From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 22, 2018

From the Pastor – 3 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” With these words, Jesus invites Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew to follow Him and be His disciples. We often speak of the subtleties of translation. In the original Greek in which St. Mark wrote his Gospel, a better translation would be, “Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” It is the beginning of a process.

We are called to that same process. It is not as if it happens quite suddenly. It happens over time, and it is a progression. If we are to be “fishers of men,” we are to be evangelizers and disciples of the Lord, and we are to represent what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God.

Of course, Simon and Andrew “abandoned their nets and followed him.” It may be more difficult for us to “abandon our nets” so to speak, but it does prompt us that we need to make major changes in our lives if we are going to follow Jesus. Simon and Andrew, and then James and John, were common men, normal people. They had no theological credentials nor did they have any special status in the world.

Most of us are similar. Jesus did not select them (or us) for who they were. He called them for what He could do through them. It is the same with each of us. Yes, we are called, but in order to really fulfill our calling we need to follow and trust in Jesus.

Pastoral Pondering

Last week two disciples of John the Baptist, Andrew and another disciple (presumably John), began to follow Jesus. Andrew then introduces his brother Simon (Peter) to the Lord. This week, Jesus calls them to discipleship, and they follow the call. It seems so very simple when we read about it or hear it proclaimed at Mass. Yet, as we all know becoming an intentional disciple is not easy at all.

We often feel ill-equipped or unworthy of answering a call from the Lord. To some degree this is a good thing. The most effective disciple is the one who knows that all things depend on God’s providential care. It can, however, also be a bad thing when it causes us to fall into inaction or unresponsiveness. The Lord is a gentlemanly master. He will not force us to respond to His call, and will only save us with our cooperation.

So how do we start? How do we respond to the call? First and foremost, we have to actually listen and be open to God through prayer. We are blessed with Eucharistic Adoration in the parish. Yet, many do not take advantage of this gift and some hours only have one adorer committed to spending time with the Lord. In a parish of over 5500 families, this is, to say the least, disappointing. Yet, one of the weaknesses of our present society and culture is commitment. We see it in just about every facet of life.

If we want to grow in our relationship with the Lord, a good place to begin to work on our relationship with our brothers and sisters. This is where Small Groups comes in. During Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14 th , we will have our next session of St. Mark Small Groups. When you connect with others and get to know them, you can begin to see Christ in them.

Small Groups is a great way to connect with the parish and get involved. That connection can then lead in a gradual way to a greater awareness of and commitment to the life of grace and intentional discipleship. We had over 500 people participating in the last session, but we really should have 2-3 times that number. Over these weeks before Ash Wednesday, please give prayerful consideration to joining a small group and setting some extra time aside for prayer and responding to God’s call in your life.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Third Sunday of Easter

By John Putnam • May 2, 2025
In today’s Gospel, we find the Apostles dejected and discouraged following the death of our Lord. Poor Peter decides to throw in the towel on the whole disciple thing and go back to his old way of life, declaring, “I’m going fishing.” Upon hearing this, the other disciples follow him. How easy it is for all of us to backslide on changes we have made in our lives, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. But look how Jesus treats the disciples during their “backslide.” He is right there with them in the midst of it, already waiting for them on the shore when they come back from their unsuccessful return to the fishing business (after abandoning their mission as disciples). Our Lord greets them tenderly, gives them some fishing pointers, and then prepares their breakfast. How gracious He is to them! He is just as gracious today. When we find ourselves “out at sea” — discouraged by our failures or for squandering the gifts God has given us, or simply by a lack of progress in our faith life, Jesus is with us! He is calling to us from the shore to come back to Him without shame or embarrassment, but with hope-filled trust in His steadfast love. He never tires of offering “do-overs” if we just keep returning to Him. This constant process of turning back to the Lord, of reevaluating our goals and priorities as we aim for Heaven, is the essence of a stewardship way of life. Let us take heart as we continue our journey today, secure in the knowledge that Jesus is beside us every step of the way. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The process of electing a new Pope is one that has marked and impacted history for centuries. It is still a process, despite movies and books concerning the process, that is surrounded by some mystery. Once the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church declares that the Pope is dead, a whole set of processes are set in motion. While the daily work of the Holy See continues, there can be no innovations. The task of preparing for the funeral of the deceased pope and preparing for the coming conclave is entrusted to the Cardinal Camerlengo (Kevin Cardinal Farrell) under the guidance of the body of cardinals. All cardinals, regardless of age, can participate in the various consultations that occur prior to the conclave. Only those cardinals who are less than 80 years of age can actually participate in the conclave and choose the next pope. The voting cardinals are sworn to secrecy and are locked into the Sistine chapel where four votes can occur each day. A two-thirds majority of the cardinal-electors is required for a new pope to be chosen. If a ballot is indecisive, the ballots are burned, and black smoke is released from the chapel. When a pope is elected, the ballots are burned, and white smoke is released. When a new pope is chosen, he has to accept his election and, if he accepts, choose his pontifical name. He then changes into papal garb and is presented from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.  As we await the Papal election, please continue to pray for the Church and the cardinal-electors. Their task is a heavy responsibility. Our union with them in prayer will assist them to be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and carry out their task with fidelity and determination.

