Pastor’s Letter: September 17, 2023

Pastor’s Letter: September 17, 2023

15 Sep 2023 | Posted by: chadmin

The September 17 bulletin is available online. 

Dear friend,

As Catholics, we call the Scripture “a living Word” because the truth of revelation speaks anew to us each time we encounter it. Whether spoken or read, the Bible offers us the truth of God that offers guidance on our journey to heaven. God, as a good father, desires to communicate Himself to us. God wants us to know Him as He knows us. That is the point and the power of prayer. Prayer builds our relationship with God. As Catholic Christians, we view the four Gospels with special importance because they contain the words of Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and carries Divine Authority, but the Gospels offer us direct clarity on God’s thoughts through the ministry of God’s Son. This is the reason we stand at Mass when the Gospel reading is read to the community. The understanding of the power of God’s word is evident to the Apostles as they questioned Jesus. The Gospel reading this weekend from Matthew describes Peter approaching Jesus to ask a question that many of us have spiritually asked at one time or another. “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?”

Forgiveness is one of the biggest topics in the Bible because sin is a part of every human life. We have all sinned and we have all been sinned against. Understandably, we usually have an easier time asking God to forgive us than we have in forgiving others or even forgiving ourselves. Peter understands this. The same challenges we all have with forgiveness is behind the question posed to Jesus. As with all of Jesus’ responses, He doesn’t just give an answer but gives a story that tells many answers that can strike us in different ways at different times. Put simply, Jesus says if you beg for forgiveness, and get forgiven, we are obligated to forgive others. As we say in the Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Another way to look at these words is that we can’t expect God to forgive us if we don’t forgive others. This means everyone. Not selective forgiveness, but full forgiveness. Anything we hold on to that others do to us or around us that we let take our words, emotions or actions to a place of sinfulness, has to be forgiven. Unforgiveness essentially is allowing ourselves to be controlled by the offender. When we change our mood, act in spite, say unkind words, withhold our love or help from anyone who has offended, because we are offended, then we are living in unforgiveness. Forgiveness is the process of setting ourselves and the other free. Forgiveness is the main process to restoring relationships with God and one another. The majority of us only have to start thinking quietly for a few minutes, before the Lord informs us who we need to forgive. May we all make the effort to ask the Lord who He wants us to forgive this week.

The Diocese of Peoria launched the Annual Diocesan Appeal for 2023. This weekend we will show the ADA video, titled “Ready to Bring the Love of Jesus,” at all the Masses. The Diocesan Appeal seeks to fund the ordinary operation of the Diocese and programs particular to the Bishop. Of special importance is the support the Diocese gives to our Catholic Schools, Catholic college Newman Centers, and Vocations to the Priesthood. After the video, we will invite you to complete an ADA pledge card to support our Diocesan evangelization efforts this year. Thank you for all the support you give to St. Philomena and our Catholic Diocese.

God bless,

Father David