AUGUST 30, 2020
Saturday, August 29
4:00 PM ✞ Anna Giza – Ron and Denise Giza
Sunday, August 30 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioner
Thursday, Sept. 3
9:00 Tania Blanco – Ulana Campbell
Saturday, Sept. 5
4:00 PM Merle & Theresa Ashton – Peggy James
Sunday, Sept. 6 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Prayer is a great source of joy
and the best protection from depression.
When we talk, Lord, You help me see solutions.
Beheading of Saint John
August 29th
St. John the Baptist was a great preacher of penance. The zeal for God’s honor and glory caused his death because he corrected the king for his sins and the scandal he was giving the nation, the people of Israel.
St. John the Baptist is the precursor of Christ, whom Christ said “among those born of women there is no one greater than John.” He was the last of the prophets sent by God to the people of Israel to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah.
St. John preached penance on the shores of the river Jordan in Palestine. During his time a great scandal occurred in Palestine. Herod Antipas, tetrarch (a subordinate prince or king) of Galilee and Perea took Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and married her.
While the “austere” Pharisees did not dare to condemn their ruler, St. John the Baptist went to the royal palace and courageously condemned the tetrarch’s incestuous union with Herodias.
Herod instigated by Herodias cast John into prison. Although Herodias would have him killed, Herod feared to shed his blood partly for fear of the people and partly because he liked to hear the saintly preacher.
On the birthday of Herod the opportunity was given to Herodias to wreak her vengeance on the preacher. It was a great festival with numerous guests, dancing, music, etc. Herodias’ daughter by Philip, Salome, danced before the tetrarch and his company. Herod promised to give her whatever she might ask without contemplating the consequences of voicing these words. At the prompting of her mother, Salome requested the head of Saint John. Herod through a fear of loss of human honor, for his promise given, ordered his guards that John be beheaded. Thus the girl took the head of the Saint to her revengeful mother.
May our Lord bless you through theintercessions
of the glorious prophet and forerunner,
CONSCIENCE
In a certain monastery, the members of the community made their living by raising wheat and grinding the grain to make flour. To turn the stone in their mill, the monks owned a strong ox. From time to time the ox would be given rest from its hard work by being let loose in a field to graze. When the monks freed the ox, they were careful to tie a bell around its neck in order that they would know where the ox was in their fields.
One day, a thief stole the ox when it was in a far off corner of the field. In order not to be detected, he stuffed the bell with grass and drove the ox home without being caught. The thief barely had the animal hidden when the bell around its neck began to ring of its own accord as if to announce its whereabouts and reveal the theft. Even when the thief tore the tongue of the bell out, it still kept ringing until in great anguish, he drove the ox back to the monks’ field from where it had been stolen.
Like the bell the ox wore, conscience in our spiritual life functions to sound when we too do something wrong. Even though sinners try to choke its voice, try to hide it, conscience incessantly sounds the alarm, giving no rest until reparation is made.
Certainly the voice of conscience can be choked; it can be dulled and muted. Rationalization makes excuses when we fail morally.
Conscience is the relentless voice of the soul telling us the difference between right and wrong. Like the reflection in a mirror, it shows us the defects and imperfections in our lives. Conscience is a brave and courageous guide, and we are under the serious obligation in conformity with the informed, correct and adjudged authentic teachings of the Church beyond the opinion of one of the other so called moralist.
The remorse of conscience is relentless, yes. A person may shut his or her ears to its admonitions, but sooner or later its voice is heard especially at the hour of death.
If a person’s life has been sin-filled, conscience torments; if one’s life has been well lived, conscience comforts. Being true to conscience brings peace of soul and spiritual purpose when founded on the teachings of Christ.
St. Paul reminds his readers: (Rom. 15:1-6).
……….Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproach you have failed upon me.” For whatever things have been written have been written for our instruction, that, through the patience and the consolation afforded by the Scriptures, we may have hope. May then the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind towards one another according to Jesus Christ; that, one in spirit, you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is not requested. Many openings are available for your requests.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: A very Happy Birthday is extended to Steve Spock who will celebrate his 92nd Birthday on Sept. 2, 2020. May God grant him many more Happy, Healthy Years. Mnohya Lita!
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 