Mrs. Edwards – I know you can hear me…

Keep sending those invites, offer a ride, repeat. Mrs. Edwards will eventually say yes to Church.

National Back to Church Sunday is Sunday, September 15th. We invite you to come find out more right here in Schenectady. Not been in a while – here’s an opportunity to come back. Never been – you’re invited. Looking to help – here’s a chance to join in doing good for each other and our community.

Bible Study for the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
  • 9/1 – Numbers 12:3 – Father, Your Lawgiver Moses has been accorded greatness because of his humility. Help me to aspire to greatness by living humbly in service to You.
  • 9/2 – Matthew 5:5 – Lord, grant that I may not aspire to the rewards of the world, but to the meekness that leads to eternal life.
  • 9/3 – Galatians 5:22-23 – Holy Spirit, You have endowed me with Your gifts. Help me to live them fully in humility.
  • 9/4 – 1 John 1:8-9 – Lord, thank You for the gift of forgiveness. Help me to humbly seek reconciliation with all I have hurt.
  • 9/5 – Philippians 2:8 – Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself and took on our humanity. Grant me the gift of great humility so that I may follow Your example. Help me to live thankfully for Your sacrifice which has freed me.
  • 9/6 – James 1:17 – Father, You send us every good gift. Grant me the gift of humility.
  • 9/7 – James 4:6 – Lord, help me to set aside pride and to live for Your grace.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, keep Your example of humility ever before me. Help me by Your grace to be humble and meek.

Reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humility

O Lord, it’s so hard
to be humble.

My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.

The Book or Sirach has been used throughout the history of the Church to present moral teaching to catechumens (those preparing for baptism) and to the faithful.

The Book’s author was a sage, and was filled with love for wisdom, the law, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer he spoke to his contemporaries, and speaks to us, about maintaining faith and integrity.

Sirach organized his book by subject matter including: the individual, family, and community in their relations with one another and with God. It discusses friendship, education, poverty and wealth, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that are important to us even today.

Jesus was calling the people he was dining with to recall the wisdom Sirach offered centuries earlier. They had forgotten. He reminds them of the humility they were to exercise.

God calls us to live humbly, to be poor in spirit and meek as so well recorded in the Sermon on the Mount. All of Jesus’ teachings were focused on calling us to recognize where true treasure and greatness lay.

Jesus calls us into a relationship with God who is perfect while we are to acknowledge our imperfection and sin. We must be humble enough to see our shortcomings and rely on God for the forgiveness and redemption we need.

Jesus calls us to live with each other and our wider community as servants, and not just servants, but servants open enough to welcome all as our brothers and sisters.

Jesus calls us to live simply and without reliance on the things or the honors the world offers. We must remember what God offers us is far greater. He is our treasure and greatness. St. Paul reminds us that living in relationship with God, being members of His community, the Holy Church, gives us entry into real greatness – the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the company of angels, the assembly of our brothers and sisters in glory, and God Himself. We come to Him through Jesus, our mediator who covers us in the blood – the blood He shed in humility to the Father’s will.

It is hard to be humble, meek, poor in spirit, and simple. Let us set forth with the humility to recognize that and to know by God’s grace we will work diligently to gain humility.

Why Church – What You Didn’t Know…

When you hear “Church” what do you think? Watch this video that’s changing the way people think about Church.

National Back to Church Sunday is Sunday, September 15th. We invite you to come find out more right here in Schenectady. Not been in a while – here’s an opportunity to come back. Never been – you’re invited. Looking to help – here’s a chance to join in doing good for each other and our community.

Call to Crafters – Registration Ongoing

Thank you to all the wonderful crafters who have responded and signed-up so far for our Holiday/Seasonal Craft Fair to be held on Saturday, October 12th from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Rotterdam Senior Citizens Club, 2639 Hamburg St, Rotterdam NY 12303.

If you are a crafter, and have not reserved your space, there is still time to register. You can find more information here, sign up on-line, or download a copy of our crafters registration form, complete it, and mail it in with payment.

