Wheat or Weeds?

Dear Parishioners,

The Catholic English historian and politician said many years ago that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. As we look at the world around us, that often seems to be true. Except that’s not true about God who is absolutely powerful, just, and merciful. He’s also—thank goodness—absolutely patient and forgiving.

In the Gospel (Matthew 13:24-43), we see God planting good seed, and the devil planting bad seed. An impatient god would try and remove the weeds as soon as he noticed them. Quite possibly, some of the wheat would be among those weeds. But at harvest time, there would be no doubt and the weeds, and nothing but the weeds, could be removed, gathered up and burned. The Church is like that wheat field. Some members are good (wheat); others are weeds (bad). Unlike wheat and weeds, people can change. The good can go bad and the bad can turn good. What they will become will emerge at the end of their lives. Most of us are a mixture of wheat and weed. Let us turn to Jesus and ask for grace to weed out the bad from our lives and help us grow into strong, healthy sheaves of wheat.

- Father Carl

“If I were to ask you if you loved God,
you would tell me that you did; but that is not
enough. You must prove it.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Words

Dear Parishioners,

Words express the power of the Gospel (Matthew 13:1-23). Ours is a portable, moving, traveling faith propelled by words. Gospel words like “hope,” “grace,” “forgiveness,” “joy,” and “mercy” lighten our burdens and have in them the power to bless others. But we have to take them with us and use them. These words must be sown, shared, given away knowing that God will bring a harvest in God’s time. What if we carefully selected just a few words and infused them with God’s love? And what if we shared those words with others? Do that this week. Sow those words and watch what God does.

- Deacon Robert

“NOTHING is more unworthy of a
Christian, whose life should be an imitation of
a God who is the soul of Honor and Truth
itself, than to think one thing and say another.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Freedom of Religion

Dear Parishioners,

We just finished celebrating the birthday of our Declaration of Independence which became a reality at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. This annual celebration reminds us that our independence and the freedoms gained were achieved only after the sacrifices made by many brave men and women. However, that freedom is not absolute. It’s freedom to live nobly and do good. As the bible tells us, “Live as free men but do not use your freedom as a cloak for vice.” (1 Peter 2:16) and “My brothers, remember that you have been called to live in freedom—but not a freedom that gives free rein to the flesh.” (Gal 5:13).

One of our most cherished freedoms is the freedom of religion. In more than a few places around the world, Christians don’t enjoy that freedom. Christians are persecuted and slaughtered in some places. They are even forbidden to openly practice their faith. It’s not that bad here in the U.S. However, freedom of religion is being more narrowly defined than it ever has been in the past. Governmental laws, policies and judicial decisions are stifling the religious freedom of individuals and religious institutions involved in charitable and educational endeavors.

In recognition of these infringements on the freedom of religion, churches throughout the country participated in the Fortnight for Freedom. It was a time of prayer for religious freedom and raising awareness to the challenges eroding this freedom. Let us pray that our country which boasts of tolerance may be tolerant of sincere religious beliefs outside of church buildings as well as inside.

- Fr. Carl

“If something uncharitable is said in your
presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or
withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation.”
~ Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Dear Parishioners,

Saints Peter and Paul are both interred in [St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome] and forever linked to each other: Peter who holds the keys to the Kingdom, and Paul, the missionary apostle who wrote half the New Testament. But they are an odd couple. At times, they saw the faith differently and advocated for differing approaches to fulfilling our Lord’s commands. Peter, who would forever feel the weight of those Kingdom keys in his hand, felt a pastoral, protective calling to lead the Church to be Christ’s presence in the world. Paul, on the other hand, was more adventuresome, continually following the vision he saw on the road to Damascus, calling him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. (Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

Peter and Paul found their strength in God’s love in Christ. Paul said it best to the Corinthians, “Now faith, hope and love abide. But the greatest of these is love.” Today we honor the odd couple of the early Church who led and served, preached and died fully aware that God’s love was the ultimate power in the world. May we go and do likewise.

- Deacon Robert

One Bread, One Cup, One Lord of All

Dear Parishioners,

Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Bread of Life, tells and shows us through one bread and one cup, that we are included in the one body that is the Church (Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58). There are no strangers here, no outcasts, no one excluded, because the One who calls us to share in this meal sees us all as God’s children, God’s family. Imagine what could happen among us and through us as God’s people when we begin to live fully this great truth… one bread, one cup, one body. We might just change our corner of the world and live in the fullness of life that is eternal. Why not?

- Deacon Robert

“Human life must be respected and
protected absolutely from the moment of
conception. From the first moment of his
existence, a human being must be recognized
as having the rights of a person - among
which is the inviolable right of every innocent
being to life.”
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 2270

Motherhood

[Due to Fr. Carl’s trip, there was not a “Word's From Our Pastor” in the 6/13/2014 bulletin.]

“That special power of loving that belongs to a woman is seen most clearly when she becomes a mother. Motherhood is the gift of God to women. How grateful we must be to God for this wonderful gift that brings such joy to the whole world, women and men alike! Yet we can destroy this gift of motherhood, especially by the evil of abortion, but also by thinking that other things like jobs or positions are more important than loving, than giving oneself to others. No job, no plans, no possessions, no idea of ‘freedom’ can take the place of love. So anything that destroys God’s gift of motherhood destroys His most precious gift to women – the ability to love as a woman.”

~ Blessed Mother Theresa
  Letter to the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995

Pentecost - Our Birthday

Dear Parishioners,

Is there anyone among us who doesn't enjoy a well-planned, festive birthday party? And similarly, is there anything worse than a poorly planned birthday party? Unfortunately, some birthday parties do not go as we would like.

But not today! Today is the birthday of the Church. We call it “Pentecost,” a Jewish festival 50 days following Passover that we Christians have made into this birthday party for the Body of Christ (Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23).

If God has blessed your family with children, you know how each child has his or her unique strengths, personality, interests, and giftedness. Not every child will express athleticism, or the talent for music. One child will excel in math and another in literature. So it is in our Christian family. We are all gifted by God with gifts that allow us to bless and strengthen God’s family. We are at our best as God’s family when we share the gifts God has given to each of us.

Here at Pentecost, this birthday of the Church, we remember that we are God’s people at our very best when we manifest the person of Jesus Christ by our very lives. Living in this community of faith aware of Christ’s presence among us is the Pentecost gift for us all.

- Deacon Robert