Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners: Here are a few announcements.
Fantastic Send Off: Thank you all for raising money for an airplane ticket for me to fly back to Holy Rosary in the future. I was so happy to see everyone at Mass and to partake in the wonderful potluck afterward. Jacob Belleque knew I was leaving and asked his grandmother if I was going to Heaven! I hope so Jacob, I am definitely leaving Heaven on Earth.
Finances: Angie Venua will be taking care of the finances, i.e. paying bills and keeping an electronic check book in Quicken. Diana Swaim will continue to count the Sunday collection and make the deposit. Fr. Nelson (with help from parishioners) will count, collect, and deposit the water money.
Telephone: The parish phone number is forwarded to our parish cell phone. Angela Clark has volunteered to answer the phone while Fr. Nelson and I are in transition. She will be answering calls and returning messages from July 26 to August 16, 2011.
My Schedule: I hope you visit me in Wasilla at Sacred Heart. There will be a few weeks when I will be traveling and will be having Fr. Stan fill in for me. Fr. Stan is retired and an IFR and commercial rated pilot and lives in the Sacred Heart Rectory.
July 26: Leave for Anchorage
July 27-29: Work on Canon Law cases for Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage dioceses.
August 1: First Day at Sacred Heart in Wasilla
Sep 5-15: Wilmington, North Carolina vacation
Nov 7-17: Oregon, my cousin's wedding and visit family
When you come to Anchorage please come and visit me!!!
Gospel: The readings point to the importance of charity. Please see homily and readings below.
Have a fantastic week and thank you for letting me serve you for the past six years (August 5, 2005 to July 31, 2011).
Homily and Readings:
18th Ord A DLG 2011 Charity, Isaiah 55::1-3; Romans 8:35&37-39; Matthew 14:13-21
When I go into a village, someone always meets me and picks me up on a 4-wheeler. During the summer, Karen brings fresh flowers and puts them below the Mary statue. When my mechanic changes the oil on my airplane, he usually donates it. Pat goes out and mows the cemetery.
These are all acts of charity. Saint Paul tells us that when it comes to faith, hope, and charity, the greatest is charity.
Charity resonates through the readings. Isaiah says, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water. You who have no money, come receive grain and eat.” The second reading from Romans tells us that we can never be separated from God’s charity.
All through history god has been charitable.
To help the Israelites reach the Promised Land, God showered them with, mana, which was bread from heaven.
Through God’s help, the prophet Elijah multiplied flour and oil to save a widow and her son from starvation.
Elisha did a bit better than his master, multiplying 20 barley loaves so as to feed 100, with some even left over.
According to our Catechism, “The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy” (Catechism 1829).
“Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God (Catechism 1822).
The Apostle Paul also wrote that beautiful quote from Corinthians, "Charity is patient and kind, charity is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.
Charity does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Charity bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (Catechism 1825).
Today’s gospel gives us several examples of charity. After hearing about the death of John the Baptist’s death, Jesus wants to be alone. He wants to get away and just make sense of it all. Have you ever felt like that...get away, leave me alone! But that does not stop him from being charitable.
In a state of grieving, Jesus performed three acts of charity. While still grieving, Jesus (1) healed the sick, (2) preached all day, and (3) fed 5000. The Little boy (4) gave up loaves and fish.
Today God is charitable. He will continue to be charitable in the future. He does that through the Eucharist.
Here are a few quotes about charity. I ask that you all try to perform one act this week.
Pope Saint Clement I: “Charity unites us to God. There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, and does all things in harmony. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect.”
Bob Hope: “If you have not got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”
Mother Theresa: “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love” (Words 507).
Isaiah 55::1-3
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
Romans 8:35&37-39
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 14:13-21
When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." (Jesus) said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here." Then he said, "Bring them here to me," and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking 5 the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Announcements: 17 Sunday Ordinary Time Year A
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Last Trip to Clarks Point: Since the Cherokee is parked in Wasilla, I hopped on VanAir, Friday, July 15, for my last Mass in Clarks Point, Alaska. I baptized one year old Jack Thomas Slattengren in the Saint Peter the Fisherman Church.
Here is a picture after my last Mass at Saint Peter the Fisherman in Clarks Point.
37 Baptisms: During my six year term (August 2005 to August 2011) at Holy Rosary Mission I have baptized 37 infants, children, and adults. The late Father Kelly baptized 85 infants, children, and adults during his eleven year term.
Gospel: If you have not found the Pearl of Great Price, I pray you all will. All though you cannot fully possess it here on earth, I pray that you will continue to strive for it throughout your lives. Please see homily and readings below.
Potluck: Sunday after Mass will be a potluck. Please bring your favorite dish.
Thank you: Thank you to Pat Durbin and Bernie Venua for working on fixing the leak in our Church basement. Pat rounded up a load of dirt and Bernie taped a seam on the rubber mat outside.
Sunday Collection: Our collection was $175.00 last Sunday. That does not count several people who donated by direct deposit into the Holy Rosary Checking account or people who send in automatic donations through Bill Pay, i.e. Wells Fargo.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott.
Homily and Readings:
17 Ord A 109 DLG 2011, Treasure, 1 Kings 3: 5&7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Mat 13:44-52
Last Trip to Clarks Point: Since the Cherokee is parked in Wasilla, I hopped on VanAir, Friday, July 15, for my last Mass in Clarks Point, Alaska. I baptized one year old Jack Thomas Slattengren in the Saint Peter the Fisherman Church.
Here is a picture after my last Mass at Saint Peter the Fisherman in Clarks Point.
37 Baptisms: During my six year term (August 2005 to August 2011) at Holy Rosary Mission I have baptized 37 infants, children, and adults. The late Father Kelly baptized 85 infants, children, and adults during his eleven year term.
Gospel: If you have not found the Pearl of Great Price, I pray you all will. All though you cannot fully possess it here on earth, I pray that you will continue to strive for it throughout your lives. Please see homily and readings below.
Potluck: Sunday after Mass will be a potluck. Please bring your favorite dish.
Thank you: Thank you to Pat Durbin and Bernie Venua for working on fixing the leak in our Church basement. Pat rounded up a load of dirt and Bernie taped a seam on the rubber mat outside.
Sunday Collection: Our collection was $175.00 last Sunday. That does not count several people who donated by direct deposit into the Holy Rosary Checking account or people who send in automatic donations through Bill Pay, i.e. Wells Fargo.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott.
Homily and Readings:
17 Ord A 109 DLG 2011, Treasure, 1 Kings 3: 5&7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Mat 13:44-52
Finding Treasure is exciting. I love reading novels about treasure hunts and sunken ships. I heard of one person who found a three million dollar stash with a metal detector. He was very very happy. In ancient times, people use to bury their money and valuable possessions in case an army killed them. This way, hidden treasure lay underground for future generations.
Once, while out jogging, I found a $100 bill lying in the street. What a boon. When my great grandfather, Grandpa Dale, built his house, Grandma Tony grabbed a couple of handfuls of silver dollars and dropped them down one of the walls before they sealed it up. Whenever we visited she showed me the wall and told me the story. When they died, I crawled down under the house and tried to find the treasure. No luck. Someone beat me to it.
In the Gospel, the Kingdom of Heaven is like buried treasure. A worker in the field finds this treasure. It is the key to happiness, peace, eternal life, and joy. Unfortunately this treasure is not his. The worker does not own the field, the man he works for does. So the worker re-buries this great treasure. He needs time to think and plan how he can own this great treasure for himself.
The man rounds up all of his worldly possessions, sells them, and takes the money to the owner of that field. He buys that field with every cent he had. He now possesses the knowledge of how to be happy and obtain eternal life.
The pearl of great price is the same type of story. A person finds a treasure, he sells everything, and then he possesses the treasure, the pearl of great price, this knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The people who find the pearl of great price risk everything to own it. Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree and was invited to the Kingdom. Peter gave up his fishing income for the treasure.
Today, in our money driven secular society, the treasure of the Gospel can lie deep beneath the hard earth.
Here is the message for all of us: we receive the sacraments, we pray, we struggle with our faith, and we go through the motions of going to church. Then suddenly, through God’s grace, the treasure may be discovered.
We come to the realization that there is only one real thing in life worth possessing: The Gospel of Jesus.
The gospel is the love of Jesus, his forgiveness, his divine presence, his promise of eternal life. This is the treasure. This is the one real thing in life worth owning. This is the Pearl of Great Price.
We cannot fully possess this treasure here on earth. We have to strive for it throughout our lives. As we strive for this treasure our lives are transformed. As our lives are transformed we become magnets. We become infectious. Others want what we have. We draw others into the Kingdom. As our faith grows and we become closer to the treasure, we realize there is nothing better to be had.
My prayer for all of you is that you never give up striving for that Pearl of Great price and that someday you will possess it (545 Words).
1 Kings 3: 5&7-12
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?" The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this--not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right--I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.
Romans 8:28-30
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
Mat 13:44-52
"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."
Once, while out jogging, I found a $100 bill lying in the street. What a boon. When my great grandfather, Grandpa Dale, built his house, Grandma Tony grabbed a couple of handfuls of silver dollars and dropped them down one of the walls before they sealed it up. Whenever we visited she showed me the wall and told me the story. When they died, I crawled down under the house and tried to find the treasure. No luck. Someone beat me to it.
In the Gospel, the Kingdom of Heaven is like buried treasure. A worker in the field finds this treasure. It is the key to happiness, peace, eternal life, and joy. Unfortunately this treasure is not his. The worker does not own the field, the man he works for does. So the worker re-buries this great treasure. He needs time to think and plan how he can own this great treasure for himself.
The man rounds up all of his worldly possessions, sells them, and takes the money to the owner of that field. He buys that field with every cent he had. He now possesses the knowledge of how to be happy and obtain eternal life.
The pearl of great price is the same type of story. A person finds a treasure, he sells everything, and then he possesses the treasure, the pearl of great price, this knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The people who find the pearl of great price risk everything to own it. Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree and was invited to the Kingdom. Peter gave up his fishing income for the treasure.
Today, in our money driven secular society, the treasure of the Gospel can lie deep beneath the hard earth.
Here is the message for all of us: we receive the sacraments, we pray, we struggle with our faith, and we go through the motions of going to church. Then suddenly, through God’s grace, the treasure may be discovered.
We come to the realization that there is only one real thing in life worth possessing: The Gospel of Jesus.
The gospel is the love of Jesus, his forgiveness, his divine presence, his promise of eternal life. This is the treasure. This is the one real thing in life worth owning. This is the Pearl of Great Price.
We cannot fully possess this treasure here on earth. We have to strive for it throughout our lives. As we strive for this treasure our lives are transformed. As our lives are transformed we become magnets. We become infectious. Others want what we have. We draw others into the Kingdom. As our faith grows and we become closer to the treasure, we realize there is nothing better to be had.
My prayer for all of you is that you never give up striving for that Pearl of Great price and that someday you will possess it (545 Words).
1 Kings 3: 5&7-12
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?" The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this--not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right--I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.
Romans 8:28-30
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
Mat 13:44-52
"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Announcements: 16th Sunday Ordinary Year A
Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are a few announcements (for Sunday July 17):
Mission Complete: Here is a picture of the West entrance to Lake Clark Pass as our Cherokee Warrior II was completing its Mission in Bristol Bay. The plane is now parked in Space A5 at the Wasilla airport.
