We have an active and on-going Confirmation class. We are now signing students up for our School of Christian living, which will begin mid-September. It is every parent’s duty and obligation to see to the spiritual education of their children. Godparents are similarly obligated toward their godchildren. We are here to assist in delivering knowledge of the faith through our School of Christian Living (SOCL). Also remember, no one is too old to learn or make one’s confirmation. We welcome all students.
Prayer for Youth Sunday
Our Holy Church marks this last Sunday in August as Youth Sunday. Let us take time this Sunday and everyday to pray for our youth.
May our Lord bless and protect our young people, our children. May He always guide and protect them so that they will not fall into danger. May He protect their steps, their studies, their play, and their travels. May the Holy Spirit guide their minds and their hearts, so they grow in knowledge and wisdom. May Jesus stand as their light and way of life, with His gospel as their guide. May they always be cognizant of their baptismal commitment and their place in the community of faith – the Holy Church. May their parents and the adults in their lives be right and worthy examples of Christian life. We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.
Reflection for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Figure it out!
Is it math?
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”
Jesus has the answer.
When we are confronted by struggles, by conflicts, by different paths that might pull us away from God’s path, that is the mantra we should focus on – Jesus has the answer.
We have been hearing about the Bread of Life for several weeks. We veered off from Mark’s Gospel, which is the standard gospel for Sunday’s this year, and focused on John 6 – Jesus speaking of Himself as the Bread of Life – for five weeks. I thought to myself – is anyone sick of bread yet. Well, some of the disciples were. They found Jesus’ word hard, too much; they decided to veer off into other paths. Maybe they went to look for the doughnuts of life, or the Doritos of life, or whichever pursuit might better fulfill their lives. Maybe they thought they could figure it out on their own, rely on themselves, and maybe even – not be so accountable.
As the disciples slip away we find the moment where Judas began to doubt, where the seeds of betrayal were set.
Jesus’ teaching, and its emphasis on whole-hearted, personal commitment to Him, antagonized people, and fewer supported Him. Remember after feeding the 5,000 the people wanted to make Jesus an earthly king. Judas, a member of the Zealot party wanted that too. He wanted Israel to regain earthly power under an earthly king. He thought Jesus would be that charismatic and dynamic king, and would use His miracles to achieve those ends. Judas’ commitment was to the politics of life. He saw Jesus’ earthly attraction and power slipping away, and his heart never really figured out that Jesus has the answer.
Peter and the other disciples stand in stark contrast. They were the exception. They repeated to themselves, and here publically their whole-hearted personal commitment to Jesus.
They knew that there was no better place to go. Commitment to family, politics, Doritos, any other attraction would never outshine their commitment to Jesus. Every one of them proved it with lives dedicated to Jesus.
Jesus is life and has all we need – the answers, the bread, the water, and the light. His words of life are words that carry life with them. In the same way, His bread, light, and water carry life with them. He gives everything we need to truly live – and live forever. When we are confronted with figuring it out, finding our way, we find the answer in Jesus. Jesus is not just an answer; He is the answer.
Bible Study for the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
- 8/19 – Proverbs 1:2-6 – Lord, grant me the commitment to learn wisdom from You, from the guidance offered by Your word and Your Holy Church.
- 8/20 – Job 28:12,20 – Lord, grant that when questions arise I may find be found relying on Your word to guide me. You are the font of all wisdom and understanding.
- 8/21 – Job 28:28 – Lord, may I be found standing in awe of You and Your wisdom. May my actions, words, and thoughts never veer from reliance on Your way.
- 8/22 – Proverbs 9:10 – Lord, grant me the insight to see past the allure of sin, and the commitment to never let You down.
- 8/23 – Psalm 111:10 – Lord, may I revere You always, not standing in fear of punishment, but motivated to surrender to Your wisdom.
- 8/24 – James 3:13 – Lord, grant me humility and meekness. May I see You, and not myself or the world, as the source and summit of all wisdom.
- 8/25 – Luke 2:52 – Brother Jesus, You came to us in meekness and humility. You grew in every way, human like us, and dedicated Yourself to the will and wisdom of Your Father. Grant that I may find comfort and reassurance so as to follow Your way, growing in dedication to the will and wisdom of our Father.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me wisdom to follow in Your way.
Refection for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ouch!
Wasn’t it painfully obvious?
“Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity”
Wisdom lies in our ability to admit the obvious. To do what we know is right, and in so doing avoid the mistakes and pain that destroy us.
We know that we cannot fathom God’s wisdom. God is God, incomprehensible to the human mind, eternal. His wisdom goes from eternity past to eternity future. No one has ever instructed Him and never will.
God knows that too. He knows our frailty and our inability. That’s why He comes to us over and over throughout salvation history – right to this day. That’s why He is with us right now.
