FORGIVE US AS WE . . .
Forgiveness is difficult, especially if the hurt or offense comes from someone with whom we have a deep relationship. In the first reading from the Book of Sirach, we hear: “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself; can he seek pardon for his own sins?”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? In the Our Father, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” To forgive from the heart is a godly thing, for our loving Father is merciful to us and constantly overlooks our sins and failings.
We need to ask God to give us the grace to forgive one another. The lack of forgiveness is a heavy burden to bear. May God grant us strength to be forgiving!
El perdón es difícil, especialmente si el dolor o la ofensa proviene de alguien con quien tenemos una relación profunda. En la primera lectura del Libro de Eclesiástico, escuchamos: “Perdona la injusticia de tu prójimo; entonces, cuando ores, tus propios pecados te serán perdonados. ¿Podría alguien alimentar la ira contra otro y esperar la curación del Señor? ¿Podría alguien negarse a tener piedad de otro como él? ¿Puede pedir perdón por sus propios pecados?”
Suena familiar, ¿no? En el Padre Nuestro, oramos: “Perdónanos nuestras ofensas como nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.” Perdonar de corazón es algo piadoso, porque nuestro Padre amoroso es misericordioso con nosotros y constantemente pasa por alto nuestros pecados y faltas.
Necesitamos pedirle a Dios que nos dé la gracia de perdonarnos unos a otros. La falta de perdón es una carga muy pesada. ¡Que Dios nos conceda la fuerza para perdonar!
Receiving Holy Communion
Some reminders: 1. In keeping with the Covid-19 protocols of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Holy Communion is to be received only in the hand at this time. 2. Unless you are members of the same family and live together, you are asked to keep social distancing of six feet between yourself and the next person in line. 3. Please sanitize your hands before coming forward to receive the Body of Christ.
Catechetical Sunday
Next Sunday is Catechetical Sunday, when we pray for all in our parish faith formation, sacramental preparation programs, and the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children. This year’s theme is “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you” (1 Cor 11:23).
The blessings of catechists will take place during the 8:00am Mass. Please pray for Bea Bailey, Nelson de los Santos, Tim and Betty Fierro, David Gutierrez, Monica Lozano, Makayla Nunez, Veronica Nunez, Charles and Janice Oualline, Cynthia Rangel, and Deacon Vincent Scheel.
Our Duty as Citizens
We urge all parishioners to become informed on key issues and to vote. The Catholic Church does not support or oppose any candidate but seeks to focus attention on the moral and human dimensions of public issues and policies. We do not authorize the distribution of partisan political materials on church property.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a helpful guide,
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. It is available as a PDF, both in English and in Spanish, at
www.usccb.org or you can order copies there.
Notes
St. Joseph's Church Downtown is open with the usual schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, sacraments, and ministry. Because of increased coronavirus cases locally, social distancing, hand-sanitizing, and the use of a face mask are observed during church services, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Videos of Sunday Mass and other Masses from St. Joseph's are posted on YouTube at the St. Joseph Church Downtown Media page. Special thanks to John Francis Strelchun and his parents for filming and editing these videos so beautifully. Some Masses are also live-streamed.
In a spirit of caring for each other in these difficult days, we encourage you to support efforts to feed our neighbors in need via Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and area food banks.