Monday, February 28, 2011

Announcements" 9th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Mass Times:
Ash Wednesday: Mass at 12:15 PM
Holy Week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday 5:30 PM
Easter: Easter Sunday at 10:00 AM

Around the Mission: This week our Cherokee Warrior II is in the hanger at King Salmon. Larry Tibbetts is checking out the Alternator problem and doing an annual inspection. I am in Anchorage to attend the archdiocesan priest convocation. We will be reviewing the changes to the Roman Missal.

Possible New Parishes: Since the Archbishop is moving me in July, 2011, there are three possible parishes I may be assigned two, Sacred Heart in Wasilla, Saint Michael in Palmer, or Holy Cross in Anchorage. I visited Sacred Heart on Sunday and Con-celebrate both Sunday masses.

Gospel: The readings explain how we can build our lives on solid foundations and why it is important to do so. Please see readings and homily below.

Thank you: Thanx to Aileen Walsh for providing a communion service on Sunday. Because of Aileen’s enthusiasm and love for our church we are able to consistently offer the Eucharist every week at Holy Rosary in Dillingham, whether or not I am stuck in bad weather of attending conferences in Anchorage.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday!

Homily and Readings:

9th Ord A DLG 2011, Huff and Puff, Deuteronomy 11:18,26-28,32; Romans 3:21-25&28; Matthew 7:21-27

When I was in grade school I told a few lies. It seemed to me that it was easier to lie than to tell the truth. Sometime I would start a fight with my brother and I would tell my mom that I didn’t do it. But the problem was, we would usually both end up getting into trouble. It was like my mom knew I was lying, but she would never actually say that I was lying.

I think parents have a seventh sense, they know when we are lying. The problem is, when they finally say, your lying, it is the one time you are telling the truth.

As I grew up it seemed like the more I would lie, the more trouble I would get into. And to top that off, usually after I told a lie, I would feel really bad inside.

One day, I was about 12 years old, I overheard my dad and mom talking about my grandfather. They said that he was the most honest man they knew. They said he always told the truth no matter what. From that day on I tried extra hard to be honest. I wanted to be just like my grandpa.

Being honest is one way to start a brick foundation. The readings tell us other ways to build a strong spiritual foundation and why its important.

I am sure we are all familiar with the story of the three little pigs. The first pig built his house out of straw, the second sticks, and the third stone. The wolf came to eat the pigs. The pigs ran into their houses. The wolf huffed and puffed and blew the houses down and ate the pigs. Well, not all the pigs. The stone house could not be blown down.

Similarly, Christians continually build a brick foundation by choosing to live a life for God. Bricks get replaced with straw and sticks when we choose to live lives for ourselves. Why is this important?

Straw House no Wolf: Jack is going along fine in life. His faith seems good. He lies, cheats, and takes things from work…after all he is entitled to them…he works there. He swears around his friends but never around church. He Believes in God. He attends church every Sunday.

Brick House no Wolf: Susie used to lie but she stopped. She gossips, but she is trying to stop…really struggling. She goes to church regularly. One of here good qualities is that she always tries to do what she says she is going to do.

All of a sudden a wolf appears. Wolves in our lives are always unexpected. They come in the form of financial difficulties, death, sickness, marital problems, sexual misconduct, prison, and loss of job.

When a wolf appears, all our faith, hope, and love go on trial. There is no way to fool a wolf. How well we hold up when a wolf appears is the true test of faith. Our foundations are tested. Weak foundations mean wolves will penetrate deeply. Strong foundations mean wolves will not penetrate quite as deeply and maybe not at all.

Building our house out of brick means that we have a genuine reverence for the Lord. A strong foundation proves that we are doing the will of the Father. A strong foundation shows that we are people of integrity who mean what we say. It means that we practice what we preach, not only at church, but at home, at work, at school, and on vacation (590 Words).

Deuteronomy 11:18,26-28,32
"Therefore, take these words of mine into your heart and soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, and let them be a pendant on your forehead. "I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse: a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today, to follow other gods, whom you have not known. Be careful to observe all the statutes and decrees that I set before you today.

Romans 3:21-25&28
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Matthew 7:21-27
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

Monday, February 21, 2011

Announcements: 8th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Ash Wednesday: The ashes will be dispersed during Mass at 12:15, April 9th, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Holy Week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday celebrations will be at 5:30 PM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Easter at Saint Theresa in King Salmon/Naknek will be at 4:00 PM, Saturday, April 23, and at Holy Rosary in Dillingham at 10:00 AM, Easter Sunday, April 24.

Gospel: The readings for the eighth Sunday talk to us about the value of worrying. Please see the homily and readings below.

Liturgical Cycle: We are currently in Year A out of three liturgical years, A, B, and C. For the daily readings we are currently in Year 1 of two years, 1, and 2. The way to remember what year we are in for the daily readings is to think this: 2011 is an odd number and 1 is an odd number so we are in Year 1.

