A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, June 27th

Shortly after the pandemic lockdown began, Bobby Pantuso began recording a Sunday Mass to be placed on social media.  The first recorded Mass was March 22, 2020; the last one is the Mass for this weekend.  Since things have opened up more, the number of people viewing the Masses has plummeted.  With more and more parishioners feeling comfortable returning to Mass in church and with all the other options available for the homebound to watch Mass online, this seems like the right time to stop.  This decision was supported by the comments we received from a survey
presented to those who are watching the recorded Mass.
 
However, the Sunday homily will continue to be available on Facebook and YouTube as the “daily reflection” each Sunday (I have been recording a daily reflection since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to do so indefinitely).
 
I thank Bobby Pantuso for his time and energy in taping the Masses and the reflections.  I thank Kathy Wellenstein for planning the liturgies and playing the piano; I thank Sue Haertel, SDS and Chris Graham for alternating as cantors and lectors.  I thank all of you who took advantage of these Masses to help keep your spiritual life growing during the pandemic.  God bless.
 
Our Gospel selection today has two miracles: the cure of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years and the bringing back to life of Jairus’ daughter.  Look at the sensitivity and compassion shown by Jesus in just these 22 verses:
 
1. He dropped what he was doing to run and help Jairus, a grieving parent.

2. He was attentive enough to know that a touch was a cry for help and he stopped to find out who it was.

3. The woman was afraid because she was a nobody who, because of her hemorrhaging blood, was ritually unclean.  Jesus doesn’t      simply cure her: he tells her to go in peace.

4. When Jairus is told his daughter has died, Jesus comforts him by saying, “don’t be afraid; just have faith.”
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5. After he brings Jairus’ daughter back to life, he is attentive to her needs and tells them to give her something to eat.
 
Nowhere is Jesus thinking about Himself or what is “reasonable” or “acceptable.” All His concern is for other people.  This is why the crowds felt he “taught with authority, not like the scribes and pharisees.”  It was the personal authority of someone who was
always attuned to the needs of others and ready to respond to them.
 
I invite you to take some quiet time to reflect on people you have known who have been able to be selfless, who were
always able to think of the other person?  How did you regard them?  How did they influence you?  Are you like that?  How can you be more so?
 
Jesus did everything with sensitivity for the other person.  May we grow in our ability to be like that!  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: Thou shalt not lie…in bed on Sunday morning!  Come to church!