From Our Pastor: 23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time
This weekend, in the Gospel, we hear about fraternal charity. If someone sins against you, talk to them one on one, privately. Then if that person won’t listen, take one or two witnesses along with you to speak to them. If they still won’t listen, then tell the Church. If that person refuses to listen to the Church, then treat them as a gentile or tax collector, which means not part of the community. This is also the view of excommunication. Excommunication isn’t a punishment to be mean to someone, but it is meant as a remedy. If that person refuses to listen to anyone including the Church, then they are cast out in hopes that FINALLY this action of no longer being part of the family would bring them to their senses to return. Sadly, most people are told in our society you do what you want to do and you do what makes you happy...you live your truth. And because of this mentality, if someone doesn’t approve of all your behavior then THEY are wrong, and you should do your own thing. This is not how we are supposed to live. We are supposed to live as we are commanded by the Lord, and we are supposed to fear not being part of the family. We should desire to conform our life to Jesus Christ. If the Church corrects us, it is out of love and desire for us to change to remain part of the family. May we always keep ourselves in union with the will and heart and mind of God.
We have had some issues with people not showing up for their scheduled moments of giving of oneself for weekend mass. This has been servers not showing up for their scheduled slot. This has been ushers not showing up for their scheduled slot. This has been extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. This has been lectors/readers. This has been most especially GIFT BEARERS! I was begged to bring back gift bearers and we did and almost every mass, the scheduled people do not show up. I have talked to some, and they say well I put out a request for someone to fill in, but I will tell you most people don’t check the app each week, unless they are making sure they aren’t scheduled. If you are scheduled you may put a request for a sub, but if no one signs up it is either your responsibility to call around and find a sub that will
go in and say they will take your sub request, or you change your plans to take your scheduled time anyway. It is becoming a major problem, and we need to do better. Please take responsibility for your scheduled service. Please make sure your kids show up to serve. Please not only request a sub in the app but call around and find your own replacement. We must see the privilege and joy in serving and make sure that we step up to do our part to make St. Francis the amazing parish that it is.
Lastly, welcome home to Fr. Rafal! It is great to have him back! And thank you to
Fr. Zach Samples for not only helping while Fr. Rafal has been gone, but taking on so much because I have been so sick lately. I can’t thank him enough.
-Rev. Steven Arisman