation, for world peace and to never be afraid of the truth…and above all never be afraid of God’s love and mercy in knowing we can come back to Him no matter what our past has been. Please do not let fear keep you from the love of the Lord. Stay close to the Sacraments and let God lead you through life.
Merry Christmas! Please Come Home!
Father Storey
December 16, 2018
A Time to Rejoice!
This is the Entrance Antiphon for today, Gaudete Sunday, the 3rd Sunday in Advent. We are just past the mid-point in our Advent journey preparing to celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near."
(Philippians 4:4-5)
“Gaudete” is one of the Latin words that means “rejoice.” On this Sunday the priest uses rose-colored vestments, and we light the rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath. Rose is a softening of violet, the liturgical color normally used during Advent. It is a foretaste of good things to come, and it anticipates the pure white that will be used at Christmas.
One of the best things we can do to prepare for the coming of Christ is to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). There are still some opportunities today for Communal Penance Services in the Johnson County region. Times for individual confessions are also listed on the front page of this bulletin. Rejoice in this beautiful sacrament given to us by Jesus Christ.
Today’s readings are about rejoicing. In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah instructs:
What reassuring words he wrote for these troubled people:“Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!”
On this day of rejoicing, I encourage you to look up at our crucifix hanging on the wall behind the altar. We see a God who is non-judgmental, a God who loves us. We, ourselves, must not be judgmental; we should be loving. God forgives us unconditionally and accepts all people just the way they are. Likewise, we must forgive one another and be more accepting of others. Let us seek the Father’s mercy and love, and then show that mercy and love to one another.“The Lord has removed judgment against you ... the King of Israel is in your midst, you have no
further misfortune to fear ... The Lord will renew you in his love.”
The Gospel (Luke 1:39-45) that we hear on December 23, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, follows directly Luke’s Gospel for December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. John the Baptist, still an infant in the womb of his mother, leaped for joy when Elizabeth heard her cousin Mary’s voice. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out to Mary:
We rejoice with John the Baptist and his mother, Elizabeth. We also rejoice with Mary, the Mother of God.“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Indeed, the Lord is near!
Father Storey
"Gaudete – Rejoice!"December 9, 2018
Ordinarily, we celebrate only one Gaudete Sunday – the Third Sunday of Advent. This weekend the people of Curé of Ars Parish have another reason to say “Gaudete! Rejoice!” Sixty-four years ago, on December 8, Father Tony was ordained to the priesthood in Rome, Italy. As you know, this exceptional priest at 90 years of age, is still working providing priestly service for you and your souls.
When you see Father Tony this weekend, please take a moment to wish him “Happy Anniversary” and thank him for his dedication to our parish. Father Tony’s entry into his 65th year of priesthood reminds us of our own entry into this Advent season: we joyfully anticipate and prepare to celebrate a special event.
In the Blessing of the Advent Wreath last week, we asked the Lord God to let His blessing come upon us as we wait for the coming of our Savior. We asked that the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise, and we urged, “May He come quickly and not delay.”The Old Testament Readings for Advent in Year C come from a variety of prophets: Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, and Micah. Their writings are rich in meaning and symbolism, offering us hope and joyful anticipation. Soon we celebrate the ultimate gift of love. As Father Tony often reminds us
“God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16)
Let us all rejoice in celebrating Fr. Tony’s anniversary and in our preparation for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
December through early January, we are privileged to celebrate three feast days of our Blessed Mother Mary: Dec. 8, the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception; Dec. 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe; and Jan. 1, Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary was protected from Original Sin, and that the Blessed Mother did NOT have a sinful nature. She was, in fact, sinless from the
moment of her conception in the womb of St. Anne. The Church teaches that Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus Christ, being kept free from Original Sin, is repairing the stain Eve brought into the world by giving in to temptation. The Church further teaches that Mary, by her Immaculate Conception, is the New Eve. She restores what woman destroyed in The Fall. Because she was kept from the poisons of Original Sin, Mary thus was prepared by God to bring Jesus Christ into the world.
Let us thank our Blessed Mother for the many favors we have received through her, and continue to ask for her intercession:“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.”
Father Storey
"Be Watchful!"December 2, 2018
Last week I likened the Church’s Liturgical Year to a great symphony. We now hear the opening strains of the first movement of that symphony, Advent through Christmas. The First Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the Church’s Liturgical Year. This year we will use readings for Cycle C, and our Gospels primarily will come from St. Luke’s account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
During Advent we wait to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, God made man, Who humbled Himself to become human like us. We also need to keep an awareness that He will come again as He promised. Luke’s Gospel (21:25-28, 34-36) for the First Sunday of Advent speaks to us about the end of time and the Last Judgment. He writes about the Second Coming of the Son of Man:
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.’”
