Pastor's Corner
SixteenthSunday in Ordinary Time W/E 07/19/25-07/20/25
The gospel selection offered for this weekend's Mass celebration is taken from Luke, and its primary characters are the sisters Martha and Mary. In them, Luke offers us two different ways of attending to Jesus in relationship. Martha is described as being often anxious and worried about serving Jesus and others in a satisfactory way, while Mary is portrayed as being not anxious but patient in her quiet attendance to Jesus and His message. These two give us seemingly contradictory ways of attending to friendship with Jesus, and in fact, Jesus makes it clear that Mary has chosen the better path. The way of discipleship can be road-blocked by our concern that perhaps we are not doing enough to satisfy God, but in fact, that concern can sometimes emerge from a tendency to be scrupulous and worried about the satisfaction of God's will.
The better way can be taken from the example of Mary, who is content to rely on God's grace instead of our anxious concern that we are doing enough. Resting in the peace of God and knowing by faith that He has created us so that He can love us is perhaps enough. In the past, it has been an errant way that chooses to worry with scrupulosity over the satisfaction of rules and regulations pertaining to the practice of the faith. Rather, we are called by Jesus to rest in the simple pleasure of His love for us.
On Sunday, August 3rd, after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, we will begin our monthly coffee and donuts, which we hope will bring together those who do not yet know one another. We will gather in the hall immediately following the Mass and hope to establish leadership going forward for the organization of the coming months' gatherings. If you would like to be a part of the organizing effort, there will be a sign-up sheet available. Thanks and have a great week.
God Bless,
Fr. Joe