View Video: Homily - Sunday, February 17, 2019
"Annual Appeal For Catholic Ministries"
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Part of the reason some of you find me a bit formal, fussy, and defensive on occasion is that I am very much an introvert. I find it difficult to ask you for money. I’d much rather sit down quietly and try to figure out how to stretch what you already give to the parish further.
Last weekend I had to pop up at all the Masses to conduct the in-pew solicitation for the Annual Appeal. How moving—and
humbling
—it was to watch so many of us filling out the form and making a gift—the more so at the 10:30 Mass where we celebrated Fr. Watters’ 85
th
birthday.
His dedication to us and your constant generosity to the parish and the mission and works of the Society is a constant inspiration.
Just sayin’
.
This weekend will provide a final opportunity for those who have not yet made a gift to do so.
With gratitude and affection,
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Editor’s Note:
Sunday’s Gospel reading was from one of my favorite sections of Scripture. It’s where Jesus talks about doing what is the antithesis of everything that screams within me when I’ve been hurt, slighted, overlooked or offended. He tells me to do the opposite of what I’m bent on doing. But that’s how it is with Jesus and the upside-down Kingdom. I thought you’d like to dig deeper into “Love Your Enemies” with the following study of the passage.
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Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Exposition
If you are looking for a nice, comfortable religion that doesn't call for too many demands on your life, makes you feel better when you're down, and will reserve luxury suites for you in heaven when you die, then you probably shouldn't try to be one of Jesus' disciples. He is demanding. He has the crazy notion that his followers should serve others rather than themselves. He expects them to show integrity when no one is looking. And he expects them to love, not just people who only occasionally have a bad day, but enemies. Jesus expects you to love your enemies. Don't follow him unless you're ready to experience some discomfort.
The Blessings and Woes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Plain are radical. The poor, not the rich, will be rewarded. Then Jesus says to be happy when you are persecuted. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." (6:23). Now he goes a step further. We are to love our persecutors.
READ MORE
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Update from the Environmental Justice Subcommittee
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1000 Lbs.of Dirt
Last year St. Ignatius began a composting effort in Ignatian Hall. Since then we have transitioned all the items we use for Fellowship and events to compostable materials. All of our cups, plates, utensils, and napkins can be composted. Each week we take the bags of composting to Moms Grocery where Veterans Composting picks them up. In the first six months of our Composting Program, we have converted over 1000 lbs. of cups, plates, utensils, and napkins into compost! That’s 1000 lbs. of dirt instead of 1000 lbs. of trash. CONGRATULATIONS!
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Tuesday, February 26 - 5:30 PM
Bishop Madden Prayer Walk for Peace in the City
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Tuesday, February 26 - 7 PM
Embracing God's Gifts
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Saturday, March 2 - 9 AM
Saturday Retreat in Ignatian Spirituality
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Sunday, March 3 - 7 PM
Mardi Gras Hospitality Hour
After the 6 PM Mass
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Monday, March 4 - 4:30 PM
Maryland March for Life
See box below for information
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Monday, March 4 - Thursday, March 7
"Coming to Our Senses" Retreat
See box below for complete information
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Wednesday, March 6
Ash Wednesday (Mass Schedule)
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Saturday, March 9 (1-4 PM)
LGBTQ+ Writing Workshop
See box below for complete information
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Tuesday March 12 - 6:30 PM
Iñigo Book Group
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Wednesday's, March 13, 20, 27 and April 3 (6 PM)
Lenten Evenings of Reflection
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Thursday, March 14 - 6:30 PM
Justice & Peace Committee Meeting
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Friday, March 15 - Sunday, March 17
"Feeling with the Heart of Christ" Retreat
See box below for complete information
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Sunday, March 17 - 9:30 AM
Young Family Ministry: "Fun with St. Patrick"
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Tuesday, March 19 - 6:45 PM
Women of the New Testament
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Sunday, March 24 - 9:45 AM
Respect for Life
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Tuesday, March 26 - 7 PM
Embracing God's Gifts
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Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
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POOR BOX
This week's Poor Box support goes to help
Vulnerable Families in Crisis
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MASS MUSIC
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
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PRAYERS OF PETITION
Attached are the Prayers of
Petition for this week.
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MONDAY, MARCH 4TH
ANNAPOLIS, MD
Parking/Mass at 4:30 PM at St. Mary’s
March starts at 6:30 PM from same location
111 Duke of Gloucester St.
For carpooling from St. Ignatius contact Frank Richardson
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Coming to Our Senses Retreat
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Monday, March 4 -Thursday, March 7, 2019
Loyola University Retreat Center — Flintstone, Maryland
Facilitated by Fr. Tim Brown, S.J., Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J. and Sue Cesare
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord! And hear and feel God’s love for you – in this restful experience of faith, fellowship and food! Among the many prayerful tools that St. Ignatius offers in the Spiritual Exercises is the “Application of the Senses.” Ignatius had learned from his own journey that the real depth of God’s loving encounter with us in prayer was a full body experience. Not surprisingly, the Creator can make great use of our senses in our effort to come to know and follow God more intimately and joyfully.
Our time will be spent in sessions of private prayer, guided meditation and reflection, group conversation, the Eucharist and good old-fashioned table fellowship. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet individually with a spiritual director. Given space constraints, participants may need to share rooms.
Retreat begins with dinner on Monday, March 4 at 6 PM (arrivals between 3 & 6 PM). Retreat concludes on Thursday, March 7 at 11:30 AM after breakfast and Mass.
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Feeling with the Heart of Christ Retreat
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Friday, March 15-Sunday, March 17, 2019
Loyola University Retreat Center — Flintstone, Maryland
Facilitated by Fr. Tim Brown, S.J., Fr. Steve Spahn, S.J. and Sue Cesare
This prayerful Lenten retreat will engage the treasure of God’s Mercy through the rich tradition of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a hallmark of Jesuit spirituality.
Our time will be spent in sessions of private prayer, guided meditation and reflection, group conversation, the Eucharist and good old fashioned table fellowship. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet individually with a spiritual director. Given space constraints, participants may need to share rooms.
Retreat begins with dinner on Friday, March 15 at 6 PM (arrivals between 3 & 6 PM). Retreat concludes on Sunday, March 17 at 11:30 after lunch.
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READER NOTIFICATION:
"Parish: the thought" is a publication of St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Baltimore. Each edition contains articles and news feeds that are included for awareness of current topics in our world today. The positions expressed by outside authors and news feeds are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of St. Ignatius Catholic Community or its staff.
- This e-zine was compiled by John C. Odean
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