A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, January 24th

Catholic Schools Week in the diocese will be held starting January 31st.  Parents: please consider joining the virtual tour of Wauwatosa Catholic School this Thursday, January 28th, at 7:00 pm and see what a wonderful school we have. 
 
The 99 Experience is a chance to grow in your faith life.  Please consider virtual participation.
 
Some have suggested that I start up our Friday scripture reflection online.  Br. Silas Henderson SDS, who began the discussions here, offers an online version each week.  I suggest participating in that and we will begin again at Pius when we are able to meet in person.
 
I thank those who have supported my Salvatorian community in our Salvatorian Sunday collection.  It is greatly appreciated.  There is still time to donate, if you would like.  You can place your donation marked “Salvatorian Sunday” in the collection basket in the back of church or mail/bring it to the parish office. You can also donate online.
 
Our readings this weekend continue the theme of “call.”  God called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to do it because of hostilities between the Jews and the people of Nineveh.  He would have been happy if they perished.  But his attempt to run away ended up with him in the belly of a whale.  So he returned and preached and, despite his very half-hearted efforts, he was incredibly effective. He was angry and disgusted, because he didn’t want the Ninevites to repent and be saved.
 
In the Gospel we have Mark’s version of the call of four key disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  They answered the call, but had many ups and downs in their three years of walking with Jesus, doubting at times and ultimately leaving Him alone at the time of His greatest need.  Only John returned to be at the foot of the Cross.
 
All of us have been called in Baptism to walk with the Lord.  These readings assure us that we don’t have to be perfect, that there will be ups and downs, that sometimes God will work through us DESPITE ourselves, as he did with Jonah.  That is very comforting.  It is God’s work: all we have to do is show up, do our best, and rededicate
ourselves when we find that we have sloughed off.
 
We pray:  Thank you, Jesus, for calling us to bring Your Love to all we meet.  While we cannot do it perfectly, we will do our best, pulling ourselves up and moving on when we fail.  Thank you, Lord, for always walking with us. 
 
Amen!