SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 29, 2018

MASS READINGS

MONDAY: JER 13:1-11, DT 32, MT 13:31-35

TUESDAY: JER 14:7-22, PS 79, MT 13:36-43

WEDNESDAY: JER 15:10,16-21, PS 59, MT 13:44-46

THURSDAY: JER 18:1-6, PS 146, MT 13:47-53

FRIDAY: JER 26:1-9, PS 69, MT 13:54-58

SATURDAY: JER 26:11-16,24, PS 69, MT 14:1-12

NEXT SUNDAY: EITHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDI-

NARY TIME – RDGS: EX 16:2-4,12-15, PS 78, EPH

4:17,20-24, JN 6:24-35

MASS INTENTIONS

MONDAY: BETH GREVING

TUESDAY: ALFRED PANKE

WEDNESDAY: CHARLES HEMMERLING

THURSDAY: FR. JOSEPH GRACE

FRIDAY: POOR SOULS

VIGIL: ELDA MILLER

7:30: BETH GREVING

10:00: WENDY GAVIN

NOON: FOR THE PARISH

MEMORIAL FLOWERS

Those serving in our Armed Forces, especially those soldiers

who have connections to our parish: (Eliz Leonard, Robert C.,

Margart Royer, Al Hollis). (Larry White, Norb & Mark FitzSi-

mons). (Burnell, Anna & Henry Totten, Robert Stump, Victor

& Dorothy Ringle). Bob Bohan. Farrell & LaGuire families.

(Gerban, Lucille, Stephen & Theresa Brouwer, Charles, Cathe-

rine & Luke Spitznagle). (Timothy & George Ruppert & fami-

ly, John Scowden, E. & L. Richard & family). (Claude & Anna

King, Robert & Mary Bloyd). Ann Hubertz. (Keith Gillam,

Jean Murphy & Kris Stevens).

I’ve been blessed with a number of good teachers in my formative

years. One in particular stays in my mind. She was my 6th grade

teacher who simply would not allow me, or anyone else for that matter,

to cut corners. She certainly embodied the saying “that a job worth

doing is worth doing well”. The temptation to get something done as

quickly as possible or perhaps in the language of the day “to work for

weekends” is certainly an easy one. There are numerous reasons put

forward why folks are not as inclined to apply themselves to a task as

they might otherwise do. Maybe one such reason is that we don’t real-

ly believe in the importance of what we do, that our work has little

impact on anything else in our world. For those who believe that our

God is a loving, providential Father-God this could not be further from

the truth. Our actions, great and small, do have a purpose and mean-

ing. We see this in the Book of Genesis in which our first parents are

given a beautiful garden and the serene task of caring for it in the pres-

ence of a loving God. Perhaps not satisfied with this or not believing

that the job was really important enough they sought to “cut corners”

and subsequently found themselves quite literally without a garden/

home. We also learn this in a big way from the mystery of the Incarna-

tion. The Divine Word took on human flesh and a family in which

work was an important part of their identity and not simply something

they had to do. Jesus would soon come to share the message that he

also had another kind of “work” to do and that was to preach the com-

ing of the Kingdom (something greater than the Garden). And he did

this work in a serious, methodical way not letting anything stand in his

way and not cutting corners. For example, when presented with the

fact that there was simply not enough with which to feed the vast

crowd he set to work with what he had and in the end produced more

than enough for everyone. This is more than just a quaint story, it in-

volves the reality of grace in our lives and just how important we are to

God in the daily work we have set aside for ourselves in growing and

advancing in the spiritual life so as to know, love and serve God in this

world as to be with him in the next. There is nothing unimportant

about this life-long task of working for the Kingdom, beginning within

ourselves and extending out to others. We also have a divine teacher

who has provided for us more than and example as to how we are to do

this and the strength with which to do it. The next time we feel our

efforts are not important or that we lack the resolve and materials let us

remember that God is counting on us and loves us enough to instill in

our hearts that wondrous sense of meaning and purpose by which even

our smallest actions and gestures takes on cosmic proportions through

him who made us and loves us be glory and honor and praise now and

always and forever and ever. AMEN

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 29, 2018

God is working `Love's` purpose out As year succeeds to year,

God is working `Love's` purpose out And the time is drawing near;

Nearer and nearer draws the time, The time that shall surely be,

When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea.

