{"id":8362,"date":"2021-07-17T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stgenevieve-stmaurice.org\/parish\/?p=8362"},"modified":"2021-07-17T15:44:34","modified_gmt":"2021-07-17T19:44:34","slug":"from-fr-tom-46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stgenevieve-stmaurice.org\/parish\/2021\/07\/17\/from-fr-tom-46\/","title":{"rendered":"From Fr. Tom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hopefully you had a blessed week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On this 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time the Evangelist Mark tells us of a time when Jesus was confronted with a choice. He and the apostles needed a rest. Their lives had become quite hectic, as Mark describes, \u201dThere were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time to eat.\u201d They had decided at Jesus\u2019s urging, to head for a quiet spot where they could relax by themselves for a while. But when they arrived, they found many people anxiously awaiting them. We can imagine how these weary men felt seeing the crowd ahead of them.<\/p>\n

Jesus is faced with a very real human choice; one wonders what the \u201cme\u201d generation would choose in this situation. He knew his own need for rest and he also recognized the needs of the people who were in front of him. Jesus saw that they were not purposely trying to impose themselves or make life more difficult for him and the Apostles. It was just that at this moment in their lives it was so important to them to see him, to be near him and to hear his words. Realizing this, Jesus placed the need of the crowd above his own: \u201dand he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and he set himself to teach them.\u201d To emphasize the love out of which the decision arose Mark adds the phrase, \u201cto teach them at some length.\u201d In other words, Christ did not plan to quickly dismiss all of the people but made up his mind to care for them thoroughly. And as we read on in Mark we discover that Jesus will eventually feed the thousands of them the bread of life.<\/p>\n

The situation Mark relates here is a familiar one for us in our own lives. We are often caught with having to choose between our own legitimate needs and the needs of someone else. The choice is a hard one. Jesus\u2019s response however shows us the behavior of one that truly loves his neighbor. Love for our neighbor gives us a special ability to see how important our help and our presence are to the person calling on us. Through love, any resentment or irritation is lessened. So we are freer to respond wholeheartedly. Furthermore, love gives us the strength to say, \u201cyes\u201d firmly and then carry our commitments through with integrity. What might at first seem a burden and an imposition can become a source of joy for us, since by responding with love to another\u2019s need, we are imitating Jesus himself and so acting with gladness, as true Christians. Jesus again gives us a model for Christian behavior whether we be sheep or shepherd. May we always follow Him with open and loving hearts and seeing His face in our brothers and sisters!<\/p>\n

Life of St. Genevieve \u2013 St. Maurice Parish…\u0001\u0002<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to inform you that after more than 20 years of her service as a Finance Council member, (last few years as a Co-Chair) Martha Schultz resigned from her position. On behalf of the whole St. Genevieve \u2013 St. Maurice Parish Community, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for her faithful ministry. We\u2019ll always remember and appreciate Martha\u2019s dedication, wisdom, talents and love she has shared with us on that journey. \u201cMay God bless you Martha always. Thank You\u201d<\/strong> During next few weeks we\u2019ll look for and designate someone to fulfill this empty spot on our Finance Council. \u201cCome Holy Spirit …we pray.\u201d<\/strong>\u0001\u0002<\/p>\n