October 7, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
My brother and I, along with many other people, were following the last few days of the baseball season. For us it was heart attack city. The team we were rooting for did make the playoffs and that was a relief. During the last couple of weeks though we were questioning the players commitment to winning, the judgement of the manager’s decisions, how the team was put together, the umpires, and many other aspects of the game. In the grand picture of things, following a baseball team and getting overly excited in their winning or losing does not rate very high on the importance of values.
What does it mean to commit oneself to Christ and His Church? Now, here is an important question and one we should spend a good deal of time with in reflection and prayer. Our commitment to the Lord and His Church established by Jesus Christ is the source of our salvation and the gateway to eternal life. Following the commandments is a first step and a good one for all. Jesus often sees other attachments in our lives which may draw us away from making a full commitment. In order to discover what these may be, we need to seek the wisdom that the Lord offers us in our private prayer and through the Church, Wisdom 7:7-11, our first reading for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We must look at this coming Sunday’s Gospel passage, Mark 10:17-30, through the same eyes of Jesus. We see the love the Lord has for us and the striving we are already doing to seek His will in our lives. Then we can see the further steps that may be taken. Remember we are on a life-long journey, and the Lord’s love for us never ends even as He prunes away from us those attractions that distract us from our final destination, oneness with our God and Savior.
Next week, parishioners, will be receiving a request to reflect upon their offerings in support of the parish and its ministries to evangelize and serve our brothers and sisters through charity. Please give this some thought and prayer as you make your sacrifice to the parish.
God’s Peace,
Fr. Mike
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
My brother and I, along with many other people, were following the last few days of the baseball season. For us it was heart attack city. The team we were rooting for did make the playoffs and that was a relief. During the last couple of weeks though we were questioning the players commitment to winning, the judgement of the manager’s decisions, how the team was put together, the umpires, and many other aspects of the game. In the grand picture of things, following a baseball team and getting overly excited in their winning or losing does not rate very high on the importance of values.
What does it mean to commit oneself to Christ and His Church? Now, here is an important question and one we should spend a good deal of time with in reflection and prayer. Our commitment to the Lord and His Church established by Jesus Christ is the source of our salvation and the gateway to eternal life. Following the commandments is a first step and a good one for all. Jesus often sees other attachments in our lives which may draw us away from making a full commitment. In order to discover what these may be, we need to seek the wisdom that the Lord offers us in our private prayer and through the Church, Wisdom 7:7-11, our first reading for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We must look at this coming Sunday’s Gospel passage, Mark 10:17-30, through the same eyes of Jesus. We see the love the Lord has for us and the striving we are already doing to seek His will in our lives. Then we can see the further steps that may be taken. Remember we are on a life-long journey, and the Lord’s love for us never ends even as He prunes away from us those attractions that distract us from our final destination, oneness with our God and Savior.
Next week, parishioners, will be receiving a request to reflect upon their offerings in support of the parish and its ministries to evangelize and serve our brothers and sisters through charity. Please give this some thought and prayer as you make your sacrifice to the parish.
God’s Peace,
Fr. Mike