July 6, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
I heard recently that there was a small ad in a local newspaper that got lots of attention: “For sale: one pine coffin, unused, $400. Changed plans!”
If we learned anything this past pandemic year is that plans do change. Don’t they ever! I think life ceaselessly confronts us with unexpected turns of events. Again and again, we have high hopes for amazing projects, and then unforeseen things intervene.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about one such experience. He sends out his apostles—with high hopes—to share the Good News. But he tells them in advance: No matter how good your news is, some are not going to be interested; some will be angry at you for even raising the subject! And boy oh boy was Jesus right.
So, what are we to do when our best efforts at sharing our gifts, or our insights, or our faith are rejected, sometimes with brutal coldness? What are we to do, especially when those who are brushing us off are people we really care about and love?
The Gospel for this 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time seems to suggest an answer from Jesus. He tells us that after we have done our best, and we are sure that there is nothing more that can be done, “shake the dust of the place off your feet,” and move on. Put it in God’s hands, and let it go! Not with ugly words or hateful glares, but with a peaceful heart.
Give your disappointment, your hurt, your anger, to God, and let it go.
Does that mean we give up on people or cut them out of our lives? I think not! I think it means that we are learning to recognize the situation when we have truly done our best, and then facing the hard fact that all we may have left to give is our quiet good example and our prayers.
The dust we are asked to shake off our feet is not the other person, or even our hopes. It is our disappointment, our feelings of rejection, our nagging, and perhaps even a little judgmental anger. Those do have to go, and that can be very hard to do. Peace!
I would like to encourage you to consider and participate in the FORWARD WITH FAITH campaign that we embarked on for the sake of our parish and the Archdiocese of Hartford. It is a very real and concrete way of supporting our mission and ministry. Your substantial sacrificial gift or pledge will secure the continued forward movement of our parish. I am sincerely asking for your help and am very grateful to those who have already made the financial commitment.
Peace and Blessings,
Fr. George Couturier
Pastor