Thank you: Thanx to Brian Venua and Spruce Lynch for sharing their musical talent at the funeral of Olga Marie Ayuluk. The music was wonderful!
Thank you: Thank you to Pat Walsh for welding a part for Pat Durbin and thank you to Pat D. for mowing the cemetery. The grounds were perfect for the funeral of Olga Ayuluk.
My Last Sunday: My last Sunday at Holy Rosary will be the 24th of July. I plan to leave Monday or Tuesday the 25th or 26th to Anchorage to start preparing for my new assignment at Sacred Heart in Wasilla.
Around the Mission: I actually flew our Cherokee through the Lake Clark Pass to Wasilla last week. It was not a great flight. The clouds were low and there was fog and mist. Fortunately the Pass was open but leading up to the pass and leaving the pass, I was Scud running, i.e. around 500 to 600 feet. It started clearing up a few miles west of Wasilla. I did my first daily Mass (pinch hit for Fr. Stan Alley), unloaded some of my belongings in the Wasilla office garage, and flew back on Penair.
Gospel: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a slow growing mustard tree. Please see Homily and Readings below.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday!
Homily and Readings:
16 Ord A DLG 2008 Seed, Wisdom 12:13&16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43
The desire to root out evil is a universal temptation for humanity. Look at Hitler’s concentration camps, Stalin’s purges, China’s cultural Revolution, the Spanish Inquisition, and the witch-hunts of medieval Europe. Our human history is littered with the bloody attempts to create by force a pure and uncontaminated society.
Even religion has a desire to create a perfect community of the saved. After all, isn’t the point of faith to strive for perfection and to root out sin?
The gospel tells us that it is not up to us to be the judge of who is evil and who is not. Only God can judge the human heart. Thus, Jesus rejects the witch-hunts, the inquisitions, and the purified races. He says, “Let both weed and wheat grow together, side by side, until the harvest.”
God’s plan is that the Kingdom of God is not to be imposed by force and violence. The parable of the mustard seed helps to explain an important message. Let’s take a look.
Mustard is actually an herb. There seems to be some confusion as to the interpretation of the mustard tree, which came from the mustard seed. There are several different kinds of mustard bushes. The best picture I say was called the Original Mustard tree.
The Kingdom of God grows gradually from small beginnings like a mustard seed.
Such growth needs time and has a rhythm of its own: God’s rhythm!
The effect of the kingdom gradually transforms people from within. In the Gospel of John Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
The seed of the Kingdom of God grows when people respond to it freely, like the leaves soak in the sunlight and the roots take up the water. When there is good soil. When there is a receptive heart. It is then that a person can bring forth a rich harvest of good works.
The seed of the Kingdom of God has great power. It has power to transform both individuals and the world. But never by force and never in a big hurry.
The mustard seed grows slowly. It represents patience. The lord is patient in order to allow us to respond to his love. The seed of God inside of us needs time to ripen and to grow. God has patience in us because he believes in us. He give us time so that our true selves may flourish.
God’s patience allows us to fail a few times. Like the parable of the sower last week, there were three failures, the seed on the path, seed on rocks, and seeds in thorns. Finally, the seed fell on rich soil. God has patience so that we will eventually choose the life-giving wheat, rather than the life-choking weeds.
The way of Jesus and all of us, is not to do violence to ourselves or to others. Our way is to allow God’s gentle and persistent love to bring forth a harvest of good works within us. To grow from a little tiny mustard seed, to a beautiful tree: focus on good. Allow God’s Kingdom to grow within you. Let God transform you.
So, let us rejoice this day because our lord is patient, mild of judgment, and gives us time to grow into beautiful people (561 Words).
Wisdom 12:13&16-19
For neither is there any god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; And you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.
Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.
Matthew 13:24-43
He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'" He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world)." Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.
Mission Complete: Here is a picture of the West entrance to Lake Clark Pass as our Cherokee Warrior II was completing its Mission in Bristol Bay. The plane is now parked in Space A5 at the Wasilla airport.
Thank you: Thanx to Brian Venua and Spruce Lynch for sharing their musical talent at the funeral of Olga Marie Ayuluk. The music was wonderful!
Thank you: Thank you to Pat Walsh for welding a part for Pat Durbin and thank you to Pat D. for mowing the cemetery. The grounds were perfect for the funeral of Olga Ayuluk.
My Last Sunday: My last Sunday at Holy Rosary will be the 24th of July. I plan to leave Monday or Tuesday the 25th or 26th to Anchorage to start preparing for my new assignment at Sacred Heart in Wasilla.
Around the Mission: I actually flew our Cherokee through the Lake Clark Pass to Wasilla last week. It was not a great flight. The clouds were low and there was fog and mist. Fortunately the Pass was open but leading up to the pass and leaving the pass, I was Scud running, i.e. around 500 to 600 feet. It started clearing up a few miles west of Wasilla. I did my first daily Mass (pinch hit for Fr. Stan Alley), unloaded some of my belongings in the Wasilla office garage, and flew back on Penair.
Gospel: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a slow growing mustard tree. Please see Homily and Readings below.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday!
Homily and Readings:
16 Ord A DLG 2008 Seed, Wisdom 12:13&16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43
The desire to root out evil is a universal temptation for humanity. Look at Hitler’s concentration camps, Stalin’s purges, China’s cultural Revolution, the Spanish Inquisition, and the witch-hunts of medieval Europe. Our human history is littered with the bloody attempts to create by force a pure and uncontaminated society.
Even religion has a desire to create a perfect community of the saved. After all, isn’t the point of faith to strive for perfection and to root out sin?
The gospel tells us that it is not up to us to be the judge of who is evil and who is not. Only God can judge the human heart. Thus, Jesus rejects the witch-hunts, the inquisitions, and the purified races. He says, “Let both weed and wheat grow together, side by side, until the harvest.”
God’s plan is that the Kingdom of God is not to be imposed by force and violence. The parable of the mustard seed helps to explain an important message. Let’s take a look.
Mustard is actually an herb. There seems to be some confusion as to the interpretation of the mustard tree, which came from the mustard seed. There are several different kinds of mustard bushes. The best picture I say was called the Original Mustard tree.
The Kingdom of God grows gradually from small beginnings like a mustard seed.
Such growth needs time and has a rhythm of its own: God’s rhythm!
The effect of the kingdom gradually transforms people from within. In the Gospel of John Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
The seed of the Kingdom of God grows when people respond to it freely, like the leaves soak in the sunlight and the roots take up the water. When there is good soil. When there is a receptive heart. It is then that a person can bring forth a rich harvest of good works.
The seed of the Kingdom of God has great power. It has power to transform both individuals and the world. But never by force and never in a big hurry.
The mustard seed grows slowly. It represents patience. The lord is patient in order to allow us to respond to his love. The seed of God inside of us needs time to ripen and to grow. God has patience in us because he believes in us. He give us time so that our true selves may flourish.
God’s patience allows us to fail a few times. Like the parable of the sower last week, there were three failures, the seed on the path, seed on rocks, and seeds in thorns. Finally, the seed fell on rich soil. God has patience so that we will eventually choose the life-giving wheat, rather than the life-choking weeds.
The way of Jesus and all of us, is not to do violence to ourselves or to others. Our way is to allow God’s gentle and persistent love to bring forth a harvest of good works within us. To grow from a little tiny mustard seed, to a beautiful tree: focus on good. Allow God’s Kingdom to grow within you. Let God transform you.
So, let us rejoice this day because our lord is patient, mild of judgment, and gives us time to grow into beautiful people (561 Words).
Wisdom 12:13&16-19
For neither is there any god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; And you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.
Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.
Matthew 13:24-43
He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'" He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world)." Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Announcements: 15th Sunday Ordinary Time Yr A
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Gospel: The Parable of the Sower is easily applied to our daily lives. Please see the homily and readings below.
Altar Serving: Three girls were fast tracked to Altar Serving. All three celebrated First Communion on the 29th of May. Lotus altar served for the first time two weeks later on Sunday, June 12 and Katelynn and Alethia five weeks later on Sunday July 3rd. Each girl received about an hour of training and was helped during the Mass by experienced Altar Servers Anthony Reynolds and Brian Venua.
Below Katelynn (left) and Alethia (right) pose for a picture.
Katelynn on her first day altar serving:
Alethia on her first day Altar Serving.
Final Week: My last Sunday Mass will be July 24th. I will be actually leaving for Sacred Heart in Wasilla sometime between Tuesday the 26 of July and Friday the 27th.
Thank you: Thank you to Bernie Venua for helping take down the unleaded fuel tank on the property. The tank was becoming a safety hazard due to its concrete base becoming eroded after 30 some years.
Around the Mission: It was a slow week for flying. The fog was unpredictable and moved in and out throughout each day. I flew to King Salmon on Penair and cancelled Clarks Point. I hope to fly to Kokiganek, Clarks Point, and Ekuk before I have to fly the Cherokee to Wasilla.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott
Homily and Announcements:
15th Ord A DLG 2011, Environment, Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23
When I was growing up, my mother was continually telling me to turn off the lights in the house. She reminded me not to waste food because there were children starving in other countries. Born during the depression era, my mother learned to save and conserve.
The readings today point to the environment. They talk about Rain, snow, seeds, sowers, fertile soil, and rich ground. We hear a lot about environmental issues these days.
The bottom line is that God asks us to be good stewards of the earth. That means that we must wisely use the resources that are given to us.
Genesis reminds us that all humanity is to care for the earth, not wreck it. Both the New and Old Testaments are filled with the importance of our relationships to the earth.
To explain the parable of the sower, I want to use our environment as an example.
First, facts, figures and recent debates about our planet’s environment fall on the path. We acknowledge there presents, we take them to heart, but in a couple of days we forget about them and take no action.
Second, environment concerns fall on rocky ground. In other words, we are not receptive to hearing anything that might demand a change in our lifestyle. Something that lessens our comfort is out of the question.
Third, environmental issues fall among thorns. This one probably describes me the best. I have other priorities…other issues that must be dealt with. It is not that important right now and it can wait for another generation.
Fourth, what experts say about the environment falls on fertile soil. We want to do whatever we can to see that the earth continues to bear fruit for as many generations as God intends. We do our small part to help that to happen.
Here is another take on the parable of the sower. The sower failed three times out of four. He succeeded on the fourth try.
Look at Jesus. Jesus’ crucifixion failed for three days. Finally, he was raised. Jesus failed to win over the Pharisees and tax collectors. He failed to defend himself in front of Pilate and Herod. It was only after the Resurrection and the ultimate sign of salvation that he succeeded. Once the fourth try was complete, it brought about great results
The first three steps of the parable fail, the last one succeeds. There is a 25 percent success rate.
Here are the four spiritual steps: We fail, we listen, we learn, and we grow. There are four seeds and one out of every seed grows.
What this means is that it is Ok to fail three times. It is OK to fail, as long as we TRY and do our best to de better the next time. Never give up! The Key word is TRY…keep trying.
The Lord asks us to try, not necessarily succeed. Mother Theresa said, “Jesus does not ask us to be successful, but to be faithful.
The message today is clear: Be good stewards of the earth. Appreciate what God has given us. Take care of our resources. Cut down on waste. If we have failed at doing our part, don’t give up. Keep trying (537 Words).
Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Romans 8:18-23
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Matthew 13:1-23
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold."
