From the Pastor's Desk: June 21, 2020

This Sunday brings us back to long weeks of Ordinary Time. During this time we will reflect upon the Gospel of Matthew to learn more about Jesus’ ministry, His teachings, His miracles, etc.  During Ordinary Time we “get to know” Jesus better through all of these different aspects of His life and work. Therefore, in the months to come we will walk with the disciples alongside Jesus and learn the rhythm of day-to-day life – a pattern of learning and teaching, love and service. We will continue to grow and to share our faith day by day in the light of Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Today, Jesus tells the apostles in the Gospel and He tells each one of us today- “Fear no one!” The message is as timely now as ever before. In honesty, we are surrounded by fear- the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the entire world with fear; the social issues in our nation causing riots and political unrest bring unprecedented fear; in our families, fear is caused by lost jobs and uncertainty of tomorrow; fear is a part of how to care for our children; young children fear bullies and doing poorly at school; teenagers fear all types of things- peer pressure, failure, pimples, the impulses within us for the opposite sex, whether we will be able to find a good job or get into college…we hope that one day fear will come to an end. As adults, however, we discover that the fears don’t stop - they just change, and even increase.
 
Against all of these fears Jesus tells us again today: “Fear no one!” And Jesus does not do so naively. Having taken the flesh of the Virgin Mary and becoming fully man, He knows everything human beings experience except sin. He knows what fear is. He knows what pain is and experienced it Himself. He knows what death is as He entered into it fully. He knows it all. And He tells us not once, not twice, but 16 times in the Gospels, “Do not be afraid!” So, today, He calls us to look at our fears and those circumstances, people and situations that cause us our fears. Today, the Lord invites us to look at Him with humility and honesty, so that we will allow Him to take away our fears in order to begin to live fully as His disciples a life of love, integrity, respect, faith, trust and understanding. His assurance is worth risk taking, “So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 
 
This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day. On this day let us remember and offer our dads- living or deceased, and those who served us as father models- our Heavenly Father’s blessings on them. Today we pray that all fathers may be strengthened by the grace of God in their example of faith, love and care. May they have courage to protect, respect and support families in their care.
 
This Monday we begin the celebration of Religious Freedom Week- June 22-29, 2020. The initiative of USCCB, Religious Freedom Week invites us- the faithful- to pray, reflect, and to act for the freedom to serve faithfully and with integrity. “All people desire to know their Creator. All people have a natural impulse to seek the good and to live in accordance with that good. All people can flourish when they pursue the truth about God and respond to the truth. Religious freedom means that all people have the space to flourish. Religious freedom is both an American value and an important part of Catholic teaching on human dignity. When we promote religious freedom, we promote the common good and thus strengthen the life of our nation and the community of nations” (USCCB)
 
Please join me in congratulating Fr. Mason Wiggins on his ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Mason is one of six priests who were ordained for our diocese on June 20, 2020. Fr. Mason will celebrate his First Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 21st at the 8:15 am Mass at our parish. Please pray for Fr. Mason, the newly ordained priests, and their families for their support, encouragement and love.