The 4th Sunday in Easter
From The Font
“Amen, amen, I say to you...”
This simple little phrase that we read so often in the Gospels isn’t just padding or filler words.
When we read the Bible, we have to remember the words of scripture recount the real events that took place, but the recounting is done by a real person. So St. John’s Gospel really tells us what Jesus did and said, but it tells us in the words of St. John (or his secretary who actually transcribed the text). As such, the Greek Phrase “Amen, amen, I say to you...” probably does translate the Hebrew Jesus says, but it’s also a way for St. John to highlight and emphasize the single sentence that the reader should take away from the parable or teaching.
We have to remember, too, that Jesus taught mostly via speeches. The skills of “oratory” are well understood. The same “tricks of the trade” that Cicero used in ancient Rome are taught today in law schools and acting classes. Every great orator uses his or her own technique to drive his or her point home. Barack Obama, for example, would pause for about two seconds and then say “again...” and then state the exact phrase he wanted people to remember. On the exact opposite methodology, you have Donald Trump who repeated a single word or phrase six or seven times to hammer it home. Fulton Sheen always started with his thesis statement and then he told a story and then repeated his thesis.
Jesus (and the Gospel writers) use the phrase “Amen, amen, I say to you...” to say “pay very close attention to this.”
As readers of the Bible rather than hearers, we should take advantage of our ability to look back or forward in the text when we come across “Amen, amen, I say to you...” It’s always good to read the leading or following paragraph in the context of this emphasis.
Also, as readers rather than listeners, it’s important to realize that speeches and writings are sometimes difficult to swap. Sometimes, it helps to read the text out loud to get a sense of why Jesus might have said something or repeated something in the way that he did.
Oratorical and rhetorical skills are built into the Gospels and knowing a little about them can help us to “hear” Jesus that much better.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
As many of you know, I’ve been working hard for the last few months on a regime of weight lifting. In part, I want to lose some weight and be a little healthier. But, I’m also quite clumsy and doctors say that muscle mass is the best way to protect against fall injuries and the like. So I’ve been dutifully working out since October.
Well... Just as our pilgrimage group was arriving in Rome on a big 50-passenger bus, I got a blessed chance to test out the work I’ve put in! Roman traffic is beyond explanation and a car zipped in front of the bus which activated an automatic braking feature. The bus slammed on its brakes and I flew from my seat at the front about six feet into the dashboard of the bus where I landed head down and feet up in the stairwell... It must’ve been a sight to behold! Our poor bus driver Giovanni was mortified! I was quickly righted and back in my seat. Everyone was sure I would be hurt in some way... But thanks be to God, I ended up with only one large bruise under my arm and a half dozen tiny pinpoint bruises elsewhere.
It’s been over a week and I’m still completely fine. While I would’ve probably chosen a less dramatic way to test the effectiveness of my working out, I couldn’t be happier with the results!
The whole thing has given me cause to think about other aspects of my life which are harder to test or which can only be tested in real trials and difficulty. Many of us know that we need to pray and that trusting in God is essential... But most of our lives are secure enough day by day that we can get by without putting our Faith and Hope to the test... until a major illness or a financial disaster or a social meltdown happens and things are out of our control. It’s then that we see with certainty the effects of prayer (or the lack of prayer). The same goes for fasting and penance. It’s when we find ourselves unable to resist this or that temptation that we realize our need for self-restraint.
Fortunately, as human beings, we don’t have to learn the lessons the hard way. We can trust that Jesus is Lord and we can do what He commands (prayer, fasting, penance, etc) not because of our experience, but because of His teaching. We don’t have to wait for trials and tribulations, we can do what we need to do now. Sure, prayer can be tedious sometimes. Fasting and penance can be unpleasant. So can eating healthy, being a team player, lifting weights, or choosing the morally good choice over the easy one... But we can and should trust that the effort is worth it... It’s worth more than we can understand in this life.
As we’re rushing headlong into the end of school and the summer holiday, here’s hoping that no one - other than me - needs to get thrown down a stairwell to learn any good lessons from the Lord. All we need to do is pray, fast, do works of mercy, study the scriptures, and stay near to Jesus. If we do that, then we won’t need any extra trials and tribulations. And even if they do come, we’ll be more than prepared for them.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome (birth anniversary on 30th)/Kevin Collins
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tues 9:00a In memory of Thomas Magoun/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills/Magoun
- Thu 9:00a In memory of J.E. “Boyzie” Jumonville (death)/family
- Fri 5:30p NO MASS as Father Ryan will be away
- Sat 5:30p In memory of deceased members of Regan, Adams, and Weimer families/Regan
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Cathy VanderVieren
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 4/29 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome |
| 4/30 9:00a | Chandler and Annie | A Keene |
| 5/6 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren |
| 5/7 9:00a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | S Marsh |
| 5/13 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 5/14 9:00a | Cooper and Maura | A Oliver |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
May 7 First Holy Communion - 9 a.m. Mass - reception following; all are invited
- May 14 Recognition of our high school graduates - 9 a.m. Mass - reception following
- May 21 Second quarter social - Potluck Brunch - following 9 a.m. Mass
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has a collection of videos for Easter season that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/easter. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION… for four young people will be next Sunday, May 7 during the 9 a.m. Mass. From our faith family will be Finley Nadeau and Katelyn Naya and, from Florida, Luke Morelli and Mason Morelli (the great nephews of Norman Ernst). Please join us in the Church Hall following Mass to congratulate our Communicants.
SENIOR MASS… honoring Preston Collins and Henry Ellerbee will be on Sunday, May 14 during the 9 a.m. Mass. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of these outstanding young people of our faith family!!!
POTLUCK BRUNCH …. May 21 following 9 a.m. Mass. All faith family members are encouraged to participate.
Setting up the Hall and providing cleanup afterwards will the the Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee consisting of Libby Bullard, Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Cindy and Jamie Howington, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Frances Kennedy, Elizabeth and Paul Naya, Bobby Reynolds, Delia Trichell, and Cathy VanderVieren.
SAINTS ALIVE, ANGELS AT WORK…Thanks to everyone who assisted with the Mass and luncheon for the family of Delia Trichell as they said their farewells to the matriarch of their family!
Stewardship Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Good stewards are grateful for the gift of life and joyfully share their abundance with others.
SECOND COLLECTION…this weekend for Catholic Home Missions Appeal. This collection assists those missions in the United States that cannot provide basic pastoral services without outside help. Forty percent (40%) of the dioceses in the U.S. are considered home missions.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| March Budget | $ 8,444 |
| March Income | $ 9,529 |
| March Expenses | $ 10,108 |
| April Budget | $ 10,555 |
| April 22/23 Collection | $ 1,908 |
| April Income To Date | $ 9,748 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Hunter Sullivan (May 4), Father Ryan Humphries (May 6)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Holy Father Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, MaryJane Johnson, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James and Carolyn Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Jami Cook (Wilks), Marla Evans Cummings, Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Levi and Kristin Reagan and their infant twins, Mary Anne and Adam Todd (Gilfoil/Ginn), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy),Tuleta Sasser (Wilks), Albert Thom (Rome), Barbara Thomas (Gilfoil), Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Joe Yerger,
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
Our sympathy to the family of our parishioner, Delia Trichell, who was buried from our church on Wednesday.
