TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK:

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(August 22, 2010)   Salesian Perspective

            Pope Paul VI defined evangelization as "bringing the Good News into all strata of humanity and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new."

            In their book entitled Creating the Evangelizing Parish, Paulist Fathers Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack challenge us to accept this simple truth: each of us is called to be an evangelist, to "go out to all the world and tell the good news," to give witness to the power and promise of God's redeeming love in our lives. (Paulist Press, 1993)

            While the good news is essentially the same, the authors insist that the manner and method in which each of us evangelizes must be rooted in the state and stage of life in which we find ourselves. For a deeper understanding of what this means, they turn to our old friend and companion, St. Francis de Sales: "St. Francis de Sales wrote a marvelous book entitled The Introduction to the Devout Life. In it he makes the simple yet profound point that a follower (a disciple) of Jesus should look at his or her situation in life and then live a Christian life accordingly. A wife and mother will find holiness in the way she lives in relation to her husband, and in taking care of the family. She could hardly leave her family many times each day, like monks or nuns, to attend Liturgy of the Hours...Her spirituality, her way of following Christ is determined by her vocation and lifestyle...and if she works, living out her vocation as a married woman bearing witness to Christ in the workplace."

            We are made in the image and likeness of God. We are redeemed by the life, love, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are inspired and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. This is indeed Good News! This good news should make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those with whom we love, live, work pray and play. This Good News should transform and renew us. Through us, this Good News offers the possibility of transformation and renewal to others.

            How we share this good news -- how we evangelize -- depends on who we are, where we are and how we are. It must match the state, stage, circumstances, responsibilities, routines and relationships in which we find ourselves each day. Following Jesus is not about forsaking our ordinary lives: no, it is about making real the life and love of God in our thoughts, feelings attitudes and actions.

            Evangelization has a lot to do with what we say: after all, it is about "telling" something, in this case, the Good News of God. However, it also has a lot to do (perhaps even more) with what we do: what we say is a convincing sign of God's love only insofar as it is congruent with how we relate to one another.

            By all means - by any means - "go out to all the world and tell the Good News" of God's love, God's forgiveness, God's justice and God's peace. But most especially, do it in the places - with the people - where you live, work, pray and play each day.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.

Baptism into the Community

    Baptism is the sacrament of incorporation into a faith community.  All the signs and symbols that surround the pouring of water speak of belonging.  It is because of this that many parishes require parents to be registered members of the parish before their child's baptism. Having a child baptized in this church is making the statement that this is where you intend to nurture the faith life of yourself and your child.

    It has nothing to do with “limbo.”  Many times in the past, people thought they had to have the child baptized as soon after birth as possible.  (Part of this was due to the very high mortality rate among infants.)  Part also was due to the concept of limbo.  (Limbo was defined by St. Augustine as a “place, state or condition of perfect natural happiness.”)  Limbo was his concept to “theologize” what would happen were a person to die without Baptism.  (He took seriously the passage in the gospel of John “Unless a man be born again with water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”

    However, limbo was never accepted or defined as official Catholic teaching.  You will not even find the word “limbo” in the new Catholic Catechism.

Copyright © 2008 Resource Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.  

    Have you seen the Diocese of Lansing web page?  www.dioceseoflansing.org.  They receive over 200,000 hits a month.  You can find everything there and more – parishes and their bulletins, adult education opportunities, retreats, Faith Magazine on line FAITHteen magazine, the latest CATHOLIC news, and more!

Have a great August!

Fr. Rick: email: rteberle@tc3net.com   

Fr. Eberle’s cell phone for emergencies: 517-260-1120

Check Out (Opportunities For Life Long Learning)

   To give you a head start, and to let you see how easy the program really is, we are going to give you an extra 1% on all of your orders placed for the rest of April. That's three weeks worth of bonus! don't worry all of you regular customers. You'll get the extra 1% too. Spread the word on how easy this program really is, and how much it's benefited you.

   P.S. Grandmas and Grandpas can also buy certificates and the savings will be credited towards your grandchildren. Don't have a child attending Sacred Heart School? Well, we've got you covered too. There is a general church fund, a general school fund, and a general scholarship fund that you can credit your savings to.

Church Support

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

October 8, 2003

    This program can make a wonderful difference for Sacred Heart School. We will be using these funds for the school's expenses. Meijer Community Rewards has some of the highest reward percentages on over 150,000 items, as well as frequent payments. Best of all, the program automatically earns money whenever you shop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    If you have any questions, please contact us at 517-448-6405. You may also go to: www.meijer.com/rewards   or call 1-800-962-7011. Thank you for your support.

 P. S. The sooner you join Meijer Community Rewards, the sooner we will begin receiving rewards! Please apply today!