JULY 12, 2020 • FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Saints

902 East 9th Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Peter & Paul

CATHO L I C CHU RCH

AND SCHOOL

Established 1872

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to

be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the

Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos-

tolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian

County.

Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor

crmeredith@stsppchurch.org

Rev. Fr. Michael Charles Abiero, Parochial Vicar

mcabiero@stsppchurch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes

tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz

rcruz@stsppchurch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Trinidad Soriano

Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet

wesweet@stsppchurch.org

PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522

PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296

PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org

DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org

VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va

PARISH OFFICE HOURS:

8:00AM-12 NOON • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM MONDAY – FRIDAY

SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172

SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924

SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org

Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)

Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027

Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-632-1037

Store Hours M-F 10:00 am-3:00 pm.

SECOND SATURDAY OF MONTH 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH

We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into

our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon

as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish

community are asked to let us know.

MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday evening ..................................... 5:00 PM

Sunday.................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

Misa en Español .............. 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM

Monday - Saturday ............................... 8:00 AM

Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM

Thursday (en Español) - except June and July... 5:30 PM

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a

grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by anyone

acting in the name of the Catholic Church, (priests, deacon, employee

or volunteer), please call the Diocesan Pastoral Assistance Coordina-

tor, using the dedicated confidential phone-line (270-852-8380) as

well as the Diocesan web site (www.owensborodiocese.org/safe).

† SACRAMENTS †

† Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM

to 4:00 PM and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. Confessions will be heard

any time by appointment.

† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class - Our next class will be

announced. Please call the Parish Office to register.

† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.

2

Parish Pastoral Council

Lana Bastin, Administration ...…...……...…....bastins2@yahoo.com

Stephanie Blankenberger, Principal..sblankenberger@stsppschool.org

Jan Buckner, Family Life ....………….janet.buckner59@gmail.com

Dee Dailey, Vice Chair & Worship..….…....dalyfrau2@gmail.com

Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ..…....….ljdowns@stsppchurch.org

Hilda Gonzalez, Social Concerns.…….....linareshilda@outlook.com

Fran Marko, Secretary………….…………….....franmarko@gmail.com

Morgan Murray, Chair & Spiritual Life…..…mcm1811@yahoo.com

Robert Tyree, Education….……………..roberttyree@kycourts.net

PARISH OFFICE

Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)….........................Director Of Stewardship

Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org)....……..…. Parish Office Mgr.

Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)............................Pastoral Associate

Leigh Ann Johnson ………………….………Parish Assistance Coordinator

Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...……….Maintenance Foreman

Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)…………….....Thrift Store Mgr.

Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)…………Hispanic Ministry Asst.

Sue Wassmer(swassmer@stsppchurch.org)............................Parish Secretary

Dan Wilkinson(dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)………...Parish Music Director

SCHOOL OFFICE

Stephanie Blankenberger

(sblankenberger@stsppschool.org)….......School Principal

Jaime Embry (jembry@stsppschool.org)…………….….. Reception/SCRIP

Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org)………….…. School Secretary

MINISTRY TO THE SICK

Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family

member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner

who is ill or infirm may request anointing in extreme emer-

gency by calling the Parish Office, 270-885-8522.

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in tak-

ing hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament dur-

ing the day and throughout the night, seven days a week.

(Code required.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all

are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged

to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please con-

tact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested

in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer

partner Available hours: Sunday 12am, Monday 2am, 5 pm,

Wednesday 2am, Saturday 7 am, 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm & 10 pm.

Please help!!

School News

First day of school for students Wednesday, August 19-

More details about our Return to School Plan to follow in the

coming weeks!

Like our school Facebook page for the most up-to-date in-

formation @stppschool

JULY 12, 2020 • FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

3

Get Well Cards: We need your HELP! Could

you please help us by sending cards to the fol-

lowing people to help cheer them and wishing

them to get well soon?

1. Thelma Budias – Morningside of Hopkinsville, 4190

Lafayette Road, Hopkinsville, KY 42240

2. Norma Folz – 205 Marietta Drive, Hopkinsville, KY

42240

3. Ruby Carsone, 201 Millbrooke Drive, Hopkinsville, KY

42240

4. Carolyn Brown – 208 Springmont Drive, Hopkinsville,

KY 42240

Used Postage Stamps: Remember to save your used

stamps for Sister Miriam, better known as the “Stamp Sister”

at the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse

at Nazareth. f you want to also help

by saving and sending her your used

stamps, you can just put them in an

envelope and place them in the collec-

tion basket or bring to the office.

