July Birthdays at St. E's - Provided by Ethel Cooley

07-01-13 ~ Diane Neylan

07-04-13 ~ Nicholas Hall

07-06-13 ~ Kenneth Soistmann

07-08-13 ~ Treshawn McCall

07-10-13 ~ Mackenzie Jaquez

07-12-13 ~ David Tindall

07-13-13 ~ Woody Kaine and Cathy Richardson

07-14-13 ~ Brandon Crawley

07-15-13 ~ Mary Ann Allen and Sandra Torain

07-16-13 ~ Roger Pryor, III

07-20-13 ~ Mary Baker and Roland Smith

07-26-13 ~ Lucy Thompson

07-27-13 ~ Keon Wilkins

07-28 -13 ~ Ronald Crosby

07-31-13 ~ TyShell Jones

Meditation on the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image Source:  Pastor's Reflection

No Excuses ~ A Reflection on the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Sm 12:7-10, 13

Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 (5c)

Gal 2:16, 19-21

Lk 7:36-8:3

Fr. Dan provided us with a great homily this morning, as well as a special Fathers' Day blessing for the fathers and father-figures in our congregation.

Have you ever noticed how often we admit our guilt about something and at the same time try to minimize the guilt by giving excuses?  Remember when you gave somebody a hard time and excused your behavior because "I was having a bad day"?  How about the time you apologized to somebody whose reputation you had trashed but said it was someone else's fault for gossiping lies to you...  Yes, giving excuses is so easy to do...  I think one reason we do this is because we cannot face the fact that we do wrong purposefully.

As we look at the first reading from 2 Samuel, we see a great example of how to take full responsibility for our sins without giving God any excuses.  We all know the story of King David who decided he wanted for his own, the wife of his faithful soldier, Uriah the Hittite.  He planned Uriah's murder on the field of battle and then married his widow who was already pregnant with David's child.

God, through the prophet Nathan, accused David of adultery and murder, reminding David of all God had done for him; and that because of these sins, the "sword shall never depart from your house."

How could David minimize his sins before God when he knew he had done the things he was accused of?  David expected to die but instead, David was forgiven by God for assuming responsibility for his sins and repenting.  "I have sinned against the Lord." said David.  No excuses!

We have a similar story in the Luke's Gospel.  The sinful woman who wept at the feet of Jesus and anointed them with ointment.  She never said a word but Jesus knew what her actions meant and told her that her sins were forgiven.

God's forgiveness is always there...  we simply have to acknowledge our sins and repent and accept the forgiveness He holds out to us.



Image Source:  "The Repentance of the Sinful Woman" by Lina

With Compassion ~ Reflection on the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 17:17-24

Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 (2a)

Gal 1:11-19

Lk 7:11-17

Deacon David Nemetz preached on the compassion of Jesus this morning and many of his thoughts lingered with me.

As we read Luke's Gospel, we learn that Jesus has journeyed to Nain with his companions. On entering the city, he is confronted with a funeral procession and notes immediately that the chief mourner is a woman alone, a widow.  In the coffin lies her son, an only son.  Jesus stops in front of the coffin.

Not a word has been spoken by the widow or her friends.  No one has asked Jesus to speak to the widow... More than likely, the widow has no knowledge of who this man is who has walked toward her.

But at a glance, Jesus has taken in the entire picture of what is happening here.  He realizes that this dead son represents the only security the widow had.  With her son's death, there is no one to take care of her.  No one to provide her with shelter, food and clothing.  Jesus is moved with pity and in his compassion, he tells the widow not to weep.  We know that something wonderful is about to happen; for Jesus tells the dead man to arise...  The son is returned to his mother!  Word of this event is spread throughout Judea and the people rejoiced that a great prophet had arisen in their midst.  God had again visited his people!

We can be certain that the widow in turn must have glorified God, recalling the words of the psalmist: "You changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks." (vs 13)

Jesus was an only son too.  Remember at the foot of the cross, Jesus made provision for his mother, who was also a widow.  He gave Mary into the care of John the Apostle who brought her into his home and took care of her as a son would do.  In doing so, Jesus was symbolically giving his mother to us too.