What can we do to work God's work,

To prosper and increase The brotherhood of all mankind, The reign of the Prince of Peace?

What can we do to hasten the time, The time that shall surely be,

When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea?

March we forth in the strength of God

With the banner of Christ unfurled, That the light of the glorious Gospel of truth

May shine throughout the world; Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin,

To set their captives free, That the earth may be filled with the glory of God

As the waters cover the sea.

In the biblical context bread often symbolizes the very notion of life itself. That sustaining quality to which we look to God to pro-

vide. The psalmist reminds us that if God turns away from us we disappear. If we think of bread in this manner Our Lord is re-

minding us to pray that God is always turned toward us. Scripture also indicates that God does not easily turn away from us so that

it would seem that the problem is solved and we needn’t worry about it. Quite the contrary. Returning to Genesis we see that man

has a habit of turning away from God. Adam, realizing that he had sinned and allowing that to cloud his thinking takes up resi-

dence behind shrubbery, which becomes the status of man throughout, i.e. one who is in hiding. God then comes looking for Ad-

am, “where are you”?, he asks. Not that the all-knowing God has just lost one of his super powers but that the question is more

geared toward us and he would like us to consider where we are. In which case the question sometimes remains lost on us. We

think we know where we are and yet our behavior would indicate otherwise. Augustine reminds us of a certain restlessness which

exists because we are made to be “in God”. Is that where we are? If not who do we get there? Through the scriptures we follow a

“plan”, the Greeks referred to it as economia. This plan indicates that God has every intention of finding us, or better put, helping

us find where we are and hence where we need to be. The Law, the Prophets, the Wisdom writings all seek to assist us in this quest

and “in the fullness of time” God gave us his only begotten Son that we might have a very clear picture of where we are supposed

to be. Jesus bids us to “come all you who labor”, i.e. all who have been wondering where you are, and I will give you rest. I will

show you where you are and where you need to be. Jesus then literally becomes for us “bread” namely that source of life in which

we live, and move and have our being. Jesus demonstrates to us the intensity of God’s focus on us in that he came among us to be

the constant presence of the Divine that we might never lose our way or never again wish to find a place in which to hide. We have

found a place and that is with God. He then becomes that “daily bread” that source of life upon which we depend and without

which we would cease to exist. So that when we pray for our daily bread we are asking God to keep us aware during each waking

moment of the presence of the Divine in our lives and how that presence gives us strength, courage, consolation and all the many

things we need to live in the dignity with which we were redeemed by the one who offers himself as the Bread of Life.

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 29, 2018

Daily Bread

Beyond the lost days of manna, all nutrition I'll ever need was given to me at birth

with the implantation of spiritual seed.

An enabling inner spark, combined with soul's hungering emptiness,

allowed me to find divine connection and a path towards Your Holiness.

Thank You Lord for Your Daily Bread

that feeds my spirit and sustains my soul; for feasting on Your Word everyday

is the best way to be kept whole.

By Joseph J. Breunig

O SACRED BANQUET Saint Paul twice speaks of handing on to others things which he himself had received. One of these things was the truth concerning

the Death and Resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:3-4); the other was the mystery of the Holy Eucharist (I Cor. 11:23ff). This passing

on of something received is called “tradition.” It is by tradition that the Church receives her doctrines, her scriptures, and her sacra-

ments. Having received this infallible and indefectible tradition, she makes them present to the faithful in every age.

In the Church’s liturgy, and especially in her sacramental rites, she makes the significant events of salvation history, along with their

grace-producing efficacy, present here and now. In so many of our great feast days (Christmas, the Circumcision, Epiphany, Easter,

the Ascension, Pentecost, etc.), the Church uses the word hodie (today) in her liturgy, signifying this making present again a reality

of eternal weight.

O Sacred Banquet in which Christ becomes our food,

the memory of His passion is celebrated,

the soul is filled with grace,

and the pledge of future glory is given to us.

You gave them Bread from heaven:

Containing every blessing.

O God, in this wonderful Sacrament, you have given us a memorial of your Passion.

