Pastoral Associate News

From the Desk of our Pastoral Associate

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time  -  June 22, 2008

The human experience includes suffering in all its forms.  The human pain of chronic illness, the emotional pain of loss and grief and betrayal, and the spiritual pain of desolation (a sense of emptiness and loss of God’s care) are all within the range of our daily existence.  In today’s gospel the disciples are experiencing their own sufferings due to the rejection and persecution they met along the way.  Fear has the power to cripple the ability of those who minister to serve; and so Jesus gives them a twice-repeated command, “do not be afraid” as he reminds them of God’s ongoing care.

The Catholic Church teaches that God does not cause suffering and pain. Suffering can be the result of natural or worldly processes or of the misuse of free will.  We are sometimes the cause of human suffering and we are often its recipients.  Yet we profess a God of mercy who forgives us when we fail to choose the good.  We believe that Jesus plunged into the human experience and endured what we endure – suffering, persecution, death. We believe our sufferings lead to deeper reliance on God’s power to deliver us through the healing power of the resurrection. We believe our suffering is ultimately redemptive. Finally, we believe our suffering could not be endured if it were not for the power of the Holy Spirit, the saving actions of Jesus and the providential care of God. 

Today we remember that God is aware of our every suffering.  Therefore, to come before God and lament our situations of pain and suffering that make us afraid is a positive and realistic response. Today’s scriptures place before us the prophet Jeremiah and the psalmist as they present their outpouring of anguish to the Lord.   They are examples to us.  In both cases, there is never any doubt that God will act – only a question of when!  Never is there a notion of, “Will you save us God?” – only “How long, O Lord!”

Stewardship/Evangelization:

You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt. 5: 13-16)

The Stewardship/Evangelization Committee works to give all parish members an opportunity to become more involved in our parish.  Look on our website for all the opportunities.  The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 22 at 9:30 in the Faculty Room of St Timothy Middle School.

On Monday, June 23 at 7:00 in Milligan Hall, the Stewardship/Evangelization Committee will sponsor a talk "Why Being Catholic is a Great Option for Living Life in a Changing World".  Fr. Cody will be our speaker and we hope to reach out to all and anyone in the West Hartford area who is considering being Catholic or who might like to know more.  If you know someone, come and bring them along. 
For more information, call Pat Piano: 860-232-8594.

Lectionary Based Scripture Study:

Would you like your Sunday Mass experience enriched? Join us on Monday Mornings at 9:00 am and reflect on God’s Word that will be proclaimed. See how your life and the gospels speak to one another.

St. Timothy Art Gallery:

Today continues the parish showcase of artistic talent in our 50^th Anniversary Art Gallery (Milligan Hall).  Please join us for a tour of the gallery.  If you are not able to come today, please know that the gallery will be open each weekend throughout the month of June after all the Masses.   Please plan to stop by.