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July 15, 202116th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
As we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we continue in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6. Last Sunday, Jesus called the Twelve Apostles and gave them the charge to go out, instructing them to take only a walking stick. As I shared in last weekend’s homily, the image of the walking stick can be a metaphor in our life for the gift of faith. Do you travel with your faith in hand? Do you allow your faith to guide your path, give you traction making your way up the incline, through the pass, and keep your balance when descending? Today, we hear Jesus invite his disciples to rest after their ministry. In the background of this passage, we again encounter the compassion of Jesus, moved with pity for the crowds pursuing the disciples.
The disciples are quickly learning that the life of a disciple and evangelist is one that only perseveres when rooted in prayer and discipline - faithful day in and day out to Jesus' teaching. In the end, a disciple of Jesus, like you and I, must have values, goals and needs that directly ground us to and come from our baptismal call, the vocation, for most of us are first brought to life and nurtured by parents and godparents throughout the first years of our life. Jesus' disciples return home from their mission, tired, overwhelmed and hungry. Often, the same feelings you might have after living out the 168 hours of blessing and bliss since the last Sunday's Mass.
Only God knows what lies ahead. At Mass, during the Concluding Rites, immediately following the Prayer after Communion, the priest offers the final blessing and the dismissal announcing our call to spread the gospel: "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord" or "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life." What Jesus can offer is the reminder that there is a need for rest in your life of Christian service and ministry. Jesus instills the value of having a shared vision and returning to the source of this vision to pray, process and proceed in faith. Jesus does not say, go and never return. Jesus sends the disciples into the world to share the good news and be the light. Calling them to renewal upon their return to him, the Church. Jesus is the one who is the source of this good news and light. As the Gospel of Mark continues to unfold, we will see the compassion of Christ lived out. At the end of the day, when the disciples find themselves tempted to cut corners and send the thousands in need of prayer, spiritual sustenance and healing on their way, Jesus instructs the disciples to feed the crowd. Remember, the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish happened at the end of the day.
In today's gospel, when all seemed impossible, Jesus introduces the term that we may not give much thought to, the word, "apostle." No matter the day or liturgical season, I often have parishioners of all ages and guests ask about the difference between the terms "disciple and apostle." The word apostle comes from the Greek word meaning "one who is sent." We are sent into the world to share the message of Jesus, his goodness and light.
In these days of post-pandemic adaptability, we all need to be engaging our five senses, ensuring that we all understand the primary resources employed guiding the values, goals and needs shaping our life together as a parish family. Like in your family and home, processes are in place to ensure that ongoing dialogue and planning occur. I appreciate your patience in working with the parish staff in this effort. Many of our staff members and volunteers are new in working in their area of responsibility. I understand some have feelings of anxiety about the future of some parish-based ministries, programs and activities. These feelings are natural when change is occurring. Remember, over the last few years, feedback sessions have taken place to help document our parish traditions. These sessions have helped the pastoral council, parish staff and I identify and develop the resources needed for the ongoing success of many of these ministries, programs and activities. This process takes time. Reviewing, developing and incorporating new strategies is part of the experience of being a good steward. Many of these processes started three or more years ago, often sharing these findings with you in homilies, Mass announcements, and weekly bulletins. Please be respectful to parish staff, especially when poor planning does not necessitate an emergency on their part.
As parish staff has been learning their responsibilities, a common theme continues. All parish-based ministries, programs, and activities have the same resources available to everyone, staff or volunteer led. Whether a small task or activity steeped in heritage, we must have a successful rotation of volunteers which requires planning, documentation and ongoing information sharing.
I understand that change is hard. I also realize that change is necessary. All that has transpired since completing the archdiocesan Connected in the Spirit process, which began in 2013. I am grateful for the challenges, renewal and adaptations brought to life with Connected in the Spirit. These changes, first introduced in 2013, have been regularly incorporated into our strategic plan each year since 2015. The challenges, renewal and adaptations have clarified and strengthened the mission of our two distinct rural parishes with one parish mission. As parishes within the Tell City Deanery, St. Boniface Parish and St. Meinrad Parish regularly experience growth and remain fiscally sound parishes with mission and ministry inside and outside our walls Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Our membership is universal within the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Yes, the days ahead may look different; the world is different since March 2020. I have used a phrase since arriving: Let us focus on what we can do and not on what we cannot do, doing it well together.
We continue to celebrate the Year of the Family, focusing on familial relationships. Pope Francis brings to life the path of love in families in Wisdom on Love. Read a tip a day. Read it together with your family. And put into practice today the helpful advice that corresponds to your heart! https://store.usccb.org/collections/pope-francis/products/pope-francis-wisdom-on-love-practical-advice-for-families
Have a blessed week. Let us continue to pray for one another as we live out our call to be disciples and apostles with the gospel as our guide, with the Eucharist as our source and summit for today and tomorrow.
PAX - Father Anthony, OSBCLICK/TAP 24/7 to read this week's Sunday bulletin.
