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From the Pastor's Desk: October 2, 2022
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From the Pastor’s Desk: October 2, 2022
After weeks of teachings to warn His disciples about being a stumbling block for others on the journey of discipleship, this Sunday’s Gospel seems to bring much needed correction. Knowing that following Jesus takes planning, intention, and lots of hard work, as well as major commitment and dedication that calls to give away everything that creates an obstacle to following Jesus, to choose to make Him the center of our lives, and to extend generously the gift of love for others, the disciples ask for an increase in their faith. Jesus responds with a qualitative image of faith: “Faith is like a tiny mustard seed.” When the disciples live by faith, even mustard seed faith, they can continue to do extraordinary things like persisting in the forgiveness about what Jesus had just spoken in the Gospel. While it is easy to discuss the notion of faith in the abstract, having faith becomes much more challenging when one is in the midst of a difficult situation. This is perhaps why Jesus does not end His discussion of faith with the story of the mustard seed and mulberry tree. The story of the servant reminds us that no matter how much good we may do, we are all unprofitable or seemingly useless servants if we do not rely on God. Faith is no longer an abstract concept but a lived reality.
October celebrates the launch of Respect Life Month with the theme “Building a Culture of Life in a Post-Roe World”. The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health this past June returned the responsibility of limiting abortion from the judiciary to the legislature. For those of us who have prayed for this moment to arrive, says Archbishop Lori, “It is the time for a renewal and rededication of our efforts to build a culture of life and civilization of love.” He explains that “justice requires that the basic protections of the law against violence be extended to the preborn child,” while explaining that building “a world in which all are welcome requires not only justice, but compassion, healing, and above all, unconditional love.”
Moving from law to culture, Archbishop Lori asks Catholics to “shift the paradigm to what Saint Pope John Paul II described as ‘radical solidarity,’ making the good of others our own good, including especially mothers, babies (born and unborn), and families throughout the entire human lifespan.” He reminds the faithful that “Our Church understands that parents, children, and families need help not just during pregnancy, but throughout the whole of life’s journey because millions of Catholics already accompany their neighbors in such circumstances.” (USCCB)
October is also the Month of the Rosary. Friday, October 7th is the Memorial of our Lady of the Rosary. We entrust our hopes to Mary’s motherly intercession. With the repetition of the prayers of the rosary, we turn to Mary with the insistent, trusting prayer of a child to his or her mother. May the rosary become an effective weapon of victory of life over death in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The week of October 3-7, 2022 is the Diocesan Annual Priestly Retreat. Father Jaison and I we will be at Marywood with the many other priests of the diocese united in prayer. There will be no Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please pray for all priests of our diocese that together we can continue to grow in our priestly service and stewardship of our parish and the entire Church.
Throughout the month of October you will find in the pews and gathering areas special envelopes for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. I invite you to use these and other envelopes and place them in the collection basket or bring them to the Parish office with names of your beloved dead. For the entire week during the daily Masses beginning with November 2 – The Feast of All Souls – we will remember in our prayers the promise of Jesus to bring our beloved faithful departed to the fullness of life with Him.
“Weak men in high positions surround themselves with little men, in order that they may seem great by comparison.” -The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen
I wish you a blessed week! May Our Lady of the Rosary intercede and pray for us!
With prayers, Fr. Andy