Gospel: The Parable of the Sower is easily applied to our daily lives. Please see the homily and readings below.
Altar Serving: Three girls were fast tracked to Altar Serving. All three celebrated First Communion on the 29th of May. Lotus altar served for the first time two weeks later on Sunday, June 12 and Katelynn and Alethia five weeks later on Sunday July 3rd. Each girl received about an hour of training and was helped during the Mass by experienced Altar Servers Anthony Reynolds and Brian Venua.
Below Katelynn (left) and Alethia (right) pose for a picture.
Katelynn on her first day altar serving:
Alethia on her first day Altar Serving.
Final Week: My last Sunday Mass will be July 24th. I will be actually leaving for Sacred Heart in Wasilla sometime between Tuesday the 26 of July and Friday the 27th.
Thank you: Thank you to Bernie Venua for helping take down the unleaded fuel tank on the property. The tank was becoming a safety hazard due to its concrete base becoming eroded after 30 some years.
Around the Mission: It was a slow week for flying. The fog was unpredictable and moved in and out throughout each day. I flew to King Salmon on Penair and cancelled Clarks Point. I hope to fly to Kokiganek, Clarks Point, and Ekuk before I have to fly the Cherokee to Wasilla.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott
Homily and Announcements:
15th Ord A DLG 2011, Environment, Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23
When I was growing up, my mother was continually telling me to turn off the lights in the house. She reminded me not to waste food because there were children starving in other countries. Born during the depression era, my mother learned to save and conserve.
The readings today point to the environment. They talk about Rain, snow, seeds, sowers, fertile soil, and rich ground. We hear a lot about environmental issues these days.
The bottom line is that God asks us to be good stewards of the earth. That means that we must wisely use the resources that are given to us.
Genesis reminds us that all humanity is to care for the earth, not wreck it. Both the New and Old Testaments are filled with the importance of our relationships to the earth.
To explain the parable of the sower, I want to use our environment as an example.
First, facts, figures and recent debates about our planet’s environment fall on the path. We acknowledge there presents, we take them to heart, but in a couple of days we forget about them and take no action.
Second, environment concerns fall on rocky ground. In other words, we are not receptive to hearing anything that might demand a change in our lifestyle. Something that lessens our comfort is out of the question.
Third, environmental issues fall among thorns. This one probably describes me the best. I have other priorities…other issues that must be dealt with. It is not that important right now and it can wait for another generation.
Fourth, what experts say about the environment falls on fertile soil. We want to do whatever we can to see that the earth continues to bear fruit for as many generations as God intends. We do our small part to help that to happen.
Here is another take on the parable of the sower. The sower failed three times out of four. He succeeded on the fourth try.
Look at Jesus. Jesus’ crucifixion failed for three days. Finally, he was raised. Jesus failed to win over the Pharisees and tax collectors. He failed to defend himself in front of Pilate and Herod. It was only after the Resurrection and the ultimate sign of salvation that he succeeded. Once the fourth try was complete, it brought about great results
The first three steps of the parable fail, the last one succeeds. There is a 25 percent success rate.
Here are the four spiritual steps: We fail, we listen, we learn, and we grow. There are four seeds and one out of every seed grows.
What this means is that it is Ok to fail three times. It is OK to fail, as long as we TRY and do our best to de better the next time. Never give up! The Key word is TRY…keep trying.
The Lord asks us to try, not necessarily succeed. Mother Theresa said, “Jesus does not ask us to be successful, but to be faithful.
The message today is clear: Be good stewards of the earth. Appreciate what God has given us. Take care of our resources. Cut down on waste. If we have failed at doing our part, don’t give up. Keep trying (537 Words).
Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Romans 8:18-23
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Matthew 13:1-23
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold."
Monday, June 27, 2011
Announcements: 14th Sunday Ordinary Time Yr A
Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are some announcements:
Holy Rosary Collection: The collection for Sunday, June 26, 2011 was $153.00.
New Altar Servers: Three new altar servers are preparing, Katelyn, Alethia, and Lotus. Hopefully they will be up and running in the next couple of weeks.
Prayers: Please keep my friends Eric and Dawn in your prayers. Dawn's mother passed away Sunday, June 26. Also, pray for Pat Durbin as he is having a check up done in Anchorage. Pat should be back June 29.
Fr. Nelson's Adventures: While visiting in Bristol Bay, Fr. Nelson was able to fly to King Salmon twice, Naknek, Clarks point twice, and Ekuk. We managed to get locked INSIDE our Cherokee Warrior II and could not get out. We blessed a fishing camp, moved a wood stove into Saint Peter the Fisherman in Clarks Point, and caught a net full of Red Salmon. Please see our website for more: holyrosaryalaska.org.
Mission Definition: Financially, Holy Rosary has three budgets, one for Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Dillingham, one for Saint Theresa (a mission of Holy Rosary), and one for Saint Paul Mission (includes all the other villages in the area).
Homily and Readings:
14th Ord A 2011, Debt, Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30
(Show Credit Card) Isn’t it easy to get into financial debt these days? Being a priest, I am not immune from debt. Diocesan priests do not have to take a vow of poverty. However, we must strive for simplicity of life. As a diocesan priest, the parish pays for my car expenses, housing, and food. I am only responsible for my personal expenses, such as entertainment, running shoes, cloths, books, and toothpaste. So I don’t have a lot of large expenses except for my I Alaska student loan.
Currently I receive a stipend of about 1,400 per month after taxes. Two years ago it was 700 per month. I get more, but I have to pay small business tax, which comes out to about 450 per month. I try to save half of my stipend for my retirement. I have five IRA Roth mutual funds. I also own five acres of land in central Oregon, which overlooks the Cascade Mountains.
Before becoming a priest, I was always in debt. Financial debt dictated my life. Financial debt stresses me out. When I am in debt, I panic, and worry…it is like a huge weight on my shoulders.
We deal with debt everyday. Believe it or not, our spiritual lives are based on debt. We are all in debt to God. God chose us to belong to him. We are dependent on God for everything we need.
Being in debt financially means the deeper in dept the worse off we are. Spiritual debt is different. The deeper in debt we are, the better off we are. Here is why.
By definition, debtors are the poor of spirit, the humble, and the meek. The poor cannot own, rule, or conquer. God prefers the childlike and the powerless. The poor are truly deep in dept to God for everything.
In the reading from Romans, Paul tells us “because we have the Spirit of Christ we are debtors of God.” We are under obligation to God alone…we belong to God…Everyone is in God’s debt!
There is immense hope when we are in debt to God. Spiritual debt is fantastic because it has huge payoffs. God will NEVER abandon us. Our sins will always be forgiven if we are sorry for them and we ask. The deeper in spiritual debt we get, the more we rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance…the more we pray…the more truly we believe…the more strongly we hope…the more generously we will receive.
Being in debt to God is the only true freedom in life. Debt actually frees us.
Here is a thought…the more spiritual debt we get into, the less financial debt we have…well, its just a thought. It definitely held true for me.
In the gospel Jesus is talking to those of us who have very little spiritual debt. He tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and you will find rest.
One thing is for sure: it is easy to get into financial debt. It is a bit tougher to get into spiritual debt. But here is how we do it! We do it by sticking up for our Catholic Faith…By being generous with our time and our God given gifts. We get deeper into spiritual debt by loving our enemies.
Here is how to max out our spiritual visa cards: The greatest offering we can make to God is to strive for peace and harmony among fellow Christians. Work toward being united with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This week, get deeper into debt with God and get a huge refund. For my yolk is easy…says our lord…and my burden is light (611 Words).
Zechariah 9:9-10
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Romans 8:9, 11-13
But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Holy Rosary Collection: The collection for Sunday, June 26, 2011 was $153.00.
New Altar Servers: Three new altar servers are preparing, Katelyn, Alethia, and Lotus. Hopefully they will be up and running in the next couple of weeks.
Prayers: Please keep my friends Eric and Dawn in your prayers. Dawn's mother passed away Sunday, June 26. Also, pray for Pat Durbin as he is having a check up done in Anchorage. Pat should be back June 29.
Fr. Nelson's Adventures: While visiting in Bristol Bay, Fr. Nelson was able to fly to King Salmon twice, Naknek, Clarks point twice, and Ekuk. We managed to get locked INSIDE our Cherokee Warrior II and could not get out. We blessed a fishing camp, moved a wood stove into Saint Peter the Fisherman in Clarks Point, and caught a net full of Red Salmon. Please see our website for more: holyrosaryalaska.org.
Mission Definition: Financially, Holy Rosary has three budgets, one for Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Dillingham, one for Saint Theresa (a mission of Holy Rosary), and one for Saint Paul Mission (includes all the other villages in the area).
Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
14th Ord A 2011, Debt, Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30
(Show Credit Card) Isn’t it easy to get into financial debt these days? Being a priest, I am not immune from debt. Diocesan priests do not have to take a vow of poverty. However, we must strive for simplicity of life. As a diocesan priest, the parish pays for my car expenses, housing, and food. I am only responsible for my personal expenses, such as entertainment, running shoes, cloths, books, and toothpaste. So I don’t have a lot of large expenses except for my I Alaska student loan.
Currently I receive a stipend of about 1,400 per month after taxes. Two years ago it was 700 per month. I get more, but I have to pay small business tax, which comes out to about 450 per month. I try to save half of my stipend for my retirement. I have five IRA Roth mutual funds. I also own five acres of land in central Oregon, which overlooks the Cascade Mountains.
Before becoming a priest, I was always in debt. Financial debt dictated my life. Financial debt stresses me out. When I am in debt, I panic, and worry…it is like a huge weight on my shoulders.
We deal with debt everyday. Believe it or not, our spiritual lives are based on debt. We are all in debt to God. God chose us to belong to him. We are dependent on God for everything we need.
Being in debt financially means the deeper in dept the worse off we are. Spiritual debt is different. The deeper in debt we are, the better off we are. Here is why.
By definition, debtors are the poor of spirit, the humble, and the meek. The poor cannot own, rule, or conquer. God prefers the childlike and the powerless. The poor are truly deep in dept to God for everything.
In the reading from Romans, Paul tells us “because we have the Spirit of Christ we are debtors of God.” We are under obligation to God alone…we belong to God…Everyone is in God’s debt!
There is immense hope when we are in debt to God. Spiritual debt is fantastic because it has huge payoffs. God will NEVER abandon us. Our sins will always be forgiven if we are sorry for them and we ask. The deeper in spiritual debt we get, the more we rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance…the more we pray…the more truly we believe…the more strongly we hope…the more generously we will receive.
Being in debt to God is the only true freedom in life. Debt actually frees us.
Here is a thought…the more spiritual debt we get into, the less financial debt we have…well, its just a thought. It definitely held true for me.
In the gospel Jesus is talking to those of us who have very little spiritual debt. He tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and you will find rest.
One thing is for sure: it is easy to get into financial debt. It is a bit tougher to get into spiritual debt. But here is how we do it! We do it by sticking up for our Catholic Faith…By being generous with our time and our God given gifts. We get deeper into spiritual debt by loving our enemies.
Here is how to max out our spiritual visa cards: The greatest offering we can make to God is to strive for peace and harmony among fellow Christians. Work toward being united with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This week, get deeper into debt with God and get a huge refund. For my yolk is easy…says our lord…and my burden is light (611 Words).
