Letter from Father Eilerman
Dear parishioners,
All three of our readings this Sunday speak about “the other”. In the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah “the other” are foreigners, in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, “the other” are Gentiles, and in the Gospel According to Matthew “the other” is the Canaanite woman. In all three cases, God shows himself to care and love “the other” just as much as he does those who don’t see themselves as “the other”.
It is a sad commentary that we human beings often divide ourselves between “us” and “the other”. It is particularly sad that we, who are followers of Christ, fall into this way of thinking as much as anyone. The second part of Jesus’ great commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, precludes this silly division between “us” and “the other”, as does the fundamental teaching of Christianity that Christ died for all people. A good Examination of Conscience is to ask ourselves the question, who is “the other” for us and why do we see them as “the other”. Is it because they are a different race, religion, nationality, social or economic class, or political party?
The divisions in our world, country, and the church will only be healed through personal conversation, a conversation that comes about by responding to God’s grace. The good news is, as St. Paul reminds us later in his Letter to the Romans, “grace abounds”. The problem is as Flannery O’Connor says, “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us, and the change is painful”. The change that Miss O’Connor is referring to is part of the Paschal Mystery, a uniting of ourselves to Christ’s dying and rising. As Catholics, we are to live out the Paschal Mystery daily in our lives. Will doing so change us; yes. Will that change at times be painful; yes. Will we become holier in the process; yes. Will our holiness change the world; yes. In fact, the only way the world will change is for us to become holy.
Thank you for those who have had their photos taken for the bicentennial pictorial directory, there are still times available if you have not made an appointment. Thanks also to those who have made a pledge to this year’s BAA, you can see our parish progress below. Please return an envelope even if you are unable to make a pledge this year, marking it “no gift this year”, so that we will not contact you again.
Let us continue to pray for each other.
Father Craig R. Eilerman
Pastor
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