Pastor’s Pen
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
A WORD FROM FR. BOB
Dear Church Family,
“More-evil than ever”, you hear these words and you probably agree there is so much evil. It comes to us on the news and in the news-paper. There is just so many tendencies for people to do evil things. Certainly, when we talk about this we are talking about big things but there are also little things that are filled with evil. Children are even tempted to do little evil things. They just tease one another, hurt feelings, bully, say mean things, or exclude someone. We know that we constantly try to say, “Why the evil?” Any of you with siblings growing up knew that there were always tendencies for your siblings to do evil things. That being said even the adults, that’s us, have our tendencies to do evil whether in our minds, our judgements, in our hearts or in our emotions. Maybe today we can challenge ourselves to fill ourselves only with good. Even the Apostles had their evil side.
In the gospel, we hear Jesus saying, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death He will rise.” This went over their heads and sometimes it goes over our heads when we are so busy with everything. Also, His disciples were arguing about who was the greatest and Jesus wanted to really teach a lesson. So He took a little child in His arms and said, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” We are to become like little children and the Lord will take care of us. That’s all that counts!
One of the authors I have gone to proposes a solution for all of these tendencies to evil. He says, “Here’s the plan to help you keep watch on your mind. Step 1: Fill your mind with thoughts about the Lord every morning and at regular points throughout the day. Step 2: Jesus is all we need! Fill your mind with Jesus through the sacraments, prayers, hymns, scriptures and especially Holy Communion and it will dramatically affect the way you think and act. Maybe spend fifteen minutes exclusively with the Lord every morning and stop periodically during the day to turn back to the Lord. You will see those evil inclinations to sin melt away. Church pray for the grace to hear as Jesus says, “Lead me not into temptation.” Alleluia!
Love, Fr. Bob
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