Help us, we beg you, so to revere the Sacred Mysteries of your Body and Blood,

that we may constantly feel within our lives the fruits of your Redemption.

You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 29, 2018

In the liturgical act — especially the Mass, but also all sacra-

mental rites, which efficaciously make God’s grace present

to us — we enter into the eternal now of God. Eastern Chris-

tians signify this linguistically by employing two different

words for “time” in Greek: Chronos (time that is measured,

successive, whence comeschronological), and Kairos (a

fixed moment of special importance: the “acceptable

time” [καιρὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος] of II Cor. 6:2). Kairos is an

image of God’s eternity and our participation in it. When, at

the beginning of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, the deacon

tells the priest “Καιρός του ποιήσαι τω Κυρίω” (“It is time

[kairos] for the Lord to act”), he indicates that, in the Holy

Mass, our time is intersecting with God’s eternity.

And so it is in every sacrament. God enters our time and acts

in us. He effects grace here and now, a grace which flows

from the infinite merits of Christ’s Passion.

But unique among the sacraments, because it contains not

only the power of Christ but Christ Himself, is the Blessed

Eucharist. Having recently celebrated the feast of Corpus

Christi — and being still in the remnants of its old liturgical

Octave, we are now especially reminded of this. Indeed, the

passage from Saint Paul to the Corinthians about the Eucha-

rist, cited above, is the Epistle that the Church uses for the

Feast.

In order to savor and appreciate the marvels of this great

mystery without writing something too long, I will give the

rest of this space to excerpts from the Summa Theologiae of

Saint Thomas. The following are passages which I have

freely excerpted from the wonderful short article, “The Holy

Eucharist in St Thomas Aquinas,” by Father Inos Biffi,

priest of the diocese of Milan, emeritus professor of theolo-

gy at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, and director

of the Institute of the History of Theology in Lugano, Swit-

zerland. The words not in quotes are Don Biffi’s, except the

bracketed text, which is my own. I will make only one brief

comment to conclude.

“Through the sacraments of the New Law man is in-

corporated with Christ” (Summa, III, 62, 1, 3m).

“The sacraments… flow from Christ himself, and

have a certain likeness to him” (Summa, III 60, 6,

3m). Indeed, “the sacraments… obtain their ef-

fect through the power of Christ’s Passion; and

Christ’s Passion is, so to say, applied to man

(applicatur) through the sacraments” (Summa,

III, 61, 1, 3m).

“The sacraments of the Church derive their power spe-

cially from Christ’s Passion, the virtue of which is

in a manner united to us (nobis copulatur) by our

receiving the sacraments” (Summa, II, 62, 5, 1);

“the power of Christ’s Passion is united to us by

faith and the sacraments”, so that its

“continuation” (continuatio) will result (Summa, II,

62, 6, c.). He was also to explain, in treating Bap-

tism, that it “derives its efficacy from Christ’s Pas-

sion and from the Holy Ghost” (Summa, III, 66, 12,

c.).

“A sacrament is a sign that is both a reminder of the

past, that is, the Passion of Christ; and an indication

of that which is effected in us by Christ’s Passion,

that is, grace; and a prognostic (precognosticum),

that is, a foretelling (praenuntiativum) of future

glory” (Summa, III, 60, 3, c.).

O Blessed Host, in golden chalice enclosed for

me,

That through the vast wilderness of exile

I may pass—pure, immaculate, undefiled;

Oh, grant that through the power of Your love

This might come to be.

O blessed Host, take up Your dwelling within

my soul,

O Thou my heart’s purest love!

With Your brilliance the darkness dispel.

Refuse not Your grace to a humble heart.

O blessed Host, enchantment of all heaven,

Though Your beauty be veiled

And captured in a crumb of break,

Strong faith tears away that veil.