Zechariah 9:9-10
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Romans 8:9, 11-13
But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Monday, June 20, 2011
Announcements: Body and Blood of Christ
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Gospel: The Bread and Wine is the best offering we as humans have to offer God. Please see the Homily and Readings below.
Fr. Nelson's Visit: Father Nelson visited Bristol Bay for the first time this last week. He will be leaving June 27 to go on vacation back to the Philippines and will return to Bristol Bay in August to start ministry here.
The picture below was taken Friday June 17 at Clarks Point. In the picture are Julian (far left), Shay (far right), Mariano (bottom), and Fr. Nelson (top).
Around the Bush: Fr. Nelson and I flew our Cherokee Warrior II to Clarks Point and King Salmon for Mass. Also, I flew to Ekwok to help a person prepare for Baptism on June 15. This week Fr. Nelson and I plan to fly to Ekuk to bless a fishing camp.
Father's Day Blessing: All the Fathers received a special Father's day blessing during the Mass last Sunday. Thank you to all our Fathers!
Thank you: Thank you to Lotus who altar served for the first time at Mass Sunday June 19th. You did an excellent job Lotus!
Snow Plow: Fr. Nelson had a crash course in snowplowing this week. Although there was no snow, we back-plowed the parking lot gravel and got rid of some chuck holes.
Thank you: Thank you all who prepared food for our potluck last Sunday. It was a great success. Our parishioners were able to welcome Father Nelson and get to talk with him about his time in Alaska.
Sunday Collection of June 19th: Holy Rosary Catholic Church was $170.00.
Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Body and Blood of Christ A DLG 2011, Deuteronomy 8:2-3&14-16; 1Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6: 51-58
Today we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. What we receive during the Eucharist is about sacramental nourishment, spiritual strength, and eternal life. To understand this, let us take a closer look at the bread and wine.
Dieing and Rising: Wheat and grapes grow and “die” only to “rise” again as flour and grape juice. They die and rise again as bread and wine. Bread and wine die as food and rise as nutrition for us giving us life. Jesus died and rose to give us eternal life.
The Best We Have to Offer: When we offer up the gifts at mass, we bring the best that we as human beings have to offer to God. We give bread and wine, which represents communal human effort at it best.
For example, bread is harvested by workers in the field, transported to market by drivers, made into dough by bakers, delivered to stores, marketed, and sold. Bread represents people working together as one to nourish our society.
God and Us: Our gift of bread and wine also represents God’s help. We provide the labor. God provides the atmosphere, the rain, and the miracle of growth. Without God’s touch, there would be no wheat or grapes, no bread, no wine.
During the Consecration, we offer up the bread and wine to God. What does God do? Because God loves us so much, he gives it right back to us…as the body and blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Catholicism is the only Christian religion that believes the bread and wine is transformed. It is not a representation. The priest acts as the person of Jesus, transforming the bread and wine into the ACTUAL body and blood of Christ.
Show and Tell
Before – Loaf of Bread and host
After – Body of Christ – Ciborium – Tabernacle – Pix – Monstrance
When we ingest the actual body and blood of Christ we become Christ-like. This is how we nourish the spirit within us. Spiritual strength comes from having faith that we become Christ-like. Henry Nouwen says, “The Eucharist can be seen only by those who already love the Lord and believe in his active, loving presence to us.”
When we believe, trust, and have faith that we consume the actual body of Christ, it will nourish and strengthen our spirits. The Eucharist becomes armor for going into battle against corruption, injustice, and temptation. We stand together as one baptized community, strengthened by the Eucharist, prepared to go out into the field and fight for our Christian beliefs (421 Words).
Eat This Bread, Breaking Bread
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.
I am the bread of life, the true bread sent from the father
Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but this is the bread come down from heaven.
Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and I will raise you upon the last day.
Anyone who eats this bread, will live for ever.
If you believe and eat this bread, you will have eternal life.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3&14-16
Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments. He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. you then become haughty of heart and unmindful of the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers, that he might afflict you and test you, but also make you prosperous in the end.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
John 6: 51-58
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53 Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:51-58).
Gospel: The Bread and Wine is the best offering we as humans have to offer God. Please see the Homily and Readings below.
Fr. Nelson's Visit: Father Nelson visited Bristol Bay for the first time this last week. He will be leaving June 27 to go on vacation back to the Philippines and will return to Bristol Bay in August to start ministry here.
The picture below was taken Friday June 17 at Clarks Point. In the picture are Julian (far left), Shay (far right), Mariano (bottom), and Fr. Nelson (top).
Around the Bush: Fr. Nelson and I flew our Cherokee Warrior II to Clarks Point and King Salmon for Mass. Also, I flew to Ekwok to help a person prepare for Baptism on June 15. This week Fr. Nelson and I plan to fly to Ekuk to bless a fishing camp.
Father's Day Blessing: All the Fathers received a special Father's day blessing during the Mass last Sunday. Thank you to all our Fathers!
Thank you: Thank you to Lotus who altar served for the first time at Mass Sunday June 19th. You did an excellent job Lotus!
Snow Plow: Fr. Nelson had a crash course in snowplowing this week. Although there was no snow, we back-plowed the parking lot gravel and got rid of some chuck holes.
Thank you: Thank you all who prepared food for our potluck last Sunday. It was a great success. Our parishioners were able to welcome Father Nelson and get to talk with him about his time in Alaska.
Sunday Collection of June 19th: Holy Rosary Catholic Church was $170.00.
Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Body and Blood of Christ A DLG 2011, Deuteronomy 8:2-3&14-16; 1Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6: 51-58
Today we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. What we receive during the Eucharist is about sacramental nourishment, spiritual strength, and eternal life. To understand this, let us take a closer look at the bread and wine.
Dieing and Rising: Wheat and grapes grow and “die” only to “rise” again as flour and grape juice. They die and rise again as bread and wine. Bread and wine die as food and rise as nutrition for us giving us life. Jesus died and rose to give us eternal life.
The Best We Have to Offer: When we offer up the gifts at mass, we bring the best that we as human beings have to offer to God. We give bread and wine, which represents communal human effort at it best.
For example, bread is harvested by workers in the field, transported to market by drivers, made into dough by bakers, delivered to stores, marketed, and sold. Bread represents people working together as one to nourish our society.
God and Us: Our gift of bread and wine also represents God’s help. We provide the labor. God provides the atmosphere, the rain, and the miracle of growth. Without God’s touch, there would be no wheat or grapes, no bread, no wine.
During the Consecration, we offer up the bread and wine to God. What does God do? Because God loves us so much, he gives it right back to us…as the body and blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Catholicism is the only Christian religion that believes the bread and wine is transformed. It is not a representation. The priest acts as the person of Jesus, transforming the bread and wine into the ACTUAL body and blood of Christ.
Show and Tell
Before – Loaf of Bread and host
After – Body of Christ – Ciborium – Tabernacle – Pix – Monstrance
When we ingest the actual body and blood of Christ we become Christ-like. This is how we nourish the spirit within us. Spiritual strength comes from having faith that we become Christ-like. Henry Nouwen says, “The Eucharist can be seen only by those who already love the Lord and believe in his active, loving presence to us.”
When we believe, trust, and have faith that we consume the actual body of Christ, it will nourish and strengthen our spirits. The Eucharist becomes armor for going into battle against corruption, injustice, and temptation. We stand together as one baptized community, strengthened by the Eucharist, prepared to go out into the field and fight for our Christian beliefs (421 Words).
Eat This Bread, Breaking Bread
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.
I am the bread of life, the true bread sent from the father
Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but this is the bread come down from heaven.
Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and I will raise you upon the last day.
Anyone who eats this bread, will live for ever.
If you believe and eat this bread, you will have eternal life.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3&14-16
Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments. He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. you then become haughty of heart and unmindful of the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers, that he might afflict you and test you, but also make you prosperous in the end.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
John 6: 51-58
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53 Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:51-58).
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Announcements: Holy Trinity For June 19, 2011
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Fr. Nelson: Fr. Nelson will be visiting Bristol Bay from June 15 until June 27. He will then vacation in the Philippines for a month or so and return to start ministering to our Bristol Bay Communities. He will spend the first two weeks of each month at Saint Theresa in King Salmon/Naknek and the last two weeks of each month at Holy Rosary in Dillingham.
Potluck: Let us have a potluck for Father Nelson after Mass on Sunday the 19th, this Sunday. Please bring your favorite dish.
Gospel: The Holy Trinity is difficult to understand. Please see Homily and readings below.
Thank you: We developed a few more leaks in the sink in the bathroom and also the drain was pugged up. Pat Durbin spent a few days figuring it out and fixed the problem. The problem came about after fixing one leak, then others started. The joys of a 65 year old rectory. Thank you again Pat for donating your time and talent!
Around the Mission: I flew to Clarks Point and King Salmon in our Cherokee this week. Next week I plan to fly to Ekwok to make preparations for a baptism and to Ekuk on the 21st of June to bless the Ingram fishing camp. I also will fly to Clarks Point and since the weather has warmed up I will have Mass in the small Saint Peter the Fisherman church for the first time this year (it has no heat so I must have mass in people's homes during the winter/Spring).
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Trinity Sun A 2011, DLG Sand, Ex 34:4-6&8-9; 2 Cor 13:11-13; John 3:16-18
There is a well-known legend that St. Augustine of Hippo, while he was planning his great work on the Holy Trinity, was once walking on the seashore when he saw one boy carrying water from the sea and pouring it into a hole which he had dug in the sand. "What are you doing?" said the bishop. "Emptying the sea into this hole." "But how can you empty the sea into that little hole?" "And how can you", said the boy "understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity with your finite human mind?"
Today is Trinity Sunday. Trinity is about unity. Explaining the trinity is not easy. It is the greatest mystery of our faith. It is tough to explain and understand. It is not mathematics. The Holy Trinity is a divine mystery.
Mathematics are finite. They can be figured out. Humans make mathematics. Math is something that is completely within our knowledge. We can use logic to figure it out.
A divine mystery is infinite. We can only partly understand them. Human arguments must be expressed in symbolic language. Our arguments are finite. Humans cannot fully understand Infinite…the unlimited…the endless.
In whatever way we use to portray God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will always be inadequate and incomplete. How can God have three faces and yet exist as one being…one nature and three persons?
Our Catechism states, “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself.” This is tough stuff!
The trinity is three persons but one nature. Here are a couple of inadequate and incomplete ways to think about the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One – The love of the Father and the Son was so great that it brought forth the Holy Spirit.
Two – The Father and the Son exist in a relationship of love. That bond of love that binds them together is the Holy Spirit.
Three – Similarly, the love between a wife and a husband is so great that it brings forth a child.
Saint Patrick famously used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the unity of God in three persons.
Intellectually, we can never solve the problem of one nature and three persons…the Holy Trinity. But, the mystery of the Holy Trinity does not have to be solved. The Holy Trinity is an experience of faith that we are called to encounter throughout our lives.
What most of our founding church fathers settled on when trying to explain the Holy Trinity is this: God is not an idea or a principle. God is a loving relationship. We are invited into that relationship. The idea is to open our hearts to the love of the Holy Spirit. By doing this we are drawn into the loving relationship that exists between the Father and the Son…the very Holy Trinity itself.
The degree to which we understand the feast of the Trinity will be shown in the care we take in our many and varied relationships, be they social, intimate, professional, civic, or international.
