Pope Francis, Oct 6, expressed his personal “sadness”, “pain” + “shame" to the victims of abuse by clergy in France for “the traumas” they suffered from 1950 to today. "He expressed “our shame, my shame at the long incapacity of the church to put them at the center of its concern."     -- a tweet from Gerard O'Connell @gerryorome,  Vatican Correspondent for America magazine

We love to make assumptions about people who leave the church - they must not have understood the Eucharist, or the Papacy, or something else but seriously, who could blame them?  It’s a miracle that any of us stick around to be honest - Lord, have mercy and save our church.   – a tweet from Tommy @theghissilent

So, why do you stick around?  I am still here partly because of my baptismal promises that we all renew every Easter and because of the promises I made at my ordination which I renew every year at the Chrism Mass on Tuesday of Holy Week.  But mostly, I stick around because I am a sinner in need of God’s mercy, and I need to rub elbows with other sinners who like me are trying to figure out what it means to live a holy life.

Despite “our shame”, I’d ask you to do everything possible to promote SEEKERS 601 which begins Wednesday, October 20^th at 6:01pm with a common meal in the Churchyard.  The first of ten sessions (5 Wednesdays before Thanksgiving week and 5 Wednesdays after the 1^st of the Year) will focus on the Journey of Faith.  Please invite someone to join our parish.

The next general assembly of the Synod of Bishops, a gathering of representative bishops from around the world, will take place at the Vatican in October 2023. But this weekend at the Vatican, the pope will formally open the process leading up to the Synod.  The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the gathering is: “For a synodal church: communion, participation and mission.”  The process involves worldwide Listening Sessions which have already begun in our Diocese.  Look for more information on this process and on Seekers 601 in my Tuesday’s Notes.

October 10, 2021
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
By The Faithful Disciple
Wis 7:7-11 | Heb 4:12-13 | Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27
GROW: In the Old Testament, wealth was considered a sign of God’s favor. So, imagine the rich young man’s surprise when he approached Jesus, only to find out that he would need to sell what he had and then give to the poor in order to follow Jesus. His face fell and he walked away. His demeanor highlights the fundamental error of equating what we have, and what we do, with salvation – of relying on earthly things, rather than God, for our deepest comfort and security. In contrast, the Book of Wisdom speaks of the richness and worth of divine wisdom over that of any precious gem or gold. We understand that divine wisdom to be manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, true wisdom means having faith in Jesus Christ rather than in our own efforts and whatever we might have earned in our lifetime.  Otherwise, we are like a camel trying to squeeze through the eye of a needle. Jesus truly offers us the only way. I like to think that the young man came around eventually. After all, as Jesus says, “all things are possible for God.” As we reflect, we can ask Jesus what we need to “let go of” to turn our sights, our minds, and our lives over to God, knowing that following his will is the surest path to the Kingdom.
GO: Just a few days ago, we celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The behavior of the rich young man in today’s Gospel – daring, enthusiastic, confident – brings the young Francis to mind. Born into wealth, he relished his carefree lifestyle and sought to become a knight. His dreams of glory, however, quickly became a nightmare as his comrades fell and he was imprisoned in a dank cell for a year. After his release, he fell seriously ill, and God spoke to him. He cast aside the trappings of wealth, choosing instead to seek God’s will in all things. His example invites us to pray about our priorities: What things or attitudes get in the way of our relationship with God and one another? What is the Lord asking of us and how can we respond? How can we give witness to our belief that all things are possible with God?
ACTION: Perhaps try a “consumption fast” for the next couple of weeks, purchasing only what you need – food and other necessities. Use time and energy spent shopping to deepen your relationship with God and others through practices such as Eucharistic adoration, confession, visiting an elderly relative, or writing/calling an old friend.