The Gospel for December 9, the Second Sunday of Advent, is from Luke 3:1-6. Describing the role of John the Baptist, Luke quotes from the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”
John, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, prepared the way for Jesus. He urged all to whom he spoke to be baptized and to repent.
Jesus came to call all sinners, you and me, to repentance. If we are to prepare a way for the Lord, to make straight a path, we must prepare our hearts and souls by removing guilt, shame, pain and sorrow, so that we can see the Lord for who He truly is. We must ask for the forgiveness He has promised us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance).
Curé of Ars’ Advent Penance Service will be Sunday, December 9 at 3:00 p.m. A schedule of Advent Penance Services throughout the Johnson County Region is below.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
During this Advent season, we also think about how our Blessed Mother must have felt, how joyful she was as she anticipated the birth of her Son. With her, we too should be overwhelmed with joy knowing that Jesus is truly the reason for Christmas.
Saturday, December 8, the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary was protected from Original Sin, and that the Blessed Mother did NOT have a sinful nature. She was, in fact, sinless from the moment of her conception in the womb of St. Anne, thus preparing her to become the Mother of God.
Masses for the Holy Day of Obligation are December 7 (Vigil) 6:00 p.m. and December 8 at 9:00 a.m.
The Mass at 4:00 p.m. Saturday is the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent and does not fulfill
our obligation for the Holy Day.
Together let us prayerfully watch as we await the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and let us rejoice with His Blessed Mother Mary.Father Storey
Parish Penance Services
Sunday, December 9th
Curé of Ars 3:00 PM
Queen of the Holy Rosary, OP 3:00 PM
St. Agnes 3:00 PM
St. Paul 7:30 PM
Monday, December 10th
Holy Cross 7:00 PM
Holy Spirit 7:00 PM
Holy Trinity 7:00 PM
St. Michael 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 11th
Prince of Peace 7:00 PM
St. Joseph 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 12th
Good Shepherd 7:00 PM
Thursday, December 13th
Ascension 7:00 PM
Divine Mercy 7:00 PM
John Paul II 7:00 PM
Sacred Heart 7:00 PM
St. Piux X 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 16th
Queen of the Holy Rosary/ Wea 3:00 PM
St. Ann 3:00 PM
Nativity 7:30 PM
November 25, 2018
A Step Back in Time: Three years ago when I first came to Curé of Ars, I shared with you that the Church’s Liturgical Year could be likened to a symphony – a great symphony of love. Each year since then, we have built on this imagery. In the interim, many people have joined the parish, and they may not have seen the original Pastor’s Notes and consequently do not grasp the meanings and nuances of subsequent articles. Today, I want to repeat that Pastor’s Notes as it was first presented.
November 30 is the one year anniversary of the death of our brother priest, friend and mentor, Father Jerry Spencer, who was in residence here for several years. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."A Symphony of Love in C Major"
Today we come to the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. We celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. Christ is placed on His throne, our true King. Next week we begin a new Liturgical Year wherein we will use readings from Year C.
The Church’s Year is like a great symphony with multiple movements, featuring a variety of tempos, keys, rhythmic patterns and harmonizing. We find our symphony reaching many pinnacles in a great flurry of sounds and rhythms. Why the key of C? For Christ, of course; though a case could be made for the key of G (God).
The first movement of any symphony is usually fairly fast, weighty in content and feeling. The great symphony of the Church Year begins with an Allegro con brio – lively with spirit – of Advent, and builds to a crescendo at Christmas. We experience Advent with its sense of urgency, praying that the Lord will hurry up and not delay. Those prayers are answered at Christmas with the Lord humbling Himself at the Incarnation, coming to us as God made Man. It is a time of great rejoicing and exhilaration.
Following the Christmas Season, our symphony builds as we progress in our Liturgical Year. Next is the low key, quiet Andante of Ordinary Time – the ordinary growth of Jesus. This leads us into Lent – starting with Ash Wednesday. We are called into the desert, called to repentance. Here we find ourselves in the deep, resonant sounds of the Lenten season.
