Pastor’s Pen – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Church Family,
Didn’t we have a grand and glorious time celebrating our Church Anniversary last Sunday? God be praised and thanked for the many, many blessings He has showered upon all of us, his children, during these past 27 years. May He be pleased to continue to look with favor on us in the future. Alleluia!
Church, while we’re feeling good about our celebration and progress thus far, we have to face the reality of our future. I encourage you to attend the upcoming meeting on August 3 so that you will have a voice in the direction, development, and implementation of the plans put forth. We must remain steadfast in our mission to be a beacon and guiding light for others.
The Martha and Mary story certainly leads into the theme of becoming more and more deeply enmeshed and involved in loving the Lord and doing His will, to love one another. One of the best ways to do this is to sit at His footstool and listen. Take in His word and make it a vital part of your everyday existence. Move that to the top of your Priority List as soon and as much as possible. We certainly have to exemplify His love in our thoughts, words and deeds, especially when dealing with others and completing our assigned tasks and responsibilities, but always make time to sit at the feet of Jesus with Him in quiet, solitary moments of meditation.
The first reading is about hospitality and how important it was to the people of that day and how important it still is for us to be hospitable and welcoming to all those we meet. Many times, we know that when we give it our all, the blessings come back to us in super abundance. Just look at the blessings that were showered upon Abraham and Sarah.
So again Church, from a favorite hymn of mine, I encourage you to
“Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
When we do something good—something for God—we might never know the full measure of good that we have accomplished. We can only know that God will take what we offer, great or small, and make of it a treasure.
Love,
Father Bob
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