From the Pastor - 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 18, 2021

Our readings today remind us that God always has our best interests in mind. No matter what is going on in our lives, God is with us.

 

In our Gospel today, Jesus and His disciples are traveling in a boat when heavy winds and violent waves begin to overwhelm the boat. Jesus was there sleeping in the boat in the midst of this horrific storm.

 

The disciples woke Jesus and questioned Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus calms the wind and the waves, and then asks them in return, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

 

Think back to a time that you endured great suffering, a hard trial or felt overwhelmed with life. How did you respond?

 

In moments of trial, we often live our days in a panic. We see the water coming into our boat and we do all that we can in our power to stay afloat. We are frantic, so we fail to stop and recognize that our Savior is in the same boat with us. Although it might feel like He is sleeping and His presence is lacking, He is right there suffering with us.

 

God won’t allow anything that we cannot handle. In a moment of suffering, we might feel trapped. Yet, He sees the moment of peace and still waters.

 

During our trials, cling to Jesus. Know that there is an end, and whether we see the end in this life or the next, God allows it all for our salvation.

 

Today, let us thank God for His presence in our lives, and ask for the eyes of faith to see that He is right here with us always. 

 

Pastoral Pondering

Before continuing on with our catechesis, I want to address an unexpected change. While we had originally hoped that our clergy personnel would remain unchanged, due to unforeseen circumstances in the Diocese, Father Gámez will be leaving us on July 6th. He has been an amazing addition to our parish family, and it has been a joy working with him during his first years of priesthood. I am unable at present to announce where Father is going or who will be coming here, but will hopefully be able to do so next week.

 

The Second Precept – You shall confess your sins at least once a year: We must prepare for the Eucharist by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). The sacrament “continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness (Code of Canon Law, 989 as quoted in CCC, 2042).

 

The sacrament of Penance, also called reconciliation or confession, is that gift of Christ that recognizes our weakness as human beings due to our fallen human nature. Since our mission is to maintain communion with Christ and His Church, we need the spiritual aids that will assist us to do so since we cannot do so without God’s help. The sacrament of penance along with the sacrament of the anointing of the sick are identified as sacraments of healing. They restore us to spiritual health.

 

For its part the sacrament of penance, in order to truly be effective, requires that it be an external expression of something that is already an interior reality; namely, interior sorrow or contrition for offending God by falling into sin. As St. Ambrose, the great Archbishop of Milan noted, “there are two conversions in the Church, water and tears; the waters of baptism and the tears of repentance” (See CCC, 1429).

 

Because is first and foremost “an offense against God (CCC, 1440), we should always be mindful of the serious consequences that arise from freely giving into sin; which also damages our relationship with the Church. Hence, in order to repair the damage caused by sin, by Christ’s design, we need an act of the Church to bring about the fullness of healing. Of course, as the Catechism points out, “only God forgives sin” (1441), nonetheless because of His power as God, Christ handed on that authority to the Apostles and their successors to exercise this sacred task through His bride, the Church (see Mt. 16:19; cf. Mt, 18:18; 28:16-20).

 

While it is strictly true that only serious or mortal sin is necessary to restore communion (see CCC, 1456), it is a worthy practice to use the sacrament with regularity even if only venial sins have been committed because the sacrament itself is a font of grace through which the penitent is strengthened to fight temptation and avoid sin (CCC, 1458). Those conscious of serious or mortal sin must not approach Communion until they have received sacramental absolution (CCC, 1457).

 

One of the aspects of the sacrament that is often overlooked is the necessity of satisfaction. Forgiveness of sin brings about reconciliation with God and the Church. In addition to injuring our relationship with God, sin often also injures others. Because of this, simple justice requires that the sinner repair the harm that his sin has caused, e.g., return stolen goods, restore someone’s name, pay compensation for injuries (CCC, 1459). This aspect of reconciliation is often called reparation or expiation for sin. The priest confessor, in imposing a penance, should take this into consideration when offering the penitent guidance in restoring relationships and healing offenses.

 

At St. Mark we committed several years ago to offer opportunities for the regular reception of this sacrament of healing. Usually, confessions are offered prior to each Mass, and regular times for confession are offered on Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

By John Putnam • June 27, 2025
During June, we have celebrated key moments in the life of the Church — Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi — culminating today with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Though very different men, they are united in faith, mission, and martyrdom, and the Church has honored them together since the third century. St. Peter, the first Pope, was chosen by Christ as the rock on which the Church would be built. The Catechism tells us that because of the faith he professed, Peter remains the “unshakeable rock of the Church.” Despite his human weaknesses, Peter's loyalty, repentance, and leadership make him a powerful model of stewardship. St. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became one of the Church’s greatest evangelists. In today’s second reading, Paul reflects on his mission, saying, “I have finished the race… the crown of righteousness awaits me.” The Greek word he used for “crown” — stephanos — refers to a victor’s crown, not a royal one, showing his view of faith as a race well-run for the sake of Christ. Though they were martyred separately, tradition holds that Peter and Paul were in Rome at the same time, and their shared witness and sacrifice tie them closely together in Church history. They embody two vital aspects of stewardship — Peter in his faith and leadership, and Paul in his zeal and wisdom. As stewards, we are called to follow their example — to build the Church through our commitment, to overcome our failures through God’s mercy, and to proclaim the Gospel with courage. Like Peter and Paul, we are invited to give all we have for the sake of Christ and His Church. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  This Solemnity marks the beginning of summer vacation in Rome. The Holy Father will be traveling to Castelgandolfo for some time away from the heat of Rome. For the rest of us, the weeks of summer are in full swing, and as we move into July this week, I hope that families have an opportunity to spend some time in rest and relaxation. Spending time with family, friends, and the Lord, are among the best things that we can do with our “down time”. Leisure is essential to a well-lived life, but it has to be understood properly in the context of the Christian life. Anthony Esolen’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture is a contemporary reflection and expansion on the classic work of the same name by Josef Pieper. Esolen argues that modern society has lost its understanding of true leisure, mistaking it for mere idleness or entertainment. In contrast, he defines leisure as a contemplative, receptive state that allows individuals to encounter truth, beauty, and God. True leisure, according to the author, distinguishes leisure from passive consumption or busyness. True leisure is rooted in wonder, worship and reflection – activities that are ends in themselves, not means to productivity. He critiques how modern life has turned all human activity into something utilitarian. Education, art and even religion are often reduced to tools for social mobility or economic growth, rather than pursued for their intrinsic value. Esolen emphasizes that leisure finds its highest expression in worship and liturgy. Time spent in contemplation of the divine is the deepest form of leisure, because it directs the soul toward eternal realities. He draws on classical and Christian sources to affirm that man is not simply a worker or consumer but is made for contemplation and communion. In the end, he calls for a return to genuine leisure as the only path to restoring culture, education, and the dignity of the human spirit. The author argues that without true leisure, civilization cannot thrive, because it loses contact with what is eternal and meaningful. Leisure, rightly understood, is not a break from life – it is at the heart of what makes life worth living.

From the Pastor - Corpus Christi

By John Putnam • June 20, 2025
Today we observe the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This beautiful feast celebrates the gift of the Eucharist, which the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches is the source and summit of our Christian faith. “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself” (CCC paragraph 1324). The very word, Eucharist, means “thanksgiving” or “gratitude” and so this feast is especially meaningful to all of us who are striving to live as grateful stewards of all God’s blessings to us. Surely the Eucharist is the greatest of all blessings because it is not only from God, the Eucharist, is God — the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reminds us of the depths of love our Lord has shown us in the gift of the Eucharist, recalling Christ’s words at the very first Eucharistic celebration. “The Lord Jesus… took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you.’” In that moment, and at every celebration of the Mass thereafter, Jesus gives us His very self in an act of complete humility and perfect love. How can we possibly show our gratitude for such a sublime gift? We can receive the gift of the Eucharist with the greatest possible reverence and love. And, following our Lord’s example, we can give ourselves generously to others in the week ahead. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ naturally follows the Solemnities of Pentecost and the Holy Trinity. Each of those celebrations highlight a profound experience of God. The Eucharist invites us into the very life of God which is the Holy Trinity. We are nourished by the Lord to sustain us as we strive to run the race and fight the good fight. The Church in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II describes the Eucharist as the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows… At times perhaps we allow our assistance and participation at Mass and reception of the Eucharist to become habitual or common place. Such an attitude should always be avoided since it diminishes the centrality that the Eucharist is to play in each of our lives. Nonetheless, it is a common pitfall that many of us fall into. There are a number of ways in which we can help ourselves to avoid falling into that trap. First and foremost, we should prepare ourselves for participation at Mass. This can be accomplished in a number of ways but especially by taking some time to read and reflect on the Scriptures before we arrive at the church. Arriving early at Mass so that we can actually spend some time in prayer, quieting our hearts and minds before the celebration begins is also helpful. Outside of Mass, we can make spiritual Communions and make visits to the Blessed Sacrament. These moments of grace can also inspire us to live more authentically Christian lives by our concern for and service to the poor. Serving our neighbor and loving the neighbor as we love ourselves is a true expression of our love for God.  I also want to offer a word of thanks to all those who assisted with the diaconate and priestly ordinations the previous two Saturdays. A great deal of work goes into these events, and the St. Mark staff and volunteers always “step up” to do their part. We as a parish are honored to host these important Diocesan events and appreciate all of those who contribute to their success.
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