Listen to the homily here.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Fraternity Correction: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Love
· God
o “Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.”
· Neighbor
o “Love your neighbor as yourself”
Love of being a watcher, a true friend, spouse, parents
· Fraternity of Correction or Maternity of Correction
· Not to judge, but to communicate, trust, and challenge each other
· Sweatshirt in seminary
How do we use true love that may be challenging a family member, friend?
· “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.”
Process with true love which is not always what we “feel” for love
· “But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.”
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Parish Bulletin Article: "2020-2021 School Year Beginning, Buckle Up!"
Welcome to our 2020-2021 St. Thomas Aquinas School Saints team!
• Principal: Jerry Hilfer: thank you, sir, for coming out of retirement to work in the School in which you grew in and offer us another third year! So blessed with your expertise!
• Office Manager: Heather McBride: your presence is terrific with your gentleness, joyfulness, and working so well with our children, parents, and families. As you are the first person in person or on the phone for our School, great work!
• Preschool: Brittany Lemieux: What a fantastic opportunity within two weeks for School to join our family! We are so grateful for another great member of our team. We are excited about your new experiences with our little ones. Congrats, and welcome back to God’s Country!
• Kindergarten: Marnie Kostiuk: your faith, excitement, and energy are pretty cool to watch teaching closely with our belief in a Catholic/Christian school. You, too, have now given several years teaching at STA Saints, and you undoubtedly bring new energy with gratitude.
• 1st/2nd Grades: Jane Pierce: Praise God for your many years, continuing to educate in the “old school” into new opportunities. Your peacefulness and great music set the class with more calmness, even when our kiddos are full of energy (and praise God with their energy!).
• 3rd/4th Grades: Joan Ecklund: As our most extended and experienced teacher for many years, continue to share your experiences. Sometimes we do not need to build a new wheel when she has already “been there, done that,” which didn’t work. Thanks for your many expertise to support we young pups
• 5th/6th Grades: Sydney Raboin: And, congratulations to you, and an honor to help you with your first teaching position! I am so blessed as you enter a different, new, and challenging year. Your kindness and toughness from bias from me are running perspective in life. Keep rollin!
• Music: Kathy Tompkins: What another new employee to share the beauty of music—a possible choir, band, and chanting. We thank you for continuing to show these fantastic gifts, especially when it may be tough to sing loud or play instruments, which we know that you will find ways to teach well!
• Art: Mary Martha Watters: I have mentioned this to you and others, that I am big time into logic in my brain, less with noticing beauty. Last year I walked in, caught the art from our students, and thought to myself, “My goodness…that IS art!” When I notice art like that, it may only make my day. Great to have you again!
• Teacher Aid: Shay Spry: another new employee to our team, and we are blessed for your entry to support our teachers, work with our students, and continue to work with our goals, beliefs, and opportunities. Welcome on the train!
Finally, here is the prayer that I will be offering for our employees and those working in other schools (public and home schools) this weekend:
“Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the universe. In times long past you sent us your prophets to teach your laws and to bear witness to your undying love. You sent us your Son to teach us by word and example that true wisdom comes from you alone. Send your Spirit upon these students and their teachers and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Grant that during this academic year they may devote themselves to their studies and share what they have learned from others. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen!”
Buckle up for 2020-2021!
God Bless!
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Monday, August 31, 2020
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Sails and the Holy Spirit: Sunday, 22nd in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
I praise God, that almost every day the Scriptures at Masses are simply popping out through the Holy Spirit.
· And the Holy Spirit is like the wind and I have loved an image in our hearts
· Sail boat
o Sometimes there is no wind, which makes us feel challenging
o Sometimes there is some great wind to sail, though we may forget to open the sails!
o But when the sails are opened with powerful wind, we move forward
So think of Jeremiah spiritually having some of these same challenges in his mission:
· “I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”
o Here the closer we are to God, the more in which we are simply encouraged to keep going forward!
Or the Responsorial Psalm:
· “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
o Those moments are when we feel alone, or parched in our soul:
o “My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.”
Finally, what ag impressing verses from St. Paul, once again with challenges, but strength with God when we are opening our hearts to our mission:
· “Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Keep rolling with God, brothers and sisters!
· “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.”
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Jesus Two Questions: Who do THEY who I am? Who do YOU think I am?21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus asked two questions today which is curious about what the question was, and who it was
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“But who do you say that I am?”
Let’s start with Isaiah, another Isaiah and Matthew connection
· “…I will place the key of the House of David…”
· “…I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family”
o And in one Bible, according to Jeff Cavins, in a Protestant Bible pointed this verse to Matthew 16!
So who do people say that the Son of Man is?
· We heard about John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, prophets
· But what is he name today? Guru? Teacher? Philosopher? Relativism? Speaker? One of many other leaders?
But who do YOU say that he is?
· That’s where Peter spoke in correctly:
· "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”
During this time of the next political season, challenging times with a virus, who do YOU say that Jesus is?
· If he is not the Son of God, why are you even here?
· And if you do believe that Jesus is the Son of God, how do you live your life like that?
Parish Bulletin Article: "Encouragement": 8-23-2020
Earlier this week, we had a feast for St. Bartholomew, one of our twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. His name was Nathaniel as different lists for “The Twelve” show different names, which is standard in their culture. I also gave a homily about St. Bartholomew and preached that one of his nicknames was “The Encourager”! But alas, my culpa, my culpa, this patron saint is actually St. Barnabas! LOL!
Anyway, I preached about how crucial it is for encouragement during the times today. In this daily homily I asked our parishioners, and ask you today two questions, that hopefully support your journey:
1.) Who may you encourage someone else today? Spouse? Children? Teacher? Grandkids? Parishioners?
2.) Who have you recently experienced encouragement from someone else?
I know that in my life now, encouragement certainly supports my relationship with God, as all of our encouragement originally comes from God through you! And thank you for your encouragement to me. Praise God!
Earlier this week, we had another passage using that same crucial word:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word” (2nd Thessalonians 2:14-17).
To conclude this article, let us grow by offering and receiving encouragement! Don’t we need that more than ever? And “stand firm” against any polarization, hate, anger, judgment, or gossip. Let’s keep rollin’ as a family as brothers and sisters!
God Bless!
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Purification, water, and cleansed heart: Ezekiel 36: Thursday, August 20th, 2020
Listen to the homily here.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
"I do believe. Help my unbelief.": 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“I do believe, help my unbelief!”
· I love this verse that was not used today at Mass, but in Mark 9:24
· For me, I trust with these same words…yes, I trust in God as much as I can. At the same time, there can be times that I need his help as a human, with analogical thoughts and data, where God knows what I do not know
“Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.”
· And yes, Jesus did this
· Once again, we humans do the best ordinary ways to serve those who are sick—physically, mentally and spiritually
· Yet God, as God, may give extraordinary gifts!
So here we go with this parable that we may not understand the depths of Jesus teaching to a mother and her daughter who was suffering
· Is he a misogynist to this Samaritan woman as he didn’t answer her question?
o Well, no…remember how Jesus revolutionary visit the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel according to John? Or the women he mentioned carrying his cross? All of which was illegal in the Old Testament Law?
· Or, is he calling her a dog?
o Well, no…he is God!
· I think this woman was strong, yet also humble
· And Jesus was not being mean to this woman though the disciples probably was: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
· How did this woman protect and seek help, continuing with perseverance, seeking healing, for her daughter?
o “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.”
Jesus, I do believe, but help my unbelief! May we persevere, seeking for his help, and with him, help us to grow with faith!
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