Holy Week is a symphony within the symphony. A frenzy of emotions begins with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem amid the waving of branches on Palm Sunday. We then experience the excitement of Holy Thursday, celebrating the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Then come the mournful sounds of the dirge of Good Friday as Christ is crucified and placed in the tomb. Finally, we have the triumphant elation of Easter Vigil and Easter when Christ rises from the dead. The next movement of our symphony, perhaps a Largo, embraces the days of the Easter Season and the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Then we celebrate Pentecost – 50 days after Easter, the birthday of the Church; followed by the Feasts of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
Our final movement of the symphony, a Minuet, takes us back to Ordinary Time. The strings and reeds carry repeated melodies of miracles, parables, and love throughout. Clanging cymbals keynote high points; roaring drums, brass and bass mark the majestic and awesome occasions throughout the life of Christ. At the conclusion of Ordinary Time, once again we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. “And He shall reign for ever and ever.” This is truly a Symphony of Love.
Father Storey
"Be Wise"
November 18, 2018
“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.”
These are the concluding words of the Gospel for today, the 33rd and last numbered Sunday in Ordinary Time, concluding the Church’s Liturgical Year. All three Readings point to the end times: from Daniel in the Old Testament, continuing with St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews and finally Mark’s discourse that ends with the quotation above.
Do we know when the end of time will be? Definitely no! But Jesus tells us to be vigilant. He told His disciples to observe the blooming of the fig tree that points to when summer is near. Likewise, He said we should observe the signs that indicate when the second coming of the Son of Man is near. He wants us to be wise.
“The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament” Dan 12:3.
On November 22, we will celebrate one of our national holidays – Thanksgiving. We gather with family and friends, share a meal, maybe even watch a football game or two on TV. But do we really stop and reflect on what is truly important in our lives – the wonderful gifts that God has given to us? Among these gifts we count our families, our friends, the love we have for one another, and the beautiful gift of faith that God has given us.
In the Gospel according to St. Luke that we will proclaim on Thanksgiving Day, we hear about the lepers who met Jesus as He traveled on the road to Jerusalem, how they begged Him saying, “Master, have pity on us.”
All ten lepers were cleansed by Jesus, but only one of them, a foreigner – a Samaritan, came back to thank Jesus for healing him. Jesus told him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
Do we take the time to say “Thank you” to God for His many gifts? Or does Jesus have reason to say to us, “Where are the other nine?” We owe thanks to God. In the dialogue at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” and we respond, “It is right and just.” Yes, it is right and just; it is our duty to recognize the Source of all our being, all that we have and all that we are.
We give thanks for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, requested by the Son from His Father: God’s life dwelling among us; for His Presence guiding us and influencing us in our everyday life as we strive toward our ultimate goal, to see God face-to-face in heaven.
We give thanks for the awesome gift of the Eucharist; the True Presence of God, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. We are so privileged to hold in our own hands this True Presence every time we receive Communion.
Be wise! Take the time each and every day to be truly thankful for all your blessings. Look deep within yourself particularly on Thanksgiving Day. Recognize the special gifts with which you have been blessed, and give thanks to God for them. It is right and just!
Father Storey
"Love and Trust"
November 11, 2018
We continue our journey through Mark’s Gospel at the end of Ordinary Time in Cycle B. Only 2 numbered Sundays remain: 32 and 33 before we reach the culmination of our Liturgical Year on Sunday, Nov. 25, celebrating the Feast of Christ the King.
During these final weeks in Ordinary Time, we have learned many facets of the directive as to how we should relate to God: be humble; be sincere; trust God; maintain a child-like faith in God; love God above all things; love one another as we love ourselves. We saw several different people attempt to challenge Jesus. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, He could have recited the individual laws given to Moses, which sound like rules. Instead, He summarized them and presented them as what they truly are: recipes for love.Today’s message centers about both trust and love. In the First Reading, a Phoenician widow is suffering through the drought which has overtaken her country. A stranger, Elijah, a visitor to her city Zarephath, asks for some water and a bit of bread. She had next to nothing in her meal container and her oil jar. She did not know Elijah, but she knew in her heart that she must care for others. She and her son shared what little they had with Elijah and trusted that God would take care of them. Because of her love and trust, the Lord kept His promise,
“The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.”
In the Gospel, we see another widow, who sets an example for all of us. Jesus observed how the scribes put money in the treasury. When he witnessed the widow’s contribution of two small coins which amounted to almost nothing monetarily, He called His disciples together to learn a lesson from her gift. Jesus showed how the widow’s gift was so valuable compared to that of the rich people.
“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Let us look deep within our hearts and evaluate: how do we give? Are we giving out of love for God, and for our fellow human beings? We must trust in God, and we know that God will not be out-done in generosity. After all, He gave His very Being for each of us.
