From the Pastor’s Desk | Sept. 18, 2022, | Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!”
~ Amos 8:4
Brothers and Sisters,
Living approximately 750 years before Jesus, Amos preached at a time of relative peace and prosperity. Still, his message concerning justice for the poor was quite forceful.
Sadly, today not much has changed. Those living on the margins of our society still suffer and long for someone like Amos to provide a powerful message regarding their situation. So they look to leaders in the public and business arenas to take up their plight. And though many in leadership have the best intentions, they fail to enact systematic changes by being change-adverse. As a result, a culture of complacency toward our problems can become the status quo.
Even in the institutional Church, which can be change-adverse, we should never be afraid to adapt for the better. Remember, at the core of our identity as the Body of Christ, we must believe that, along with God’s grace, we can make meaningful changes to improve the human experience and bring all people into a relationship with their Creator.
As another formation year begins, and we thank the parishioners who so generously serve as catechists, teachers, mentors, and aides in the faith formation of our parish’s children, youth, and adults, let’s push away complacency. Let’s hold ourselves accountable to our primary mission: to form disciples.
Let’s help one another to know and love the Lord. This intention begins by fostering strong families where all members, the youngest to the eldest, understand that the Lord’s presence is active in their lives. When we know God cares for us each day, we will have the proper foundation to challenge the status quo and bring positive and lasting changes to our world.
Please pray for those who strive to share the Word of God and introduce others to the Lord. Let’s continue to accompany one another on the faith journey by sharing our struggles and celebrations. Let us ask the Lord to inspire ongoing parish conversions so we can grow stronger as a parish family.
In the Lord,
Rev. Michael S. Triplett