From the Pastor – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Pastor – 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our Gospel passage, from Matthew, Jesus poses a question to the disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they offer varying responses. Then, Jesus gets personal with them. “But who do you say that I am?” Peter gets the answer right: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus is getting personal with us today. He poses the same question to each of us who call ourselves His stewards and modern-day disciples. But do our lives truly reflect this? If we really believe that Christ is the Son of God, sent to save us from our sins and lead us to Heaven, then we must say so, not just with words but with our actions. Do my ambitions and priorities in life say that Christ is my Savior and I am His disciple? Does my budget, my family life, my entertainment say so?
The gifts and blessings God has given us — our time, our talents, our material possessions — are meant to be used in a manner that says "Christ is my Savior and I am His disciple." The most eloquent praise we can offer Him is a life lived in grateful response to His unfathomable love. This is the beauty and power of a stewardship way of life. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2020.
Pastoral Pondering
We are all aware that this year has been one like no other. Each one of us is trying to navigate unknown waters and do the best we can with the resources and information that we have. This presents unique challenges as well as opportunities. Due to concerns about COVID this year the Diocese will not be hosting its annual Eucharistic Congress. However, each parish is being encouraged to celebrate the Eucharist on the days when the Congress were scheduled, September 11-12, 2020. Father Gámez is working with a committee to put our parish plan together. Be on the lookout for the details. Carolina Catholic Radio is also working on a program for that day and will be broadcasting from St. Joseph College Seminary.
Even though our Catholic schools are planning on opening for face-to-face instruction, I know that many of our parishioners depend on other educational options and may find themselves in a predicament and be under a great deal of pressure and stress. In the midst of these difficulties, don’t forget to pray and take time to pray with your family, especially your children. Prayer helps to make the most stressful situations bearable and can often provide solace and inspiration when life gets difficult. Also remember that your priests, deacons and parish staff are praying for you and your intentions. Together we can all get through the difficulties whatever they might be. I have often recommended the Serenity Prayer for folks who feel overwhelmed, and I will close with that. Most of us are familiar with the first part of the prayers. I include here the prayer in its entirety as inspired by the original prayer by the Lutheran theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr.
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.