Every time we do anything to form new and good relationships, mend those that are broken, help other relationships to be deeper and richer, or just enjoy the ones we have, we get drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Holy Trinity (562 Words).
Exodus 34:4-6&8-9
Moses then cut two stone tablets like the former, and early the next morning he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardons our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."
2 Cor 13:11-13
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Fr. Nelson: Fr. Nelson will be visiting Bristol Bay from June 15 until June 27. He will then vacation in the Philippines for a month or so and return to start ministering to our Bristol Bay Communities. He will spend the first two weeks of each month at Saint Theresa in King Salmon/Naknek and the last two weeks of each month at Holy Rosary in Dillingham.
Potluck: Let us have a potluck for Father Nelson after Mass on Sunday the 19th, this Sunday. Please bring your favorite dish.
Gospel: The Holy Trinity is difficult to understand. Please see Homily and readings below.
Thank you: We developed a few more leaks in the sink in the bathroom and also the drain was pugged up. Pat Durbin spent a few days figuring it out and fixed the problem. The problem came about after fixing one leak, then others started. The joys of a 65 year old rectory. Thank you again Pat for donating your time and talent!
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Trinity Sun A 2011, DLG Sand, Ex 34:4-6&8-9; 2 Cor 13:11-13; John 3:16-18
There is a well-known legend that St. Augustine of Hippo, while he was planning his great work on the Holy Trinity, was once walking on the seashore when he saw one boy carrying water from the sea and pouring it into a hole which he had dug in the sand. "What are you doing?" said the bishop. "Emptying the sea into this hole." "But how can you empty the sea into that little hole?" "And how can you", said the boy "understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity with your finite human mind?"
Today is Trinity Sunday. Trinity is about unity. Explaining the trinity is not easy. It is the greatest mystery of our faith. It is tough to explain and understand. It is not mathematics. The Holy Trinity is a divine mystery.
Mathematics are finite. They can be figured out. Humans make mathematics. Math is something that is completely within our knowledge. We can use logic to figure it out.
A divine mystery is infinite. We can only partly understand them. Human arguments must be expressed in symbolic language. Our arguments are finite. Humans cannot fully understand Infinite…the unlimited…the endless.
In whatever way we use to portray God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will always be inadequate and incomplete. How can God have three faces and yet exist as one being…one nature and three persons?
Our Catechism states, “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself.” This is tough stuff!
The trinity is three persons but one nature. Here are a couple of inadequate and incomplete ways to think about the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One – The love of the Father and the Son was so great that it brought forth the Holy Spirit.
Two – The Father and the Son exist in a relationship of love. That bond of love that binds them together is the Holy Spirit.
Three – Similarly, the love between a wife and a husband is so great that it brings forth a child.
Saint Patrick famously used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the unity of God in three persons.
Intellectually, we can never solve the problem of one nature and three persons…the Holy Trinity. But, the mystery of the Holy Trinity does not have to be solved. The Holy Trinity is an experience of faith that we are called to encounter throughout our lives.
What most of our founding church fathers settled on when trying to explain the Holy Trinity is this: God is not an idea or a principle. God is a loving relationship. We are invited into that relationship. The idea is to open our hearts to the love of the Holy Spirit. By doing this we are drawn into the loving relationship that exists between the Father and the Son…the very Holy Trinity itself.
The degree to which we understand the feast of the Trinity will be shown in the care we take in our many and varied relationships, be they social, intimate, professional, civic, or international.
Every time we do anything to form new and good relationships, mend those that are broken, help other relationships to be deeper and richer, or just enjoy the ones we have, we get drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Holy Trinity (562 Words).
Exodus 34:4-6&8-9
Moses then cut two stone tablets like the former, and early the next morning he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardons our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."
2 Cor 13:11-13
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Announcements: Pentecost For June 12, 2011
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Baptism: Justine Wassily holds Trista Jean Nicole Wassily, the newest member of our Catholic Church. Esther Floresta (left) is the Godmother. The baptism took place at Holy Rosary in Dillingham, June 5, 2011.
One Bread One Body: Thank you for all of your generous support. We have almost reached our goal of $2,000!
Fr. Nelson: Fr. Nelson will be coming for a two week visit starting June 15. He will than leave to go on vacation to the Philippines and return August 14 to begin his assignment here.
Gospel: Pentecost is about receiving the Holy Spirit. God took stock in us to protect His investment. He did that by sending us the Holy Spirit. Please see the homily and readings below.
Fleet Blessing: Thank you Angela and Robert Clark for organizing the 24th annual Dillingham Blessing of the Fleet. It was a wonderful occasion for all. I was very pleased with the turn out of the community, especially for the support of all the pastors.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Pentecost, DLG. 2007, God Stock; Acts 2: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7&12-13; John 20:19-23
Today is Pentecost. It’s the day when God sent his spirit among the people. Why did he send his spirit? I would like to explore this question by using an analogy of the Stock Market. Imagine for a minute that we are Stocks that God owns
If we were God’s Stock in OT times, we might have been called preferred stock. After all, there were only a few chosen people that God bought stock in, for example, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and King David to name a few.
Being God’s stock in the OT meant that if we did not follow God’s rules, God would give us another chance, buy us back, or redeem us. The Israelites, on the way to the promise Land, lost faith in God and turned to sin many times. But the merciful God was always there to buy back his shares and give his chosen another chance.
During Jesus’ life, God’s Stock portfolio expanded. Jesus message was that God wanted to buy stock in every human individual, not just a few chosen people. In the financial industry, the term “diversified portfolio” is used when a smart investor buys several different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
God’s new portfolio was well diversified because it included people from all over the world. It included people of every age and race. And God paid a high price for us. His only son, Jesus, died for our sins on the cross and redeemed us.
This brings us to Pentecost. In the finance industry, I might say that God sent the HS to protect his stock, that is, each of us. In a sense, he did. God has to protect each of us so we don’t go astray, so we don’t become lost.
In the spiritual world, I think God sent the HS at Pentecost because he loved us so much. The HS is a gift to help us gain eternal life. The HS gives us the strength to stave off anything life has to throw at us. It helps us to sift through the garbage in our daily lives and choose what is right, and true, and good. The HS nudges and badgers us to do the honorable thing.
Have you ever been in a situation when you knew you had to do something but you really didn’t want to? Have you ever had to confront a person at work who has been bothering you? Have you ever needed a change in your life but you couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was you needed to do? Well I have. Should I quit my job and go to college? Should I go to the seminary? Should I say something about the unethical acts going on in the work place?
If we are in touch with the HS and if we allow this free gift from God to work through us, to guide, strengthen, and teach us, then we will have the answers and the motivation to take the right action.
To conclude, ask yourself, how am I performing in God’s portfolio? Am I increasing in value, decreasing, or staying the same? Do I call on the HS in times of confusion and actively seek the good? Or do I just do what everybody else is doing? Heavenly Father may the HS you sent us at Pentecost inspire our actions and lead us to everlasting life (575 Words).
Acts 2: 1-11
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."
1 Corinthians 12:3-7&12-13
Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Baptism: Justine Wassily holds Trista Jean Nicole Wassily, the newest member of our Catholic Church. Esther Floresta (left) is the Godmother. The baptism took place at Holy Rosary in Dillingham, June 5, 2011.
One Bread One Body: Thank you for all of your generous support. We have almost reached our goal of $2,000!
Fr. Nelson: Fr. Nelson will be coming for a two week visit starting June 15. He will than leave to go on vacation to the Philippines and return August 14 to begin his assignment here.
Gospel: Pentecost is about receiving the Holy Spirit. God took stock in us to protect His investment. He did that by sending us the Holy Spirit. Please see the homily and readings below.
Fleet Blessing: Thank you Angela and Robert Clark for organizing the 24th annual Dillingham Blessing of the Fleet. It was a wonderful occasion for all. I was very pleased with the turn out of the community, especially for the support of all the pastors.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Pentecost, DLG. 2007, God Stock; Acts 2: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7&12-13; John 20:19-23
Today is Pentecost. It’s the day when God sent his spirit among the people. Why did he send his spirit? I would like to explore this question by using an analogy of the Stock Market. Imagine for a minute that we are Stocks that God owns
If we were God’s Stock in OT times, we might have been called preferred stock. After all, there were only a few chosen people that God bought stock in, for example, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and King David to name a few.
Being God’s stock in the OT meant that if we did not follow God’s rules, God would give us another chance, buy us back, or redeem us. The Israelites, on the way to the promise Land, lost faith in God and turned to sin many times. But the merciful God was always there to buy back his shares and give his chosen another chance.
During Jesus’ life, God’s Stock portfolio expanded. Jesus message was that God wanted to buy stock in every human individual, not just a few chosen people. In the financial industry, the term “diversified portfolio” is used when a smart investor buys several different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
God’s new portfolio was well diversified because it included people from all over the world. It included people of every age and race. And God paid a high price for us. His only son, Jesus, died for our sins on the cross and redeemed us.
This brings us to Pentecost. In the finance industry, I might say that God sent the HS to protect his stock, that is, each of us. In a sense, he did. God has to protect each of us so we don’t go astray, so we don’t become lost.
In the spiritual world, I think God sent the HS at Pentecost because he loved us so much. The HS is a gift to help us gain eternal life. The HS gives us the strength to stave off anything life has to throw at us. It helps us to sift through the garbage in our daily lives and choose what is right, and true, and good. The HS nudges and badgers us to do the honorable thing.
Have you ever been in a situation when you knew you had to do something but you really didn’t want to? Have you ever had to confront a person at work who has been bothering you? Have you ever needed a change in your life but you couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was you needed to do? Well I have. Should I quit my job and go to college? Should I go to the seminary? Should I say something about the unethical acts going on in the work place?
If we are in touch with the HS and if we allow this free gift from God to work through us, to guide, strengthen, and teach us, then we will have the answers and the motivation to take the right action.
To conclude, ask yourself, how am I performing in God’s portfolio? Am I increasing in value, decreasing, or staying the same? Do I call on the HS in times of confusion and actively seek the good? Or do I just do what everybody else is doing? Heavenly Father may the HS you sent us at Pentecost inspire our actions and lead us to everlasting life (575 Words).
Acts 2: 1-11
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."
1 Corinthians 12:3-7&12-13
Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Friday, June 3, 2011
New Catholic Priest Coming to Bristol Bay
Fr. Nelson Marilag from the Philippines, who is assigned to the Archdiocese of Anchorage for one more year, will be assigned to Bristol Bay.
Fr. Nelson will be visiting Holy Rosary Mission the last two weeks of June. I will be introducing him to the communities of Saint Theresa, Saint Peter the Fisherman, and Holy Rosary. He will then fly to the Philippines for a little over a month for a vacation. He will return to Holy Rosary Mission the second week in August.
The plan is to have Fr. Nelson stay at Saint Theresa in Naknek the first two weeks of every month and then stay at Holy Rosary in Dillingham for the second two weeks of every month.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Fr. Nelson will be visiting Holy Rosary Mission the last two weeks of June. I will be introducing him to the communities of Saint Theresa, Saint Peter the Fisherman, and Holy Rosary. He will then fly to the Philippines for a little over a month for a vacation. He will return to Holy Rosary Mission the second week in August.
