TODAY IS WORLD MISSION SUNDAY. We celebrate this day by remembering our baptismal call – to bring the Gospel to all! The collection today for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith ensures the work and service of the Mission Church, as it supports priests, religious and lay leaders who offer the Lord’s mercy and concrete help to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions. Thank you for your generosity.
The necessity for real perseverance in living out various aspects of our faith is expressed throughout today’s liturgy. In the Book of Exodus and in the Gospel according to Luke we find the importance of enduring in prayer. Moses may be utterly exhausted with his efforts and the widow in Jesus’ parable feels she may never find justice, but both persist and both prevail.
God wants us to put ourselves in His hands, even when what we ask for does not come quickly or easily. We need to remember that He alone knows the right time for His will to be done. He wants us to show our confidence in Him through our prayers and our actions. Our Lord loves us now and always. And He wants to know that we, in turn, love Him, and that we understand He will care for us – body and soul – according to His plan.
In addition to the need for persevering in prayer, we must be willing to continue to live out the mission God has chosen for us. Whatever our calling or state in life, we are commissioned to reveal our faith and spread the message of God’s Kingdom. In the letter from Paul to Timothy, we are reminded of the importance of appreciating sacred Scripture and sharing it with others. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage though all patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
Whether we are among those who travel the world as missionaries or those who never leave their hometowns, we all have opportunities to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus. And it is not for us to decide if a time is convenient or inconvenient. We need to be ready, willing and able to welcome our neighbors to the knowledge and compassion of our beloved Lord. And we can only succeed if we choose the will of God above our own, over and over again.
I know that there are many talented parishioners in our parish who would like to participate in the life of the parish. So, I ask, Is God calling you to share your faith, time and talents? Are you trying to find a place of joyful service to share your talents and gifts to reflect God’s love?
Next weekend we celebrate Parish Ministry Fair. On this very special weekend, we reflect on all God’s blessings and make a decision as to what our gift will be in return for all that God has bestowed upon us. Please visit our Ministry Fair. Tables and sign-up sheets for each ministry and committee will be in the church portico after all liturgies. A representative from each ministry will be available to answer your questions. Please take the first step and join us after all liturgies next weekend. Pray about it and “Come to the Fair.”
Your active participation in our parish community is vital to the life of the Church.
Recent Comments