What makes us feel secure? Many people look to tangible forms of security that will safeguard their livelihood and prepare for their future. We tend to associate security with things: the accumulation of goods and possessions, retirement funds, savings accounts, and substantial incomes. While acquiring these promises a life with less anxiety and worry, we actually find ourselves more preoccupied and consumed with their growth and preservation. We worry more! We can easily become quasi-hoarders, consumed with obtaining more tangible crutches. Our minds and hearts are always restless, and we never seem to be at peace.
Why do we so easily give our self-worth, value, and sense of security over to things? God certainly does not deny us the pursuit of a productive and enjoyable life but where do we draw the line? A sense of well-being and happiness can easily get deferred to sometime “in the future” while we continue to wrestle with the toils of today. There is no guarantee that there will be an earthly tomorrow and all of the frenzy we bring to securing our state in life will be for naught. When we are called from this world, will we even know where to begin to look for the tranquility and repose our souls so desperately need?
We cannot be hoarders, pursuers of vanity, or greedy. They just don’t work as they are too dependent on things that can fall apart. Rather than always feeling the need for more, we need to learn how to be grateful for what we have. By learning to look inward we can learn how to live lives of faithful service to others. “Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has, and this requires transforming greed into gratitude (St. John Chrysostom).” We all need to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to our care. Grateful hearts recognize the true source of what we have and realize that our true treasure lies not in what matters to us but to God. ©LPi
Notes for this Weekend
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The Holy Spirit draws us here today to listen to God’s living word, to receive the Lord in the Eucharist, and to give praise and thanks to God. During the week, many of us work hard to make our lives comfortable, aiming for a promotion or raise, earning enough to afford the nicest things, putting money away for an easy retirement. Today’s readings will give us the bit of shock we need to put those parts of our life in perspective. “Vanity of vanities!” cries the first reading’s narrator, ridiculing the idea that we have total control over the rest of our lives. May we reorient ourselves toward what really matters.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Universal Prayer
A. For all Christians during this “Forward in Mission” Jubilee Year, that we store up treasure in heaven by investing in prayer, reflection on the Gospel, and acts of charity, let us pray to the Lord.
B. For those in our own nation who are homeless, hungry, or poor, that they may be blessed by those with excess when they realize that one’s life does not consist of possessions, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For an end to gun violence across the nation and in our communities, let us pray to the Lord.
D. That our parish community may work to feed those who are hungry, house those who are homeless, and give to those who are poor, here at home and around the world, let us pray to the Lord.
E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Every Sunday in July, we will have our Youth Confirmation registration from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 2:00 p.m. m. in St. Joseph Hall. Adult registration forms can be picked up from the parish office.
2. We invite you to celebrate the Feast of Santo Domingo de Guzmán next Saturday, August 6 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a fellowship after Mass.
