Notes from the Pastor

The Gospel reading today (Mark 10:17-30) is very familiar to most of us, but one that we may be tempted to ignore because we think it does not apply to us. It is important to remember, however that Jesus is speaking to each of us in our particular circumstances in life.

October is designated at “Respect Life Month” and today, in particular, is observed by the Catholic Church as “Respect Life Sunday.” Since the time of Christ, the Catholic Church has had a consistent ethic of life. As a Church, we recognize that all persons have an inherent human dignity having been created in the image and likeness of God, and it is our obligation to uphold the dignity of all human life.

Last February was the beginning of our Annual Catholic Appeal campaign for 2018. Unlike the tithing renewal that we will do each November, in which we commit ourselves to a weekly tithe to the support of our parish, the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) is our opportunity to consider the needs not just of our own parish, but of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, many of whom are not only our “spiritual” brothers and sisters in Christ, but are also literally our brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, as well!

Most people today like success. Almost daily, through a wide variety of media, our attention is often drawn to those who are the wealthiest, the most powerful, the most beautiful, the most fashionable, and even to athletes and teams with the most wins. Their activities grab the headlines or the lead story on the evening news; their photos appear regularly in the social media, and their lives can dominate our conversations. At times we may desire what they appear to have – fame and fortune. We can begin to use these ideas of “success” as a standard for our own vision of what it means to be “successful.”

In today’s Second Reading, James puts a special emphasis on that fact that that our faith cannot be empty or shallow. We must put our faith into action if it is to mean anything at all. Do we contribute money or time to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help the poor of our community? Do we volunteer time to help at food banks or to visit the elderly or the imprisoned? Do we assist in a liturgical ministry as an usher, lector, choir member, or altar server? These are just a few examples. We must be willing to put our faith into action if we are to be an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ.

The coming days are rich with feast days of the Church. On Wednesday the 12th is the Feast of The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Mary” was a popular name among the Hebrew people, in memory of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. Some scholars think that this name is perhaps related to an Egyptian word meaning “beloved,” which certainly fits Mary of Nazareth. She was so beloved by God that God chose her to be the Mother of Jesus, and for this purpose God preserved her from the stain of sin from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Ann (Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception). No sin would distort or destroy her relationship with God. We honor Mary’s name and the holiness that it represents, and we call upon her intercession in our times of need.

Do you think it is possible to become so focused, so involved with something that you overlook the bigger picture and perhaps even forget why you are doing it in the first place? In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and scribes were so focused on the disciples of Jesus eating their meals with unwashed hands that they did not pay any attention to God’s commandments.

Following in the footsteps of Jesus sometimes means being willing to accept a certain amount of suffering and pain so that, at times, one might become discouraged and tempted to give up. So what helps us to keep going when the going gets tough? How do we remain faithful to the call to discipleship when the cross we carry gets heavy? The readings from today’s Liturgy of the Word give us some help and encouragement.