The plan is to have Fr. Nelson stay at Saint Theresa in Naknek the first two weeks of every month and then stay at Holy Rosary in Dillingham for the second two weeks of every month.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Announcements: Ascension of the Lord
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Blessing of the Fleet: This coming Sunday, June 5, will be the blessing of the fleet. Please contact Angela Clark if you would like to donate some of your time and talent. The Blessing will be after Mass at 2:00 PM.
Blessing of the Fleet: This coming Sunday, June 5, will be the blessing of the fleet. Please contact Angela Clark if you would like to donate some of your time and talent. The Blessing will be after Mass at 2:00 PM.
Confirmation and First Communion Pics: Please see our website for the pictures or CLICK HERE.
Thank you: Thank you to Archbishop Schwietz and Deacon Harry Moore for a wonder celebration of First Communion and Confirmation. Please hurry back!
Gospel: The Ascension will be celebrated in place of the 7th Sunday of Easter. Please see the homily and readings below.
Around the Mission: I flew to Clarks Point on Friday and the archbishop, Deacon and Harry, and I flew to Saint Theresa on Saturday. I flew to Anchorage on Monday, round trip, six and one half hours. I was going to spend the night in Anchorage but a storm was coming in so I got back the same day. I had time to pick up my new Tacoma and park it in our hanger at Merrill Field.
Thank you: Pat Durbin and Deacon Harry fixed a drain in our Rectory. I had tried several times but the pipe was clogged somewhere beyond my ability to fix it.
Thank you: Thank you to Archbishop Schwietz and Deacon Harry Moore for a wonder celebration of First Communion and Confirmation. Please hurry back!
Thank you: Thank you Nora Johnson for putting out the flowers on the church steps again this year.
Gospel: The Ascension will be celebrated in place of the 7th Sunday of Easter. Please see the homily and readings below.
Around the Mission: I flew to Clarks Point on Friday and the archbishop, Deacon and Harry, and I flew to Saint Theresa on Saturday. I flew to Anchorage on Monday, round trip, six and one half hours. I was going to spend the night in Anchorage but a storm was coming in so I got back the same day. I had time to pick up my new Tacoma and park it in our hanger at Merrill Field.
Thank you: Pat Durbin and Deacon Harry fixed a drain in our Rectory. I had tried several times but the pipe was clogged somewhere beyond my ability to fix it.
Have a fantastic week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
Ascension, Year A, DLG 2011, Hearts Ascend, Acts 1: 1-11; Eph 1: 17 23; Mat 28: 16-20
Ask children to come up front and hold each card. Ask for volunteers to put these cards in order:
1. Walk on Water
2. Assumption
3. Crucifixion
4. Resurrection
5. Last Supper
6. Presentation
7. Incarnation
8. Annunciation
9. 10 Commandments
10. Ascension
The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is divine. Jesus is glorified. Although his physical body is not present with us, he is still present in us. We experience that presence in our daily lives.
Saint Augustine helped me to understand the Ascension. He said that Christ ascended into heaven. As humans living on earth our bodies do not ascend, but our hearts ascend to Jesus. We naturally seek Jesus above. Saint Augustine says we can be with Jesus right now through love.
Saint Augustine said that since Jesus is God, it is easy for him to be with us right now. Since Christ Ascended, he said, and he is the head of us and we are the body, we can NEVER be separated.
Acts tells us, “Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit. Although his physical body is not visibly present…Jesus is certainly present in each one of us right now. Our role in the Ascension is to make that presence visible to everyone that we meet (223 Words).
Acts 1: 1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days 2 and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father 3 about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going 4 to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
Ephesians 1: 17-23
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, 11 the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Mat 28: 16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Homily and Readings:
Ascension, Year A, DLG 2011, Hearts Ascend, Acts 1: 1-11; Eph 1: 17 23; Mat 28: 16-20
Ask children to come up front and hold each card. Ask for volunteers to put these cards in order:
1. Walk on Water
2. Assumption
3. Crucifixion
4. Resurrection
5. Last Supper
6. Presentation
7. Incarnation
8. Annunciation
9. 10 Commandments
10. Ascension
The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is divine. Jesus is glorified. Although his physical body is not present with us, he is still present in us. We experience that presence in our daily lives.
Saint Augustine helped me to understand the Ascension. He said that Christ ascended into heaven. As humans living on earth our bodies do not ascend, but our hearts ascend to Jesus. We naturally seek Jesus above. Saint Augustine says we can be with Jesus right now through love.
Saint Augustine said that since Jesus is God, it is easy for him to be with us right now. Since Christ Ascended, he said, and he is the head of us and we are the body, we can NEVER be separated.
Acts tells us, “Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit. Although his physical body is not visibly present…Jesus is certainly present in each one of us right now. Our role in the Ascension is to make that presence visible to everyone that we meet (223 Words).
Acts 1: 1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days 2 and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father 3 about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going 4 to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
Ephesians 1: 17-23
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, 11 the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Mat 28: 16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Announcements: 6th Sunday of Easter Year A
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Town Hall Meeting: Thank you for the great turn-out for our meeting and for making Fr. Scott the greater fee. welcome. After the meeting, and after talking with Fr. Scott the greater further, I walked away with a very good feeling about the care and love the Archdiocese has for Bristol Bay. We came up with some great ideas to propose to the Archbishop and I am confident that all of you were listened to and understood.
Potluck and Reception: After Mass this week there will be a potluck for those to be confirmed and those receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish.
Archbishop and Deacon to visit: Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore from Saint Michael in Palmer, will be celebrating with us this week-end. They will be arriving on Penair on the first morning flight, Friday, May 27. If you can, let's welcome them at the airport, especially those being confirmed.
Around the Mission: Lance, a Catholic who works for the FAA in our Dillingham Flight Service Station, flew with me to Saint Theresa in King Salmon on Saturday. We all had Mass together (Saturday May 21). I shared with the King Salmon/Naknek parishioners some of the things we talked about at our town hall meeting the evening of May 26th.
Have a wonderful week and please pray for those being confirmed Johanna, Brian, Josh, Anthony, Walter, Daniel, and those receiving First Communion (Katelynn, Alethia, Lotus, Aurora). Also check out my beach landing video by CLICKING HERE. Fr. Scott
Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
6th Easter Sun A 2011, Law of Love; Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21
Today I am going to talk about the two L’s and the two S’s: The Law of Love and Sacrificed and Self-Control.
First of all, law is not the enemy of love. Freedom and Joy do not always equal love. Believe it or not, obedience to Jesus’ commands equates to love.
Obedience comes from the Latin Word oboedire, meaning to “listen carefully.” In other words, obedience means to listen to the Holy Spirit’s call in our lives.
The law that we have to listen to is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That is the law. We are obedient when we follow this law.
Saint Paul says this about the Law of Love, “The law of love is not primarily revealed in what we say, or how we feel, but in what we do.”
This is how we are obedient to the law of love: When we are patient, kind, and gentle with each other. When we forgive each other, tell the truth, and remain faithful.
Saint Paul also tells us what the fruits of the law of love is: The two S’s, sacrifice and Self control. Believe it or not, if it feels good do it, or it healthy to always express your feelings, is not always the ideal thing to do.
For example, if we are angry with our friends or family, abusing them verbally or physically won’t help. If we are sexually attracted to our best friend’s spouse, having an affair will end in tears.
Sacrifice is a way to be obedient to the Law of Love. For example, be alert to the poverty and make a sacrifice some of your time and wealth to help. That is sacrificing for the Law of Love. Ask a married couple what sacrifice is…it is not that easy. A husband and wife sacrifice for the good of the family. That is the Law of Love.
Self-control is an ally of love. It helps us sort out the appropriate time to undertake the appropriate action. The path to happiness is not being free, doing what we want, and always having money to buy things. The path to happiness is being self-controlled.
Self-control is not easy. Ask any professional athlete what it is like to practice everyday. Self-control is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.
The main benefit of self-control is being able to be in charge of one’s emotional life rather that it being in charge of us.
Here is an example of self-control: Judy set five easily obtained goals for herself. She promised to say one Hail Mary and one Our Father daily. She vowed, no matter what, to exercise four times a week for one hour. She made certain she ate fruit and vegetables everyday. She made Sunday Mass a priority, not a choice. She decided to start each morning by reading a passage from one of the gospels.
After accomplishing these goals week after week, she felt fantastic. She took control of her emotions. She was content with herself and felt very good about herself. Her self-esteem soared. She was being obedient to the law of love.
This week, may all of us embrace sacrifice and self-control as the doors to an even greater practical experience of the Risen Christ’s Law of Love (570 Words).
Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17
Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3: 15-18
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
John 14: 15-21
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Gospel: The two L's and the two S's are important to our spiritual development. Please see homily and readings below.
Town Hall Meeting: Thank you for the great turn-out for our meeting and for making Fr. Scott the greater fee. welcome. After the meeting, and after talking with Fr. Scott the greater further, I walked away with a very good feeling about the care and love the Archdiocese has for Bristol Bay. We came up with some great ideas to propose to the Archbishop and I am confident that all of you were listened to and understood.
Potluck and Reception: After Mass this week there will be a potluck for those to be confirmed and those receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish.
Archbishop and Deacon to visit: Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore from Saint Michael in Palmer, will be celebrating with us this week-end. They will be arriving on Penair on the first morning flight, Friday, May 27. If you can, let's welcome them at the airport, especially those being confirmed.
Around the Mission: Lance, a Catholic who works for the FAA in our Dillingham Flight Service Station, flew with me to Saint Theresa in King Salmon on Saturday. We all had Mass together (Saturday May 21). I shared with the King Salmon/Naknek parishioners some of the things we talked about at our town hall meeting the evening of May 26th.
Have a wonderful week and please pray for those being confirmed Johanna, Brian, Josh, Anthony, Walter, Daniel, and those receiving First Communion (Katelynn, Alethia, Lotus, Aurora). Also check out my beach landing video by CLICKING HERE. Fr. Scott
Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings:
6th Easter Sun A 2011, Law of Love; Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21
Today I am going to talk about the two L’s and the two S’s: The Law of Love and Sacrificed and Self-Control.
First of all, law is not the enemy of love. Freedom and Joy do not always equal love. Believe it or not, obedience to Jesus’ commands equates to love.
Obedience comes from the Latin Word oboedire, meaning to “listen carefully.” In other words, obedience means to listen to the Holy Spirit’s call in our lives.
The law that we have to listen to is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That is the law. We are obedient when we follow this law.
Saint Paul says this about the Law of Love, “The law of love is not primarily revealed in what we say, or how we feel, but in what we do.”
This is how we are obedient to the law of love: When we are patient, kind, and gentle with each other. When we forgive each other, tell the truth, and remain faithful.
Saint Paul also tells us what the fruits of the law of love is: The two S’s, sacrifice and Self control. Believe it or not, if it feels good do it, or it healthy to always express your feelings, is not always the ideal thing to do.
For example, if we are angry with our friends or family, abusing them verbally or physically won’t help. If we are sexually attracted to our best friend’s spouse, having an affair will end in tears.
Sacrifice is a way to be obedient to the Law of Love. For example, be alert to the poverty and make a sacrifice some of your time and wealth to help. That is sacrificing for the Law of Love. Ask a married couple what sacrifice is…it is not that easy. A husband and wife sacrifice for the good of the family. That is the Law of Love.