Confirmation: We have three candidates for confirmation this year. We will be introducing them at Mass during Lent.

Anchorage: I will be in Anchorage the next couple of weeks fixing our Cherokee (alternator, altimeter) and meeting with the priests in the Archdiocese to go over the changes in the New Roman Missal. I can be reached at the Holy Rosary number because it is forwarded to my cell phone.

Prayers: Please keep all those who are sick in your prayers, especially Pat Durbin and Paul in Aleknagik.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott


Homily:

8th Ord A DLG 2011, Best Day, Isaiah 49:14-15; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6: 24-34

I tend to be a worrier. In the story about Martha and Mary I am like Martha, running around worrying about everything, the dishes, how clean the house is, etc. I worry about friends. I worry about traveling. I worry about my retirement. I worry about my health. To combat worry I have done a number of things in my life.

I read one book that said to think of your thoughts inside of a box. Don’t let your thoughts go out of the box to the past or to the future. Inside the box is the present.

I also read that 99 percent of the things we worry about never happen.

Another angle I have taken is to think of this slogan: Today is the best day of my life, because it is the only day. Yesterday is gone and we really don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so today is the best.

The most helpful remedy for worry, I have found, lives in our Catholic Christian Faith. The things that come from God are the greatest of remedies. I am talking about calling on the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and the outcome situations. I am referring to prayer. I am talking about the gospel stories in the bible.

In the first reading, if you are worried about something Corinthians tells us that God will never forget us, similar to a mother never being able to forget her infant. This says to me, the worrier, that (1) since God made me and I have value to God, he wants the best for me. (2) God wants me to be at peace because he loves me and since he has not or never will forget me, God is with me in my worry and will help me.

The second reading from Corinthians also helps the person who tends to worry. It tells us that in the END, what will count is what is in our hearts. So, what that says to me, a person who tends to worry too much, is this: why worry if it doesn’t count. What counts is how we view others. What counts is our relationships. What counts is how we have loved others. What counts is how we use our gifts to help others. What does not count is whether we worry.

The Gospel gives me the most help about worry. “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span?

The image of the birds is wonderful. No matter how busy a bird is gathering twigs or wool for their nests or feeding their young; no matter what their struggles are with the wind, rain, snow, or ice, Jesus tells us that our Heavenly Father cares for them and feeds them.

Jesus then says, “ARE YOUR NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEY!” Saint Matthew tills us that even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Most of our worry comes from managing our material possessions. Will be have enough money for food? Will we be able to retire with enough money to live? Will we have enough money to pay our bills?

If we let material things of the earth consume us we will only know disappointment. Jesus says, “Think of the flowers growing in the field. The flowers do not work and look how beautiful they are. Not even Solemn, in all his splendor, was clothed like them.” If God provides for the flowers, won’t he provide for you as well?

So, after the readings this week, what conclusions can people who worry make?: Don’t worry (599 Words)!

Isaiah 49:14-15
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Matthew 6: 24-34
"No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Announcements: 7th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements, Homily, and readings:

Red Fox: I actually hand fed a wild Red Fox this week. For the VIDEO
CLICK HERE. Also see www.holyrosaryalaska.org.



Holy Week and Easter:

Ash Wednesday: 12:15 PM, March 9, 2011
Holy Thursday: 5:30 PM, April 21, 2011
Good Friday: 5:30 PM, April 22, 2011
Saint Theresa: 4:00 PM Saturday, April 23, 2011
Easter Sunday: 10:00 AM, Sunday, April 24, 2011

Gospel: When someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek. This Gospel is about dignity. Please see Homily and readings below.

Basement Leak Repair: We are in need of some suggestions to repair the leak in the basement. Also, the water has caused considerable damage to the 30 year old tile floor. We need to take up the tile squares, scrape off the black glue, and figure out how to re-do the floor. Please call me with your suggestions, donations. Thank you.

Thank you: Thank you to Bernie Venua for repairing the water spigot. Many Dillingham residence depend on our pure water for drinking. Bernie was able to find the problem, replace a valve, and get the water back on. Also, thank you Pat D. for working on the basement water leak. We are still trying to figure out how to fix it. Thankfully it is a slow leak now but has the potential to become a gusher.

Around the Mission: I was able to fly to Koliganek, Clarks Point, and King Salmon this week. The weather was below zero. While in King Salmon the wind picked up and the chill factor was at least -35 F. My alternator went out while flying back from King Salmon but fortunately, I reset the alternator switch and the radio main switch and the alternator came back on-line. The wind was very unstable and unpredictable most of the week.

Have a great week and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott

Homily

07 Ord A Dlg 2011, Leviticus 19:1-2&17-18; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

At first glance, the gospel seems to tell us to let people walk all over us. Just lie down and take it like a good follower of Jesus Christ. I don’t think this is the message here. Surprisingly, turning the other cheek says something about dignity.

“When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” If I were to be slapped on the right cheek, a person would have to use the left hand.

