Dear Friends,
Fr. Patrick Render, C.S.V. Pastor January 19, 2020 |
Ordinary Time is the longest liturgical season in the Church year; it lasts for thirty four weeks. If that sounds like an eternity, do not be discouraged because it is interrupted by a few other seasons, like Lent (6 1⁄2 weeks), the Triduum (3 days), Easter (7 weeks), and Pentecost (1 day).
During Ordinary Time we follow the mission and mystery of Jesus’ public life and hear again the gospel stories that we all have heard many times before. Each time, however, we are different and so what we hear is being received by people whose lives have changed and whose experiences may have altered the filters through which we hear certain stories or teachings. That’s the clue for attentive listening. I cannot tell you how many times people have remarked: “I have heard that gospel all my life but today it spoke to me in an entirely different way” or “I never picked up on that point of the story before; I heard it today in a whole new way”. |
Those are the really graced moments when the gospels come alive and the power of the Word of God becomes personal. Our Church teaches that the Scriptures are the “living” Word of God that God is present and active through the Word; but we are not always in the same place in life when we hear them. This year in Ordinary Time we will be primarily following the gospel according to Matthew and Matthew presents the image of Jesus as a “teacher” giving instructions. Often he will be called “Rabbi” which means teacher and many of his teachings will be gathered together in “discourses” such as the Sermon on the Mount (which takes up nearly three full chapters). Matthew drew his material from several sources but he uses the structures of discourses to collect and present the material into coherent and consistent teachings. If you know which discourse you are hearing, then you will have a greater insight into the depths of the teaching. That is why the readings for the coming week are always listed in our Parish Bulletin and on our website (www.stviatorparish.org ), so that you can glimpse them ahead of time. (Truly!).
Most of my life follows ordinary time (one week after another, year after year) and I suspect that yours does too. Special events, new relationships, job adjustments, health and a few other factors can alter the focus of my life but basically it follows a pretty consistent flow. I am grateful for that because it allows for stability, calm, and a familiar pattern for living. Our spiritu- al lives depend on some of that consistency as well. Too much chaos can make it difficult to listen to life and to the Spirit’s movements in life. Even though I have been preaching the gospel for over fifty years, each time I prepare to preach I have to listen again and try to hear it with fresh ears. So should you, in order to hear anew. You might be surprised at what you discover!
Most of my life follows ordinary time (one week after another, year after year) and I suspect that yours does too. Special events, new relationships, job adjustments, health and a few other factors can alter the focus of my life but basically it follows a pretty consistent flow. I am grateful for that because it allows for stability, calm, and a familiar pattern for living. Our spiritu- al lives depend on some of that consistency as well. Too much chaos can make it difficult to listen to life and to the Spirit’s movements in life. Even though I have been preaching the gospel for over fifty years, each time I prepare to preach I have to listen again and try to hear it with fresh ears. So should you, in order to hear anew. You might be surprised at what you discover!
Adopt a Family Event 2018
Adopt a Family would like to extend 101 Thank You’s from our 101 Families who enjoyed an afternoon full of presents and treats! Thank You to our generous shoppers, bakers and elves who pitched in to make this a special day for local families in need of help. An extra thanks to our Youth Group, Teen Club, Girl Scouts and Parent Association! Merry Christmas!