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From the Pastor's Desk: July 17, 2022
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From the Pastor’s Desk: July 17, 2022
We live in an age and a culture in which we think that there are so many things that we “have to” do. One of the recent polls of American women revealed that their greatest desire is for more time; there is not enough time in a day, they say, to accomplish all of the things they have to do, from work, to taxiing their kids from one event to another, to various chores around the home, to the countless other time-consuming activities that occupy their ever-diminishing waking hours. Scores of American men have long complained that, because of all of the various things that they have to do, they have less and less time to do the things that are really important. Even many teenagers today have the latest electronic devices and different forms of social media to keep their calendar straight, because they have so many different commitments from day to day. To all of us in this frantic era, who feel overwhelmed by seemingly having to do so many things well at once, today Jesus presents us a summary of the Good News. He who came to set the captives free (Lk 4:18) tells us in one sentence the secret to our liberation: “You are worried and distracted by many things. Only one thing is necessary.”
So the crucial question is: What is that one thing? Before we turn to what Jesus says in the Gospel, each of us should ask, “How would I answer that question?” Our answer to the question will reveal a great deal about who we are and in what we place our treasure.
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus, rather than doing so, says to Martha, “Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” In the Gospel today, Mary understood this and sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him as if nothing in the rest of the world really mattered, because, in fact, Jesus implies, nothing in the rest of the world really does matter. Jesus once said in a parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt 13:45-46) Jesus was for Mary that pearl of great price more valuable than everything else put together.
This week our diocese celebrates one of the most meaningful moments in her history – the ordination and installation of the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of St Augustine with Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami presiding at the ordination liturgy. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock and Bishop Estévez will be co-consecrators. On Thursday, July 22, 2022 at the Church of St. Joseph in Jacksonville, our prayers, support, and our attention will bring together the diocese to join in this celebration. In his new appointment, Father Pohlmeier succeeds Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, who has served the St. Augustine Diocese for the past 11 years and is retiring at the age of 76.
For the past 24 years, Bishop-elect Pohlmeier has served as a pastor in the Diocese of Little Rock, which encompasses the entire state of Arkansas. Raised in Paris, Ark., Father Pohlmeier was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Little Rock on July 25, 1998. He currently serves as pastor of the largest parish in Little Rock, Christ the King, and director of the Faith Formation and Deacon Formation offices. He has been the theological consultant for the Arkansas Catholic newspaper for 19 years and director of continuing education of clergy since 2019.
The Bishop-elect Pohlmeier, one of five children was born on July 20, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Deacon Tom and Sharon Pohlmeier of Paris, Ark. Please join me in prayer for our new Shepherd of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
“We must leave the world to help the world. That life is most effectively lived which every now and then withdraws from the scene of action to contemplation, where one learns the terrible defeat and futility which comes from the excessive absorption in detail and action.” (The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen)
Please keep the new Bishop-elect in your prayers and have a blessed week!
With prayers, Fr. Andy