Father Storey
"The Greatest Commandment: Love"
November 4, 2018
On this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle B, we are rapidly approaching the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. During this past year, we have learned many lessons from Mark’s Gospel. Soon we will celebrate the Solemn Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday in the Liturgical Year on November 25. Then on December 2, the First Sunday of Advent, we will begin Cycle Year C, featuring the Gospel according to St. Luke.
Many times in our Gospel readings, we hear about Scribes and Pharisees confronting Jesus, trying to challenge Him with their barrage of questions and accusations. The scribe in today’s Gospel is different. He is sincere in his inquiry. He is not trying to trap Jesus. He really wants to know an answer to his question: which is the most important commandment?
In His reply, Jesus emphasized love and quoted from the Old Testament Law, Deuteronomy, as we heard in the First Reading: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Jesus continued His answer with the second of the commandments: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The scribe then praised Jesus for the accuracy of His response and added that the value of this love far exceeded that of any sacrificial offering.
How do we love ourselves? We love ourselves by knowing who we are and whose we are. First of all, we belong to God; we are members of the Body of Christ. We must know ourselves with all our gifts, talents and flaws, and we must accept ourselves that way – not try to be someone who we are not. Then we can love others as we love ourselves.
When we reflect on the Feast of All Souls which we celebrated just two days ago, we are struck with the importance of love. Love never dies. In the Preface for the Mass of Christian Burial, we are comforted to hear the words that life is changed, not ended.
We recall from 1 John 4:8, “God is Love.” As members of the Body of Christ, let us emulate that love and pray for one another as well as for our brothers and sisters in purgatory.
Father Storey
"We Are ..."
October 28, 2018
This coming week, we will celebrate two very important Holy Days in the Church’s Calendar of Feasts: Nov. 1, the Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation, and Nov. 2, All Souls Day. To make it as convenient as possible for all to attend, Mass times for those days are scheduled as follows:
Oct. 31 (Vigil of All Saints): 6:00 pm
Nov. 1 (All Saints): 6:30 am, 8:15 am, 12:10 pm and 6 pm
Nov. 2 (All Souls): 6:30 am, 8:15 amAs baptized Christians, we are part of a vast family known as the Communion of Saints. Each year the Church honors those who have gone before us in faith, especially those whose brave and unwavering witness to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has inspired us to live a life more committed to the Triune God.
Since his election as Pope in 2013, Pope Francis has canonized many saints. On October 14, 2018, he elevated seven more to the status of Sanctus (saint). Among these are a pope, Paul VI, and an archbishop, Oscar Romero who was martyred while celebrating Mass in San Salvador. Archbishop Romero was known for his speaking out against social injustice and violence. Also canonized were two women: one from Germany, Mother Catherine Kasper, and another from Spain, Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa, who were founders of religious orders. Included in the group of seven were two Italian priests, Fr. Francesco Spinelli and Fr. Vincenzo Romano.
Completing the group was a teenager from Naples, Nunzio Sulprizio, who died in 1836. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI, and now they both were formally named saints in the same canonization ceremony.
Not all saints are formally canonized – but we can all strive to become saints, to achieve a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. We believe that our final destiny is to be with the God who created us. When the soul unites with its Creator, only then will we be at true peace.
There are three stages of the Kingdom, i.e. three stages of the Mystical Body of Christ, of His only Church: the Church Militant (we Christians who live on earth), the Church Triumphant (our brothers and sisters who have died and whose souls are already in heaven for eternity) and the Church Purifying (Christians who have died and are in purgatory).
Thus we have the Communion of Saints. All members of the three stages of the Church live in the same Body of Christ. Those in heaven already, the Angels and Saints, can help us. We are called to pray for our brothers and sisters in purgatory. As we celebrate these very Holy Days, we the Church Militant, ask for the Saints’ intercessions, and we assure those in the Church Purifying of our prayers. Together we are the Body of Christ.
As members of the Body of Christ, let us make attending Mass on these Holy Days a top priority.
Father Storey
October 21, 2018Lovely Lady
Lovely Lady dressed in blue –
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!
Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?
Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?
Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things –
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels’ wings
Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me – for you know.
Lovely Lady dressed in blue –
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.
The above prayer-poem by Mary Dixon Thayer may bring back memories for you. It was made popular by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in the mid-1950s on his television show, Life Is Worth Living. It is beautiful in its simplicity.
During these past few weeks in Ordinary Time Cycle B, we have heard Jesus speak of the beauty of the faith of the young – that we should become more childlike in our openness to the love of God. So whether you are young, or just young at heart, open your heart and let the love you have for our Blessed Mother and her Son Jesus pour out as in the words of this poem. May God bless you!
