A word from Pope Francis ~ “Tradition and memory of the past must help us to have the courage to open up new areas to God.”
Our long pre-Lent season of Ordinary Time continues this weekend as we celebrate the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. With our Easter celebration coming very late this year on April 17, Ash Wednesday is not observed until March 2. This gives us eight weeks of Ordinary Time during the January/February months of this year. We have a longer period to dive into Luke’s Gospel (the primary Gospel of this year) and encounter the person of Jesus as Luke presents him to us.
This weekend, we pick up where we left off last week. After giving us a slightly different version of the Beatitudes, Jesus continues his “Discourse on the Plain” giving us the ethics of the Reign of God. He is speaking to a large group of his disciples and also to a group of foreigners – outsiders from Tyre and Sidon that were living in that region. He challenges both groups to be like God in forgiveness and love for one’s enemies, saying “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” But then he departs from the common Jewish party line of insiders vs. outsiders and teaches that God shows goodness and mercy to all – even the rude, the mean, the swindler, the untrustworthy and the wicked. God shines the same sun on those who love him and those who despise him. We are given a glimpse of what will come later in Luke’s Gospel. For those of us on the inside, it can be easy to feel resentment at what seems like injustice in our eyes. Jesus’ point is very clear. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you…” Time to leave our resentments behind as we mold our hearts according to God’s heart of mercy. Time to respond with compassion, just as we have received compassion from our loving God.
What a challenging message – impossible to accomplish on our own. Fortunately, Jesus knew that and sent us his gift of the Spirit to be our strength and our guide as we seek to become better disciples day by day.
Each spring, our Joliet Diocese conducts the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal. This appeal supports the various ministries and services of the Diocese of Joliet. The theme for the 2022 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal is Devoted to the Works of the Lord. Each family should have already received the CMAA materials from Bishop Hicks in the mail. We have received a campaign tabloid from the Diocese that is included in this weekend’s bulletin. Ministries and services of the Diocese include Catholic Charities, the Catholic Schools Office, the Family Life Office, the Social Concerns Office, the Respect Life Office, the Campus Ministry Office, the Marriage Tribunal, as well as education costs for our seminarians and Permanent Deacon candidates. Each parish needs these ministries and services, but by ourselves, we are unable to provide them. Together, as a larger Diocesan church, we can provide these ministries and services. Next weekend will be the in-pew “Commitment Weekend” for the 2022 Joliet Diocesan Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal. Bishop Hicks has prepared a recorded message for next weekend requesting our support of the appeal, following which we will have an opportunity to pledge our commitment to this year’s appeal. It is also possible to complete the appeal card at home and return it in the enclosed envelope. Our parish goal for this year’s appeal is $154,900. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of Bishop Hick’s request for support of the 2022 CMAA.
We are now just a week away from our St. Isidore Dinner Dance and Silent Auction, the “Legendary Gala – A Tribute to Our 100th Anniversary.” This is a wonderful opportunity for celebrating the first 100 years of our Catholic Grade School and to welcome the next 100 years. The Gala will be held this Saturday, February 26 beginning at 5pm with cocktails and then dinner and auction at 7pm at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. It promises to be a wonderful mid-winter evening spent with fellow parishioners. This 100th Anniversary celebration is also a great opportunity for alumni to return and alumni parents to reconnect with each other. This event benefits our school. Grand Raffle tickets for the $10,000 grand prize are available after mass, at the parish and school offices, and on our website. Please call the school office (630) 529-9323 for last-minute tickets to this special event.
May God continue to bless us with all that we need, and more.
Father Jim Murphy