Un-Quiet Word for Today, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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"Amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
Matthew 10:42
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New Priorities
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10b)
What do these words mean? What do they imply? Jesus is the good shepherd who distinguishes himself from the robber or thief who exists for hire or self-care, the true shepherd will even lay down his life, renounce, lose everything, so that his sheep can ‘find abundant life’.
This weekend marks exactly one year since we merged into ‘one parish’ - Our Lady of Hope Parish. After this rather ‘long year’, are we a parish where the ‘abundant life’ of Christ is visible, concrete, and alive? Do we exist for others? Have those who have encountered us, ‘found life’? Where are we and where are we going? Is there hope in Our Lady of Hope?
During this past year, tasks have certainly been accomplished. We have daily mass every day of the week. We have 5 masses on the weekend. Confessions are heard every week at all churches. Weekly Eucharistic Adoration is available at St. James and St. Mary Church campuses. Without missing, we celebrate all Holy Days of Obligation with Mass at each location. We have ‘one’ pastoral council, ‘one’ finance council, and “one” religious education program. Our Legacy of Hope case statements for each Church are one by one being accomplished. Most recently, both the gym and downstairs at St. James parish hall are fully renovated with new floors, new lights in the gym, and a camera security system installed. Our Partners in Charity goal of $80,000 has been reached and surpassed. We introduced a whole list of new spiritual items: Marian Nights, The Lord’s Day Vespers with Dinner, Rorate Masses, Advent and Lent guest celebrant series, Rosary Walk, Parish Lenten Mission and all this in addition to the regular Religious Education Calendar and annual parish activities. It has been a very packed year indeed.
But is this it? Do we exist for the mere accomplishment of tasks or goals? Or are we about something more? We must be about more than just ‘doing’. We need a new focus, new priorities, maybe a new way of ‘being Church’ or else we leave exhausted, weary and empty. Is this the new parish we desire? Is this an abundant life? What therefore might be our new focus and vision? Allow me to offer 4 guiding priorities.
First, Go and Make Disciples
From the very beginning the Church is missionary. It is about moving out and making disciples. The first disciples were sent to proclaim the good news of the Gospel to all nations. We must evangelize by getting out of our comfort zones, routine practices and customs. Church is about more than a well-organized program or carrying out action plans. We must ask, who is not here and why? Are there family members, friends, next door neighbors who have fallen away? How can we go meet them where they are and invite them back? We want to ‘fill our churches’ but in order to do so we must ‘go out’, to enter those places which are outside of churches and beyond ecclesial structures. Where Christ is not known and loved, we must put him there by our presence! Our first new focus could be some of our own religious education families who drop off their children but are not engaged in Church at any level.
Second, Mutual Accompaniment
The Emmaus story in the Gospels comes to mind. While journeying, the disciples are totally dispirited and despairing. There are so many unknowns, questions, and dilemmas. What is the future going to be like? Jesus himself comes into their midst and accompanies them. He listens and then asks questions not to expose their ignorance or lack of faith, but to bring them to a new understanding. Many today are on the road to nowhere; life is so messy and complicated. Many are confused, suffering and disillusioned. Many, although successful in earthly terms, are unhappy and unfulfilled. How can we journey with them and listen to them? How can we with patience, gradually point and bring them to know and re-discover Christ? A new mindset is required: we are never to be an observer, commentator and judge but fellow sojourners, companions on the journey, a journey that leads to Christ.
Third, The Goal of Unity
In a recent address to the U.S. Bishops’ gathering, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, said the following: “The devil is the one who wants to create division. It is disorienting enough to see how divided our political society is and how these divisions impede progress and harm those already most vulnerable to poverty and suffering. But then to see how the same kind of polarization infects us within the church”.
In Grafton we must be a Church that is One in mind and heart. We must look for avenues, occasions, gatherings that bring us together. We must be that church we are called to be: to assemble together, listen to one another and to the Holy Spirit and to let our differences enrich and strengthen our unity.
Lastly, The Personal Encounter with Christ
My hope is that everything that we do leads us and brings others to a personal encounter with Christ. Let our gathering to celebrate the Sunday Mass and the Eucharist, our prayer, song, fellowship, service of one another, sharing The Word of sacred scripture, lifestyle, conservations, etc. lead us, to know God, to love God and to serve God. May we re-discover and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Gospel message must ‘move us’ to change our lives to ‘be’ like Jesus and ‘act’ like him. This is what it means to have ‘abundant life’.
As I write this, we celebrate the feast day of the great apostles of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul. May they intercede for us. We pray: Cor da nobis Pauli et fidem Petri - Give us the heart and courage of Paul and the faith of Peter.
Our Lady of Hope, pray for us!
Happy Anniversary!
- Father Anthony Mpagi
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All About the Mass
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Readings of the Mass
LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of July 2nd, 2023, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
SELECT HERE for the Readings of July 2nd, 2023, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Reflections
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Colors of the Seasons:
We are back to the color green for the next several months. Does the parish have green vestments, wall hangings, and tapestries that reflect the various “greens” of the year? June evokes a verdant shade of green, that of trees resplendent with new leaves. How does green change in the autumn? Can we convey the changing tones of the season with different shades of green in vesture and in the way we shape and color our worship environment? Beginning this month, plan to reflect visually the evolving moods of the passage of Ordinary Time.
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Sign and Symbol:
This week is a new post on Fr. Mobilio's series "Symbols and Signs of the Liturgy" on the bottom of page 5.
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Our Catholic Community News
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Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith: his Real Presence in the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States....DISCOVER MORERead More
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