Father Storey
"October Month of the Rosary"
October 14, 2018
October is the month traditionally dedicated to our Blessed Mother under the title Queen of the Holy Rosary. As human beings, children of God, our hearts and souls long to be at peace with Him Who created us. It is through our Blessed Mother that we can achieve this more easily.
When we pray the Rosary, we focus on events in the lives of Christ and His Blessed Mother. We also concentrate on the promises of Jesus Christ, God who humbly takes on human flesh to share in our humanity. The Rosary helps us meditate and come to appreciate more fully the birth, the suffering, the death, and the Resurrection, and the miracles of His life while He was with us here on earth. The Rosary – literally, a garland of roses – is not meant to be boring in its repetition, but rather to help us delve into the mysteries of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Mother, Mary.
The traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary were standardized, based on long-standing custom, by Pope St. Pius V in the 16th century. The Mysteries were grouped into three sets: the Joyful, the Sorrowful and the Glorious Mysteries. In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II announced five new Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, bringing the total number to 20 mysteries.
The Rosary helps us pray for the things we need. We all long for peace in the world and in our families. When praying the Rosary, we pray that we remain strong in our marriages or in our single lives, and that priests and religious stay focused to their vocation calling.
Pope Francis is convinced that the devil is trying to undermine and destroy the Catholic Church, its leadership (including the Pope himself) and members alike. To counter this attack, Pope Francis has asked Catholics throughout the world to pray the Rosary daily during October and to conclude with a prayer invoking the aid of the Archangel Michael for protection from the forces of sin and evil in the world.St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all evil spirits,
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
AmenFather Storey
"Guided by the Evangelist Mark"October 7, 2018
Mark’s was the first of the Gospels, written some thirty years after the Resurrection. It is also the shortest and is the featured Gospel in Liturgical Cycle Year B. Mark is guiding us in these last few Sundays in Ordinary Time, concentrating on the personal side of Jesus as He teaches us how to be good disciples. Mark gives us intimate glimpses of Jesus, wanting us to know Him personally.
Jesus was all inclusive in His teachings, denouncing factions and discrimination in the community. When the disciples complained that people who were not “one of us” would teach or drive out demons, Jesus reminded them that “whoever is not against us is for us.” Jesus emphasized that we are all part of one body.
A couple of weeks ago the disciples (and we) learned the folly of wanting to be “first” in everything. Rather we must exercise humility and simplicity, becoming childlike if we want to find the path to the Father in heaven. In today’s Gospel, Mark again presents the notion of a child being a model for a good Christian life.
When the disciples tried to prevent people from bringing their children to Jesus, He became indignant and chastised the disciples saying“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
For emphasis, He added,
“Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
As we continue on our journey to the new Jerusalem, the road will get rough. Jesus did not promise that it would be easy, but He did promise to ask the Father to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with us and remind us of all that Jesus had taught. Let us try to become more childlike in our faith and love. Let us approach the Father with humility and simplicity as modeled by the children whom Jesus held so dear. Spirit of the Living God, shed Your Light on us.
Father Storey
"In Humble Service"
September 23, 2018
I would guess each of us has had one of those embarrassing moments when someone has overheard us say something that was intended only for others. That happened to the disciples one day within the hearing of Jesus. In a debate amongst themselves, the apostles were arguing about who was the most important. When Jesus later asked them about it, they were embarrassed into silence.
The amazing thing about their argument was that Jesus had just explained that He was going to be delivered into the hands of men who would put Him to death. As the humble servant of His Father, Jesus was willing to undergo death, in contrast to those whose only thought was to rise to importance and power. He said to the apostles,“If anyone wishes to rank first, he must remain the last one of all and the servant of all.”
The disciples failed to comprehend Jesus’ words. To help them understand, Jesus resorted to using a favorite example. In a very poignant scene, He put His arm around a youth and said,
“Whoever welcomes a child such as this for my sake welcomes me.”
Children are a living example of the humility and simplicity we are called to practice.
At an early age, humility and simplicity lead most children to take for granted, in the best sense, that they are loveable. Usually, this age is before they go to school and encounter the world of competition. The sad truth is, in school some children begin to lose confidence in themselves. There may be exaggerated expectations to produce, to get good grades. Perhaps they hear, “Why can’t you be more like your brother (or sister) who gets all A’s.” This kind of competition can make one doubt oneself.
As Christians, we must be aware of what is happening in the world today. A mainstay of modern TV is the “Reality Show” where members considered not as good as other cast members are “voted off.” We are saturated with sports, which again is full of competition. Don’t get me wrong, sports is not a problem in itself. But when things become “cut throat,” we need to stop and recognize God’s system of values.
