From the Pastor - First Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2017

From the Pastor - First Sunday of Advent

Today, the First Sunday of Advent, marks not just the beginning of our preparation for Christmas, but also the beginning a new liturgical Church year for us as Catholics. Advent extends over the next four Sundays, literally culminating on Christmas Eve this year. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means “coming.” Like Lent this is a preparatory season, one that has us looking forward and waiting for something greater.

We are aware that the One Who is coming is Christ, but that means more than just Christ’s birth at Christmas. It also means the coming of Christ into our lives through grace and the sacraments of Holy Communion and reconciliation. However, its ultimate meaning has to do with preparing for Christ’s second coming. In that regard in past few weeks our readings from Holy Scripture have very much centered on being prepared for that final coming. Today’s readings continue that theme.

We hear readings from Isaiah often at this time of year because that prophet foretold in such accurate detail the coming of the Messiah, of Christ. In addition, there is a certain poetry to the way Isaiah writes. The closing of our First Reading is “Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.” What an eloquent statement about Who God is, and who we are as well! However, even if we understand that we are God’s creation, as is everything, for God to truly form us we must be open to Him and to His direction and guidance.

Advent is a time for us to develop our relationship with God so we are the “work of His hands.” There is a clear explanation in this reading that one of the great obstacles to God being an intimate part of our lives is our sinfulness. This is a time when it is important to address that obstacle, to reconcile with God, and with many others in our lives perhaps, so that we can indeed be prepared and fulfill God’s wishes for us.

St. Paul opens today’s Second Reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians by greeting them with “Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” St. Paul uses the phrase “grace to you and peace” five other times in his letters in the New Testament. Grace is always first and peace second, because grace is the source of peace. Without grace there can be no peace. Referring to “the Lord Jesus Christ” is also quite typical of Paul’s perspective. In fact, he uses that term almost twenty times in this letter alone.

Immediately after his greeting Paul writes, “I give thanks to my God always on your account…” This is a time of year when we need to focus on our blessings and approach God with the same sense of gratitude Paul always displays. Gratitude, as we know, is at the heart of a stewardship way of life, a Christian way of life. This is a time of year when we need to express that gratitude with a renewed sense of spirituality and a commitment to making changes in our lives that really do prepare us for the coming of Christ.

It is well to understand that the Corinthian church had many problems, and Paul was well aware of that. Nevertheless, Paul is confident that there are solutions to all of these. Why? Because “God is faithful.” Paul has a trust in God and he urges the Corinthians to have that same trust. This Advent time of year is a time when we need to place our trust in the Lord as well.

The Gospel Reading from St. Mark opens with “Be watchful! Be alert!” This is the same message we have heard over and over in recent weeks. We do not know, cannot know, when Jesus is coming or when our own lives will end. There are two ways to look at that: the cynical way is “I don’t know so it really does not matter.” This Advent season is a time when we should come to grips with the reality that it does matter. As Jesus reminds us, we need to be alert, eager, and ready for His coming. But we tend to put that preparedness off, which is the human way we often respond. Now is the time for each of us to commit ourselves to getting prepared by embracing the many opportunities afforded us during Advent and then Christmas.

The Lord says “It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work.” Jesus is the “man traveling” and we are His “servants.” He has left us with His house (the Church entrusted to each of us); His authority (authority always involves responsibility); and our own work (we are not responsible for someone else’s work, but we certainly are for our own). Advent is a time to pray and to respond to what Christ has left us — our Church, our responsibilities, and our own individual callings.

https://www.catholicsteward.com/blog/

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 11, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we read the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. Here, Jesus teaches us in rich detail what stewardship in action looks like. In fact, this parable could just as accurately be called the parable of the Good Steward. The first thing we note about the Good Samaritan is that he is aware of the needs of those around him and responds generously. While the priest and Levi brush right past the man on the side of the road, the Samaritan is watching for those who might be in need. He has a hospitable way of looking at the world around him and so he is able to “see” in a way that the others did not, and he was “moved with compassion at the sight” of the man. Next, we see the Good Samaritan spring into action to serve this man, setting aside his own schedule and plans to meet his needs. He does not just give the man a few dollars or offer quick words of encouragement from across the road. He goes right up to the man. He cleans and bandages his wounds. He puts the man on his own animal and brings him to an inn where he can heal. He ensures the innkeeper would continue to look after him, and he commits to re-turning to the man on his way back. That is how we live out God’s commandments. That is true hospitality and service.  That is how a good steward springs into action when he comes upon a neighbor in need. And Jesus says to each of us personally, just as He did in today’s Gospel, “Go and do likewise.” ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering I want to welcome Father Christopher Angermeyer to St. Mark as Parochial Vicar. As many of you know, Father was ordained in June. After completing his undergraduate studies at Belmont Abbey and St. Joseph College Seminary. He completed his theological studies and priestly formation at Mount St. Mary’s in Cincinnati. His home parish was St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte. We are happy to have Father Angermeyer with us. I know you will do your part to make him feel welcomed here at St. Mark. I will be away for the next couple of weeks on pilgrimage with a group of seminarians and faithful. Please know that the parish will be in my prayers, and I take all of your intentions with me to the Shrine of Our Lady.

From the Pastor - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 7, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least one of the coaching tips Christ gives. “The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as individuals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well. But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. Our parish is our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ; we must invite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As you know, during the last weekend of May (5/31-6/1), we had our final push for our Growing Home Campaign. I wanted to give everyone a final update as we conclude our fundraising period. During that weekend’s presentation, I asked everyone to help us close the $325,000 gap to meet our $9.7 M goal. As we close this portion of the campaign, I am happy to report that we have reached $10.5 million in pledges and gifts, exceeding our goal by $800,000! I am continuously amazed by the giving spirit that pervades our parish. Your generosity is a tangible expression of your commitment to our amazing parish. The funds raised over the goal and any funds raised going forward will help us to address the ever-increasing cost of construction and reduce the loan amount that will be required to complete the overall project. As noted earlier this year, the Rectory project has started and is projected to take about 12 months to complete. Our hope and plan is to break ground on the Monsignor Bellow Center and Adoration Chapel next summer or early Fall. Words alone never seem adequate to express the gratitude that I have in my heart for all of you who have participated in and supported this monumental effort. Both the financial support and the support with time and talent have been tremendous and for that, I want to offer a heartfelt “THANK YOU!”. May God bless each of you for your generosity in helping us grow our home here at St. Mark.
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