I craved four things as a teenager: success in sports, food, fun and the attention of popular people. However, I noticed that as I acquired them, I was more unsatisfied than before. So, I’d strive even more energetically, achieve more, and the sense of emptiness was greater still. These four things started to feel like burdens or even curses. Soon after, I encountered Christ in my high school youth group. Experiencing his love was totally different than anything those four things previously produced. It produced a lasting happiness.
Jesus utters a kind of four-fold curse in this week’s Gospel of Saint Luke’s “woes”: “Woe to you who are rich…who are filled now…who laugh now…who are well-spoken of” (cf. Luke 6:24-26). How marvelous that these correspond perfectly to the four things that obsessed my teenage soul: riches, food, laughter and good reputation. The “woes” the Lord speaks are warnings: when those things are the purpose of your life, you’ll be miserable. He is saying, “You’ll be happy, or blessed, in the measure that these things do not determine the shape of our lives, and the kingdom of God does.”
To some degree, we’re all spiritual teenagers, addicted to one or more of those four “woes.” How splendid that the Lord wants his to bless us — that is, to satisfy us, make us laugh with joy, and in the kingdom of God, offer us what will truly satisfy us. But first let’s admit what is causing our “woes.” — Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
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Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 15
5:00 PM
Madonna Bartasovich • †
Conchita Fernandez • †
Yolanda Sanchez • †
Rolando Figueroa Haro • †
Modesto Delgadillo • †
Cristina Crosthwaite • †
Arturo Escobedo • †
Marco Antonio Zuniga • Birthday
Sunday, February 16
6:00 AM
Jerome & Philomena Enwerem • †
Maimon Family • †
Pilar Maldonado • †
10:45 AM
Porfirio Guerrero Morua • †
Petra Vielma Aguilera • †
Faye Zuluaga • †
Bienvenido Enriquez • †
José Antonio Ramos • †
Teckla Rajasekera • Prayer
Chamilka Mahanthe • Thanksgiving
12:30 PM
Sonia Maria De Jesus Noh • Birthday
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, that we may be a visible sign of God’s blessings, serving the poor, the hungry, the grieving, and outcasts of all kinds, sharing what we have with those in need, let us pray to the Lord.
B. For those who determine, influence, or enforce policy, that they may consider the lesson of today’s Gospel in their treatment of those who are often ignored, rejected, or belittled, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For all those who are suffering in poverty, in war, in fear, and in isolation, that during this Jubilee Year of Hope they may find what they need to alleviate their despair, let us pray to the Lord.
D. For those who are presently suffering from the cold winter weather because of the nature of their work or because they do not have a warm place to live, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Thanks to you, we have exceeded our Called to Renew goal and currently have $384,000 in donations. We received 11,000 dollars in donations during the month of January. Half of all donations are sent to the Archdiocese where they will invest in lower income Parishes. We are thankful for your generosity.
2. The Parish office will be closed on Monday, February 17 in observance of Presidents Day. We will celebrate our daily masses at 8am and 5pm, but there will be no confessions or exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
3. We thank Omega Millwork for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.