Availability of spaces is first come/first serve. Call Gayle for a registration form and details at 518-588-0908 after 5:30pm on weekdays and any time on weekends.

Bible Study for the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
  • 8/25 – 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – Lord Jesus, thank You for making me Your child. Help me to live in accord with Your will and way.
  • 8/26 – Romans 8:16-17 – Father, thank You for adopting me as Your child and making me an heir to Your kingdom. Help me to suffer the scorn of the world confident in Your love for me.
  • 8/27 – Galatians 3:26-27 – Lord, thank You for the graces I received in the regenerating waters of baptism. Through Your grace help me to live my baptismal commitment each day.
  • 8/29 – Galatians 4:6-7 – Father, I am Your child, I love You.
  • 8/30 – John 1:12 – Father, thank You for granting me the grace to confess my sins and to accept Your Son as my Lord and Savior.
  • 8/31 – Romans 8:14 – Lord, grant me the grace to follow You more closely each day. Lead me always.
  • 9/1 – Romans 8:15 – Lord, grant that when confronted by evil and pain I may rely on my standing with You as an adopted child. Loving Father, strengthen and protect me.

Pray the week: Lord, thank You for making me Your child. Grant that all children may come to know You through my work and example.

Reflection for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time and Youth Sunday

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Lord, what about
me?

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

People were asking Jesus a lot of questions as He made His way to Jerusalem. They questioned their future. They wanted assurance about their future as a nation and as individuals. It is a question we have all asked – ‘what about me?’

We all want to be sure. The youth in our midst, in our families and in our community are asking that very question.
Jesus wasn’t giving easy assurances. He is God and God cannot help but be honest. He told them: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

Jesus was telling them and is telling us that our future is dependent on our aligning ourselves with God’s will and God’s way. He is saying that it takes work, commitment, dedication, faithfulness, and often treading the rocky narrow path.

Our young people will be returning to school in the weeks ahead, and some are already off to college. As they return they will be facing those tough roads. They either have, or will come to realize that school takes work, commitment, dedication, and faithfulness.

The question before us this Youth Sunday is whether we are equipping our youth with the commitment, dedication, and faithfulness needed to reach eternal life. Are we bringing them to Jesus, training them in God’s will and God’s way, and making them strong enough to enter through the narrow gate?

Young people have a deep-seated desire to know God. They wonder what He is all about. They hear His call faintly, and they thirst for Him. They want the water that will quench their thirst, water the world cannot offer. They instinctively know that there is a way that leads to inner peace and a contentment that lasts forever. They wish to align themselves with the One who offers that way – but who is it? Where is it? Where can they find the assurance that will secure their future?

We cannot spend Youth Sunday simply praising our youth. We have to resolve to do our very best to help them enter through the narrow gate, and be strong enough. They are asking the question – maybe unspoken, maybe without even consciously knowing it – but yearning. Their hearts and souls seek Jesus. They ask – ‘what about me?’ We must take action and show them the way, not just by pointing, but by taking them by the hand as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. Showing them – This is the way to go.

Bible Study for the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 8/18 – 1 Kings 19:11-13 – Lord, grant me ears to hear You, and the ability to realize Your presence in the subtleties of everyday life.
  • 8/19 – Hebrews 12:28-29 – Lord, consume me and fill me with Your Spirit. I long for Your kingdom that cannot be shaken.
  • 8/20 – Exodus 3:2 – Lord, the fire of Your love is ever before me. Grant that I may accept Your all consuming love which does not destroy but leads to life.
  • 8/21 – Zechariah 2:4-5 – Lord, grant that I may rely on You as my protection. Grant me confidence so that I may live fully within Your Holy Church.
  • 8/22 – Malachi 3:1-3 – Lord, refine and purify me so that I may be made righteous in Your sight.
  • 8/23 – Luke 9:54-56 – Lord, grant that I may not use the fire of Your word as a weapon, but rather as light that offers hope and redeems the world.
  • 8/24 – Jeremiah 23:29 – Lord, grant that I may be changed by the fire of Your word. Break away my sinfulness.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, set me on fire for You. Fill my heart with love and passion for, as well as dedication to, Your will.