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Our past year and a half has been a bit of a learning curve for our parishes and those throughout the diocese and the entire Catholic Church. Though the coronavirus has abated somewhat, there is still concern for one’s personal health. We will continue to allow our gatherings for the Eucharist and parish events to be welcoming and safe as possible. For those who have volunteered their presence and faith for the ministries within our parishes (usher/greeter, lector, music, cantor, sacristan, altar server, Eucharistic Minister, Religious Education teacher, assistants, filming the Masses, Homebound Communion, Social Justice outreach, etc.) - - Thank You!! Sharing your presence and faith is a gift within our parishes. We are still in need of lector’s, cantors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, Altar Servers. Please consider volunteering as you have in the past, or simply stepping into a ministry for the first time. Your presence and faith shared is needed! Thank you for considering . . . .And for those who put together the Social/Trivia Evening and Outdoor Folk Concert last weekend, allowing others to enjoy one of the last summer weekends.
“Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this. . . .” From today’s gospel reading, the word “murmuring,” carries a bevy of meanings: complain, fuss, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, lament, moan, squawk, whine. We all have moments throughout our given day when we can’t help ourselves. Sometimes the slightest inconvenience or unexpected situation cause our “murmuring.” Jesus challenged such negative thoughts, especially witnessing his disciples—believers—grumbling and grousing. As St. Francis de Sales reminds us: “The truly patient person neither complains of his hard lot nor desires to be pitied by others. He speaks of his sufferings in a natural, true, and sincere way, without murmuring, complaining, or exaggerating them.” Borrowing some information from Michael Boling, writer and Christian blogger, these three steps may give us direction away from “murmuring.” 1. Pursue Peace: The word pursue is the Greek verb diōkō which means “to run swiftly.” Peace is Greek noun eirēnē which means “peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord.” When you put those two thoughts together you have the concept of purposely pursuing that harmony within relationships. Not being some emotive touchy feely type idea, rather an authentic effort. This will undoubtedly involve a bit of dying to self, given that personal desires and wants are not always fulfilled perfectly thus leading to murmuring, grumbling, and complaining. Pursuing peace by the grace of God and the gentle assurance of the Holy Spirit is the door opening a presence of graciousness in our soul. 2. Speak Life: The Apostle Paul instructs us in Ephesians 4:29 to avoid corrupting talk, instead ensuring that any words that we speak are those which build up as befitting the occasions with the purpose of giving grace to those within earshot of our words or those who may hear at some point our response. Those grumbling, complaining, and murmuring words you find yourself spouting are corrupting our integrity. No wonder Proverbs 14:30 calls this lack of tranquility rottenness to the bones. The old saying goes “If you do not have anything positive to say, do not say anything at all.” There is great wisdom in that statement and Scripture bears this out. 3. Persistently Pray: Regardless of the time of day, whether form prayers, spontaneous prayers, quiet reflection or simply holding a conversation with God, prayer draws us closer to our Creator whose grace permeates all creation regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. You may try to add this Jesuit Prayer Reflection to your daily prayer: “Where have I walked with Christ Jesus this day? Where have I not walked with Christ Jesus this day?” When we pause for prayer daily in the Holy Spirit we are replacing such ungodly thoughts and behaviors with the Spirit of our Christ Jesus, our Holy Friend. Furthermore, it is necessary to spend devoted time in prayer, asking God for help to quench the thirst for murmuring, grumbling, and complaining. So the next time your boss, wife, child, or friend does something that really irks you or that you disagree with, remember the example set for us by God’s Son, our Savior: “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; (Isaiah 53:7).”
School bells will ring out Monday morning as the new school year begins. May we supplement the academics and learning with Christian example and time for prayer in our respective homes. With the hope of the new school year as students enter our area school buildings, the poet Shel Silverstein offers this insight: “Listen to the mustn't, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
God Bless, Fr. Tim
One last quote from the movie, Field of Dreams: “We just don't recognize life's most significant moments while they're happening. Back then I thought, ‘well, there'll be other days’. I didn't realize that that was the only day.” (Dr. Archibald ‘Moonlight’ Graham/Burt Lancaster)