In many cultures today, the left hand is considered dirty, because of how it was used to clean the body. It was a sign of disrespect to be slapped with the left hand.

If I then turned the other cheek, the person would be forced to use the “non-dirty” right hand. It is an act of defiance. I refuse to let you rob me of my God-given dignity.

All of us have experienced low points in our lives. Have you ever felt that you were refused a job because of gender or race? Have you ever felt you had been evaluated or treated unfairly?

One time I overheard someone saying negative things about me behind my back. I wanted to hide. I felt terrible…but then I remembered dignity.

Turning the other cheek says this to us: you can never take away my dignity because I am worth something. I am one of God’s children. Dignity enables us to hold our heads high even when people try to humiliate us.

No one has the right to dehumanize us. If someone tries to cut down our Christian values or treat us unjustly, we can fight back. We have the right to defend ourselves. When we stick up for our rights and beliefs, we become martyrs. Turning the other cheek says I dare you to try and take away my God-given dignity.

We are all created in the image and likeness of God. We are all children of God. God has given us all an equal share in dignity. We all deserve to be treated like God’s children and we need to treat others like God’s children as well (357 Words).


Leviticus 19:1-2&17-18
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. "You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: "He catches the wise in their own ruses," and again: "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Matthew 5:38-48
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Announcements: 6th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Around the Mission: This week I flew to Twin Hills, Alaska, located West of Dillingham about 50 miles. I hired Vanair to take me to Clarks point on Friday where I gave communion to the elders and had lunch with the Clarks Point students and staff. Penair flew me to King Salmon and back on Saturday. The wind was blowing over 30 knots most of the weekend, which deterred my own flying. Also, after two feet of snow our Cherokee Warrior II was not dug out enough to taxi to the runway. Here are the Twin Hills the village is named after.



Gospel: There are several sayings all clumped together in the Gospel for this coming Sunday. (Please see the Homily below)

Ash Wednesday Celebration: Ashes well be dispersed during a ceremony at Holy Rosary at 12:15 PM.

Holy Week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday will begin at 5:30 PM.

Easter: This year Easter will be Easter Sunday at 10:00 AM for Holy Rosary Parish. Bernina Venua has volunteered her time to organize an Easter Egg hunt for all the children in the Dillingham Community. More to come. At Saint Theresa Easter Vigil will be Saturday at 4:00 PM. Clarks Point will have Easter Mass on Good Friday.

Little Black Book: For Lent again this year we have the “Little Black Books.” Please pick one up in the back of the Church. These books are daily 6 minute prayers and reflections to help prepare us for the most Holy Day of the year, Easter.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings

06 Ord A DLG 2011, Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

Our society has thousands of sayings. Sayings are easy to remember. They are not necessarily to be taken literally. They normally make us think and have a lesson attached to them. Here is a list of sayings most of us are familiar with:

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A penny saved is a penny earned
A Fool and his money is quickly parted
Better to be safe than sorry
Beggars can’t be choosers
Can’t see the forest through the trees
The grass is always greener on the other side
You can’t judge a book by its cover
Don’t put the horse before the cart
Every cloud has a silver lining
Good things come is small packages
Great minds think alike
Grin and bear it
Hay is for horses
Honesty is the best policy
Keep your chin up
Laughter is the best medicine
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Man cannot live on bread alone
Monkey see Monkey do
Never change horses in mid stream
No news is good news
Out of sight out of mind
Practice makes perfect
Quit while you’re ahead
Silence is golden
The eyes are the window of the soul
United we stand, divided we fall
Where there is smoke there is fire
You are what you eat

Early Christians heard a number of sayings from Jesus. In the Gospel today these sayings are clumped together. Some of these sayings in Matthew are direct and clear. For example, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother.”

Other sayings are highly inflated language, i.e. cutting off our hands and gouging out our eyes if they cause us to sin. These sayings are not meant to taken literally. A custom of those times was to OVERSTATE a case to help drive a point home. Overstating would also help the student commit the lesson to memory.

In the gospel Jesus outlines seven characteristics of the way Christians deal with one another and the world.

We seek opportunities to forgive those who have hurt us.
We consider reconciliation with those we can see something we must do first before we worship the God we cannot see.
We are slow to sue anyone, preferring personal negotiation to legal action.
We keep our desires in check and do not see other humans as objects.
We look at the causes of our sins and change the circumstances that give rise to our destructive behavior.
We remain faithful to those we love.
We mean what we say when we make serious, mature, and adult promises.

These seven characteristics enable us to fulfill the greatest law of all: The law of love, from which all other laws are judged.

So here is the challenge from the gospel this week: With your eyes fixed on Christ, go from this place today remembering to forgive, reconcile, be faithful, discern you call, be true to your word, shun the court system, and give respect to everyone you meet (527 Words).

Sirach 15:15-20: If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10: Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him," this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Matthew 5:17-37: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.' But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one.