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Pastor's Corner
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September 13th - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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LITURGICAL LEARNINGS
We introduce to you ---- the Mass.
Every Mass begins before it begins as each person prepares in their own way. It is good to arrive at Mass prior to its official beginning to prepare our hearts and souls for every beautiful aspect of Liturgy. We begin with the Introductory Rites.The assembly rises to sing together, which reminds us this is for all of us; any voices together, make one beautiful sound. Then the priest makes the sign of the cross and reminds us of our belief in the Triune God. A more solemn and meaningful beginning cannot be imagined. Then the priests greet the people with the Apostolic greeting; an exchange that immediately acknowledges the roles that will be played in this ritual action.Next, the priest urges the people to acknowledge their sins, including himself in the admonition. The basic reason for this, right here at the beginning, is, as one of the suggested texts he may use states, “so that we may celebrate the sacred mysteries worthily.” The sacred action that is beginning, inevitably awakens in us a keen sense of how our sins stand in striking contrast to what we are about to do.We are in the presence of the all holy God, and as a first reaction to finding ourselves there, what can we do except to beg him for his mercy? This important action begins our prayer in repentance as we draw near to the Word and the Eucharist. -
September 6th - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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From Retaliation to RestorationWhen someone wrongs us, our human instinct is retaliation. We want to strike back or at least to hold a quiet resentment. In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus offers a different blueprint for conflict, calling us to a journey of private honesty and restoration. This is not a legal checklist; it is a manifestation of divine mercy aimed at winning back the one who has wronged us.Think about a common modern dilemma: a frustrating group text or email. The temptation to hit "Reply All" and publicly reprimand the sender is intense. But doing so explodes the conflict. Jesus’ command to "go and tell him his fault between you and him alone" is the spiritual equivalent of taking the issue offline. By keeping it private first, we protect the person's dignity and swap public retaliation for holy reconciliation. I would also add it is best to go to the person privately by talking to them, rather than via email or text.In his commentary series ”Food for the Soul”, Dr. Peter Kreeft notes that this process mimics a medical intervention: "the law is like an X-ray, sin is like cancer, and salvation is like an operation." When we approach someone in truth and charity, we are not acting as a self-righteous judge trying to execute a sentence. Instead, we are acting alongside Christ as a spiritual surgeon. The ultimate goal is never to destroy the patient or banish them from our life; it is to cut away the destructive cancer of sin to preserve the soul, protect the community, and heal the relationship.However, we cannot offer this surgery to others if we are still bleeding from our own unconfessed wounds. We must first allow Christ to heal us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the confessional, we step onto the operating table, expose our sins, and allow Jesus to bind our wounds. To make this healing more accessible, we have added a new Wednesday evening confession time at 6:00. If you are not sure how to go the person first, maybe go to God in confession first and believe the grace given will be some insight and strength.Jesus promises, "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Let us choose reconciliation over retaliation, trusting He is with us.