A word from Pope Francis ~ “Often it is better simply to slow down, to put aside our eagerness in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along the way.”
This is a full weekend. Besides our celebration of the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have Sunday evening’s Super Bowl LVII game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Even though our hometown Bears ended their season with their final regular season game, many of us will find ourselves gathering with family and friends for the traditional Super Bowl parties. It is good to gather once again for this mid-winter celebration.
As we work our way through Matthew’s Gospel in this Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we find ourselves in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. After Jesus describes his disciples as salt and light, he continues his sermon by explaining how we are to understand his teaching. He has come, not to abolish the law, but to bring it to fulfillment. Jesus could well reiterate this statement when his later actions seem to negate the convictions of his Jewish contemporaries on keeping God’s law. He eats with sinners (9:11), cures on the Sabbath (12:7-13), and does not enforce the traditions of the elders on his disciples (12:1-8; 15:2). Yet, Jesus’ words and actions show that he is not in conflict with the law itself, but with how it is being interpreted. Far from abolishing the law, Jesus’ teaching goes deeper, moving us from external behavior to a righteous heart that motivates action.
With Ash Wednesday coming on February 22, our kick-off for the 2023 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal is taking place this weekend at all Masses. The in-pew Commitment Weekend will take place next weekend. The 2023 CMAA theme is, “We Belong to God.” We have received a short video highlighting the importance of the CMAA in funding the various ministries of our diocese and will show that video at the time of the homily at each Mass this weekend. Our parish goal for the 2023 CMAA is $147,500. The diocesan goal for the Appeal is $8.2 million. Please come prepared to make your commitment to the 2023 CMAA next weekend.
We are now less than two weeks away from our St. Isidore Dinner Dance and Silent Auction – “Gala 2023 – Under the Sea.” This is a wonderful opportunity for coming together during the cold winter months to celebrate St. Isidore Catholic School. The Gala will be held on Saturday, February 25 beginning at 5pm with dinner, with the live auction to follow at 7pm at Belvedere Banquets, 170 W Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village. It promises to be a wonderful evening spent with fellow parishioners. Call your friends! Plan on getting a table. This event benefits our school. Grand Raffle tickets for the $10,000 grand prize are now available at the parish and school offices. Additional information is available at http://underthesea23.givesmart.com.
With the season of Lent beginning in just a few weeks, we now have Bishop Ken Untener’s “The Little Black Book” for the season of Lent 2023 available this weekend in time for your Lenten personal prayer. These “Little Books” have been very helpful in our daily prayer throughout the major seasons of the Church Year. This year’s book for Lent gives us six-minute daily meditations on the “Passion According to Matthew.” The program begins on February 19 and continues each day of Lent. They are available in both English and Spanish.
May God continue to bless us with all that we need, and more.
Father Jim Murphy