Self-control is an ally of love. It helps us sort out the appropriate time to undertake the appropriate action. The path to happiness is not being free, doing what we want, and always having money to buy things. The path to happiness is being self-controlled.
Self-control is not easy. Ask any professional athlete what it is like to practice everyday. Self-control is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.
The main benefit of self-control is being able to be in charge of one’s emotional life rather that it being in charge of us.
Here is an example of self-control: Judy set five easily obtained goals for herself. She promised to say one Hail Mary and one Our Father daily. She vowed, no matter what, to exercise four times a week for one hour. She made certain she ate fruit and vegetables everyday. She made Sunday Mass a priority, not a choice. She decided to start each morning by reading a passage from one of the gospels.
After accomplishing these goals week after week, she felt fantastic. She took control of her emotions. She was content with herself and felt very good about herself. Her self-esteem soared. She was being obedient to the law of love.
This week, may all of us embrace sacrifice and self-control as the doors to an even greater practical experience of the Risen Christ’s Law of Love (570 Words).
Acts 8: 5-8 & 14-17
Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3: 15-18
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
John 14: 15-21
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Announcements: 5th Sunday of Easter Year A
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are some important announcements:
Town Hall Meeting: Fr. Scot Medlock, Vicar of Clergy, will be visiting us from Anchorage, Thursday, May 19, 2011. He wants to assess our needs as a parish mission in order to better evaluate who will be replacing me as pastor. The plan is to gather at Holy Rosary Parish at 5:30 PM (unless otherwise announced). Please bring you favorite dish for a potluck afterward. All are invited to this important informative meeting!
Confirmation: Confirmation will be May 28 at noon at Saint Theresa and May 29 at 12:30 at Holy Rosary. Please bring your favorite dish for a Potluck afterward.
First Communion: Our first communion celebration will be May 28 at Saint Theresa and May 29 at Holy Rosary. Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore will be present to celebrate with us.
My Mistake Gospel: I published the readings and homily for week 5 of Easter last week for week 4. I have made the correction. So you may see the same homily and readings this week as you saw last week.
Around the Mission: I made my first Beach Landing at Protection Point this last week. It took me two flights out there. I finally got a low tide and was able to watch John Bouker land first. I then did a touch and go on the beach. I also flew to Clarks Point and King Salmon as well as Levelock and Koligonek for some practice GPS approaches.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings
5th Easter Sun A DLG 2011, Spiritual House, Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
There have been many times in my life where I felt out of place. While employed for one airline I felt that my moral standards and ethics where being eroded. I found myself falling into the things that those around me were doing, such as stretching the truth a bit, swearing, thinking bad things about others, running out of patience, laughing at dirty jokes…those kinds of things. I would struggle with the fact that I was a Christian. But in fact, I was a Christian being formed by non-Christians.
Being formed was something that I thought much about. Believe it…society forms us. We may think being formed is like brain washing, well, in a way it is. We grow up with outside influences that help make us the people we are.
When I went into the seminary, they said they were going to reform me. I basically said, “What are you talking about? You are going to brain wash me?” It was then I realized that they were talking about something very different. The seminary told me that everyone is formed by society. Not everybody is formed by Jesus.
We go to church; we believe in God, but sometimes the society around us tends to form us more than our spiritual family. The readings are about being formed by Jesus.
At first, those first Christians in 1 Peter were displaced socially as well as spiritually. But they found a spiritual home. The author of the second reading tries to give them a sense of belonging. They are not lost or wondering or misplaced…they belong to a single spiritual house with Jesus at the center, as the cornerstone.
A spiritual house helped to form those early Christians. They learned to act and live like Jesus. Like those early Christians, we too have a spiritual house where we belong and where Jesus forms us.
Our Church is spiritual household? The reading from Acts tells us what can happen in a spiritual household. For awhile, the widows in the village started getting less food than everyone else.
The spiritual household remedied this situation. They put their heads together. They came up with a just plan. They let the Holy Spirit Guide them. They fixed the situation.
In the gospel, Jesus tells that if we take our formation seriously, if we take our spiritual house sincerely, it will last forever.
How do we, as Christians, fit in when people in our work environments lead us astray by swearing, talking about others negatively, stealing, lying, and cheating? The same with school; How do you who are students integrate your faith, handle being around those who don’t act and think like Jesus.
The readings are about some leaders in our world who are for abortion, who are promiscuous, and who set poor examples for our children. These readings are about our lives. They tell us that if we want to be Christian, we may feel out of place in everyday life.
But we can always feel at home in our spiritual house…where we belong…where Jesus is our teacher and leader.
These reading tell us that there is something better out there. They tell us there is something much stronger. They tell us that you and I belong to a Spiritual house that is greater than anything on this earth. It is a house where Jesus leads us, forms us, and provides for our needs (560 Words).
Acts 6:1-7
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
1 Peter 2:4-9
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
John 14:1-12
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
Town Hall Meeting: Fr. Scot Medlock, Vicar of Clergy, will be visiting us from Anchorage, Thursday, May 19, 2011. He wants to assess our needs as a parish mission in order to better evaluate who will be replacing me as pastor. The plan is to gather at Holy Rosary Parish at 5:30 PM (unless otherwise announced). Please bring you favorite dish for a potluck afterward. All are invited to this important informative meeting!
Confirmation: Confirmation will be May 28 at noon at Saint Theresa and May 29 at 12:30 at Holy Rosary. Please bring your favorite dish for a Potluck afterward.
First Communion: Our first communion celebration will be May 28 at Saint Theresa and May 29 at Holy Rosary. Our Archbishop and Deacon Harry Moore will be present to celebrate with us.
My Mistake Gospel: I published the readings and homily for week 5 of Easter last week for week 4. I have made the correction. So you may see the same homily and readings this week as you saw last week.
Around the Mission: I made my first Beach Landing at Protection Point this last week. It took me two flights out there. I finally got a low tide and was able to watch John Bouker land first. I then did a touch and go on the beach. I also flew to Clarks Point and King Salmon as well as Levelock and Koligonek for some practice GPS approaches.
Have a wonderful week...Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings
5th Easter Sun A DLG 2011, Spiritual House, Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
There have been many times in my life where I felt out of place. While employed for one airline I felt that my moral standards and ethics where being eroded. I found myself falling into the things that those around me were doing, such as stretching the truth a bit, swearing, thinking bad things about others, running out of patience, laughing at dirty jokes…those kinds of things. I would struggle with the fact that I was a Christian. But in fact, I was a Christian being formed by non-Christians.
Being formed was something that I thought much about. Believe it…society forms us. We may think being formed is like brain washing, well, in a way it is. We grow up with outside influences that help make us the people we are.
When I went into the seminary, they said they were going to reform me. I basically said, “What are you talking about? You are going to brain wash me?” It was then I realized that they were talking about something very different. The seminary told me that everyone is formed by society. Not everybody is formed by Jesus.
We go to church; we believe in God, but sometimes the society around us tends to form us more than our spiritual family. The readings are about being formed by Jesus.
At first, those first Christians in 1 Peter were displaced socially as well as spiritually. But they found a spiritual home. The author of the second reading tries to give them a sense of belonging. They are not lost or wondering or misplaced…they belong to a single spiritual house with Jesus at the center, as the cornerstone.
A spiritual house helped to form those early Christians. They learned to act and live like Jesus. Like those early Christians, we too have a spiritual house where we belong and where Jesus forms us.
Our Church is spiritual household? The reading from Acts tells us what can happen in a spiritual household. For awhile, the widows in the village started getting less food than everyone else.
The spiritual household remedied this situation. They put their heads together. They came up with a just plan. They let the Holy Spirit Guide them. They fixed the situation.
In the gospel, Jesus tells that if we take our formation seriously, if we take our spiritual house sincerely, it will last forever.
How do we, as Christians, fit in when people in our work environments lead us astray by swearing, talking about others negatively, stealing, lying, and cheating? The same with school; How do you who are students integrate your faith, handle being around those who don’t act and think like Jesus.
The readings are about some leaders in our world who are for abortion, who are promiscuous, and who set poor examples for our children. These readings are about our lives. They tell us that if we want to be Christian, we may feel out of place in everyday life.
But we can always feel at home in our spiritual house…where we belong…where Jesus is our teacher and leader.
These reading tell us that there is something better out there. They tell us there is something much stronger. They tell us that you and I belong to a Spiritual house that is greater than anything on this earth. It is a house where Jesus leads us, forms us, and provides for our needs (560 Words).
Acts 6:1-7
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
1 Peter 2:4-9
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
John 14:1-12
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Announcements: 4th Sunday of Easter Year A
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Gospel: The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter are about belonging to a spiritual house that forms us. Please see the homily and readings below.
Archbishop May 28 and 29: The Archbishop of Anchorage will be celebrating Mass Saturday the 28th of May at noon at Saint Theresa and Sunday the 29th of May at Holy Rosary. He will be confirming one young adult at Saint Theresa and four young adults and one adult at Holy Rosary. Additionally, several children will be receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish for the potluck/reception afterward.
Thank you: Thanx to Diana Swaim for preparing the children for First Communion. Looks like we will have four, Aurora at Saint Theresa and Alethia, Katelyn, and Lotus at Holy Rosary. First Communion will take place during the confirmation Mass when the Archbishop is here.
Blessing of the Fleet: Once again Angela Clark has graciously offered to organize the blessing of the Dillingham fishing fleet. The blessing is set for Sunday, June 5, at 2:00 PM. Please contact her if you would like to help out: 842-5331.
Around the Mission: After returning from Great Falls, Montana I finally picked up our Cherokee in King Salmon. Unfortunately the battery was dead and I had to call Clarks Point and cancel my service there. I rounded up a couple people on the East Ramp in King Salmon to re-charge my Battery, and was in the air by 2:00 PM of Friday, May 6. Saturday I flew back to King Salmon for Mass at Noon (Saint Theresa).
Catholic Presence in Bristol Bay: Rest assured that when I leave that the Catholic Church will have a presence in Bristol Bay. The Archdiocese has three plans to replace me. Plan A is to have a full time priest stay in the rectory in Dillingham. Plan B is to have Bristol Bay on the circuit of priests. A priest would fly out every other week for Mass. Plan C would be to have an Anchorage based parish sponsor a priest or deacon to fly out every other week.
Have a wonderful week…Fr. Scott
4th Easter A DLG 2011, Good Shepherd, Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10 1-10.
Like sheep, we follow a shepherd. Jesus is our shepherd. Likewise, Archbishop Roger Schwietz is a shepherd to the archdiocese of Anchorage. Shepherds are responsible for showing us and nudging us through the narrow gate.
In Iceland all the sheep freely roam the island. There are no fences. At the end of the year, all the shepherds get together on their horses and round up the sheep. They then drive the sheep through this narrow gate to shave them of their wool. Many of them don’t want to go through it.
That is why we need a shepherd, to get us to take a better look at that narrow Gate.
A shepherd is not out in front of the flock, but in the back nudging and prodding, the crook is like a bishops crosier? The sheep have some freedom to browse for green grass. If one strays to far, it is nudged back so the rest don’t follow and stray with it. Icelandic sheep ran free for nearly a year. Not a lot of predators to kill them.
Sometime we stray from the flock. Sometime we get weak and the wolf sinks its teeth in us. The wolf can get us to do things like buy a new car when we can’t afford it or charge money on credit cards when we can not pay it back. Wolves can convince teenagers to take drugs and smoke.
