Flocknote

This week...

Oct. 18 - Oct. 24, 2020

St. Patrick Church

Mass times:Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM

Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM

10:00 AM In the Church and livestreamed on facebook

5:30 PM

Mon. - Sat.: 8:00 AM Daily Mass in the Church and livestreamed on facebook (Rosary prayed daily after every Mass - livestreamed)

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Wed. 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM followed by the Rosary and Benediction (Livestreamed on facebook)

Sat. 11:00 AM: Rosary for the end of Covid 19 virus Conference call number: 717-275-8940 PIN Number 369 8340#
Saturday: Confessions 3:30 PM-4:30 PM

On Sat. Nov.7th at 10:00 AM we will have a remembrance Mass for the dead. Please click on the link below for details about how to have your loved ones remembered at this Mass.

MassOfRemembrance_BulletinAnnouncement_ 2020.docx

On Tuesday Nov. 10th we will begin the Great Adventure Bible Study

“The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation”

This study takes you on a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Using a unique color-coded chart, you will learn the major people, places, and events of the Bible and discover how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our Faith. To participate in this study, you will need to purchase The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation from ascensionpress.com. The Study Set costs $35.95 and includes a Workbook, Timeline Chart, Timeline Bookmark, Online Video access (1 year), Online Workbook and Online Chart. This is a 24 week study. We will begin our group discussions on Zoom each Tuesday beginning Nov. 10th. Each participant will view the video online prior to the class and answer the questions in the workbook. We will then have the discussion on Zoom at 7:00 PM. To register for the class and to receive the zoom log in information click on the link below.

Join BIBLE STUDY

PASTOR’S WEEKLY MESSAGE 29

‘GIVE BACK TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD’

So often, we meet people who are boasting about everything they do, and what they could do, and would do. They claim they have succeeded in doing this, and they have managed to fix that. They have even discovered this thing, and they are able to show others how to do it. Yet, those around them know well that half of their words are empty talk and borrowed fame because, in fact, other people have made it possible for them to succeed.

Today’s Gospel has something to tell us about this. We hear Jesus say: “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God, what belongs to God.” These words were uttered by Jesus in answering a question that was presented to Him. Caesar was a Roman leader who was in power and ruling over the Jews... Because they were under his rule, they had to pay taxes to him. He was a stranger and the Jews hated him. They did not like to pay taxes, but they had little choice about it, so they obeyed. But the Jewish leaders wanted to trap Jesus and they asked Him the question: “Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Jesus was aware they wanted to trap Him, so Jesus simply tells them to give back to the Roman leader what is his—the coins of the Roman money for the taxes. But He adds…to give also to God, what is His.

Jesus’ words are important to us, as well. What does He mean when He asks us to ‘give to God what belongs to God?’ What belongs to God? God has created the world and all that is in it. And we, ourselves, have been made by Him. As our creator, He deserves our praise. To Him, belongs honor and glory. God is also our Father, a father who watches over us, protects us, and cares for all our needs. He loves us and forgives us our failings. He deserves our trust and our love, in return. Let us look, for a moment, at all that we are and have. We are alive and our very lives come from God. Our health—of mind and body—is also from Him. He has given us our intelligence to know and understand things; our memory, to recall people and events. He has given to each one of us, different qualities and abilities to be productive. The education we have received, the possessions that are ours…are only some of His blessings to us.

The children He has blessed us with, our faithful friends and helpful neighbors, are also a gift from His own faithfulness. The help we received when we needed it. The success that has crowned our efforts. And think, also, of the harm He has kept away from us and our families. The challenges He has enabled us to overcome… All this, and so much more, is and has been possible because of Him.

At this point, the question comes: Do we give to God what belongs to God? Do we not often take all the credit for what we do? Do we not boast of our abilities? Do we not look for praise when we have succeeded in something? How many of us are honest enough to say: “The Lord has given this to me?” Or, “God has made it possible for me.” Or again, “I have achieved because God helped me.” This is, indeed, giving to God what belongs to God—to agree that all I am and all I have is His gift. And to use His gifts in a way pleasing to Him... To use His gifts for the good of others, not only for my own advantage.

In one of the letters to the first Christians, St. Paul wrote: “What do you have that you have not received? And if you have received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? Have a close look at what you boast about and see if it is not exactly something that we have received…and that we have received it from God. And let us give to God what belongs to God—the gratitude and praise He deserves from us.