The 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
Hear, O Israel!
The Gospels were not written to be read by you and me... They were originally written as a tool to help the apostles and their assistants to preach. What that means practically is that the Gospels were never intended to be a complete record of what Jesus did or said. The last verse of John’s Gospel (the last of the Gospels to be written) says this plainly: “there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”
So when the Gospels give us a pithy and pointed teaching of Jesus like we have today, we have to remember that this pithy statement probably came out in the middle of an hours- long series of sermons as Jesus preached to individuals and groups.
Today’s Gospel is almost certainly that way because what Mark gives us in one sentence is actually a word-for-word reference to “The Shema.” The Shema is a Jewish prayer, meant to be said multiple times every day by every Jew from the youngest possible age.
The prayer begins בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
It’s basically impossible that Jesus would have quoted only a short part of this incredibly important prayer. But what St Mark gives us is not half a page of text, but an excellent summary. Of course, this isn’t trickery and it doesn’t undermine the Gospel! Jesus said these words. And Mark isn’t pretending that Jesus ONLY said these words.
It’s important when we read the Bible to keep these kinds of details in the back of our minds. When people criticize or misinterpret the Bible, they usually do so by exploiting assumptions. If we want to understand what Jesus taught we have to understand the context in which He taught it. The Gospels are an immeasurable gift to us, but they weren’t written to be read by you and me. The Lord’s intent was that the Christian Faith be preached and not read about!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
St Padre Pio once said “You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart; actually, on certain occasions, you should speak with only your heart.”
One of his most loved prayers was in line with this, he often said “My past, O Lord, I entrust to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future, to Your providence.”
Modern America is all about usefulness. The word is “utilitarianism - ” things are valuable only because they are useful. And so we tend to apply that messy philosophy to all aspects of our lives. We value the elderly less if they’re unable to pull their own weight. We devalue things like art and music unless they’re specifically useful to us. And we tend to think of everything in terms of what we need to do to accomplish or achieve it well. Heck, half the talks I give when I preach a mission play into this... “Come listen to Fr Ryan’s talk on ‘How to get to Heaven.’” I assure you, getting to Heaven is not about skills! But I preach like that because it’s a language that we can easily connect to.
Prayer is not about skills. Sure, there are practical aspects to every component of life, but being good at prayer doesn’t make you holier. Often, the best thing we can do to pray is not to try to be better... It’s just to be.
Think about a romantic and intimate relationship. There’s a lot of stuff to do, but the most intimate aspects aren’t about doing but about holding and being held. In many ways, the health of any exclusive relationship can be measured by how comfortable the individuals are with being alone and silent with one another.
Let me be clear!! Saying prayers is a good thing. Padre Pio said: “Hold on tightly to the Rosary. Be very grateful to the Madonna because it was she who gave us Jesus.” I’m not saying that the skills of the Christian life are unimportant. But at the center of the Christian life is Jesus and our capacity to BE LOVED by Him. We are fundamentally receivers and not initiators in our spiritual lives. Prayer is first and foremost a time of receiving.
St John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, recounted a story of an old, illiterate farmer who used to come to the Church to pray every day. For many years, St John would open the tabernacle and expose in a small monstrance the Holy Eucharist for adoration while he heard confessions. One day the saint and the old farmer met on the porch as both were leaving the building. The saint asked the farmer, what do say to the Lord in your prayer - you’re so deeply engaged! The farmer replied “I look at Him and he looks back at me.” It’s a profound, if simplified, understanding of the deepest kind of prayer that we call “contemplation.”
If you’re struggling to improve your prayer life, consider working less of skills or achievement and just sit with the Lord. If you get distracted, don’t fret. Let God be in charge. There’s no need to accomplish anything or measure anything - just receive whatever God wants to give.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee and Irving Rome/LeBeau
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Donald Trichell (death)/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Marie Johnson (birth)/family
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Jamie Howington, Sr (death)/family Legacy Senior Care Center
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes G. York/P Gilfoil
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Inez DeMoss (birth)/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of MaryAnne Gilfoil
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/2 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | L Magoun |
| 11/3 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | B Sullivan | - |
| 11/9 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | M Rome |
| 11/10 9:30a | Annie & Thomas Myers | K Collins | - |
| 11/16 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | C VanderVieren |
| 11/17 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | Youth - | - |
Stewardship What percentage does God ask of me as a good steward? All of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind, and all of my strength!
SECOND COLLECTION: This weekend’s second collection is our once-monthly Building Fund collection.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| September Budget | $ 10,555 |
| September Income | $ 15,822 |
| September Expenses | $ 10,384 |
| October Budget | $ 8,444 |
| October 27 Collection | $ 1,655 |
| October Income To Date | $ 8,197 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
- Nov 24 Fourth Quarter Social … Potluck Brunch….following 9:30 Mass
For Your Information:
Our MAUSOLEUM project is now underway. We are in the pre-sales phase where those who are interested in any way are asked to give us your name and mailing address so that the company can judge if there is sufficient interest to complete the project and so that they can send preliminary information. (Signing up is not an obligation to buy.) If you would like to sign up, you can do so at any Mass or by contacting us via email at the address listed on the inside page of the bulletin. Thanks!
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 an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION…NOVEMBER 3 at the conclusion of weekend Masses as part of our larger program to improve Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.
FOURTH QUARTER SOCIAL…..NOVEMBER 24, 2024….in the Church Hall following 9:30 a.m. Mass.All are encouraged to put this date on your calendar and plan to attend. Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) Social Committee responsible for setting up, decorations (if desired), and clean up consists of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun chair, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Sherry Lynn and Timmy Harris, Michael Lancaster, Billy and Ginny Marsh, William and Sharyn Marsh, Hannah McCartney, Sug Regan, Skipper and Christy Guizerix
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN… parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at www.virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church. “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse. “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide” The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL...If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
CHANGE FOR FATHER RYAN’S DAY OFF…..Beginning on Veterans’ Day, November 11, Fr Ryan will change his day off from Monday to Tuesday. As always, spiritual emergencies can and should call father directly on his mobile number, listed in this bulletin. The only real difference anyone will see is that the Daily Mass schedule will change so that we have a morning Mass at 9a on Mondays and no mass will be offered publicly on Tuesdays. Otherwise, everything will stay basically the same. Thanks!
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Bill Nadeau (Nov 2), Jason Trichell (Nov 5), Maura McCarty (Nov 10)
Happy Anniversary Stephenie and Lance Marsh (Nov 6), Christy and Skipper Guizerix (Nov 7), Marie and Norman Ernst (Nov 10)
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 Pope, Francis; our 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, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Hannah McCarty, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Jason Trichell
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), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), Randy Parker, John Neill, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Gannon Sims, Robbie Sims, Keri Post, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON...Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during the Hurricane Season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hastened to help us... through Christ our Lord. Amen
