The 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.
We live in a society that values equality and fairness. What we don’t often realize is how rare these virtues are in history. Even now, words like “equality” are twisted by politics to mean something very distant from fairness.
In the Biblical Jewish culture, status was seen and understood to be a gift from God! If someone was rich, that was a special blessing from God. All events, parties, prayer meetings, etc were carefully arranged in order of prestige. At a banquet, every seat was assigned and it was considered religiously devout as well as socially courteous to be fastidious in that ordering. Think about a modern wedding... The bridesmaids and groomsmen are arranged by how close they are to the wedding party... Everyone is honored to be in the wedding party, but we all understand that there’s a very real hierarchy in that order... It’s not considered rude, it’s just what we do. It’s not a bad thing...
More than once, Jesus says that we should upend that way of thinking and treat each other equally.
In part, we already do this. We usually serve all the members of the wedding party (and all the guests) the same quality of food and booze. We are usually trying to be quite courteous to one another in social settings. Courtesy, politeness, kindness, etc are considered virtuous in most of our homes.
At the same time, we tend to see people that we don’t have natural chemistry with as obstacles more than opportunities... There are people in the world that all of us don’t get along with... Some people push our buttons... Our senses of humor don’t line up... Some people don’t like BlueBell ice cream (the horror!).
Are those people just obstacles to my happiness or are they opportunities to be more charitable, more courteous, more loving, and more Christ-like? Doesn’t Jesus say that our salvation depends (!) upon taking up our cross and following Him? Aren’t these difficult people part of our getting to Heaven...?
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Election day has come and gone.
I didn’t watch any of the live coverage. When I woke up the next morning, I said my prayers, poured my coffee, and I was inundated with news videos and something really sad: reaction videos.
There are two German phrases that seem worth noting: Saupreißn elender and Schadenfreude.
“Saupreißn elender” literally means “Prussian Pig.” It’s usually said by someone who is overreacting and wants to incite others to be vulgar and hateful... Video after video was recommended to me on Wednesday morning of grown people having tantrums because they seemed to believe the world is going to end.
These videos were embarrassing and pathetic. Not because the people were upset. Passion is a good thing! Not even because these people have come to believe something quite outlandish. Even if their beliefs are grounded, a tantrum is not ok. Surely, social media and whatever news programs they have watched have convinced them completely. Again, even if they’re right, it’s hard to see a way forward for these people. And it’s harder to understand why these people felt compelled to record themselves on video throwing their tantrum. Anger is healthy, normal, and even good. Rage is adolescent, unhealthy, and - in terms of mental health - dangerous.
The other German phrase that came to mind is one I expect we all recognize. Schadenfreude is taking joy in the misery or suffering of others. Lots of videos that were recommended by YouTube included hashtags #LiberalTears or #Meltdown.
There is a great catharsis in feeling like your voice is heard. That’s especially true when you feel like your voice has overcome some burden, suffering, or oppression. No doubt, the choice to describe large swaths of Americans as racist, stupid, deplorable, or garbage can be painful or frustrating to accept. And so there’s room to celebrate and feel empowered...
BUT it’s a very different thing to celebrate the victory of my team and to rejoice in the loss of the other team. It’s virtuous to be happy in success. It’s unvirtuous (and even sinful) to be happy in the suffering of others.
Regardless of where our individual votes went this year, I want to encourage all of us to keep it virtuous.
If your candidate won, congrats! Enjoy your celebrations! But don’t spike the ball... Don’t rejoice in the suffering of another.
If your candidate lost, my condolences! Remember that our news media lives and dies by exaggeration, hyperbole, and rage-baiting. In reality, every election for the past 35 years has been “the most important election in our nation’s history.” All things are cyclical and, ultimately, our attention should really be here in Tallulah where we can make a real difference, whoever is calling the shots at 1600 Penn.
For all of us, though, let’s pray for one another, for our community, for our nation, for all of our leaders, and for the whole world that God would use this crazy spinning ball to help us get to Heaven where we really belong!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard and Patrick Thomas
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of AJS “Jackie” Jumonville (death)/family
- Tue NO MASS
- Wed No Mass here as in Lake Providence
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Terry Murphy/Rome Legacy Senior Care Center
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Ernst (birth)/Magoun
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/9 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | N Ernst |
| 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 - | - |
| 11/23 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | M Ernst |
| 11/24 9:30a | Michael, Cooper, & Maura | D Ellerbee | - |
Stewardship
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2023-2024 | $ 2,111 |
| October Budget | $ 8,444 |
| October Income | $ 8,197 |
| October Expenses | TBD |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November 4 Collection | $ 2,307 |
| November Income To Date | $ 2,307 |
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
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
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 Maura McCarty (Nov 10), Randy Dukes (Nov 11), Brian Johnson (Nov 11), Max Paz (Nov 13), Cathy VanDerVieren (Nov 13)
Happy Anniversary 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
