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July 26, 2009 - 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
When the Jewish nation in the Old Testament insisted that they have a
king reign over them instead of a judge, God allowed them their hearts
desire. And so came along many corrupt and evil kings who brought down
sorrow and condemnation upon them. When we ignore the law of God in
our own country, and elect corrupt and evil leaders in Washington, we
can expect the same result. We have not even begun to see the bad
fruit of our evil choices as a nation. Unfortunately, the
"good" will suffer and well as the bad. Jeremiah reminded us
in the first reading last Sunday. "Woe to the shepherds who
mislead and scatter the flock." This applies not only to the
Church, but also to government and civil leaders as well. God will
allow the consequences of our immoral and evil choice to overcome us.
Maybe then as a nation, we might finally repent before it is too late.
Pray for the corruption and evil to come to an end in our changing
government. We might just wake up one day and ask ourselves, just
where and when did this all change? Pray, pray, pray for the
conversion of our nation to return to God and His Divine Law!
May we gladly give our
gifts over to the Lord, knowing that just as He did with the loaves
and fishes. He can multiply our humble offerings for the benefit of
many.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
July 19, 2009 - 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
So eager were the crowds to see Jesus, that He could barely find a
quiet place to be alone. As soon as word got out that He was coming to
that region, people would begin to swell in in large numbers. In
today's Gospel, Mark tells us that Jesus pulled aside the Twelve
Apostles, in order that He might pray with them. But because of the
vast crowd, it was difficult to find peace and quiet. For almost four
years now, we have been blessed to have a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
open to everyone. Unfortunately, we have lost many adorers. Many hours
go uncovered. Like the Apostles, we have to make time for peace and
quiet. If you have signed up for Adoration, and have been lax in
coming, make up your mind to begin again. For those of you who have
never even made a visit to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,
please pray about beginning as well. It sad to know that we could be
filling the hours for Adoration, if a few more people would sacrifice
the time to be with Our Lord. This is holy prayer that will last into
eternity. Please pray about making a Holy Hour with Jesus each and
every week!
May we find comfort in the
love of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Trusting that He gives
us all that we need.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
July 12, 2009 - 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
When we look at the thirty three years Jesus lived upon the Earth,
only three do we receive any detail of in the Holy Scriptures. Of the
four Gospels, we find Our Lord teaching, preaching and healing. Pope
John Paul ll declared before He died, that we were living in a New Era
of Evangelization. The Pontiff stated that the Good News of the
teaching, preaching and healing of Jesus needed to be shared with all
mankind in a new way. In today's Gospel, we find Jesus giving a new
commission to His Disciples, to go out to all the world, and share the
Good News. "Take a walking stick - but no food, no sack, no money
in their belts." The Disciples were to rely completely upon God's
Holy Providence. So they went out preaching, healing, and casting many
kinds of demons. The sick upon whom they laid hands, were cured. When
are hearts and minds are one again with God, so follows the body. The
Holy Balance we seek comes only from the Lord. And it begins with
correct teaching. Proper instructions in the faith yields to proper
living in the faith. Pray for the Lord to raise up new and powerful
teachers of the Holy Catholic Faith.
May we learn from the Holy
Apostles, in giving up our strong attachment to material goods.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
July 5, 2009 - 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time
My Dear People,
These are the lazy, hazy, days of summer. Picnics, family vacations,
and rest highlight our time. But it is not an excuse to become
"lazy and hazy" in our prayer. The devil looks for any
excuse to convince us that daily prayer, Sunday Mass, and the Rosary,
can take a vacation with us. Don't listen. We live in current times,
when daily prayer and discernment are essential. In today's Gospel, we
see the contemporaries of Jesus trying to figure out just "who He
really IS". Is He and ordinary man, a great prophet, an important
political figure??? Oddly enough, even some Christians today are still
asking the same question. Confusion and doubt are the work of the
devil. We can never take a vacation from protecting ourselves from the
devil's lying ways. So pray, pray and pray! Do not let your guard
down. Walk and talk with Jesus all summer long...
In the spirit of service
and sacrifice, may we generously use our time, talent and treasure to
do the work which God has placed us here on earth to do.
Entrusting
you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark
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