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 25, 2025
Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Gospel reading from St. John is often called the story of “Doubting Thomas” but the passage involves so much more than the encounter with the skeptical apostle. It is rich with lessons of Christ’s mercy to all, including an encouraging word from our Lord especially for us, His modern-day disciples. While Thomas traditionally takes all the bad rap for his doubts, we see that none of the Apostles were at their best when Christ first appeared to them after His resurrection. They were actually in hiding, cowering behind a locked door, paralyzed by fear and doubt. But Jesus appeared right in their midst in spite of the lock on the door. Was it to rebuke them for their lack of faith? Quite the contrary. He comes on a mission of mercy. He comes to offer them peace and the restoration of their relationship with Him. And even more, He commissions them to become ministers of His mercy, by giving them authority to forgive sins. At that moment Christ gives to all of us the supreme gift of mercy — the sacrament of Reconciliation. What a precious and powerful gift! This Sunday is a perfect time to reflect on how well we make use of this gift. Do we really appreciate its healing power? Could we become better stewards of this gift by going to Confession more often? We must also reflect on how well we extend mercy to others as Jesus did to Thomas that day. Let’s commit ourselves to becoming faithful disciples and stewards of Christ’s mercy. We will be those very ones to whom Jesus gave a “shout out” during His encounter with Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” — in His merciful love. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The mercy of God is at the very heart of the Catholic faith. It's not just one of God's many attributes — it is His very essence revealed in love . As Pope Francis often reminds us, “The name of God is mercy.” In Scripture, we see God's mercy from the very beginning. After the fall of Adam and Eve, though justice demanded consequence, God clothed them and promised a Savior. Time and again, throughout the Old Testament, we see Israel turning away from God — and yet, He never stops reaching out with compassion, calling His people back to Himself. That mercy takes on flesh in the New Testament — in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy. He dines with sinners, touches the untouchable, forgives the unforgivable. Think of the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” Or the prodigal son - who finds not punishment upon return, but a father running to embrace him.  In the Catholic Church, mercy is not just a concept — it is sacramental. We encounter the mercy of God tangibly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There, in the confessional, we do not meet a harsh judge, but Christ the Good Shepherd, lifting us up and carrying us back home. No sin is too great. No past too far gone. St. Faustina, the apostle of Divine Mercy, reminds us that God’s mercy is an “ocean” — and we are just little drops. But mercy isn’t meant to stop with us. It flows through us. As we receive God's mercy, we're called to be merciful: to forgive, to withhold judgment, to show compassion to the poor, the suffering, the lonely. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are concrete ways Catholics live this out. So, when we speak of mercy, we speak of the very Gospel. God, rich in mercy, reaches into our brokenness, and instead of turning away, He embraces it, transforms it, and redeems it. With the death of Pope Francis, the Church enters a period of transition. The Pope’s legacy is one of concern for the poor and those on the margins. His writing and teaching often focused on the immense mercy of God and his love of the Gospel. Our task is to follow his example and strive each day to allow Gospel joy to guide us and lead us to bring Christ to the world. Let us also pray for the Universal Church, the cardinal-electors who have the immense responsibility of selecting a new successor to St. Peter, and for all of us that we may come together as a Church family and ask God to bless us with a new shepherd.
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