The readings this week are about sin. In Acts, Peter is pleading with the people of Jerusalem to believe in Jesus, “the author of life you put to death”, so their sins might be wiped away. The author of the First Letter of John exhorts his readers to “keep his commandments”, and Luke continues with the two disciples he met on the road to Emmaus, appearing as they told their story to other disciples in Jerusalem. Jesus tells them that they have seen that the scriptures have been fulfilled that Christ would die, rise, and that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name.”
In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis does not call materialism, “radical individualism” and “local narcissism” sins but it is clear that he thinks so, that we need to repent and give up our pre-occupation with status, material wealth and concern with ourselves so that we can look beyond our borders to those in need.
Chapter Four is “A Heart Open to the Whole World”. While he extols the benefits of welcoming migrants, he explicitly does not want to make a utilitarian argument:
There is always the factor of “gratuitousness”: the ability to do some things simply because they are good in themselves, without concern for personal gain or recompense. Gratuitousness makes it possible for us to welcome the stranger, even though this brings us no immediate tangible benefit. Life without fraternal gratuitousness becomes a form of frenetic commerce in which we are constantly weighing up what we give and what we get back. God, on the other hand, gives freely to the point of helping even those who are unfaithful; he “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Mt 6:3-4).
He asks us to have a “universal horizon”:
There is a kind of “local” narcissism unrelated to a healthy love of one’s own people and culture. It is born of a certain insecurity and fear of the other that leads to rejection and the desire to erect walls for selfdefense. Yet it is impossible to be “local” in a healthy way without being sincerely open to the universal, without feeling challenged by what is happening in other places, without openness to enrichment by other cultures, and without solidarity and concern for the tragedies affecting other peoples.
Ministry Opportunities Victoria Ries has volunteered to continue
the garden in support of St. Mary’s Food Bank! Yea!!! She had begun tending and caring for it on Friday afternoons with the help of a couple of volunteers. But she needs your help! If you’re interested, contact her at victoria.ries@comcast.net.
We need someone with a modest familiarity with computers to help
Nicolerun our livestream equipment. Although we are now celebrating two Masses on Sunday, we still are at less than capacity, and many parishioners are still staying away because the COVID danger is still with us. The livestream is our best way to keep our parish vibrant. If you are able to watch Mass on your computer, you are computer-savvy enough to help. Contact Nicole at: nicoles@st-therese.cc.
Ellie Wakefield is seeking help
making lunches for the Matt Talbot Center. The goal is to provide 30 lunches once a month for the center. She needs three volunteers to make ten lunches each and drop them off at the house of a fourth volunteer who would then drive them downtown to the Matt Talbot Center. Depending on how many people sign up, you may only need to volunteer once every 3-4 months. If you can help, contact Ellie at ellieawake@gmail.com. (My all-time favorite email address!) For you newcomers, the MTC ministers to individuals who want to recover from addiction. It was engendered by the Holy Spirit at the same 1981 Cursillo retreat where the Gospel Choir was rooted and is led by former St. T parishioner Greg Alex.
ollections July 1 - April 15, 2021 $317,535
Where we need to be: $307,467
Last year at this time: $285,251
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