FM's Message | Sunday, July 14, 2024

Today’s theme in the scriptures points us toward one of my favorite themes from the Bible, i.e., who and when gets chosen to bring God’s message and power to people. It starts with Exodus, the unlikely character of Moses, and then those who are given part of his spirit in the camp as they are in the desert (EX. 16:14-20). This is what happens to the prophets and certainly to the prophet Amos, who recognizes that he is not a learned man, but it is the Spirit of God in him that will speak. The Pentecost moment is the beginning of the Church and gives the vision that we are sharers in the Spirit of God. The Apostles (messengers) head out now, fearless in their intent to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. St. Paul is another example of an unlikely person chosen by Jesus to share his word around the world. The seventy-two are given a share in the ministry of healing and evangelization that Jesus was starting. More and more, it looks like the story of Exodus, but told from the experience of God leading people directly in the manner and place that he wants us to go.

This past week, in the Gospel of Matthew, we heard of the great conversion story of Matthew the tax collector. (There is a stunning painting by Caravaggio one can access online). He is a traitor to the Jewish people and a collaborator in robbing the Jewish people on behalf of the Romans. Jesus calls him and changes the direction and purpose of his life forever. What Jesus saw in Matthew, Peter, James, Paul, et al, was not the sinner, but the potential to turn away from it and redirect what God had given them to help him. Here is the catch though. They decided they wanted to go where Jesus was calling them. It changed their lives and, in many ways, these initial humble disciples changed the course of history. That is the result of deciding that we will follow Jesus instead of anything else.

One of the great modern leaders of the Jesuits, Father Pedro Arrupe, SJ, once said, “Fall in love with God and it will change your whole life, where you go, with whom you speak, and what you do every day”.

We too are being sent out on a mission and I personally like the idea of it being a little anonymous. There is a democratic feel to it, in that, anyone can say yes to Jesus and then follow him as His disciple and allow it to change you and the world. The clearest example of that now is the number of people who have joined the church and have become active as a result of participating in the Alpha programs or small groups or something in the parish. I also hope that the prayer project will be a mechanism that allows us all to see that we can be anonymous evangelizers and pray for our city.

If you know God’s name, you have and are responding to the call. This week, we are challenged to turn away from something and turn towards the work of God.

Peace,

Father Murray

Congratulations to our new sisters and brothers in faith who were baptized last Sunday and this week. Welcome Kyler Morel, Tyler Bryant Pontier, and Vera Marie Steward. Congratulations to their parents and families. May you all continue to deepen and share your faith in your families. 

Congratulations also to the new Alexander and Mikaela Chicoine Concepcion. They were married yesterday by Father Cathal Doherty, SJ a family relative. Welcome to you too Father.

Building news This week we had the small tree growing near the garage transferred to the place of the cherry tree that was by the side entrance. We had a few more roots to clean up and then we hope to continue to improve the look of the lawns. The masonry company will be returning to clean up some of the areas that they left unfinished. They will wait until after the summer wedding season is concluded (September 14) and hope to have the scaffolding down by October 1.