Then we send them to Sister Mariam with the Sisters of

Charity. These in turn are used for their missions in Belize.

Flags: Do you have an old American flag or

an American flag that needs to be properly

retired? Bring your flag to Steve Kinnard in

the parish office. He will be organizing a

retirement ceremony soon for these American

flags.

Baptism: We welcome through the waters of Baptism,

Brody Nolan P’Pool, infant son

of Jennifer (Hanks) and Ryan

P’Pool. Brody was baptized

on Sunday, July 5

th

with Fr.

Richard presiding. Brody is

the grandson of Vicky and Ron

Luckey, the great grandson of

Judy Brummett and godson to

Jessica (Hanks) Wadley and Nick Luckey. Congratulations

Brody!

Birthday Girls: We congratulate Helen Brown (89) and

Julia Borders (85) as they celebrated their birthdays this

past week.

Commodities Distribution: Aaron McNeil’s next commodity

food distribution will be this

Saturday, July 11

th

from 8:00

to 10:00 a.m. at the Western

Kentucky Fairgrounds located

at 2810 Richard Street here in

Hopkinsville. Items are given

out on a first come, first serve

basis. Photo ID or any other

proof of Christian County residency is required. They ask

everyone to “Please have your trunk open and cleared out

so we can place the food items there.” Also go ahead and

place on your calendar Saturday, August 8

th

from 8:00 to

10:00 a.m. as the next distribution.

RCIA Returns

Thursday, July 16 - 7:00 p.m.

Holy Family Room – Parish Office Building

Discussion – Sacraments of Reconciliation and

Eucharist

First Communion Parent Meeting

Sunday, July 12

th

after the 10:30 a.m. Mass – 11:45 a.m.

in the Church

We ask at least one parent of our First Communion

children be present. We will discuss when our First

Communion celebration will take place and other

important dates.

UPDATE

Christian County Relay for Life

Will not be held on July 31

st

Tentatively the Relay for Life will be held either in

September or October as we are awaiting guidance

from the American Cancer Society. We will keep

you posted as you continue to support the Saints

Peter and Paul Relay for Life Team

Celebration of Confirmation

With Bishop Medley presiding

Wednesday, August 5

th

at 5:30 p.m.

At Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Confirmation practice with our Confirmation students

and their sponsors (or a parent) will be held on

Wednesday, July 29

th

at 6:30 p.m. in the Church.

Confirmandi include: Esmeralda Bautista, Addie

Galvan, Jackie Ginez, Livie Jorgensen, Bryan Linares,

Martin Nguyen, Thieng Nguyen, Aaron Oñate, Esther

Pepple, Emma Petrie, Michelle Salas and Lucy Wilkins.

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

4

Questions regarding Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration:

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration has

resumed. If you have questions or

would like to adopt one of the avail-

able hours listed below, please call

Bill and Jenny Rush. Hours available

to be adopted include:

Sunday 12:00 a.m. (midnight)

Monday 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday 2:00 a.m.

Saturday 7:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Prayer partner needed for Tuesday 9:00 a.m.

Mass For The People: Did you know.... that every pastor

offers Mass each Sunday for his parishioners called the Mis-

sa Pro Populo that is, "Mass for the people" of the parish.

This Mass includes the intentions of all the people of the par-

ish, which includes those who are facing chronic health chal-

lenges and those who are homebound and cannot be pre-

sent for Mass because of those challenges.

Kissing the Altar at Mass

Question: Why do priests kiss the altar at the start of

Mass?

Answer: Our churches and chapels are filled with symbols.

We might think of the more common symbols (like the cruci-

fix, statues, stained-glass windows, vestment color and altar

cloths) as well as major symbols (such as the paschal candle

and the baptismal font). But there are some things that we

can take for granted in our sacred spaces, because unfortu-

nately, they

seem to just be

part of the

building, in-

cluding three

of the main

symbols of our

liturgy: the am-

bo (lectern),

the chair for the priest celebrant, and the altar. These three

objects are placed in a specially designated area called

the sanctuary. They are the places where the Word of God

is proclaimed, where the priest prays and presides at the

celebration, and where the bread and wine are offered by

the priest during the Eucharistic Prayer. Although each of

these objects is sacred because of the role they play in our

worship, the altar holds a special

place. In a document containing the rules and instructions

for the Mass — the “General Instruction of the Roman

Missal” — we read: “The altar on which the Sacrifice of the

Cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the

table of the Lord to which the People of God is called to-

gether to participate in the Mass, as well as the center of

the thanksgiving that is accomplished throughout the Eucha-

rist” (no. 296).

One of the ways that we recognize the importance of

the altar is when the priest and deacon kiss the altar at the

beginning of Mass. Kissing is an ancient act of devotion.

Remember, we also kiss the cross on Good Friday, and

the deacon or priest kisses the “Book of the Gospels”

after the Gospel is proclaimed. This act of devotion reminds

us that the altar is a symbol of Jesus, the “living

stone” (see 1 Peter 2:4), the foundation stone of our

faith. It is a symbol gesture, but it is a powerful reminder

of the One on whom our faith is built and in whose

name we gather as the “household of faith” (see Galatians

6:10).

To learn more, see the “Catechism of the Catholic

Church” (no. 1382-1383).

Retrouvaille - Does your marriage need a lifeline? Has

the pandemic raised the stress

level in your marriage?

retrouvaille

™

(pronounced re-tro

-vi with a long “I”, French for

“rediscovery”) offers tools need-

ed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. Thousands

of couples headed for cold, unloving relationships or divorce

have successfully overcome their marriage problems by at-

tending the program. Visit Owensborodiocese.org/marriage

-help to register for the upcoming program beginning Sept

18-20

th

, 2020, at Mount St. Joseph Retreat Center.

Online Giving: With so much uncertainty regarding the

COVID-19 virus and increasing recommendations to avoid

crowds and take proper safety precautions, we wanted to

remind you that we have options in place now that you can

use today. Our Online Giving option is an ideal way to sup-

port the parish and our mission.

Online Giving is available for you to make contributions

to the church. This option makes use of current technology

and security standards and allows you to easily setup recur-

ring contributions. It also enables our church to take ad-

vantage of new tools to become more efficient.

Online Giving Parishioner Benefits

• Secure and confidential. No need to share payment

information with the church office.

• Efficient. Set up direct withdrawals from your checking,

savings account or a credit card.

• Simple. Start, stop and change your contributions at any

time.

• Convenient. No need to write a check or have cash

available.

• Remote flexibility. You can give from virtually anywhere

anytime.

Online Giving is intended to be a convenient tool for

you to use, and we strongly support both Online Giving and

Offering Envelopes for contributions to the parish. Online

Giving is the electronic way to participate in weekly offer-

tory.

Start giving online today!

1. Visit our church website at www.stsppchurch.org and

click on the online giving link.

2. Create an account.

3. Schedule your recurring gifts.

Please prayerfully consider giving online. If you have

any questions, contact the church office.

JULY 12, 2020 • FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

5

Family Retreats @ Gasper: Gasper River is offering family

retreats at the camp this summer.

Bring your family out just for the day

or stay a night or two! There are

many options available. You can

book a lodge, bring your own meals

or have Gasper provide meals

(catered), hike and explore, do ac-

tivities, or just enjoy God's creation

together. Call or email Gasper to

make a reservation or to get more

information and pricing details: 270-781-2466 or gasper-

river@hotmail.com.

Please continue to Pray for the following

First Holy Communion Children: Children include:

Marilyn Gabriel, Christopher Galdean, Anthony

Hernandez, Tripp Larimore, Isabel Litchfield, Ashly

Lopez, Bruno Messina, Piero Messina, Yoel Peña,

Adrian Rodriguez, Isabel Sewell, Liam Siver, Lily

Siver, Lucas Stine, and Jorge Uribe.

Youth Preparing for Confirmation: Esmeralda

Bautista, Addie Galvan, Jackie Ginez, Livie

Jorgensen, Bryan Linares, Martin Nguyen, Thieng

Nguyen, Aaron Oñate, Esther Pepple, Emma Pe-

trie, Michelle Salas and Lucy Wilkins.

High School Graduates: Edwar Acosta, Geor-

gianna Baker, Brenda Bonifacio, Jennifer Bautista,

Alison Bellew, Logan Gibson, Scribbie Goode, Will

Groves, Chenoa Hall, Kaleb Hall, Dayana Hernan-

dez, Layne Jorgensen, Anna King, Lauren Langhi, Zach Lan-

ghi, Natalie Linares, Manuel Martinez, Joseph Nguyen, Hope

Pace, Rayna Pound, Trace Pound, Jessica Roman, Angel Ro-

driguez, Sofia Sargeant, John Schmitt, Kristen Shouse, Allison

Sunderhaus and Maritza Uribe.

