Dear Parishioners,
Last Tuesday evening the Salesians of the West Bank gathered at Archbishop Shaw to celebrate the Solemnity of St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Society. A total of 22 Salesians (Priests, Brothers, and Sisters) shared an evening of Prayers, Dinner and Good Times. We recollected about past times, present concerns and the future of the Salesian mission on theWest Bank. It was inspiring to realize the number of years of experience from our eldest confreres to our youngest confreres. We prayed for an increase of vocations to religious life and priesthood, especially to the Salesian congregation.
This Sunday is Boy Scout Sunday. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the value of the Scout Oath and Law.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent
Membership in The Boy Scouts is a wonderful opportunity for young men to get involved in activities and projects which teach and instill in them the proper values of life. We salute all young men who are members of this worthwhile organization.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Do you see the glass half-empty or half-full? In today’s sacred texts, we will meet both kinds of people. Job, who is featured in the first reading, is bemoaning the very fact of his existence. He is a representative figure from whom many lessons may be learned, but at this point in his story, Job epitomizes the person who contentment and well-being are intrinsically bound to his success as a patriarch of a large family, to his health and material wealth, and to his good name. All these were regarded as blessings from God, who was pleased with Job. His glass was not just half-full; it was full to the brim. But then the bottom fell out of Job’s world, and his optimism, hope and joy seemed to evaporate.
In today’s Marcan Gospel, we’ll meet Peter’s mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever. Her glass probably seemed half-empty because sickness was traditionally associated with sin. At the very least, her illness rendered her unclean and unable to participate with her family, friends and neighbors in public events. But the difference between Job and Peter’s mother-in-law was that she had people who cared enough about her to get her the help she needed. They told Jesus about her. Job, on the other hand, had “friends” who exacerbated his situation by trying to find someone to blame for his troubles.
Now that my mother has gone back toFlorida, it seems people are asking me whether or not my whiskers are coming back! Only time will tell, because I’m not telling yet.
Have a great week! God Bless,
Fr. John
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