Jesus is our Shepherd. When we stray from the flock, call on Jesus, our shepherd. Jesus points us back to the narrow gate. He does not say it is easy to go through the gate. He says it takes sacrifice, prayer, and some suffering. But the rewards are incredible. The wise sheep always hear and follow the voice of the shepherd.
Sheep dogs are like our Deacons. They help to heard the sheep toward that narrow gate. In fact, in one famous painting of the crucifix, there was a dog at the foot of the cross. The deacons took that as there mascot. Dogs for Christ became the slogan for the Dominican order.
When sheep wander off from the flock, they become easy food for a wolf. Sheep dogs will attack a wolf. They are willing to die fighting a wolf to protect a sheep. They keep the flock together in one strong group. Wolves are less likely to attack a strong group.
Let us give thanks for the Deacons who chase away the wolves; Also, lets not forget the Bishops who shepherd us and keep us together as a strong and healthy community; The priests who teach us and lead us in prayer; The sisters and brothers of the religious orders who give their lives to building up our Catholic Church. And all of us who generously support our church with time, talent, and money (472 Words).
Acts 2:14, 36-41
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
1 Peter 2:20-25
But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10 1-10.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
Gospel: The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter are about belonging to a spiritual house that forms us. Please see the homily and readings below.
Archbishop May 28 and 29: The Archbishop of Anchorage will be celebrating Mass Saturday the 28th of May at noon at Saint Theresa and Sunday the 29th of May at Holy Rosary. He will be confirming one young adult at Saint Theresa and four young adults and one adult at Holy Rosary. Additionally, several children will be receiving First Communion. Please bring your favorite dish for the potluck/reception afterward.
Thank you: Thanx to Diana Swaim for preparing the children for First Communion. Looks like we will have four, Aurora at Saint Theresa and Alethia, Katelyn, and Lotus at Holy Rosary. First Communion will take place during the confirmation Mass when the Archbishop is here.
Blessing of the Fleet: Once again Angela Clark has graciously offered to organize the blessing of the Dillingham fishing fleet. The blessing is set for Sunday, June 5, at 2:00 PM. Please contact her if you would like to help out: 842-5331.
Around the Mission: After returning from Great Falls, Montana I finally picked up our Cherokee in King Salmon. Unfortunately the battery was dead and I had to call Clarks Point and cancel my service there. I rounded up a couple people on the East Ramp in King Salmon to re-charge my Battery, and was in the air by 2:00 PM of Friday, May 6. Saturday I flew back to King Salmon for Mass at Noon (Saint Theresa).
Catholic Presence in Bristol Bay: Rest assured that when I leave that the Catholic Church will have a presence in Bristol Bay. The Archdiocese has three plans to replace me. Plan A is to have a full time priest stay in the rectory in Dillingham. Plan B is to have Bristol Bay on the circuit of priests. A priest would fly out every other week for Mass. Plan C would be to have an Anchorage based parish sponsor a priest or deacon to fly out every other week.
Have a wonderful week…Fr. Scott
4th Easter A DLG 2011, Good Shepherd, Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10 1-10.
Like sheep, we follow a shepherd. Jesus is our shepherd. Likewise, Archbishop Roger Schwietz is a shepherd to the archdiocese of Anchorage. Shepherds are responsible for showing us and nudging us through the narrow gate.
In Iceland all the sheep freely roam the island. There are no fences. At the end of the year, all the shepherds get together on their horses and round up the sheep. They then drive the sheep through this narrow gate to shave them of their wool. Many of them don’t want to go through it.
That is why we need a shepherd, to get us to take a better look at that narrow Gate.
A shepherd is not out in front of the flock, but in the back nudging and prodding, the crook is like a bishops crosier? The sheep have some freedom to browse for green grass. If one strays to far, it is nudged back so the rest don’t follow and stray with it. Icelandic sheep ran free for nearly a year. Not a lot of predators to kill them.
Sometime we stray from the flock. Sometime we get weak and the wolf sinks its teeth in us. The wolf can get us to do things like buy a new car when we can’t afford it or charge money on credit cards when we can not pay it back. Wolves can convince teenagers to take drugs and smoke.
Jesus is our Shepherd. When we stray from the flock, call on Jesus, our shepherd. Jesus points us back to the narrow gate. He does not say it is easy to go through the gate. He says it takes sacrifice, prayer, and some suffering. But the rewards are incredible. The wise sheep always hear and follow the voice of the shepherd.
Sheep dogs are like our Deacons. They help to heard the sheep toward that narrow gate. In fact, in one famous painting of the crucifix, there was a dog at the foot of the cross. The deacons took that as there mascot. Dogs for Christ became the slogan for the Dominican order.
When sheep wander off from the flock, they become easy food for a wolf. Sheep dogs will attack a wolf. They are willing to die fighting a wolf to protect a sheep. They keep the flock together in one strong group. Wolves are less likely to attack a strong group.
Let us give thanks for the Deacons who chase away the wolves; Also, lets not forget the Bishops who shepherd us and keep us together as a strong and healthy community; The priests who teach us and lead us in prayer; The sisters and brothers of the religious orders who give their lives to building up our Catholic Church. And all of us who generously support our church with time, talent, and money (472 Words).
Acts 2:14, 36-41
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
1 Peter 2:20-25
But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10 1-10.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Announcements: 3rd Sunday Easter Year A 2011
Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:
Gospel: On the road to Emmaus Jesus listens first. Please see the Homily and readings below.
Thank you: Thank you Aileen for the Communion Service on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. I am currently in Great Falls Montana for a Canon Law convention.
Confirmation and First Communion: The Archbishop will be here in three weeks, May 28 (Saint Theresa) and May 29 (Holy Rosary). All those to be confirmed will meet this Sunday after Mass and those to receive First Communion will meet after mass on the 4th Sunday of Easter. Five will be confirmed in Dillingham and one in King Salmon/Naknek.
Potluck: Our next potluck will be when the Archbishop is here May 29th. Please plan to bring your favorite dish. All are welcome to join us. Don’t feel it is mandatory to bring food in order to join us and eat. There is always enough food to go around.
Around the Mission: Our Cherokee has finally been repaired. I just need to pick it up in King Salmon. A part behind the propeller was cracked and the part took over a month to get here.
Sacred Heart Wasilla Visit: While in Anchorage I drove to Wasilla and met with Father Bill Fournier, Deacon Dave Schutt, Secretary Sheila English, and the person in charge of Faith Formation Julie Dekreon. I toured the Church, Office, out buildings, and school. I got a chance to talk with a few teachers including Kathy Bishop (acting Principal), at the school. I walked away with a good idea of what I am getting into. It is a very organized and thriving parish and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. They have about 800 families.
Have a wonder day and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings for 3rd Sunday of Easter
3rd Easter Sun A 2011 Listen First, Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1: 17-21; Luke 24:13-35, Listen First.
What happened on the Road to Emmaus is similar to what happens when we celebrate the Eucharist. Even though we are prevented from seeing Jesus, we can still have a life-changing experience.
When people come to me and want to enter the church, have their children baptized, or be married, I try to meet them where they are. I try not to expect them to be perfect Catholics like you and me (yes, that's a joke!). I know we all start our faith journeys at different places. I know that none of us are at the same level of faith.
The road to Emmaus is about faith journeys. The disciples are on a journey of faith. Jesus meets them where they are…as they are. Jesus listens to the disciples’ expectations. Jesus listens to their hopes and disappointments. After listening, Jesus teaches them by reading scripture. This leads to hope.
When we come to mass we are on a road to Emmaus. God sees our heart and mind while we are here in Mass. There is no reason to pretend how we feel. God wants to meet us in the midst of our lives, wherever that may be. Wherever you are on your faith journey, Jesus first wants to listen to you, then he wants you to listen to Him.
Although cultures are different all around the world, several elements of the Mass always stay the same. The risen Christ accompanies us on our faith journey. Jesus always listens to us, opens our minds to the scriptures, and hosts us at His table. Finally, and most important of all, Jesus sends us out to tell the world that he has been raised from the dead.
We share with thousands of generations the same fire of God’s faithful love burning in our hearts as we are welcomed here each week, are listened to, taught, nourished, and sent out to do our bit for the coming of Christ’s kingdom (317 Words).
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: 'I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear.
1 Peter 1: 17-21
Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Luke 24:13-35
Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Gospel: On the road to Emmaus Jesus listens first. Please see the Homily and readings below.
Thank you: Thank you Aileen for the Communion Service on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. I am currently in Great Falls Montana for a Canon Law convention.
Confirmation and First Communion: The Archbishop will be here in three weeks, May 28 (Saint Theresa) and May 29 (Holy Rosary). All those to be confirmed will meet this Sunday after Mass and those to receive First Communion will meet after mass on the 4th Sunday of Easter. Five will be confirmed in Dillingham and one in King Salmon/Naknek.
Potluck: Our next potluck will be when the Archbishop is here May 29th. Please plan to bring your favorite dish. All are welcome to join us. Don’t feel it is mandatory to bring food in order to join us and eat. There is always enough food to go around.
Around the Mission: Our Cherokee has finally been repaired. I just need to pick it up in King Salmon. A part behind the propeller was cracked and the part took over a month to get here.
Sacred Heart Wasilla Visit: While in Anchorage I drove to Wasilla and met with Father Bill Fournier, Deacon Dave Schutt, Secretary Sheila English, and the person in charge of Faith Formation Julie Dekreon. I toured the Church, Office, out buildings, and school. I got a chance to talk with a few teachers including Kathy Bishop (acting Principal), at the school. I walked away with a good idea of what I am getting into. It is a very organized and thriving parish and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. They have about 800 families.
Have a wonder day and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott
Homily and Readings for 3rd Sunday of Easter
3rd Easter Sun A 2011 Listen First, Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1: 17-21; Luke 24:13-35, Listen First.
What happened on the Road to Emmaus is similar to what happens when we celebrate the Eucharist. Even though we are prevented from seeing Jesus, we can still have a life-changing experience.
When people come to me and want to enter the church, have their children baptized, or be married, I try to meet them where they are. I try not to expect them to be perfect Catholics like you and me (yes, that's a joke!). I know we all start our faith journeys at different places. I know that none of us are at the same level of faith.
The road to Emmaus is about faith journeys. The disciples are on a journey of faith. Jesus meets them where they are…as they are. Jesus listens to the disciples’ expectations. Jesus listens to their hopes and disappointments. After listening, Jesus teaches them by reading scripture. This leads to hope.
When we come to mass we are on a road to Emmaus. God sees our heart and mind while we are here in Mass. There is no reason to pretend how we feel. God wants to meet us in the midst of our lives, wherever that may be. Wherever you are on your faith journey, Jesus first wants to listen to you, then he wants you to listen to Him.
Although cultures are different all around the world, several elements of the Mass always stay the same. The risen Christ accompanies us on our faith journey. Jesus always listens to us, opens our minds to the scriptures, and hosts us at His table. Finally, and most important of all, Jesus sends us out to tell the world that he has been raised from the dead.
We share with thousands of generations the same fire of God’s faithful love burning in our hearts as we are welcomed here each week, are listened to, taught, nourished, and sent out to do our bit for the coming of Christ’s kingdom (317 Words).
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: 'I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear.
1 Peter 1: 17-21
Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Luke 24:13-35
Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
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