RCIA Candidates: April Albert, Stephanie Estes,

Hazel Petrovich, Yancy Rutland, Jordan Gibson

and Sandi Velez.

Mass Intentions

Readings for the week of July 12, 2020

Sunday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14/

Rom 8:18-23/Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

Monday: Is 1:10-17/Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and

23/Mt 10:34—11:1

Tuesday: Is 7:1-9/Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8/Mt

11:20-24

Wednesday: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16/Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10,

14-15/Mt 11:25-27

Thursday: Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19/Ps 102:13-14ab and

15, 16-18, 19-2/Mt 11:28-30

Friday: Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8/Is 38:10, 11, 12

abcd, 16/Mt 12:1-8

Saturday: Mi 2:1-5/Ps 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14/

Mt 12:14-21

Next Sunday: Wis 12:13, 16-19/Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16

Lpi© /Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30

Monday, July 13 ST. HENRY

8:00 am

SISTER ANDREW

Tuesday, July 14

ST KATERI TEKAKWITHA

8:00 am

†

HARRY & DOROTHY HESTER

Wednesday, July 15 ST. BONAVENTURE, BISHOP

8:00 am

NO MASS

5:30 pm

†

LEE KING

Thursday, July 16

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

8:00 am

†

BOB BROWN

5:30 pm Spanish

NO MASS

Friday, July 17

8:00 am

†

PAT ESPOSITO

Saturday, July 18 ST. CAMILLUS DE LELLIS

8:00 am

†

C. A. THOMAS

5:00 pm

VINCENT MONTEJOS

Sunday, July 19

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN

ORDINARY TIME

8:00 am

†

KAY, KATHRYN & ARMAND BASTIN

10:30 am

†

LYNDA COMBS

2:00 pm Spanish

†

MAGALI GONZALEZ & CAROLYN

VIRGINIA ALDRICH BUTTON

10:30 pm Spanish

FOR ALL PEOPLE

† Indicates Requiem Mass

SANCTUARY LAMP

IN MEMORY OF LEE KING

ADORATION CHAPEL CANDLES

NO INTENTION REQUESTED

Budget News July 5, 2020

Contributing Households

Envelopes 59 $7,358

Online Donations/EFT 43 $6,590

Loose collection Cash $230

Loose collection Checks 23 $2,545

Weekly Total 125 $16,723

Weekly Parish Budget Needs $20,500

2019/20 Diocesan Assessment due 6/2020 $37,829

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

6

Sympathy: We pray for our parishioner, Max Beeckman,

who passed away on Tuesday, July 7

th

at his home at the

age of 94. Max was a native of

Nice, France, he was born November

28, 1925, the son of the late August

Beeckman and the late Marie Jeanne

Beeckman. He was a retired Staff

Sergeant in the United States Army,

where he served during WWII, Ko-

rea, and Vietnam. In addition to his

parents, he was preceded in death

by his daughter, Annelise Beeckman.

Survivors include his beloved wife of

66 years, Marie Beeckman, his three sons, Marc (Lynn)

Beeckman, Trigg County, Guy (Julie) Beeckman, Union Coun-

ty, and Eric (Terri) Beeckman, Jackson, Tennessee; 4 grand-

children and 9 great-grandchildren. Services were held on

Friday, July 10, 2020 at Lamb Funeral Home with burial in

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West. Visitation was held on

Thursday, July 9, 2020 at the funeral home.

As a parish we offer our prayers for the Beeckman

family, as we pray “May her soul and the souls of all the

faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen.”

Bereavement Committee: We give thanks to our Bereave-

ment Committee under the direction of Linda Allison, Rita

Black, and Tricia Juneau and their

many volunteers who set up, serve and

cleanup after a funeral meal. We also

thank all of you who prepare dishes

for these meals that bring comfort and consolation to our

parish families who have experienced death and need to

know of our love and care for them. Your ministry is so im-

portant to the life of the church!

Please Pray for our Deployed

Military & Families

Ryan Harrison, Trey Johnston & Quin Perry

LAY MINISTERS

JULY 18/19 - SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Saturday, 5:00 pm

Altar Servers .................................................. Mary Moehlman

Cross Bearer ...............................................................................

Commentator .......................................................... Robin Bilan

Lectors ...............................................Robin Bilan, Mary Lee

Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................... Sherry Viall

Choir Loft ....................................................... Karen Thomas

Ushers ......................................................... Ken Tiell, Julie Tiell

........................................................ Pat Puckett, Bobbi Goulet

Sunday, 8:00 am

Altar Servers .................... Eva Blankenberger, Lucy Wilkins

Cross Bearer ...............................................................................

