From the Pastor's Desk: July 21,2019

From the Pastor’s Desk:                                                                                                                          July 21, 2019
 
     In my life as a single person, I often find it challenging when I have guests for dinner. On one hand- I want to make sure that the guests have drinks and snacks, and on the other hand- I need to make sure to finish up dinner.  Doing it all at the same time is not an easy task.  At the same time, I know full well that the most important place to be, is with my guests. This often raises a very important question: how can one serve and be hospitable at the same time? This can sometimes be a tricky balancing act. But every good host knows that the guests are far more important than anything else.
 
     The Gospel story of Martha and Mary, with no doubt, takes center stage today as they present this very challenge - how can one serve and be hospitable at the same time? Probably with many falling into the trap of saying that the service of one is somehow more important than the other. But the message for us today is not so much one of a service, but rather one of hospitality – the genuine welcome of the other and surrender to the other. In our reflection of the Gospel and life of faith as Christians, hospitality is an encounter, I would argue to say – the most critical aspect of discipleship in being attentive to the presence of Jesus in our lives.
 
     Hospitality in its deepest meaning makes possible for a personal encounter of the kind that Mary is having with Jesus – as the “better part” to which Jesus refers. Martha on the other hand shifts away from Jesus with focus on herself. Busy about herself, she misses the “better part” – centering on Jesus, even when serving.

In a way, today's Gospel is about the busyness of one person and the devotion of another – the very story of our lives. The busyness in our lives deeply reflects our attitude of hospitality and service in encountering the presence of Christ in our lives. As I look at Mass attendance and participation of family lives in our parish–many things have become more important than growing in closer relationship with Him through faith. In order for us to have fulfilled lives, we need to realize that the only way this is possible is to have Christ as the center of our lives, as faithful discipleship calls us to do. Faithful discipleship depends upon encountering the Lord and to do so daily, that is essential for Christian hospitality and first characteristic of the life of stewardship.
 
     The week of July 21-27, 2019, the Church celebrates the National Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week titled, “Love, Naturally!” Cooperating with God's Design for Married Love. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the general title for the scientific, natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies. NFP methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.  Since the methods of NFP respect the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) nature of the conjugal act, they support God's design for married love!
 
     This weekend over 50 youth and chaperones from our parish, together with Fr. Xaviour, are in Orlando at the Steubenville Youth Conference. This special time dedicated for our youth is a wonderful opportunity for them to rediscover their faith and to grow stronger in their desire to live a life of discipleship. Please keep them in your prayers so they would choose the “better part” in their lives – to have Christ at the center of their lives always.
 
     I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to join us for the new Bell Tower/Gift Shop Groundbreaking Ceremony on Saturday, August 3 ^rd, after the 5:00 pm Mass. Please adjust your schedules to be present at this momentous event in the life and history of our parish. 
 
Have a blessed week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy