From the Pastor - Epiphany of the Lord

January 5, 2024

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. The Gospel account of the three magi traveling to meet Baby Jesus is one that we know well. Yet, when we pause to reflect on this moment when these men met Christ for the first time, we recognize that there is much to be said for us still today.


When the magi entered the house, it says, “they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” Clearly these men knew that they were in the presence of their King. They also came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which symbolize Christ’s kingship, divinity, and humanity.


Christ is still manifesting Himself to us today. We enter God’s house weekly, and we are in His presence. When we meet Him, do we offer Him our gifts — our time, talent, and treasure? As Christian stewards, we are called to respond with love, reverence, and gratitude.


Let us prepare our hearts to receive Christ’s many manifestations in our lives. We just need a grateful disposition to receive them. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2023


Pastoral Pondering

I want to wish everyone a very happy New Year. As we continue to celebrate our Lord’s nativity, the Epiphany reminds us that Emmanuel came to save the world. He offers His gift of salvation to all who willingly hear His voice and open their hearts to His message of love. In this New Year, let us all seek to be ambassadors of that message so that the world may come to know Him more intensely by the way we live our Christian lives.


Today, I also wanted to say a bit more about Fiducia supplicans, the recent document from the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith concerning blessings and those in irregular situations in terms of sacramental Communion. The document specifically addressed those with same sex attraction (SSA) living in a stable relationship as well as those who because of divorce or some other issue cannot participate in sacramental Communion.


Needless to say, the document has garnered lots of press coverage, thousands upon thousands of words of printed commentary, as well as any number of responses on social media. Our vicar general, Monsignor Patrick Winslow, wrote a concise response that was published on the Diocesan website and the Catholic News Herald which summarized the main points of the document. I won’t repeat all of that here. The US bishops also have a statement on their website from Bishop Robert Barron that you might also find helpful.


The problem with the document, and to be honest, much of the magisterial utterances during this pontificate, is it leaves a great deal unsaid that should be said. Confusion and wonderment arise from such statements which is the exact opposite of what the Holy See is supposed to be promoting, unity. The faith is not something to be toyed with. It is a treasure that is to be handed down and preserved. When we see divergent responses from bodies of bishops around the world, it again only raises questions of, “How is this Catholic? How is this promoting unity?” The only answer is that it is not.


Let me say clearly, there is no doubt that Jesus Christ came to save all. It is also true, however, that He never failed to unite that love with the revealed truth as He revealed it. I personally over the years have worked with countless people who have sincerely struggled with SSA as well as those who, sometimes through no fault of their own or simple ignorance, have ended up living in objectively sinful situations. Nonetheless, when presented with the truth, they have heroically tried to correct course and overcome whatever obstacles might be present. Jesus loved, and Jesus forgave. But He also, after telling the woman caught in adultery, “neither do I condemn you,” reminded to go “and from now on avoid this sin.”


Only Christ’s truthful love can heal us. We cannot simply affirm people’s sin in the name of being loving. Rather we are called to preach the truthfulness of the Gospel as the medicine for our sin. When we truthfully love someone in the name of Jesus then we are healed. When we try to separate the truth from love we only hurt those we try to love and ourselves. Christ loves the woman caught in adultery. That being said, He also calls her to a life with him and not the sin she is suffering.


Both the Diocese of Charlotte and our parish offer various supports for folks struggling with SSA, those dealing with the pain of divorce and those who are in need of help to regularize an irregular marriage situation. We are all sinners in need of God’s love and mercy, but receiving that mercy requires true contrition and a desire to change. The difficulty with FS is that lip service is given to this while at the same time undermining this foundational truth. FS mentions blessing the couple but makes no mention of ongoing support. If we study the sad path taken by some of our Protestant brothers and sisters in this particular area, changes were made for the sake of pastoral concern and solicitude which eventually turned into a wholesale abandonment of Traditional Faith and a fracturing of the Anglican communion around the world. We already see that in the disparate responses to FS from Africa on the one hand and Western Europe on the other. Let us pray that God who is faithful will guard and protect us from following that same path of fracture and dissolution.

 

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 18, 2025
In today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke, we receive a reminder about the proper use of the gift of time, a fundamental aspect of a stewardship way of life. Our passage highlights one of the most famous dinner parties ever thrown, recalling the day that Martha and Mary hosted our Lord in their home. We are told that Martha, as a good steward, welcomes Christ in but then becomes “burdened with much serving” while her sister and fellow hostess chooses to simply sit with Jesus, listening to Him speak. Martha becomes indignant at Mary’s behavior and complains to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, refuses to get pulled into this sisterly spat. Instead, He offers Martha a fresh way to look at the situation. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.” What is that one thing? It is to put Jesus first in our lives and above all other things; to “sit at his feet” and listen as Mary did, giving Him the priority of our time no matter how busy we think we are. When we truly commit to putting Christ first in our daily lives through a regular time of prayer and frequent participation in the sacraments, we will find that all our other concerns become less pressing, less overwhelming. Why is this so? Because the time we invest in our relationship with God saturates all aspects of our lives with His grace. And because God cannot be outdone in generosity. He will abundantly reward any sacrifice we make to spend time with Him. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering In the Catholic tradition, prayer is a foundational practice, understood as a personal and communal relationship with God. It’s seen as a dialogue, not a monologue, where the individual lifts their heart and mind to God, seeking communion, guidance, and alignment with His will. Below is a concise overview of the Catholic understanding of prayer, grounded in Church teaching and tradition: Definition and Purpose : The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2559) defines prayer as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” It’s an act of love, trust, and dependence on God, fostering a covenant relationship. Prayer’s primary aim is communion with God, aligning human will with divine will, as modeled by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Types of Prayer (CCC 2626-2643): Adoration : Worshipping God for His infinite goodness and majesty (e.g., Eucharistic adoration). Petition : Asking for personal needs or forgiveness, acknowledging human dependence on God. Intercession : Praying for others, reflecting charity and solidarity (e.g., praying for the living and the dead). Thanksgiving : Expressing gratitude for God’s gifts, as seen in the Eucharist (“thanksgiving” in Greek). Praise : Glorifying God for who He is, beyond what He does. Forms of Prayer : Vocal Prayer : Spoken prayers, like the Rosary, Our Father, or Hail Mary, engaging both body and soul. Meditative Prayer : Reflecting on Scripture or sacred mysteries (e.g., Lectio Divina or meditating on the Rosary’s mysteries). Contemplative Prayer : A silent, loving gaze toward God, seeking deeper union, as taught by saints like Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross. Theological Foundations : Prayer is rooted in the Trinity: Catholics pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit (CCC 2655). Jesus is the model of prayer, seen in His constant communion with the Father (e.g., John 17). The Holy Spirit inspires and sustains prayer (Romans 8:26). Mary and the saints are intercessors, not mediators, whose prayers join ours to God (CCC 2673-2679). Role in Catholic Life : Prayer is essential for salvation, as it nurtures faith, hope, and charity (CCC 2558). It’s a daily obligation, often through practices like morning/evening prayers, Mass, or the Liturgy of the Hours. The Eucharist, as the “source and summit” of Christian life (CCC 1324), is the highest form of prayer, uniting believers with Christ’s sacrifice. Prayer strengthens against temptation and fosters virtues, as seen in the lives of saints like Thérèse of Lisieux, who called prayer “a surge of the heart.” Practical Expressions : Liturgy : The Mass and sacraments are communal prayers, uniting the Church on earth and in heaven. Devotions : Practices like the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, or novenas deepen personal devotion. Spontaneous Prayer : Heartfelt, unscripted prayer is encouraged alongside structured forms. Challenges and Growth : Catholics are taught to persevere in prayer despite distractions or dryness, trusting God’s presence (CCC 2729-2733). Prayer requires humility and openness, as St. Augustine said: “Man is a beggar before God.” Supporting Evidence : The Catechism (Part Four, CCC 2558-2865) provides a comprehensive guide to prayer, emphasizing its centrality. Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium highlights liturgy as the primary expression of prayer, uniting the Church. Saints’ writings, like St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises, offer practical methods for deepening prayer. For further exploration, consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church or resources from the Vatican (vatican.va). Prayer, in Catholicism, is not just a practice but a way of life, drawing believers into God’s love and mission.

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.