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.
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