33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

In those days, I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 16: You are my inheritance O Lord!

O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart is glad that my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.

Brothers and Sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. "And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. 

Homily
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The scripture passages that we have heard can be described as apocalyptic. Passages that are apocalyptic refers to the end times and the judgment day. It says: “But on that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” At the celebration of the Eucharist, we proclaim that the end times will occur at the second coming of Jesus otherwise known as the Parousia. That is the mystery of faith that we proclaim at the mass: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.

What is the message that the authors are trying to convey to the listeners. It is a message about preparation. Are we prepared to meet Christ when he comes again? Have we gotten our lives together? Have we put God at the center of our life. Are we living in right relationship with God? Are we living a life reflecting the love of God through His son, Jesus Christ? Are we loving God with our heart, mind and soul, and are we loving our neighbor as ourselves?

The apocalyptic message is intended for the hearers to get their act together. Someone once said: “We must live each day as if it the last day on earth.” That means that we must live and act accordingly, mindful of the consequences of our thoughts, words and actions daily.

One of the problems that the early Church was dealing with has to do with the delay of the Parousia (2nd coming). The early Christians were expecting that Jesus would come soon in their lifetime. Because of the delay, questions were raised in regards to its interpretation.

Two thousand years after Christ, we continue to wait for the second coming of our Lord. As we await, let us heed the apocalyptic messages of the scriptures. Let us be mindful that good actions lead to good consequences, and likewise with the bad. Let us reevaluate our lives, and take certain steps to grow in our faith, and put God at the center of our lives. Let us conduct ourselves accordingly, especially within our family, treating one another with respect and dignity. Let us live as God’s people, hoping and longing for the day when CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN. Blessed be the name of Jesus and may our Blessed Mother be with you always. Amen.

Paul’s Talk on Follow up Sunday on Sacrificial Giving

I AM PAUL LEAHY, A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE COUNCIL AND WHEN YOU SEE UP HERE THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU KNOW IT IS FOLLOW-UP WEEKEND OF OUR CURRENT SACRIFICIAL GIVING CAMPAIGN.

TWO WEEKS AGO ON PRESENTATION SUNDAY, CATHY WEYGANDT IN HER VERY EFFECTIVE AND MOVING WITNESS TALK DESCRIBED A BEHAVIOR THAT MANY OF US CAN RELATE TO IN OUR EARLIER DAYS. SUNDAY OFFERINGS WERE AN INSTANT RESPONSE TO THE PASSING BASKET AND WHAT HAPPENED TO BE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS IN OUR WALLET OR PURSE. IN REVIEWING HER MOTHER’S FINANCES AFTER HER PASSING, CATHY WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT HER MOTHER’S CONSISTANT AND INCREASING SUPPORT OF HER CHURCH DESPITE THE LIMITED FAMILY MEANS. THIS MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON CATHY AND TRIGGERED AN AWAKENING OF HER SPIRITUALITY AND A COMMITMENT TO HONOR THE LORD WITH THE SUPPORT HE TRULY DESERVES THROUGH SACRIFICIAL GIVING.

LAST WEEKEND FATHER VU, ALTHOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT YOU NEEDED REMINDING, ASKED THAT YOU REVIEW THE INFORMATION SENT TO YOU AND PRAYERFULLY INDICATE YOUR PLEDGE AND RETURN IT TO THE PARISH OFFICE.

AS WAS DISCUSSED IN THE RECENT PARISH FISCAL REPORT, THE PRESENT LEVEL OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING HAS ALLOWED US TO KEEP CURRENT ON THE PARISH OPERATING COSTS, BUT WITHOUT ANY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. THERE ARE SOME PRESSING NEEDS SUCH AS REPLACING THE GAS STOVE IN THE FAC AND ENLARGING OUR STORAGE SHED TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF CHAIRS AND TABLES FOR EVENTS. OUR SAVINGS TOTAL $27,400 SO THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A SAFETY FACTORTO HANDLE THE INEVITABLE CONTINGENCIES. WE HAVE BEEN HOPEFUL THAT THE RESPONSE TO THIS YEAR’S SACRIFICIAL GIVING MIGHT PROVIDE THIS ADDED CUSHION.

AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE RECEIVED PLEDGES FROM 156 FAMILIES TOTALING
$254,700. THIS IS ABOUT 35% OF OUR REGISTERED FAMILIES. IT IS WELL BELOW THE FINAL 259 PLEDGES LAST YEAR AND THE $396,100 PLEDGED. IT IS ALSO 30 PLEDGES UNDER THE NUMBER AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. THE ENCOURAGING ASPECT IS THAT THE AVERAGE PLEDGE OF THOSE TURNED IN IS UP 7% OVER LAST YEAR. WE ARE HOPEFUL THIS WILL CARRY OVER TO THOSE YET TO BE TURNED IN.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY OR HAVEN’T GOT AROUND TO MAKING YOUR PLEDGE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PICK UP A PLEDGE CARD FROM THE PEW AND LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND THE PLEDGE AMOUNTS COMMENSURATE WITH THE TARGET 5%. NOTE WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY GIVING AND THINK ABOUT A 5% INCREASE THAT WOULD TAKE YOU CLOSER TO THAT 5% GOAL. TURN THE CARD OVER AND WRITE DOWN THE AMOUNT, EITHER PER WEEK OR PER MONTH, SIGN IT, AND PUT IT IN THE COLLECTION BASKET TODAY OR BRING IT TO THE PARISH OFFICE THIS NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PLEDGE AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WRITE “PRAYER” IN THE AMOUNT, SIGN IT AND PLACE IT IN THE COLLECTION BASKET AS WELL. THIS WILL SAVE US FROM MAILING A FOLLOW-UP LETTER AND A FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED GENEROUS SUPPORT OF ST. MARY PARISH THROUGH YOUR SACRIFICIAL GIVING FOR 2007.