From the Pastor – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 21, 2020

From the Pastor – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are reminded in today’s readings that we are human, and that as a result of that we are sinners, and we inherit that sin from the very beginning, from Adam. St. Paul points that out in our Second Reading from Romans 2. Were you aware that in Hebrew the name Adam means “humanity?”

In today’s Gospel Reading from Matthew, Jesus also reminds us of the fact that we are sinners, but He also prompts us to remember that one of the reasons we sin is because we fear other humans and the consequences of living out our faith more than we fear the Lord Himself. Jesus says, “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”

“Gehenna” is translated in some Bible versions as “Hell.” What the Lord is trying to communicate to us may be that we probably tend to fear earthly matters and earthly people more than we fear God. If we are “killed” by someone or something on earth it is the body only which dies. However, shrinking back from God’s call can have eternal consequences.

“Saving grace” and being saved are probably not thoughts on which we like to dwell, but they are real, and we need to recognize that. St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote, “The saved are few, but we must live with the few if we would be saved with the few. O God, too few indeed they are; yet amongst those few I wish to be.”

Pastoral Pondering

At the end of this week, we will hopefully be able to begin Phase III of the reopening. If this turns out to be the case, I would expect that we will be able to make some adjustments in terms of church occupancy and a return to some normalcy. Over the last couple of weeks, we have also seen widespread protests, some of which have devolved into riots and calls for the defunding or disbanding of police departments. While the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis should be roundly condemned by people of good will, we should never allow an isolated incident of police brutality to force us into accepting a mob mentality. It was a mob after all that called for the Crucifixion of Christ.

My father was a police officer when I was a young child. He was well known as someone who was fair and who cared about people. Over the years since then I have met many police officers, too many to count, all of whom placed their lives on the line each day to protect the communities in which they lived. I have also encountered a few who were simply not suited for their job, and one or two who I would consider “bad apples”. I’ve encountered doctors, lawyers, politicians, soldiers and myriads of others. I can say by and large most were fine people; but, there too, there were some bad or even rotten apples. The same can be said about priests, ministers, rabbis and bishops. Because we are human, we are fallible. Sadly, some of us give in to our base desires and emotions. This has been true since Cain killed Abel and has been played out countless times throughout history. That’s why on Trinity Sunday I noted that we are dealing with a sin problem rather than a skin problem.

This in no way denies that there are people who have been mistreated and harmed by those in authority, but it also recognizes that not every person should be judged because of the sins of a few. This is not only dangerous, as we saw in the treatment of the Jews in WW2 Germany or the treatment of Japanese immigrants in WW2 USA; but, it is also destructive of the common good. We should never deny or forget history. There have been plenty of examples of racism and discrimination throughout the world to be sure, and in our own country without a doubt. However, simply because something happened in the past does not mean it has to be repeated. As human beings we have the capacity to change. We have the capacity to grow, and we have the capacity to repent.

Learning to respect the dignity of each human person, created in the image and likeness of God, is the task of every Christian. This is true whether we are dealing with friend or foe. The Gospel requires us to oppose injustice where we find it and to strive to eradicate it with Christian love and compassion. Sadly, there seems to be a pervasive attitude that if you are not willing to accept responsibility for every wrong ever done to a person of color that you are somehow part of the problem and a supporter of racism. This is simply flawed thinking and an irrational conclusion. Mobs, however, are not rational. They operate out of emotion and the facts matter very little to them. As a Christian people, we have to strive for holiness which is built on the foundational belief that in order to love God, we also have to love our neighbor. If we actually start doing that, then we can eliminate injustice across the board and at every level. Politicians will not solve the problem and crowds of protestors will not solve the problem; although, exercising our first amendment rights by assembling peacefully and making our voices heard is important and necessary. The only true solutions will come from a return to God, a desire for repentance and conversion.

From the Pastor

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.
By John Putnam July 7, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least one of the coaching tips Christ gives. “The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as individuals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well. But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. Our parish is our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ; we must invite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As you know, during the last weekend of May (5/31-6/1), we had our final push for our Growing Home Campaign. I wanted to give everyone a final update as we conclude our fundraising period. During that weekend’s presentation, I asked everyone to help us close the $325,000 gap to meet our $9.7 M goal. As we close this portion of the campaign, I am happy to report that we have reached $10.5 million in pledges and gifts, exceeding our goal by $800,000! I am continuously amazed by the giving spirit that pervades our parish. Your generosity is a tangible expression of your commitment to our amazing parish. The funds raised over the goal and any funds raised going forward will help us to address the ever-increasing cost of construction and reduce the loan amount that will be required to complete the overall project. As noted earlier this year, the Rectory project has started and is projected to take about 12 months to complete. Our hope and plan is to break ground on the Monsignor Bellow Center and Adoration Chapel next summer or early Fall. Words alone never seem adequate to express the gratitude that I have in my heart for all of you who have participated in and supported this monumental effort. Both the financial support and the support with time and talent have been tremendous and for that, I want to offer a heartfelt “THANK YOU!”. May God bless each of you for your generosity in helping us grow our home here at St. Mark.
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