From the Pastor’s Desk | Aug 28, 2022, | Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

“For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who
humbles himself will be exalted.”
– Luke 14:11
Brothers and Sisters,
Pope Saint John XXIII, who led our Church from 1958 to 1963, is considered one of the most influential figures of the 20th century; in addition to his worldwide renown, this Pope had a wonderful sense of humor. The story has it that Pope John would say, “God knew from all eternity I was going to be pope. Couldn’t God have made me more handsome?” The then pontiff was, of course, joking. But, it’s human nature to want to look our best. It’s also natural to want to be appreciated, especially for our achievements. And it is not wrong to enjoy being thanked and recognized for our accomplishments, especially if they result from lots of hard work! But the cool thing about our God is that we are fully loved regardless of what we achieve — hard work or not. Our creator’s love comes without strings attached but let’s remember that he sent us his only son Jesus to show us how to be humble, manifest gratitude, and use all of God’s gifts to make our church and the world a better place.
Our Church needs you. Our parish needs you. Have you heard a little voice asking you to help by being a part of our Mass as a Lector, Altar Server, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or Minister of Hospitality? Have you heard the call to spend time in silent prayer adoring the Blessed Sacrament in our Good Shepherd Chapel?
Or, maybe you’ve felt the tug to support the next generation’s youth in their religious formation and sacramental preparation? Do you hear the call to host or join a small faith-sharing group with fellow parishioners?
If you’ve been called, please don’t hesitate; God is asking you to use your talents, to step up, and step into the spotlight. Though it may feel counterintuitive, taking center stage for a bit is not a contradiction to fostering humility. Being humble doesn’t mean underutilizing our gifts and abilities. It means acknowledging these are blessings from God, tools we can use to educate our youth, grow our church, improve our society, and glorify God!
Please come forward and pay it forward by sharing your gifts! Don’t worry; you’ll have plenty of help; we will provide materials, support, training, and assurances. Visit our website, www.olphparish.org, and click on the big green banner “How can I serve?” Or reach out to me directly at roch.kallmyer@archbalt.org. May God bless you.
Peace,
Deacon Roch