Listen to the homily here.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Lazarus and the Rich Man: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
The rich man and Lazarus, a poor man, and worse
I think I preach about this parable from Jesus each time it appears in our three year cycle, because I am really preaching about myself
1. "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linenand dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.”
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.”
· Rich clothes, rich food each day
· Lazarus, not just poor, but covered with sores who wanted not rich food, but food, and not only “normal food” but “the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table”
§ “Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.”
· Let’s pause on that itself
2. They both died and there was a flip flop, which was amazing for Lazarus with Abraham, and the rich man tormented and in saw, in some odd way, to see Abraham and Lazarus
3. Then the rich man called for help, but sadly, after he made decisions in life, those are finished when we die
· He did not help Lazarus…he did not support the poor during this parable
· And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.”
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.”
4. And, Jesus taught about the chasm from heaven and hell
· Today, many people do not believe in hell, or Satan, and that is one of the best ways that evil spirits are not existed in many minds
5. The chilling end of this parable about how the rich man was now begging for his own brothers and the response from Abraham was:
· “But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
So two thoughts for you and me today
· How do we serve the Lazarus’s in our lives?
· If we are “rich,” how do we use our treasure for our neighbors, parish, school and beyond because our treasure is better in the bank of heaven rather than our riches that will stay on earth after we pass away
Parish Bulletin Article: "Public Proclamation": 9-29-19
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:16-17).
Disciples of Jesus Christ, our Savior, taught us with several images, like a lamp, either covered by a vessel or put it under a bed, or on a stand.
As I write this article, I ask you to discern where you place the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ. And, I add one question: will you share your story with Jesus Christ publicly, or keep it privately?
Throughout the centuries around our world, Christians and Catholics also discerned this same question and this same teaching from Jesus. Some decided to be quiet, while others proclaimed the truth of God.
One of the best examples of showing the light of God’s son, can be heard from St. Paul, who was one of the best evangelists in the world. Reread this passage:
· “So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring’” (Acts 17:22-28).
Notice that St. Paul entered into the public scene with many people that believed in many gods. Rather than condemn them, he joined their world and found a connection between him and the general crowd. This allowed people, not to yell back to him, but a chance to speak his belief.
How, then, can you preach about Jesus, about God? Connect, connect, connect with your brothers and sisters, even if they believe something different in their beliefs! Through our history, the best evangelists soaked into a different culture, like St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta in India, Monsignor Joseph Buh with American Indians in northern Minnesota, or my friends that I know in Ghana, Africa where many have natural religion. These individuals (and many more) pray, serve, and show about our belief and the truth of God.
Go get ‘em family, not to hide our fidelity privately, but active publicly!
God Bless!Ups and Downs in Salvation History: Monday, September 23rd, 2019 (Padre Pio)
Listen to the homily here.
Parish Bulletin Article: "New Needs and Wants": 9-22-19
We always need our family and team to grow, primarily through stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. As we begin a new season, here are some wants/needs at St. Thomas Aquinas parish, school and St. Columban parish.
· St. Thomas Aquinas:
o We need more sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers, servers, musicians, usherswith your time and talent
o We need more people with our different committees/counsels: Financial, Worship, Tabernacle, Cemetery, Grounds, and Buildings, Funeral Lunches
o Finally, please continue to invite and welcome more of our brothers and sisters to come back to Mass!
· St. Thomas Aquinas School:
o Playground supervisionMonday-Friday 12:00-12:30pm (please check in with our Mr. Jerry Hilfer)
o Box Topsfor Education Coordinator and keep bringing in your box tops (please check in with Mrs. Heather McBride)
o Saturday/Sunday Scrip Sales in both parishes after Masses
o Level Classroom Reading Materialsusing RIT Scale (please check in with Mr. Jerry Hilfer)
o Direct/Manage/Lead Fund Raiserslike:
§ Rake-a-Thon: Friday, October 4th from 12:30-3:00pm
§ Phone-a-Thonwith our Alumni Campaign (ETA)
§ For Alumni: it would be awesome to speak with 2-4 other alumni people to offer a monthly donation. We will grow with our communication around our country. To do so, we would combine their addresses, emails, and phone numbers to streamline our relationship with those who went to St. Thomas Aquinas School
§ Grocery Bagging(the day before Thanksgiving)
§ Catholic United Raffle(spring 2020)
o Library Book Leveling Project(please check in to Mr. Jerry Hilfer)
· St. Columban:
o Sign up to offer cookies, donuts, and coffeeto continue to have some more socialization after Mass
o Discern your stewardship to continue to help our parish grow
o I would like to see more parishionersbring up the bread, wine, and water at Mass
o Serve on our Parish or Financial counsels or Funeral Lunches
o Just like St. Thomas Aquinas, please continue toinvite and welcome more of our brothers and sisters to come back to Mass!