Commentator ...................................................... Jim Creighton

Lectors ........................................ Jim Creighton, Jenny Rush

Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................... Terri Means

Choir Loft ..........................................................Bob Stites

Ushers ............................................... Chuck Spurr, Dirk Downs

............................................................. Gary Harden, Bill Rush

Sunday, 10:30 am

Altar Servers ................................... Nic Luckey, Ryan Luckey

Cross Bearer ...............................................................................

Commentator ................................................. Morgan Murray

Lectors ............................ Morgan Murray, Franco Cincotti

Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers: ................... Vicki Luckey

Choir Loft ....................................................Sarah Martin

Ushers ................................................. Kelly and Andrew King

................................................... Pat Covington, Chris Thomas

Domingo 2:00 pm

Comentarista: ........................................................... Lupita Rosas

1-2 Lectura: ............ Angeles Hernandez, Pedro Rodríguez

Ministro E: .................................. Pedro Gonzalez, Berta Rico

Hospitalidad: ........................... Victor Hernández, Erick Ginez

Monaguillos:............................... Jackie Gines, Michelle Salas

Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph launch

50th Annual Raffle:

The Mount Raffle has been a tradition for 50 years for

important funding for the Ursuline Sisters’ ministries and

retired Sisters. Tickets just $5.00 each PRIZES INCLUDE ...

Top prize: $10,000

Diamond ring: value $5,000

Handmade queen-size quilt: $1,000

Cash prizes: $3,500, $1,000, $500, $250, $100

Drawing is Sunday, September 13

th

. Due to C19 safety

concerns, our ability to sell tickets in person is limited this

year. Get your tickets online: https://ursulinesms .org/

mountraffle. USPS mail, with a check to Ursuline Sisters:

Mount Raffle, 8001 Cumming Road, Maple Mount, KY

42356.

Questions? Contact Carol Braden-Clarke, 270.229.2008

or carol.bradenclarke@maplemount.org. Details for

full weekend events, September 12-13, will be shared

soon. Thanks for supporting the Ursuline Sisters of Mount

Saint Joseph. The Sisters keep all their friends and sup-

porters in prayer.

In Need of Prayers… Carriage Way Assisted Living- Eleanor

Rogers, Albert Weakly Covington Convalescent– Pat Chesnut

Western State Nursing Facility- Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones

Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara

Holubecki, Christine Mills Morningside of Hopkinsville- Thelma

Budias Others.. Jerry Adams, Helen Allard, Dick & Jackie Ar-

nold, Sherry Beck, Holly Bivins, Sue Boguskie, Ruth Britt, Carolyn

Brown, Helen Brown, Judy Brummett, Adley Shay Buckner, Col-

leen Buehrle, Sherry Calhoun, Pam Carrico, Sam Chesnut, Martha

Fowler, Nancy Freeman, Shaena Godwin, Jim Gorman, Bill

Hancock, William Hancock, Bill Henney, Heather Jeffries, Carol

Johnson, Tony Jones, Charlie Keel, Jane Lucas, Kathy Lytle, WP

Meredith III, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Jim Milazzo, Cecelia Omundson,

Teresa Pazin, Sherman Peger, Emily Pyle, Martha Reed, Tara &

Dylan Rush, Al Rutland, Frank Selph, Mary Catherine Smith, Beth

Snyder, Rocky Spader, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Sves-

tka, Mary Swicicki, Jerry Thomas, Ron Todd, Karla Wagner,

Clyde Wallace, Wassmer Family, Helen Winstead, James

Wittschack, Pamela Mezzoni Wofford. Names will remain on this

list for 1 month.

JULY 12, 2020 • FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

7

Pastor’s Greeting,

THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM

There are five distinct and spe-

cial teaching sections marked out in the

Gospel according to Matthew—Mt 5:1-

7:29; Mt 10; Mt 13:1-53; Mt 18; Mt 23-

25. Matthew chapter 13, the central section, is made up of

seven parables in which Jesus teaches his disciples, if they

are sufficiently childlike, the mysteries of the kingdom of

heaven. In order the seven parables are: The Sower and

the Seed; The Weeds; The Mustard Seed; The Leaven; The

Hidden Treasure; The Pearl of Great Value; and, The Net.

Of these, Jesus explains the parables of The Sower, the

Weeds, and The Net to his disciples. The other four have to

speak for themselves.

