From the Pastor – 3rd Sunday of Lent

March 5, 2018

From the Pastor – 3 rd Sunday of Lent

Our First Reading from the Old Testament Book of Exodus presents the Ten Commandments, as God gave them to Moses. The Commandments also appear in the Book of Deuteronomy (Chapter 5; verses 6-21). The Commandments are reaffirmed in the New Testament by Jesus Himself and especially in the Gospel of John.

The Ten Commandments are also called the “Decalogue,” which means literally “ten words.” According to the  Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2056) “God revealed these ‘ten words’ to His people on the holy mountain. They were written ‘with the finger of God.’ They are pre-eminently the words of God”.

At another point the Catechism fortifies the Commandments by saying, “…from generation to generation…the ‘deposit’ of moral teaching has been handed on. Along with the Creed and the Our Father, the basis for catechesis has traditionally been the Decalogue, which sets out the principles of moral life valid for all people.” (#2033)

The Commandments are considered essential for spiritual good health and growth. They serve as the basis for Catholic social justice. A review of the Ten Commandments is a common type of examination of conscience before receiving the sacrament of Penance.

As Lent draws to a close, it is important for each of us to go to confession and receive the sacrament of Penance. As part of that we may wish to look at our lives and how we live them through the holy words of the Ten Commandments.

Pastoral Pondering

In continuing our discussion of reverence, I think one of the first things that we need to consider is “Who is God?”. The following reflection by Father Brian Doerr does a good job of laying out the issue.

Who is the real God? For so many years, God has been portrayed to us as a mild individual, approachable, nothing to fear. A recent best seller portrayed the Trinity as an African-American woman (the Father), an Asian Woman (the Holy Spirit) and a hippy-like drop out (the Son) that hung out in an old dilapidated shack. Rather than man’s inspired realization that he is made in the image and likeness of God, modern man has made God in his own image and likeness. We have it backward!

The Scriptures that teach us that the “fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”  (Proverbs 9:10) are completely forgotten. Think of your own father; chances are, although you love him profoundly, you also had a reverential fear of him. Otherwise he would not inspire you, nor would you respect him. The same is true for any good mentor: if he cannot generate a reverential fear or respect, he is completely ineffective. God is utter incomprehensibility and all-powerful. He is infinitely “Other”. This is not to say a man must dread his God, but he is deluding himself if he considers his God to be harmless and irrelevant.

[In the book of Exodus] the people are alerted to the presence of God via the trumpet: “the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder…” as God approached. Trumpets sound in Sacred Scripture for two prominent reasons: to call men to battle and to call men to prayer. Ironic the two would be combined under the same sign. Or perhaps it is not ironic; perhaps the blare of the trumpet calls us to the battle of prayer as warriors for God. Men will not rally and fight for a leader they do not respect. Although it is not politically correct to say, the familiar words of Psalm 68 give a perfect description of God’s triumph: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him! As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked [the Evil One] perish before God!” (Father Brian Doerr, Exodus: Ninety Days , South Bend, Those Catholic Men, 2016, p. 168.)

Before we can understand the importance of reverence, we have to understand who God is. We must always remember that He is God, and we are not no matter how often we try to convince ourselves otherwise.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Baptism of the Lord

By John Putnam • January 9, 2026
Today marks the close of the Christmas season, but before we return to Ordinary Time, we have one more great feast to celebrate — The Baptism of the Lord. Today’s feast is a perfect opportunity to consider the privileges and responsibilities we all share as Christian stewards by virtue of our own Baptism. At the moment of our Baptism, we became adopted sons and daughters of God, members of his holy, Catholic Church. Though we may not have realized it, the moment of our Baptism is also the moment we become Christian stewards, disciples of Jesus Christ, tasked with the work of following in His footsteps day by day and sharing the Gospel message with all those around us. In our second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter gives us a glimpse of the person of Jesus we should imitate. “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” We must live our lives like Jesus, seeking to do good to everyone we encounter; not just those in our inner circle of family and friends, but everyone in our community since the Father loves us all and Jesus sought out everyone with His saving message. In the Gospel passage from Matthew, we see yet another aspect of Jesus in action, this time as he humbly stands before John to be baptized by him. What humility and what willingness to unite Himself to us our Lord demonstrates by this act. We can do no less as we live out our daily lives as his disciples. And when we do strive with all our might to live out our Baptismal call to Christian stewardship, we will experience the deep honor of knowing that we, too, are God’s “beloved” sons and daughters “with whom He is well-pleased.” © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As many of you know, on December 17 Bishop Martin issued a pastoral letter concerning the reception of Holy Communion. In that letter, he directed that non-fixed altar rails and kneelers be removed no later than January 16. I want to acknowledge, very simply and honestly, that this has been difficult for many in our parish. I feel that weight as well. I love St. Mark, and I am grateful for the reverence and devotion so many of you show toward the Holy Eucharist. I do not take lightly the concerns, questions, or disappointment this has raised. I am also aware that some of the faithful have made use of the appropriate channels within the Church to petition for clarification or reconsideration, and those processes may continue. At the same time, as your pastor, I am entrusted with leading this parish in fidelity to the Church and her discipline in those matters that do not contradict Catholic law. While there are sincere and thoughtful discussions about posture for receiving Holy Communion, the current liturgical discipline in the United States indicates that Communion is ordinarily received standing, whether on the tongue or in the hand. It is important to state clearly that the right of an individual communicant to kneel remains fully intact, and no one may ever be denied Holy Communion for choosing to do so. Therefore, unless a suspensive decision is issued by the Bishop or by the Dicastery for Divine Worship, we will comply with the directive and remove the kneelers from around the sanctuary. To assist with the reverent and timely distribution of Holy Communion, we will also increase the number of Communion stations. I know this change will be challenging for some. It is not something I approach lightly. My hope is that we can carry this moment together, offering whatever frustration or sorrow we may feel as a personal sacrifice, united to Christ present in the Eucharist. Crosses come in many forms, and how we bear them matters greatly. Let us remain united in prayer and charity, so that anger, bitterness, or division never take root at St. Mark. The weight of the Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for Bishop Martin daily, and I ask that you do the same. Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for him everyday, and I hope that you will as well.  On a happier note, as we come to the end of the Christmas season, I want to thank everyone who dropped off Christmas greetings and goodies. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

From the Pastor - Epiphany

By John Putnam • January 2, 2026
Today we celebrate the Epiphany — the manifestation of Christ to the world. The stewardship way of life is nothing other than a grateful response to God’s countless manifestations in our lives, and a commitment to make His love manifest to others through the sharing of our gifts. St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that the grace given to him was “for your benefit.” Every gift we have received is meant to benefit others and give glory to God. The Magi show us how to live this out: Worship is their highest priority.They travel far, ask openly, and refuse to let anything stop them from honoring the newborn King. Is Sunday Mass the non-negotiable center of our week? 2. They are watchful. “We saw his star at its rising.” Good stewards stay alert to God’s presence and gifts in daily life. 3. They persevere through difficulty. Herod deceives, dangers threaten, yet God guides and protects them. Our stewardship journey will have twists, but God is faithful. 4. They are overjoyed True stewards radiate the deep, lasting joy that only comes from encountering Christ. 5. They prostrate and open their treasures. Overwhelmed with awe, they give totally of themselves and their gifts — the perfect act of worship. This year, let us rejoice in every manifestation of God in our lives, stay watchful for His star, and open our own treasures — our time, talent, and treasure — in generous gratitude to our King.  Come, let us adore Him — and then go and make Him known.