July 31, 2023August 18, 2023
by in Communications, Uncategorized
17

From the Pastor’s Desk

The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Aug 20, 2023

“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!”
-Matthew 15:22

Brothers and Sisters,

The power of persistence is emphasized frequently in the Bible; even a judge who “fears not God or cares for people” caved to a persistent widow simply because he wanted her pestering to stop (cf. Luke 18). Today’s Gospel encourages similar diligence, even when dealing with the Lord. Desperate to help her tormented daughter, the Canaanite woman, despite not being in her home country and hearing Jesus say he is here to help the people of Israel, this mom will not take no for an answer. As the woman continues, surprisingly, our Lord doubles down at what could be confused as obstinance, saying, “It is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”  Still, she persists. Why? Because this woman knows that even Jesus’ “scraps” will heal her daughter. She has complete faith. And for this, Jesus accedes to her plea —  saving her child. We understand the encouragement of persistence, but did Jesus need to make these derogatory comments to get his point across? Many lines in Scripture are difficult to explain. First, remember that Jesus never name-calls, and second, our Lord always knows what he’s doing. He allows the Caninite woman to reveal her deep faith before others.

This interaction is also an excellent reminder to be extravagant when dispensing the riches entrusted to us by the Church. As Pope Francis has encouraged us to become, we need to be a listening Church that demonstrates in our actions that we have been actively listening — to the disenfranchised, the underserved, and the misunderstood. We have to be attentive to the needs of our neighbors and let them know that in Christ, they will find a lasting reward. Sometimes, this spiritual message, though, has to be authenticated by our willingness to be generous with the treasurers entrusted to us.

Thank you for the many ways that you continue to support our parish’s corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Your contributions to the poor box, no matter how small, in addition to the efforts of our SALT and St. Vincent outreach ministries, make a big difference!

And finally, as we enter an academic year with the busy schedules that come with it, please be mindful of setting aside time for prayer, alone and with others. Remembering, when we are persistent with our Lord, letting him know about our needs and those we have taken the time to listen to and understand better, Jesus will not disappoint. Moreover, consider becoming the answer to someone else’s prayer through the gift of your time, expertise, and elbow grease. I assure you, you will grow in your faith and love of God in the process!

In the Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett

Other Considerations in and around our Community:

  •  OLPH SCHOOL IS HIRING – Lunch Supervisor: We are still searching for at least one Lunch Supervisor to support the lunch program. The responsibilities are to serve as liaison to All About Lunch and coordinate the lunch delivery and service. An important facet of this role is coordinating our abundant parent volunteers who serve now. The hours are 10:00 am to 1:30 pm, and the hourly rate for this non-benefit eligible position is $17.00 per hour. Please refer any interested individuals to Mrs. Underwood or Mrs. Munoz for more information. They can reach us at office@olphschool.org. Long-Term Substitute for Middle School Math and Science: This would be a temporary position lasting 12 weeks beginning in late October to teach classes while our teacher takes maternity leave. This is a full-time position with hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Salary is based on years of experience and credentials. Please refer any interested individuals to Mrs. Underwood at tunderwood@olphschool.org.
  • HONORING PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS – The Archdiocese of Baltimore is working to foster a community for Catholic first responders and their families. Public safety professionals and their loved ones are invited to join this Facebook group, “First Responders of the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” which comprises faith-filled public servants, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and veterans. The group is designed to provide fellowship and all-important spiritual support and create a space for first responders to connect as Catholics united in Christ’s love. Search for “First Responders of the Archdiocese of Baltimore” on Facebook and request to join the group, or type the following address into your web browser: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aobfirstresponders. ***Please also mark your calendars: Archbishop William E. Lori will celebrate a special Blue Mass to invoke God’s blessing on our first responders on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Monastery in southwest Baltimore.
  • SAVE THE DATE: Maryland Catholic Women’s Conference – “Holy Women, Holy Lives” Saturday, Nov 11, 2023, St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park, MD This day-long conference is an opportunity for up to 600 women from around the state to come together and deepen their faith by engaging in opportunities for confession, adoration, and Mass, as well as listen to dynamic Catholic speakers and enjoy fellowship. The conference is designed for women desiring to learn about their faith at any age or stage of life. This year, we are excited to offer talks in Spanish and limited childcare services to make the conference accessible to even more women.
  • FREE BISHOP BARRON’S THE MASS– For a limited time, walk through the Liturgy with Bishop Barron and be transformed through insights on this most privileged and intimate encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. See how the Mass brings us out of the fallen world and into the heavenly realm, how it resonates with a call from God and a response from his people, the Church, and, most importantly, how we are intimately joined with the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus through the Holy Eucharist. Visit videos.wordonfire.org/themassepisode1