In chapter 11 Jesus had said that the Father had hidden

the mysteries of the kingdom from the wise and the learned

and had revealed them to the little and the child-like. In

chapter 13 Jesus refers to his disciples as those to whom

these mysteries are revealed, even though he has to explain

the parables to them.

I suggest that Jesus is continually demonstrating to his

disciples that he is himself the child-like son of the Father

and that he is revealing the Father by revealing to them the

mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This suggests that the

very images and metaphors Jesus chooses for his parables

are those which speak to him of his own understanding and

experience of these mysteries. Consider. Jesus has been

preaching the word of God, the good news of the kingdom,

for some time. For him it is like the farmer broadcasting

seed-grain. Everywhere it is the same good word, but its

consequence varies widely, depending upon the receptions

of his hearers. He sees the varying results himself. His par-

able describes to his own audience the varying effects which

he is observing in them. From the very beginning and all

through his preaching and healing ministry, Jesus has been

calling for repentance and for faith. All can see the power

at work in him, but for many different reasons not all repent

and choose to believe. Due to the human factor, like vary-

ing soil conditions, many do not profit from the “word of the

kingdom.”

Jesus, as he speaks the truth of God’s kingdom—sowing

good seed—knows that his enemy the Devil by stealth is

spreading lies and deceptions—sowing weed seeds— in the

same field. During the time of the gospel the righteous and

the lawless will live and grow on the same earth. It is not

humanly possible to sort out those who ultimately belong to

God from those who ultimately belong to the Devil. Such is

not even our business. The Angels of God will handle that.

During his ministry Jesus was not sorting out the good and

the bad. It was not the harvest time. The time of the Church

will not be harvest time either. Like that of Jesus, ours is the

time to sow and to cultivate. Harvesting and netting with

the sorting which follows will comprise the conclusion of all

things, a time known only to the Father.

By use of the images of the mustard seed and of the

leaven we learn that Jesus appreciates how very small be-

ginnings can have exponentially greater consequences. Je-

sus, the Son of Man, is one individual in all of humanity, the

totality of his words in the whole mass of human speaking

comparatively tiny. But this Son of Man is the Son of God

and his words are the Words of God, potent beyond calcu-

lation however small. Jesus trusts the plan and action of his

Father and is not keeping a daily tally of his successes. He

has located the treasure hidden on this earth, a treasure of

incalculable value to him and to his Father. From the day of

his baptism in the Jordan, Jesus is dedicated completely to

the purchase of this treasure utilizing all of his assets. He

will hold nothing back in what it costs to redeem us for his

Father in Heaven.

Of course, he is telling us all this in parables not merely

to disclose his own perspectives of his mission received from

the Father. He is inviting us to embrace the Father’s plan as

glad and willing children like himself. In fact, he invites us

now as he invited the disciples then to join him and to partic-

ipate in putting the Father’s plan into action. The harvest, he

says, will be great, however few the laborers. Like Jesus,

we too should join our shoulders to the task and ask the

“harvest master” to keep adding laborers for the great

work of the Kingdom of Heaven. In all this we “yoke” up

with Jesus, taking a place at his side, learning from him how

to work this field and how to walk with God.

Fr. Richard

Shrinking and growing angel: The Russian author Leo Tol-

stoy once wrote a story about a shoemaker who was mak-

ing his way home one night when he found a poor man shiv-

ering and poorly clad. Moved by pity, the shoemaker took

the man home. His wife was not pleased. She complained

about the cost of feeding another mouth. As she continued to

complain, the stranger grew smaller and smaller, shriveled

and wrinkled with every unkind word. But when she spoke

kindly to the stranger and gave him food,

he grew and became more beautiful. The

reason was that the stranger was an angel

from Heaven in human form and could live

only in an atmosphere of kindness and love.

In last Sunday’s Gospel Jesus says “Come to me, all you who

labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”. We are

the hands, legs, voice and heart of Jesus. Let us be that tree

where people of burden can find rest.

Last Wish: The 98 year old Mother Superior from Ireland

was dying. The nuns gathered around her bed trying to

make her last journey comfortable. They gave her some

warm milk to drink but she refused. Then one of the nuns

took the glass back to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of

Irish whiskey received as a gift the previous Christmas, she

opened and poured a generous amount into the

warm milk. Back at Mother Superior's bed, she held

the glass to her lips. Mother drank a little, then a

little more and before they knew it, she had drunk

the whole glass down to the last drop. "Mother," the nuns

asked with earnest, "please give us some wisdom before

you die." She raised herself up in bed and with a pious look

on her face said, "Don't sell that cow.”

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