St. Maria Faustina Kowalska

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 29, 2018

SUNDAY OFFERING:

$7987

“FIND OUT HOW MUCH GOD HAS GIVEN

YOU, AND FROM IT TAKE WHAT YOU

NEED; THE REMAINDER IS NEEDED BY

OTHERS”

ST. AUGUSTINE

Today’s Gospel reading recounts Jesus’ miracle of

feeding the multitude. In a miracle that anticipated

Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitude, as reported

in today’s Gospel, Elisha commanded that a small

amount of bread be served to 100 men, and Jesus

promised that all would indeed be fed. Elisha trust-

ed that promise, acted upon it, and saw the promise

miraculously fulfilled. We, like most people, tend

to forget the miracles our Lord can work in every-

day life. If we trust in God and live as good stew-

ards, what we accomplish is, in its own way, a mir-

acle.

St. Paul beautifully sums up how our approach to

living as Catholics and Christians should be. In

today’s Second Reading from his letter to the Ephe-

sians, Paul urges us to live “with all humility and

gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another

through love, striving to preserve the unity of spirit

through the bond of peace: one body and one Spir-

it.” Does that describe our parish community?

This cannot happen unless we have the same kind

of trust that Elisha had, and which St. Paul had, as

well. Paul also says in today’s Second Reading, “I

urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you

have received.” This is stewardship at its core. We

should not give of our time, talent and treasure be-

cause we want to earn God’s love. He already loves

us unconditionally.

Jesus knew full well what miracle He was about to

perform, but He also saw this as a chance to teach

His Apostles, and also show us the way. Philip and

the others had already seen Jesus perform many

miracles, and there should have been no question in

his mind about the divine resources Jesus had at His

disposal. Yet Philip hesitated. It is human nature to

be doubtful. Yet, as with Elisha, they all ate, and

there was much left over. Through this miracle,

Jesus is teaching us to trust Him and to do the same

in our lives. And, by committing ourselves to a

stewardship way of life, we can see our own gifts

multiplied. And perhaps even perform our own

modern-day miracles.

CC Girls Soccer Team

Fundraiser Central Catholic

Girls Soccer Team

is selling soaps!

• Liquid laundry detergent (5 gallons) for $35.00 each

(multiple scents and functions such as “Oxy” etc.)

• Liquid fabric softener (5 gallons) for $35.00 each

(multiple scents)

• Liquid laundry PAKS (similar to PODS, 225 per pail) for $40.00 each

(Original, Oxy, Free, and Stain Remover)

• Liquid dish detergent (5 gallon) for $35.00 each

• Powder dishwasher PAKS (225 per pail) for $35.00 each

If you have questions or would like an order form, contact any of the girls on

the team OR Lisa Fallen (text or phone: 765-538-3050 or email:

lmfall@hotmail.com)

LAST DATE FOR ORDERS IS AUGUST 10th!

Due to ongoing construction at St. Elizabeth Central, the Lafayette Ado-

ration Chapel will temporarily close on October 7. But Adoration will

continue at two new sites—Franciscan East Hospital and the Church of

the Blessed Sacrament in West Lafayette. Please go to lafayetteadora-

tion.org to sign up for a weekly holy hour and get more information or

call 765-357-6462.

“It’s the most peaceful time of the week for me. It’s an opportunity to

pray and think and listen.” Tim Bobillo

“Give yourself the gift of Adoration. Take the opportunity. Maybe your

belief right now is struggling a little. Come and feel His presence.”

Marilyn Mills

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2LEGION OF

MARY –NOON BT

3FIRST FRIDAY

DEVOTIONS 5PM

42ND COLLEC-

TION-CHURCH IN

AFRICA

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IN OT

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1219TH SUN-

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13 14 15ASSUMPTION

OF MARY-HDO

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NOON-5PM

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6PM BT

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31 CH-CHURCH

BT-BENNETT

BL-BEHLER

MH-MEMORIAL

HALL

GROUPS, CONTACTS AND ACTIVITIES: FINANCE

COUNCIL, STEVE SCHILLING-

steve_schilling@hotmail.com LEGION OF MARY,(LOM)

PEGGY MARVIN pegmarv7@aol.com CHRIST RENEWS,

RYAN DOUGLAS ryandouglass92377@yahoo.com

PARISH COUNCIL, SANDRA MCMAHON ssmcmah-

on1@comcast.net RCIA, TOM MATTINGLY

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AN ALLENDUF killianrm54@gmail.com HOMEBOUND

kshatke@yahoo.com RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, FR.

DOMINIC dominic@stannli.comcastbiz.net