November 3, 2022November 5, 2022
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From the Pastor’s Desk | November 6, 2022 | Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


“… and he is not the God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”

~ Luke 20:38

 

Brothers and Sisters,

We are fortunate, as Catholics, that the Church sets aside November as a month of remembrance for those who have died. The first of the month begins with All Saints, a day when all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, are celebrated. Then the following day, All Souls’ commemorates those who have passed within the faith, including our loved ones. On this day, we take special care at our Parish to invite those who have lost friends and family during the previous year by remembering each of them by name. Won’t you join me and pray for all those who mourn these losses? In particular, I ask you to keep the Joyce family in your prayers. Teena Tom-Joyce, OLPH School parent and Eucharistic adorer, died and was laid to rest this past week. Her husband and father to their two children, Abel and Isabel, is battling pancreatic cancer. In addition, Fr. Anthony lost his mother, Mercy, at the beginning of the summer and his father, Aloysius, a few weeks ago. Please also pray for Deacon Mike’s brother, three children, and family; they mourn the loss of Marilyn, who was laid to rest this week. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them!

Jesus reminds us of who God is in this weekend’s Gospel. Our God is a creator of LIFE, a God of the LIVING, who offers us eternal life through the merits of Jesus Christ.

As we contemplate our mortality and keep those who have passed close to our hearts during November, let the truth that our God is FULLY ALIVE comfort and sustain us. Now, share this Good News by encouraging those who grieve while supporting them to live out their faith.

The mystery of The Resurrection can be challenging to accept at face value. Still, when viewed through the eyes of faith, while cultivating a relationship with our Creator, His only Son, while asking for guidance from his Advocate, the promise of eternal life, not by our own merits, but through God’s grace and mercy, will become perfect sense. Yet, because we are mere mortals, our limited understanding and reasoning make it hard to grasp the unseen, and we might have “Sadducees moments” when we doubt the Resurrection. During these times, humble yourself, go to Jesus, and be honest about your fears and apprehension. And remember that though we can never be sure about our futures in our physical bodies, which have limitations — Jesus’ death and Resurrection change everything! When the Sadducees say “no,” to life, our Lord will always say “Yes.”

Some considerations:

  • FULFILLMENT OF ALL DESIRE, by Ralph Martin –This Advent, consider attending a free online course based on the book, The Fulfillment of all Desire. In this short online course, Dr. Ralph Martin, Director of Programs in the New Evangelization, shows how achieving holiness is possible and something every one of us is called to. He will present the stages of spiritual growth as lived out by some of the great spiritual masters of the Church: St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Francis De Sales. Reflecting on their examples, the course will cover practical tips and advice for advancing our journey to God. The curriculum is based on Dr. Martin’s book The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints. For more information, visit https://explore.shms.edu/fulfillment-of-all-desire.
  • OLPH MONTHLY CHILDREN’S MASS –Families with young children, be sure to join us for the second Sunday of the month at 9 am Mass (Nov 6th)! At this Mass, the celebrant will offer a special homily geared towards young children, who will be invited to sit before the sanctuary. Our OLPH Children’s Choir will lead the worship music, and to close out the Mass celebration, all are invited to the Parish Center gym for donuts!
  • TASTE, COME AND SEE – Looking for ways to grow close to Jesus and learn more about your faith? The TASTE PROGRAM is a Catholic Women’s program dedicated to bringing women closer to Jesus and the Church He founded. We invite you to our website at www.tasteprogram.com for more information and details.
  • WHAT MADE ME, ME? UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR IDENTITY DEVELOPED OVER A LIFETIME
    Next Topic: Issues of Competence (Childhood Development), Date: Nov 29. Cost $60. Why do people do what they do? Deepen your own self-awareness and discover the psychological and spiritual narrative of your life. Learn how your childhood has helped shape who you are today. This new workshop series will lead you through the psychological and spiritual development of a person during each stage of life. Over the course of these workshops, you will see how each stage of development – from Early Childhood through Adolescence — shaped the person you are today. Presented by Dr. Kathleen Musslewhite, Executive Director of the Alpha Omega Clinic. This program is a collaboration of Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center with the Alpha Omega Clinic, both located at 7007 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. Find more information and links to register on our website:     www.ourladyofbethesda.org

In the Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett