Pastor’s Corner – Nov 20

Pastor’s Corner – Nov 20

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe; traditionally the Feast of Christ the King. This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year which begins with the First Sunday of Advent. As we gather to worship the Lord as a community of faith, as individuals we renew our personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior. The world we live in has so many ideas, values and attitudes. Many of these are in harmony with the teachings, the example and the values of the great Teacher, Jesus Christ. Many are not. May each one of us be open to the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us with wisdom and understanding so that our decisions and our choices will be in harmony and in obedience to the ways and the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. The core values of the Savior who is our Lord and our King are so well reflected in the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Gospel of the Mass this weekend (Luke 23:35-43) is a powerful example of the quality of the King we serve and believe in. Unlike most relationships we have with people of authority and power, our King does much more for us than we do for him. As Jesus hung on the cross on Good Friday, he forgives one of the criminals being crucified. “And the criminal said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied to him, Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” As we renew our faith in the Lord Jesus as our King, may our sincerity, our honesty and our contrition be as real as those of the good thief. May each one of us one day be blessed to hear from the lips of Jesus Christ, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

This Thursday, November 24, is the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. This holiday has its roots in the early history of our nation with the Pilgrims in the 1600’s. As we prepare to share with all of our fellow citizens one of the most appreciated American holidays, may our hearts strive to be truly grateful for the abundant gifts and almost innumerable blessings that are ours as American citizens. One of the best ways to do Thanksgiving is to attend Mass as a family. Here at St. Elizabeth Seton, we will have Mass at 8AM on the morning of Thanksgiving. For me as a Priest, a Pastor, an American citizen and as a Catholic, one of the most enjoyable and one of the most meaningful Masses of the year is the one this Thursday. Between now and Thanksgiving, I encourage each of you to take some time and be specific for what you are thankful. Pray to the Lord and ask for his guidance to know your blessings and your gifts, as an individual, as a member of your family, as a citizen of our community and of our country and as a Catholic and parishioner of St. Elizabeth Seton Church. We are enjoying one of our great patriotic blessings at this very time. Following the national elections of Tuesday, November 8, we are going through the peaceful and orderly transfer of political power from our current President Obama and his democratic administration to the newly elected President Trump and a republican administration. May Thanksgiving 2016 be a time of family harmony, a time of deep gratitude and a time of thankfulness for the providence of our God who is so generous and so bountiful to us, to our loved ones and to our country. May God bless America and may America always honor, praise and worship the living God.

Last weekend at all the Masses I was able to commission all the liturgical ministers: altar servers, sacristans, ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, choir members and ministers of hospitality. I commend all who serve at the Liturgy, especially those who recently committed to serve at the Stewardship Fair and were given some initial training last Saturday morning, November 12. My appreciation to the Seton Sunshine Group for their graciousness in serving the breakfast and for the members of the Stewardship Committee and Deacon Nelson Schexnayder who helped with the training of the new ministers. May all of us strive to do our best when we gather to worship the Lord to give him the glory, the praise and the honor that his holy name deserves.

My prayers, love, best wishes and gratitude to you and to your loved ones, for who you are, for all you do for the Lord and for all you do for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. May all of us have a peaceful, joyful and blessed Thanksgiving week. May the spirit of Psalm 122 of today’s Mass fill us as we pray: “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
SHALOM!
Fr. Gary

Homework for the week of November 20 – November 26

luke 21:1-4

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