Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • June 7, 2024 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Thank you Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, St. Jude, & St. Anthony, for prayers answered. CS Opening Remarks -- Story: One day, my wife said, “Let’s go to Red Lobster for lunch tomorrow.” Without thinking, I replied, “Let me check my calendar.” Whoops, after a ten-minute lecture reminding me who I was talking to and where my priorities should be focused, I said, “Lunch tomorrow is a great idea.” Yes, I knew everything she was saying about balancing the demands of family, job, and ministry. Our go-to words are. “Yes” or “Sure,” without first thinking of how that impacts other commitments we have. While we know Jesus saves and heals, today’s readings point to another of Jesus’ attributes: Jesus accommodates! Detachment was not Jesus’ preferential option. There was always a need for His presence and power, and he did not hesitate to accommodate those needs. In Contrast: In contradiction to Jesus’ ministry of accommodation, many of us prefer a ministry of convenience, which jeopardizes the possibility of no ministry at all. Personal needs and private preferences are high priorities, physical and emot- ional issues constrain us, and time is something we never have enough of. However, God has gifted us with blessings and talents and expects us to be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasure with a priority balance of family, job, and ministry. Sometimes, being present to someone with a prayer and a listening ear sufficiently brings comfort and peace. Imitate Christ: In today’s second reading and beyond, Paul connects our faith with our actions. He encourages believers to persuade others with the message of Christ that they have received and live every day: “I believed, therefore I spoke” (2 Cor. 4:13) and “The love of Christ impels us …to no longer live for ourselves but for Him who for our sake died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:14-15). This should be the natural rhythm of the believer. However, though we say we believe, when it comes to acting in faith on that belief, we often fall short. Paul continues with the promise that what we do in imitation of Jesus during our time on earth will be counted toward our eternal life with the Lord forever. Here is a tip that will strengthen your faith and empower your witness for the Lord. “Never say, I’ll pray and walk away.” Instead, pray with someone on the spot. Beggars Before God: We begin our liturgy by entreating God for the forgiveness of our sins. “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned. In my thoughts and in my words. In what I have done and what I have failed to do…” Today’s Responsorial Psalm asks for God’s forgiveness as an impartation of the gift of hope. The psalmist asks God to listen and explains why He should do so -- because He is a God who forgives, and the psalmist trusts that God will do what He promises. It is a prayer of humility, and only when we humble ourselves before God do we receive what God has for us. St. Augustine said, “Man is a beggar before God. But although the beggar is always looking to receive something, he also has something to give.” God delights in the surrender of our will in imitating Jesus’ words and works. To whom much has been given, much will be required. Will you give in the measure you have received? Evangelization is one beggar saying to another beggar -- come we have found the food -- Charles Spurgeon. The Family of Jesus: Most of us who read the Gospels are aware of Jesus’ encounters with the Jewish leaders of the day and the powerful Roman Empire, who hated Him and wanted Him killed. But today’s Gospel exposes the feelings of some of Jesus’ relatives who believed Jesus had lost His mind with His mission to save sinners and set out to rescue Him. Jesus uses the occasion as a teaching moment, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” It begs the question, Am I a member of Jesus’ family or a distant relative going through the motions? Elsewhere in this Gospel, Jesus states, “All sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” What does Jesus mean by this? The Catechism of the Catholic Church ( CCC ) explains. “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept God’s mercy by repenting rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.” -- CCC 1864, 2091, and 1037. Closing Comments and Questions: The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry portrayed His disciple’s growth and development as they observed and learned from His words and actions. Much of the time, they were awe-filled spectators of Jesus’ mighty deeds. Sometimes, they were facilitators of the Lord’s power. After the Lord’s ascension, their mission was to build the kingdom of God on earth. Empowered by Jesus, they acted as He did and empowered others. In our call to be Christ for others, we can choose the ministry of awe-filled spectator (watching while others do the work), facilitator (assisting another in minister), or accommodator (providing, adapting, and obliging, with generous availability). Can anyone say, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will?” Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is retired. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-15 Psalm: 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13- 5:1 Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time Jesus accommodates Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information.