Image: The Emmaus Series
 

Women's Day ~ June 2, 2013 ~ Photos by Ethel Cooley

Our inspiring speaker this year for Women's Day was Sr. Jane Nesmith.  Sr. Jane is the Pastoral Life Coordinator at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Evansville, Indiana.  She has also authored a book,  "Feeding the Multitudes", which along with her CDs, were available for purchase after Mass.

Corpus Christi Sunday and Women's Day at St. E's ~ by Ronnie Archer

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Gn 14:18-20

Ps 110:1-4

1 Cor 11:23-26

Lk 9:11b-17

The theme of the readings for this Feast Day is one of spiritual and physical nourishment.  In Genesis, Melchizedek, high priest-king, brought out Bread and Wine and saluted and blessed Abram (Abraham).

Paul, in the Corinthians reading, was trying to "correct" some of the discourtesies that the people had displayed during the celebrations of the Lord's Supper, reminding them of the Lord's Words the night before He was handed over..."This is my body, this cup is the new covenant in my blood... Do this in remembrance of me."

Luke's gospel gives the account of the crowd of people who came to hear Jesus speak about the kingdom of God, and heal those in need of healing.  As day turned to dusk, the Apostles suggested that the crowd be dismissed, knowing they should find lodging and provisions.  They were instructed to have the people sit in groups of fifty.  There were only five loaves of bread and two fish; Jesus took the loaves and fish, looked to heaven, blessed them, broke them and the disciples distributed them among the crowd, and all ate and were satisfied... with fragments left over.

The Lord continues to call us, as we continue to be Jesus People.  When we receive Communion, we are affirming that we believe in the presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine, as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  The Lord invites us to break bread and be a people on a journey together.  We are united with good people around the world.

Corpus Christi Sunday was also Women's Day.  Sr. Jane Nesmith was our speaker.  Sr. Jane is the Pastoral Life Coordinator at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Evansville, Indiana, a position she has held for 16 years.

Sr. Jane began her talk by commenting on how chauvinists and feminists might describe a "woman's place."  She said biblically, they both would probably be incorrect.  God's Word does not conform to "worldly" opinions.

When God created man, He knew His creation was not complete, so God made woman, as the climax of His creation.  She joked about how, after God made man, He said:  "I can do better than this!" ... which drew laughter from the congregation.

In cultures of past times, women were considered property and even today in some parts of the world, that still exists.  Sr. Jane said some think a woman's place is in the home; others think a woman's place is anywhere men are not.  God created man and woman to be helpmates to each other, in marriage, each giving 100%, not 50-50, as some tend to think.

God made us to be one in Him as He and the Father are one.  Jesus came so that the world would be united as one.

Paul wasn't liked by many feminists because of some scriptures where he alludes to women "being silent", for example,1 Cor 14:34.  Sr. Jane said that Paul was not speaking generally, but individually.  He had a purpose for those comments,saying the women might not have been speaking the truth or in tongues that could not be understood by all.

Jesus was "ahead of His time" in dealing with women.  He had women in His company, such as Mary Magdalen, Mary who chose to sit at His feet, rather than be in the kitchen with her sister, as her sister Martha thought.  Jesus told Martha that Mary had "chosen the better part" because He was preparing HER for ministry.  Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman; women were the last to leave His cross and the first to know of His Resurrection.

We don't gather to make a point for either the chauvinists or the feminists.  We gather to make a point for GOD.  Wherever and whatever GOD leads a woman to do is fine.  If they want to be quiet, a leader, speak boldly, it is alright.

God needs us to feed the multitudes.  Sr. Jane reminded us that Jesus WANTS us to TELL OTHERS EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT REJECT IT, THAT "I LOVE THEM."... Whatever excuses WE might give to not evangelize, GOD answers that HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR US.  He has all the positives for OUR negatives.

All people of God can walk tall among any discrimination, because we know WHO we are and WHOSE we are.  We are challenged to keep responding to God's call to evangelize everywhere we are.

Sr. Jane ended her speech by singing, "I AM AVAILABLE".  It was such an inspiring speech.

Sr. Jane has written a book entitled, FEEDING THE MULTITUDES, which could be purchased after Mass, as well as another CD.



 ~ Image found at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish