Announcements: 4th Sunday in Ord Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: The Beatitudes tell us how to be happy in this world. (Please read the Homily below).

Confirmation: There will be a meeting after Mass for those wanting to be confirmed (Sunday, 30 Jan, 2011).

New Roman Missal: I will be going to Anchorage the End of February to receive training on the implementation of the New Roman Missal.

Diocesan Pastoral Council: Thank you Angela Clark who attended the Pastoral Council meeting in Anchorage last week. This Archdiocesan council is composed of representatives from every parish in the Archdiocese.

Prayers: Please keep Pat Durbin in your prayers as he will be in Anchorage the next couple of weeks. Pat is getting medical attention and will be in the hospital for a few days then he will be staying with some friends in Wasilla.

New Pastor: I met with the Archbishop and the Vicar for Priests last week. In July, 2011, I will be leaving and getting a new parish. My new parish has not yet been decided. Additionally, the Archbishop is deciding on who will be the new pastor of the Holy Rosary Mission. Updates to follow.

Carolina Beach Today: An internet newspaper wrote a great article about my new "lighted cap." To read the article CLICK HERE.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday.

Homily

04th Ord A DLG 2011 Beatific, Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Caliph of Cordoba, a 10th century ruler, declared he had riches, honors, power, and pleasure at his command. After 50 years of absolute rule, he counted up the days of genuine happiness he had enjoyed…fourteen days.

All happiness comes from God. It doesn’t come from money, power, or pleasure. Happiness is a gift that God gives us. It is when we are closest to God that we are the most happy.

Perfect happiness can only be experienced after death when we see God face to face. Catholics call this the beatific vision. The vision of God is perfect happiness; heaven is eternal bliss.

The beatitudes in the gospel are about people who are as about as close as one can get to being perfectly happy on earth.

How blessed (happy, lucky) are those who are poor: In other words, how lucky you are if you are not attached to material things.

Everyone of us is wired to God…we are hotwired to God. We desire God inherently. When we short circuit that connection to God with other desires, we set ourselves up for frustration. I hunger for that bank account. I hunger for that new car.

For a while things we buy are fulfilling. They satisfy. Like a drug that newly purchased car, or bike, are that top of the line computer gives me a high, but the drug wears off, and I need more.

I get a buzz when I get more. I panic, the buzz wears off, I want more. I am addicted. Jesus says, how lucky you are if you are not attached to material thing. When our hunger for God is hooked to some earthly pleasure or desire, we feel miserable…we are not as happy.

How blessed you are when people hate you…rejoice and leap for joy. Translation: How lucky you are if you are not addicted to the approval of others. Ever fished for a compliment? Like if someone said, Fr. Scott that was a great homily. Then next week I ask people, how did you like that homily? Fishing for approval.

Like anything else, the approval of others becomes an addictive drug…I need more and more and more. How fortunate you are if you are not addicted to the approval of others. You are focused on Christ. Christ is your center.

Remember this, all you need to do is please God…do the best you can, love your neighbor, be kind to others, and struggle with your sins.

Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “You want to know what the happy life is: Love what Jesus loved on the Cross and despise what Jesus despised on the cross. How lucky you are who are poor. Jesus cannot grasp at any material things on the cross.

How lucky you are if you are not attached to good feelings. Think of Jesus is on the cross. If Jesus had made good feelings the center of his life, he would have NEVER come to the cross. Jesus did not love approval from others. His was detached from material things…this allowed him to be attached to God’s will.

My brothers and sisters, Jesus on the cross is a sign for us. He is a sign of happiness. Jesus on the cross becomes the center of the spiritual life. Jesus on the cross reminds us how to be happy. I ask all of you to take a good look at a crucifix. See if you can see these beatitudes. Jesus on the cross says pure of heart, simple, a peacemaker, poor, and most importantly, happy (592 Words).

First Reading: Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13
Seek the Lord all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord. In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.