God comes to us for the purpose of making things plain and simple for us. Doing that He paves our way back to Him.
Proverbs tells us that God sets forth everything we need. It is a banquet of knowledge and wisdom. It is a banquet that is open to all. He sends out His messengers to call everyone to the banquet. There aren’t any requirements, just come and feast – and learn.
St. Paul makes it more obvious – no metaphor. Don’t be stupid; watch how you live, be wise, take advantage of opportunity. What are the opportunities – they are simple: live in the Spirit of God, know Him, love Him, live together as His body and be saved.
Jesus delivers some difficult words today, Eat my flesh, drink my blood, and live forever. The Jewish people, for the most part, couldn’t accept that – it was crazy talk to them. The Romans couldn’t understand anyone offering their flesh and blood to another because they would die in the process. Yet God makes it easy for us to be wise and accept His way. The light of faith gives us the wisdom to know Jesus is God. We know we can trust His truth and His word. In doing that, in following Him we gain true wisdom.
God’s wisdom is easily obtained and knowable. It is this, that He loves us, gave His all for us, has made us one, and wants us to live the way He showed us.
The way of God is pretty simple because it is the way of life. In following God’s wisdom, the right paths He has pointed to, we won’t be led off a cliff and into pain.
Following what Jesus has made painfully obvious, in His taking up the painful punishment we deserve for our failings, keeps us from eternal pain and loss. So let’s be wise, and follow Him.
Our August newsletter (just a bit late…)
Our August 2012 newsletter and calendar is now available – a bit late, but hey it’s still August. You may view and download a copy right from this website.
At our church – not better than any other church… here for you…
In 1904, at the First Synod of our Church, we declared: “Referring to other Christian communities, we state that we do not condemn any one of them. We sympathize with every Church whose object is to ennoble and sanctify man and bring the Gospel of Jesus and peace to humanity.†In a nutshell, that statement captures the aim and vision of a member of our Church, the desire for unity with and for God, God who lives and works among us in raising up humanity to its ultimate destiny. We won’t say we are better than any other Church because the key purpose of Church is to connect to Jesus in a community of faith.
Solemnity of the Dormition
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Dormition. According to Holy Tradition Mary spent her life after Pentecost supporting and serving the Church, and lived in the house of the Apostle John in Jerusalem. The Archangel Gabriel had revealed to her that her repose would occur in three days. The apostles, scattered throughout the world were miraculously transported to be at her side when she died. Mary was buried in Gethsemane, according to her request. After three day, the Apostles visiting her grave found her body was gone, leaving a sweet fragrance. An apparition is said to have confirmed that Christ had taken her body to heaven after three days to be reunited with her soul.
The key is that we honor and love Mary for her faith example. Like her, we are to live after our Pentecost, after our regeneration, supporting and serving the community of faith, the Holy Church. Following her example of humility, faith, and service, we live as children of the Father and the body of Christ, never making ourselves more than or greater than her Son.
Bible Study for the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me true victory.
Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I can’t do it anymore.
I have all you need to continue.
“This is enough, O LORD!”
Back at the castle, Jezebel heard how Elijah’s God had made hers look foolish. She also heard that her prophets were dead and that Israel had gone back to God. So she sent a little note to Elijah: “May the gods kill me if I don’t make you just as dead as my prophets!†She meant it. She had killed before. Elijah suddenly felt very alone. You can just imagine the people backing away from him. The wicked queen had sworn she would get him. Elijah needed a friend. He looked around, but it seemed like the only one standing with him was his personal servant. At such a frightening time in Elijah’s life, he needed reassurance, a reason to go on.
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed for death.
Many of us have watched the Olympics. We have seen competitors break 34 world records and 67 Olympic record including 28 broken by Americans and 3 by Poles.
Manteo Mitchell of the United States 4×400-meter relay team was running when he felt the pop in his leg. He said, “It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half”
The sprinter had half a lap to go in the first leg of the preliminaries and a choice to make: keep running or stop and lose the race. To him, it was never much of a choice.
He finished the lap and limped to the side to watch his team finish the race and qualify easily for the final. A few hours later, doctors confirmed what he suspected: He had run the last 200 meters with a broken leg.
We aren’t often confronted with the threat of being murdered, or having to finish a race with a broken leg, but Jesus knew that we would be confronted by all sorts of challenges, including the ones Jesus faced today, lack of faith, doubt, and murmuring. He knew that we all face the challenge of mortality.
Knowing all this, He gave us what we need to continue, to go on, and to have a hope that is more powerful than any challenge, even death.
Jesus is our strength. He is what we need to continue, the Bread that came down from heaven that gives eternal life. With Him and in Him there is nothing to fear, there is all we need to continue. With His strength we can not only finish the race, but finish winning!