We live in a world where greed and power make a person important. We must remember that we are children of the perfect Father, Who indeed loves us for who we are. We must never doubt that His love for us is the source of our worth and our value. Our goal must be to build up the Body of Christ, but not by being divisive, trying to determine who is most important while here on earth. Rather we must follow the example of Jesus, and work together in humble service. For in heaven we are all ONE!
Father Storey
"Our Cross Will Be Grace Filled"
September 16, 2018
Many of us recall the events that took place on September 11, 2001. We recall how so many innocent lives were stripped away by the hideous acts of terrorists. We also recall the heroic men and women who jumped in to help save thousands of lives, without regard for the perils that were posed to themselves.
What motivates people to take a risk, to overcome fear, to embark on a dangerous venture? The motive of the terrorists was to make a point. In contrast, the reason many men and women freely offered help was they knew it was the right thing to do.
Jesus was not a fatalist, but He knew how His life would end. It was His Father’s will that Jesus should die on the cross; not so He could make a point, but so He could bring us the gift of eternal life. Jesus willingly climbed the mountain of Calvary to open His arms on the cross to embrace all of us in His divine love. His death was not a disaster; it was the accomplishment of His mission on this earth.
There was no risk for Jesus. Risk means a chance of injury or death. For Jesus, death was a certainty. When Peter, with the best of intentions, tried to dissuade Him from following the way of the cross, Jesus responded harshly. He told Peter that he was not thinking according to God’s standards. In God’s plan, the death of His own Son was necessary for our salvation. God had been offended by the sinful acts of man. The Son of God, made Man, had to atone for the sins of mankind.
We may feel that there is a risk in following Jesus, but this is not so. It is a certainty. If we are to follow Him faithfully, we must deny our very selves, take up our cross, and follow in His steps. Then our cross will be grace filled.
We understand that the cross for us may be the loss of a job, or grave illness, or the necessity of making significant sacrifices to care for a family member. The cross for parents may be seeing their children leave the Church and take on the worship of drugs or other things. The cross for children may be the grief of living with alcoholic parents, or the sorrow that divorce inflicts. The cross for all of us is the death of a loved one.
The cross in our life may not be dramatic. It probably will not warrant national attention. Most importantly, the cross will not bring on tragedy. It will not mean disaster. Instead, enduring our cross in accord with the will of God will lead to everlasting life. The cross means living in union with Jesus. It means sharing in His suffering and death, which will grant us the Father’s gift of eternal happiness in our heavenly home.
We should not fear the cross. When we follow Christ’s foot steps, our cross can be grace filled, a way to live life to the fullest.Father Storey
"Ephphatha! Be Opened"
September 9, 2018
“Be opened!” These words in today’s Gospel were spoken by Jesus Christ to a deaf man who had a speech impediment, and the man then could hear and speak clearly.
Jesus had been traveling with His disciples throughout His homeland Galilee teaching, healing illnesses and casting out demons. Then they left, passing through Sidon into a hostile region in the north, the Decapolis, known for its sinfulness and idolatry. Some people brought the deaf man to Jesus. Taking him aside, Jesus reached out to the man. Jesus opened the man’s ears and removed his speech impediment so that the man could both hear and speak.
The Evangelist Mark shows us how Christ fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that we heard in the First Reading:“Here is your God ... he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared, ... then the tongue of the mute will sing.”
Jesus Christ says to each of us, “Ephphatha – be opened.” He asks each of us to embrace Him! In Baptism, we are anointed with Holy Oils, accompanied by the words:“The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May He touch your ears to receive His word, and your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.”
We are all called to be His disciples. We live in a broken society – surrounded by plagues of indifference, sinfulness, and evil. As disciples are our eyes blind to illness? Are our ears shutting out truths that need to be ascertained? Are there afflictions that need to be addressed? What can we as individuals do to help bring about healing and enlightenment?
We, individually and collectively, should pray that these plagues be broken; that their deadly effects be mitigated. We can do acts of reparation. We can reach out to others and assist those who are suffering. We can offer a helping hand wherever we see a need.
We must be open to truly hearing the Word of God, and speaking clearly through our words and actions. May we always embrace Our Savior. Father, may our eyes, ears, mouths, and hearts be open that we may be true witnesses in order to proclaim faith to your praise and glory.
Father Storey
"St. Joseph, a Just Man"
September 2, 2018
The Church has long celebrated March 19 as the Feast Day of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus, and patron of the universal Church. In 1955 Pope Pius XII created a new feast: May 1 – the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. St. Joseph was a humble servant who did not seek to be served, but to serve. In Matthew (1:19), he is called a “just” man. When creating this feast day, Pope Pius XII described a just man as one who prays, lives by faith, and seeks to do good in every circumstance of life.
