Would you respond?

The Memorial of the Beheading of John the Baptist

August 29, 2011

Mark 6:17-29

When we remember today the Beheading of John the Baptist, we are challenged by a simple question, “Would we stand up for the truth if it meant our death?”

John the Baptist challenged the man in leadership, Herod, because he was unlawfully married to his brother’s wife. The assumption here is Herod’s brother is still alive when this happened. John the Baptist was not afraid to point out this fact, knowing that challenging the governor could well mean his death.

Today, how many times are we willing to challenge others about the faith? If we feel the call of the Holy Spirit to speak the truth, would we respond? I know that I find myself hesitant to challenge others. I feel well trained by our society to keep the peace, don’t rock the boat, and keep my opinions to myself. However, if everyone simply keeps silent when sin occurs, then is it surprising that people take greater freedoms to not follow the teachings of God?

Any one of us can be called to speak the truth. Are we ready to respond? Would you or I be willing to be like John the Baptist and challenge the sinful actions of others? If God is calling you or me to respond, would we speak up? If you or I do not respond, who will?

Fr. Johnathan Schmolt

You've Met the Osbournes, Now Meet the Amburns!

Perhaps you've passed by a Catholic Church, or saw a neighbor disappear for an hour on Sunday and wondered: Is there more to the Catholic faith than an hour on Sunday? What does it have to do with me?

You've possibly met the Osbournes. Now meet the Amburns. Bryan, Angie and family are parishioners at St. George Parish in Erie, Pennsylvania. They're not perfect, nor do they profess to be, but they share with us their real, comical, moving adventure in asking the big questions in life, seeking happiness... and more fully finding it in their Catholic faith.

Share the journey with us. After viewing this short movie (only 11 minutes) as an individual or family, please join us in simply discussing these questions:

1) What does your Catholic faith mean to you? How important is your faith?
2) Does Jesus Christ guide your everyday life?
3) What are the implications for your happiness?
4) In what ways can you more fully live for Jesus Christ?

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This video was developed by Imago Dei Video Productions and Image Trinity. St. George Parish is host to Made2Worship, a monthly, regional movement of people seeking to more fully discover and live the great adventure of life in Jesus Christ. Join other families in the 30/3 Family Challenge.

Stay Awake!

Reflection on Mt. 24:42-51

"Stay Awake!" are Jesus' words to his disciples as he is prompting them to be vigilant in the face of the Lord not being as prompt as people would like.
How many of us, when we don't have a person looking over our shoulder, will take the easy way out in our lives. We will give ourselves an excuse that we don't need to follow all of societies rules, from speeding as we drive since the cop won't catch us to not reporting all of our income on our taxes since the government makes too much money anyway?
God is always watching over us. Yet, as disciples, are we willing to listen to challenging words of Jesus, or do we only follow the words that we like?
Small indiscretions in our lives make less sensitive to greater sins. Are you letting yourself off to easy? Are you saying to yourself, "No one will see this." Pray to the Holy Spirit that you will be honest to yourself and "Stay Awake!"

Fr. Johnathan

Prayer for a New Bishop

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd and Pastor of the Church, you have guided our Erie Diocese in 13 counties for 158 years. In your love and care for this flock, guide your Vicar on earth, Pope Benedict XVI, in the selection of our new Bishop. We pray that our Diocese will be blest with a holy shepherd and servant. May he be a courageous teacher of the faith and a humble, wise, prudent, collaborative leader.

May he be caring and compassionate and endowed with the gifts your Church needs at this time. Lord Jesus, we trust in your providence and love. Help us to welcome with prayer and open hearts our new Shepherd. This we ask in your name. Amen.

Composed by Bishop Donald W. Trautman

The pearl of great price

Origen (c.185-253), priest and theologian

To the seeker after fine pearls may be applied the words: «Seek and you will find,» and, "Everyone who seeks will find" (Mt 7,7-8). If you ask what is to be sought, and what will be found by everyone who seeks for it, I say with all confidence: pearls - especially that pearl which will be acquired by those who give their all, who sacrifice everything for it, the pearl Paul meant when he said: "I have accepted the loss of everything in order to gain Christ," (Phil 3,8). "Everything" means beautiful pearls; «to gain Christ» refers to the one pearl of great price.

Admittedly, a lamp is precious to people in darkness, and they need it until sunrise. Precious too was the radiance on the face of Moses (2Cor 3,7) - and I believe on the faces of the other prophets also. It was a sight of beauty leading us to the point of being able to see the glory of Christ, to whom the Father bore witness in the words: «This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,» (Mt 3,17). But «compared with this surpassing glory, what formerly was glorious now seems to have no glory at all,» (2Cor 3,10). We need at first a glory destined to be outshone by an «all-surpassing glory», just as we need the partial knowledge which «will be superseded when that which is perfect has come,» (1Cor 13,9f.).

Thus everyone beginning to live a spiritual life and "growing toward maturity," (Heb 6,1) needs tutors, guardians, and trustees until the "fullness of time" (Gal 4,4) arrives for him, so that after all this, he... may on his emancipation receive his patrimony. This patrimony is the pearl of great price, and "the coming of what is perfect to supersede what is imperfect" (1Cor 13,10) when, after acquiring the forms of knowledge, if we may call them so, which are inferior to knowledge of Christ, one becomes able to understand "the supreme value of knowing Christ," (Phil 3,8). Yet many do not understand the beauty of the many pearls of the Law and of "the partial knowledge" scattered through all the prophets; they wrongly think that, without having fully understood the Law and the prophets, they can find the one pearl of great price...: the full comprehension of the gospel and the complete understanding of the acts and words of Christ Jesus.