Finally, if you have not yet registered at St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Columban, please do so. Doing this would help our offices, and you can coordinate the more ways to help with your stewardship: time, talent, and treasure.
God Bless!
Luke 15 with Impactful Parables: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
Notes:
Luke 15 has three impactful parables
· The famous one was the third honing in with the Prodigal Son, the Father and the Older brother
· As I could have chosen a shorter reading, I always read the entire scriptures as our Church always brings in the focus of the whole passage, even though it may feel “too long”
o Well, sometimes that takes place in practice, homework, hunting, fishing as part of the process with patience
· So after our patience for each of these parables, let’s think about the first two
The lost sheep
· Now let us imagine you were a shepherd almost 2000 years ago and you had a flock with 100 sheep
o This is your business especially with shearing each sheep to sell their wool to support your family
· Now, imagine leaving 99 of your sheep which you could lose them all to find one
o Back in the day, I think that this shepherd would be nuts
o They could literally leave everything for the business, the finances, food
o That does not make sense!
· Well, what Jesus is teaching is His unusual and extravagance LOVE
o “‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.”
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.”
The lost coin
· The next parable about the person trying to find one coin, and not like a bar of gold, but a coin
· Imagine you, looking throughout your house, every nook and cranny of it, as well as your vehicle
· Then you find it—say a penny, and then with it to call a celebration and a party, beyond what you even have
o ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
· Once again, Jesus is showing how bizarre God’s love is, and we are that person at the fringe of outside the normality I would ask you to think of two ways to grow
· First, when Jesus finds you, aka, when you open your heart to be found
o Also, one way to be found by Jesus is to be forgiven off the path like the sheep, or be hidden in your journey, and you can do that by simply going to confession
· Second, how you can you find that sheep, or that one coin, aka, those who are outside of your friends, your circle of loved ones, and go beyond your normal life to find your brother or sister to be found for Jesus?
We are to hunt, fish, live to seek the lost person back to God’s family
Parish Bulletin Article: "Faith Formation, Baptism and RCIA": 9-15-19
“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty eternal God. For you laid the foundations of the world and have arranged for the changing of the times and seasons; you have formed man in your own image and set humanity over the whole world in all its wonder, to rule in your name over all you have made and for ever praise you in your might works, through Christ our Lord” (5th Preface of Sunday in Ordinary Time).
As we are beginning a new school year, this usually reestablished three opportunities for your children, our parishioners and those seeking growth within our Catholic Church.
First is Faith Formation for your children. At St. Thomas Aquinas, we serve faith formation, primarily led by Sabrina. Please join your young students (Kindergarten-Fifth Grades) on Monday after school until 4:30pm. If your students are not in our school, this is the best way you can receive more time to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This year we will also offer some different options for your 6th grade students to Juniors. We are seeking not only more students but also more volunteers to support your family. Our goal is to enable more relationships with our amazing volunteers to serve your kids. More details will be coming out in the next few weeks.
At St. Columban, our students going to Littlefork will continue to have the chance to learn and grow with faith on Wednesdays. Times will be announced soon.
Second is baptism. As baptism is the first sacrament, it is also welcoming the little ones or everyone else who have not walked “through the door” into our family. If you have a child who has not been baptized yet, please let me know, and I will personally connect with you for preparation for this powerful sacrament!
The third is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Would you like to become Catholic? Do you want to be confirmed, or being baptized into the Catholic Church? RCIA is the “ordinary” steps to seek the beauty of our Christian relationship with Jesus Christ. It begins, not with an asap signature, but with some time to ask questions, find information, or have a curiosity for this process. If you are interested in this process, please chat with a family member, friend, parishioner, Sabrina, Nic Davidson, or myself, and we would be excited to support your journey with God!
Again, this season is a perfect time in the year to seek our young brothers and sisters within Faith Formation. Your little ones may receive baptism and those who would enjoy the process to become a Catholic.
You all are welcome, and we are excited about your journey!
God Bless!
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