We rarely hear about St. Joseph in sacred scripture, and when we do he is always in the back ground. St. Joseph provided well for his family, and not just the things that are needed to physically survive, but more importantly he provided for their spiritual needs. His labor was truly a labor of love. It also exemplified his love for God, for he knew that his wife, Mary, bore the Son of God; and he, Joseph himself, gave the Child the name provided by an angel of God, Jesus.
St. Joseph sets an inspirational example for us. He was a family man. He was a just man. This year, as we are celebrating Labor Day, we are drawn once again to St. Joseph. Labor Day is a time off from work – it gives us more time for our own labor of love, more time for our families. Let us model our lives after that of St. Joseph – a just man.
Prayer for the Spirit of Work
Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who pass their life in labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my own inclinations; to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to use and develop by my labor the gifts I have received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever recoiling before weariness or difficulties.
Help me to work, above all, with purity of intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must render of time lost, talents wasted, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all after your example, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my watchword in life and death. Amen.Father Storey
"My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord"
August 12, 2018
August 15, the Solemn Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Holy Day of Obligation. We recognize and honor our Blessed Mother Mary as Queen of the Universe. In his Papal Bull Munificentissimus Deus, November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII, infallibly proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption:By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
The dogma was stated again by Pope Paul VI in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, November 21, 1964 (Documents of Vatican II):Finally, the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all guilt of original sin, on the completion of her earthly sojourn, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe (n. 59).
These documents closely align the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception with that of the Assumption. Mary, always free from Original Sin, was assumed, body and soul, by God to heaven as Queen. In the Responsorial Psalm for the Feast of the Assumption, we sing the prophetic words of the Psalmist David: “The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.”
Even in the Gospel proclaimed for the Assumption, we see a continuation of St. Luke’s Gospel used for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a narrative of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth in Judah.
When Mary arrives at the home of Zechariah, she excitedly greets Elizabeth. Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says to Mary the words that are now a central part of our beloved prayer, the Hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with these words:“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His Name.”
We ask the Blessed Mother to intercede on our behalf, that we may come to know and love her Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World; and that we may someday merit to be sharers of her glory in heaven.
Holy Day Masses will be celebrated Wednesday, August 15 at 6:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please note there will not be an evening Mass on the Vigil, August 14.
Father Storey
"Bread from Heaven"
August 5, 2018
In the readings for today, the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we continue our quest for the meaning of the Holy Eucharist, and through His teaching, Our Lord gives us some deep insights.The First and Second Readings beautifully set the stage for the Gospel. In Exodus, Chapter 16, we hear the Israelites grumbling about their current conditions and berating Moses and Aaron for bringing them to the brink of famine in the desert, seemingly making matters even worse than what they had experienced in captivity in Egypt. Then the Lord told Moses that He would provide nourishment for the Israelites, “so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.”
St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4, tells us that we should “put away the old self ... and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, putting on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” This advice prepares us for absorbing the truths that we are about to encounter in John’s Gospel.
We find Jesus and His disciples at the synagogue in Capernaum where the crowds have tracked Him. Jesus challenges their motives, telling them they have come, not because they have seen signs, but because they ate their fill of the miraculous loaves and fish. He urges them to seek food for their souls that will endure for eternal life. What is this food that Jesus is alluding to? Where can we get it? How can we get it? I can give no better explanation than the succinct words of Jesus Himself: The crowd pressed Him for a sign, citing the experience of their ancestors: “What sign can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven.”
We witness Our Lord satisfy not only the physical hunger of the crowds that gather around Him, but their spiritual hunger as well. Now He feeds us with His own Body and Blood.
If we look at God solely as a human, we reduce Him to humanity and never experience His true Divinity. Thus, we eat the Bread from Heaven – yes, Heaven here on earth, not the broken flesh and blood of our fractured humanity. In His Divinity, He offers each of us an abundance: “Come all you who are burdened and I will give you rest. Recline and eat.”
Father Storey
July 29, 2018
Today’s Gospel, John 6:1-15, was written some 60 years after the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Celebration of the Eucharist had been established as an expression of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. John constructed this 6th chapter in such a way that readers would see their Sunday observance reflected in his Gospel. Almost 20 centuries later, we see this same reflection in our Liturgy.
The chapter opens with a narrative of how Jesus fed five thousand people with just five barley loaves and two fish. John is showing us the Mass is not a private devotion or the privilege of only a select few. It is a celebration of ‘all’ who choose to participate throughout the world.
