June 21, 2023June 28, 2023
by in Communications, Uncategorized
17

From the Pastor’s Desk

Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time

June 18, 2023

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send
out laborers for his harvest.”

~ Matthew 9:37-38

Brothers and Sisters,

Ask yourself: How valuable am I? How valuable are you?

Today’s Gospel emphasizes one of the most repeated messages of Scripture: be not afraid. Why? We all enjoy immeasurable value in God’s eyes – more than we realize. As Christians, remembering our worth is essential, especially when facing opposition in living out Jesus’ mission, which can result in misunderstandings or, at times, full-out rejection. Still, we must remain committed to amplifying the truth of the Gospel: we have immense value in the eyes of the Lord, and we can trust in him to help us as we do his work.

On June 19, Pope Francis delivered his latest apostolic letter, “Sublimitas et Miseria Hominis,” or “The Grandeur and Misery of Man.” (Search for either title on the internet and click for the text on Vatican.va). In it, he recognizes the 400th Anniversary of Blaise Psacal’s birth. You may remember Pascal’s Wager from school (and hopefully his simple evidence that there is a God). The Wager can be summed up as one ought to live like God exists because it will matter if there is one. If there is no God, it will not. So we have much more to lose if we live as if there is no God. In skimming the letter, Francis emphasizes the Gospel’s message: we are valuable. God cares about us, and our Creator gives us all the tools we need to know him. And in closing: ‘After receiving the sacraments, his last words were: “May God never abandon me.”‘ (Perier, Vie de M. Pascal) God will never abandon us. Be not afraid!

On Saturday, Archbishop Lori ordained Fathers John Bileki (whose brother Brian plays piano for us at our 9 am Mass), Luke Koski (who was briefly a seminarian at OLPH when I first arrived here four years ago), Daniel Acquard (whom Deacon Mike knew when he was growing up), in addition to Javier Fuentes, Felix Mmoah, Nicholas Mwai, and Sampson Onwumere. Please offer thanksgiving for these eight new priests in our Archdiocese!

Please also encourage our children, youth, and young adults to consider a religious vocation when discerning what God wants for their lives. To that end, High School boys (rising 9th graders to recent 12th-grade graduates) are welcome to Quo Vadis, July 10-13, 2023, an overnight retreat organized by the Baltimore seminarians. Attendees don’t have to feel that they have arrived at a religious vocation to attend. All that is required is an openness to the priesthood, prayer, and having fun with other attendees. For more info or to register, visit archbalt.org/vocations/quo-vadis.

In the Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett

Other Considerations in and around our Community:

  • QUO VADIS DAYS 2023 – Quo Vadis is happening July 10-13, 2023. This is a fantastic experience for high school young men to grow in fellowship and faith while having fun. Please visit @bmorevocations on Facebook and Instagram for testimonials and photos, and visit https://www.archbalt.org/vocations/quo-vadis/ to sign up!
  •  HOLY INNOCENTS MINISTRY – Miscarriage is a difficult loss that often leaves couples to navigate their grief alone. Holy Innocents Ministry is available to all families experiencing this loss, whether presently or at some time in the past. In addition to burials and the memorialization of children lost before birth, spiritual support, and resources are available through the Archdiocese of Baltimore Office of Life, Justice, and Peace in cooperation with the Office of Cemeteries under the care of Father Patrick Carrion. Visit holyinnocentsbaltimore.org for more information.
  • WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER – “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Trust in the Lord that He is in your marriage. The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience gives you the tools to have your best marriage. Upcoming dates are Jul 14-16, 2023, in ROCKVILLE, MD, and Sep 22-24, 2023 in Herndon, VA. Early sign-up is recommended. For more information, visit our website at: https://moments4marriage.org or contact us at applications@moments4marriage.org or 301-541-7007.
  • CHRISTLIFE YOUNG ADULT SUMMER SERIES – Are you a young adult searching for a community of like-minded, faith-filled young adults like you? Look no further – join CLYA for our summer series: The Crux! We will be diving into the foundation of our Catholic faith and how to share the good news of the Gospel with others. We will meet from 7-9 PM in St. Paul’s Dohony Hall in Ellicott City on June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, and August 22. We’re excited to see you!
  • 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