-
February 11, 2022Oyster Roast – All are welcome
February 13th from 1 -4 in Memorial Park
Today is World Marriage Day, the theme for this year’s celebration is "Called to the Joy of Love." World Marriage Day began in 1983 and in 1993, St. Pope John Paul II, imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day. The purpose of World Marriage Day is to highlight the beauty of marriage and to honor husbands and wives for their faithfulness and sacrifices.
Prayer for World Marriage Day
Father, on this World Marriage Day, we thank you for your tremendous gift of the Sacrament of Marriage. Help us to witness to its glory by a life of growing intimacy. Teach us the beauty of forgiveness so we may become more and more One in Heart, Mind, and Body. Strengthen our dialogue and help us become living signs of your love. Make us grow more in love with the Church so we may renew the Body of Christ. Make us a sign of unity in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Brother. Amen.
Recently Bishop Parkes invited everyone in our Catholic community to make a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal. As a faith community, we are being asked to consider how we might share our blessings with others. The Appeal is one way we do just that. I am grateful to Theresa Pottratz for her willingness to give the lay witness talk for the Appeal. On this commitment weekend, I’d ask you to prayerfully consider participating with a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal. You can donate online at www.diosav.org/aca or by sending a pledge or check to: Annual Catholic Appeal PO Box 936253 Atlanta, GA 31193-6253 *Please indicate St. Michael Parish on the memo line.
February 13, 2022 | Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time | by The Faithful Disciple
Jer 17:5-8 | 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 | Lk 6:17, 20-26
GROW: Luke’s account of the Beatitudes pulls no punches. Blessed are you … who are poor, hungry, weeping, when people hate you. These admonitions bear little resemblance to the pursuit of happiness as most of us know it: Striving for wealth (or at least stability), enjoying a good meal, sharing a laugh with friends, and being well-liked. These are things of this world, and Jesus tells us that pursuing them alone will not make us truly happy. I don’t think that means we need to wear sackcloth and ashes or refuse to enjoy the great gifts with which God has endowed his Creation. However, Jesus’ words remind us that we won’t find lasting happiness even in the finest meal or the most lavish vacation, but rather in placing our lives in God’s hands. For the desire for happiness “is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw us to the One who alone can fulfill it.” (CCC 1718)
GO: It’s a little ironic that I am writing a reflection entitled “GROW and GO.” Few plants have survived my black thumb. That’s why I love the image of the tree in the reading from Jeremiah. One who trusts in the Lord “is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream; it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought, it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” These words from Jeremiah are a prophecy of hope, and hope allows us to accompany one another through the hills and valleys (and occasional dead plants) of our lives. We can become a source of hope to others by praying for and with one another and encouraging them on their own journeys of faith. In doing so, we help one another tap into the ultimate source of hope – the God who loves us.
STUDY: Read the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount and reflect on how Jesus’ teachings draw us ever more to himself and highlight our baptismal vocation: holiness. What one thing can you bring to prayer and the sacrament of reconciliation this week to purify your heart?