John mentions that the Jewish feast of Passover was near. That was not so much a designation of time as it was an indication of the meaning of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is our Christian Passover: the celebration of the sacrifice which has given us the gift of freedom from sin and established us as God’s people.
When it was time to feed the people, a boy came forward with five loaves and two fish and gave them to Jesus. It seemed like almost nothing considering the need of so many. In the same way at Mass, representatives of the people bring forward bread and wine to begin the preparation of the gifts. They are that boy of the Gospel, and the gifts presented to the priest seem insignificant in comparison with what they will become.
Jesus performed Eucharistic actions. He took the loaves of bread and gave thanks (the very word Eucharist means to give thanks). Matthew in his narrative of the same event provides an important detail. He states that after Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks, He broke the bread and gave the loaves to His disciples, who distributed the bread among the people. That looks exactly like what happens at Mass. The fish? They are not part of our Eucharistic meal, but a fish is an ancient, and still current, Christian symbol. The initial letters in Greek for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior” form an acronym which spells out the Greek word for fish: “ICHTHUS.”
God has truly blessed us with this great gift of His Body and Blood, the Most Holy Eucharist.
Father Storey
“I Am the Good Shepherd”
July 22, 2018
If you have ever had an opportunity to go to Rome, you may have visited the catacombs. The catacombs had small rooms where early Christians gathered to worship. One of the earliest representations of Jesus Christ found in the catacombs is that of the Good Shepherd. We can visualize through this image Christ our Shepherd. We are the sheep of His flock.“When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things”
(Mark 6:34)These concluding words of today’s Gospel give us a deep insight into the great compassion of Jesus Christ. Jesus had been trying to protect His disciples who had not even had time to eat, He urged them to go by themselves to a deserted place to rest and get refreshment. When the people learned of this, they gathered from all the surrounding towns and arrived there on foot before Jesus and His disciples.
John, in (10:27), gives us an example of a good shepherd. “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” What happens to sheep that do not have a shepherd?
Without a faithful and dedicated shepherd who is willing to lay down his life, the sheep will always go astray. A good shepherd is not afraid to know himself, to admit who he really is. A good shepherd thus lives in truth, even if the truth hurts.
Christ died fighting for truth. He came to call us and He died for us believing in the truth of this His mission. He teaches us there is no greater love than this. Jesus gave His disciples their mission to preach and teach all whether Gentile or Jew. Now He invites us to fulfill our mission, to serve others with compassion even those who are different from us. How will we respond to our call to serve? How can we faithfully follow our Good Shepherd and respond in love and compassion?
Jesus felt compassion for those who wanted so badly to find truth in God. He satisfies their spiritual hunger by His teaching. Next week we will witness His satisfying their physical hunger by the miracle of the fish and the barley loaves.Father Storey
Deacon's Reflections"Mission"
July 15, 2018
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (Jn 15:16). God chooses and calls each of us in a unique and special way to carry out His mission. Are we ready to accept the mission He has chosen for us?
As we often see in our First Readings during Ordinary Time, Old Testament prophets were chosen by God to prophesy to His people, the Israelites. Last week, we learned about the reluctant prophet Ezekiel; next week it will be Jeremiah. Today we hear Amaziah, priest of Bethel, forbid the prophet Amos to carry out his mission, saying “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! … never again prophesy in Bethel.” Amos protested to Amaziah that he was just “a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.”
In the Gospel, St. Mark relates how Jesus gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits and sent them two by two to heal wounds, cure the sick, preach the good news and call for repentance.
He sent them in pairs so they could be true witnesses to Christian values in how they respect, treat and support each other. They tolerated one another’s weaknesses; they sustained each other in good times and in bad. They understood and listened to each other; they were willing to forgive each other.
Jesus dispatched His disciples knowing they would face many challenges. He instructed them “take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money, and not a second tunic.” Jesus taught them to trust totally in Him and depend on Him and others.
God invites each of us to undertake our own personal mission, knowing it will not be without obstacles. He asks us to place our trust in Him. He gives us the where-with-all to overcome these challenges. God has given us many gifts and talents; He has given us faith and compassion. He has given us the sacraments, especially the sacraments of the Most Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation.
We should be mindful of the missions of Amos and the disciples. They overcame challenges and rejection. Wherever we may be at any point in our lives, we must strive to do God’s will. He asks us to glorify Him in our thoughts, our words, our actions.
We pray to God for the faith that we will always totally trust in Him. May He give us the strength to overcome any challenges we might encounter in our mission. May we live our life as a joyful witness to His mercy and love.Deacon Phillip Nguyen