February 19th, 2012

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

 

Respond to God's Forgiving Love and Be Saved. The people were astounded by Jesus' works. We saw this back in the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The gospel passage was Mark 1:22ff. He taught with authority. Now, however, they have faith in Him. They have faith that He can and will heal. He astounds them again though.

This time Jesus forgives sins. The scribes protest this action. Their protest is based on a correct notion. The power to forgive is also reserved to divine power. The scribes see Jesus to be blaspheming. "Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus, then, reasons with them.

Jesus points out to the scribes they have come to accept He can heal people. Healing too is a divine power. Therefore, He reasons, they should accept He can also forgive sins. In a sense Jesus is telling the scribes they are on to something. They are realizing His divinity. This notion is threatening to them though. One must say, this is something to have to absorb.
God the Father sent Jesus as the means to bring about reconciliation. Jesus Christ as true God and true human shows the power of God's love to forgive and humankind's ability to respond to the forgiving love. God's forgiveness is a call to humanity to conversion. God forgives and we must respond! The prophet Isaiah (first reading)tells of God's desire to forgive so as to have humankind, us, respond.
This week we will enter into Lent. We will have our Parish Mission. We will be called to Discipleship, to follow Jesus Christ. Surely, we will respond to God's forgiving love and be saved.

Father Bob Tywoniak


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LENT: ABOUT THE SEASON'S THEMES


>Lent is a forty day period before Easter. It has two parts and a double character. To begin with let us explore the two parts. These have to do with the themes presented in the Church's selection of biblical readings that we find in the daily and Sunday readings. The first part of the season begins with the pre-Lent period of Ash Wednesday and the rest of that week and goes until the Saturday of the Third Week of Lent. The second part takes up the period beginning with Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent and goes until the Triduum.

In the first period, the scripture readings take an ethical and moral stand. Beginning with Ash Wednesday and the exhortation, "You are dust…" we are confronted with a call to conversion. The theme is that of compunction which at its root means to puncture. Through these weeks the Lord, in His scriptures, wishes to deflate our egos. Using the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) the Church calls us to begin anew, to fast, pray and to give alms. Further, the scriptures speak to mutual forgiveness, of hardness of heart, love of enemies, and absolute claims of justice. In a call to holiness love is emphasized over ritual and cult. The focus is not on a narrative of salvation history or reference to Christ and the Easter mysteries.

It is good to note, at this point in the discussion, that while the second reading of each Sunday does not normally relate thematically to the first reading and Gospel, it does during Lent.

In the second period of Lent, the scripture readings take on a Christological theme and the Gospel of John is used. That is, especially the Gospel of John presents Christ as our savior. The emphasis though is this. Jesus Christ is one's savior only if one knows he or she is in need of salvation. That is why the first part of Lent presents compunction. John's gospel is not presenting a life of Jesus. Rather, it is presenting the mystery of Jesus Christ who is the Son of God. If one has a belief in Christ one will have eternal life. He is the healer and life-giver. Jesus confronts death and gathers all the lost sheep of God who had been scattered. Jesus is the promise that has been kept. We who are powerless pray for salvation. This takes us to the double character of the season of Lent.

The first character is that of preparation of the catechumens for initiation into the fullness of God's Church here on Earth. By sharing in the lessons of the scriptures, education in the faith and by works of justice, those who have never been baptized climb the mountain of Easter and are prepared to take on the life of Christ. That is, the life of Christ as put forth in the Lenten readings.
The second character of Lent is that it draws the faithful (those already baptized) into the Word of God and penance. This is so all will be ready to renew their baptismal promises on Easter. All people, no matter how devoted and no matter how long they have been devoted to God's way, must constantly retreat, renew and commit over and over again to a faithful life in service to God.

If you are looking for a life that challenges your moral sense and lifts you through the common purpose of finding fullness and fulfillment of life then come and join us in the Roman Catholic Church. We are the Church founded by Jesus on the Peter the rock. All are welcome here. Come home for Easter.


   








Parish Mission

February 22nd Father Bob Morin will be our preacher this year. He is a priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Much of his priesthood has been spent preaching missions in parishes. Fr. Morin also spent seven years as a Reserve Chaplain in the United States Air Force.

Theme:
The Cost and Joy of Discipleship, A Patient Journey Marked by Mistakes, Forgiveness and Hope.


The mission begins Ash Wednesday at 7pm and continues Thursday and Friday evenings at 7pm. These will be the only Liturgies on those days.

Remember, this is another spiritual event that permits us to focus on the Lord and follow the path that Jesus chose



Scriptural
Stations of the Cross Thursdays at 7:00pm

This dynamic way of the cross greatly takes from the biblical accounts of Jesus' passion and death. It is truly attractive to the children. Come as a family each Thursday evening. A preview of the next Sunday's readings is given. You might even get a little reward.



Introduction to the Sacraments

As suggested in our poll of the retired members of the parish we will offer some of our Adult Education sessions in the daytime. THUS: Introduction to the Sacraments will be offered Wednesday, March 7th at 1:00pm. Our Ascending Life Ministry Team will provide light refreshments too. Plan to take about two hours for this informative session.



MEN'S WEEKEND RETREAT

"Handing on the Faith" Friday March 2, 2012


 This retreat is held (Friday evening to Sunday) at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, 1300 U.S. Highway One, North Palm Beach.

Please highly consider making this retreat with other men from the parish. Remember what I preached on the First Sunday of Advent. We are all going to focus very specially this year on our growth in the Lord's way. THIS is a most marvelous way to do so.

Forms for registration may be found on the Information Table and with Mike Devlin. Mike is taking the lead on getting "guys" to participate.

Let's Do It Men!

 




This weeks Readings


February 19th, 2012
Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time

Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
The Gospel-
Mark 2:1-12

Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. The people I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise. Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob, for you grew weary of me, O Israel. You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more.

2 Corinthians 1:18-22
 Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful, our word to you is not "yes" and "no." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory. But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

The Gospel-
Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" -he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Next Weeks Readings

February 26th, 2012
First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 9:8-15
1 Peter 3:18-22
The Gospel-
Mark 1:12-15


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