sixteenth sunday in ordinary time · sixteenth sunday in ordinary time the temptation to restrict...

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The temptation to restrict the Church to the perfect has always haunted the Christian community, ani-mated as it is by a high ideal of holiness. To con-quer evil has sometimes been interpreted as mean-ing to destroy sinners. Many a “holy war” has been fought in the name of Christian righteousness. Even Jesus and John wanted to command fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritans (Luke 9:54). ). Yet the God who has the power to wreck destruc-tion on the wicked rules instead of leniency. In his parables of the kingdom, Jesus teaches his impa-tient followers that the Lord of the harvest is more concerned with the growth of the wheat than the elimination of weeds. The time for separation and for burning will come, but it is not now. Today’s readings call the servants of God’s king-dom to share In the patient tolerance of the king-dom’s Lord. Rather than devoting our energies to hunting out and destroying every sign of deviation, we are urged to nurture every sign of goodness in the world . To foster the growth of what is good is in itself to overcome evil. LITTLE THINGS ADD UP Children and youth easily learn from your example when you plant the “mustard seeds” of faith in their lives. Recently, a group of youngsters shared their ideas on how to show the love of Jesus to others. I walk my neighbor’s dog because she’s too old

to do it. Put money in a parking meter that ran out. Don’t talk about anyone behind their back. Clean the house when Mom and Dad are out. I put out the trash without being asked. Help take donations to the food bank. Invite your friend to go to Mass with you. Don’t yell at your sister. Hold the door open for people. When Mom or Dad has a long day I make din-

ner and look after my younger brother. Find something you’re good at and do it for

someone else. Save some of your allowance and give it to help

poor people. If you’re a bigger kid, just help out some of the

little guys. Say prayers for people who are sick or in trouble. I interpret for deaf people. Give a surprise present to someone. I send notes to my parents at work just to tell

them I love them.

LITTLE THINGS ADD UP Stand up for a pregnant lady on the bus. Wake up early and make breakfast. Parents clean up after you every day; you can pick up af-

ter them, too. I visit people in the nursing home who don’t have family or

are just plain lonely. If the classroom is really messed up, put things away be-

fore the teacher asks. If a friend looks sad, give them a nice warm hug. Copyright © 2010, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. LAS PEQUEÑECES SON IMPORTANTES Los niños y adolescentes aprenden fácilmente con tu ejemplo si has sembrado la fe en su vida como una “semilla de mosta-za”. Un grupo de jovencitos y jovencitas compartieron recien-temente sus ideas en cuanto a cómo demostrar el amor de Jesús a los demás. Sacar a caminar al perro de mi vecina, porque ya ella está

mayor para hacerlo. Poner dinero en un parquímetro que ya se venció. No hablar de nadie a sus espaldas. Limpiar la casa cuando mamá y papá se encuentran fuera. Sacar la basura sin que me lo pidan. Ayudar a llevar donaciones a la despensa pública. Invitar a un amigo a ir a Misa contigo. No gritarle a tu hermana. Abrir la puerta para que alguien pase. Cocinar y cuidar de mi hermano pequeño cuando mamá y

papá han tenido un día largo. Encontrar algo que haces bien y hacerlo por otra persona. Ahorrar parte de tu paga para dársela a los pobres. Si eres un muchacho mayor, ayudar a los más pequeños. Rezar por las personas enfermas o con problemas. Hacer interpretaciones para las personas sordas. Hacerle un regalo de sorpresa a alguien. Enviar notitas a tus padres en su lugar de trabajo sólo pa-

ra decirles que los quieres. Cederle el asiento del autobús a una mujer encinta. Levantarse más temprano para preparar el desayuno. Los padres recogen tus cosas todos los días; nosotros po-

demos recoger las cosas de ellos también. Visitar en una casa de reposo a las personas que no tienen

familia o se sienten solas. Si hay desorden en el salón de clases, recoger antes de

que lo pida la maestra. Darle un abrazo fuerte y cálido a un amigo que parece

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, & put your trust in the LORD.

7/16/2017 Regular Sunday Collection $5973.28 St. Vincent de Paul $ 334.00 School Support $ .00 Utilities $ .00 Building Fund $1753.47 Second Collections: 1st. Sunday of the Month St. Therese School, 2nd Sunday, St. Vincent de Paul, 3rd Sunday Build-ing Fund, 4th Sunday Utilities, 5th Sunday Misc.

PRAY FOR THE SICK

Barbara Downey, Teresa DeBruyn, George Lucero, Carmen Whatley, Msgr. Francis Eggert, Lucy Gallegos, Teresa Griffin, Lucricia Baros, William (Bill) Robinson, Bernie Martinez, Jim Wasson, Mike Mora, Stephen Lee Ames, Antonio X. Zamora, Anthony & Florinda Cortez, Carin Gallegos, Louisa Garcia, Eddie (Sunny) Chavez, Frances Meek, Ray Quintana, Betty Ortega, Jim Blea, , Priscilla Duran, Sena, Chavez & Armijo family, Marleen Anzures, Liam Nelson, Felix Barela, Estella Sanchez, Grace Callejas, Julia Tafoya, Theresa Hernandez and for those in hospitals or their homes and cannot attend church.

Keep Saint Therese Parish and School Beautiful cont….

Last Saturday it was most sadly reported to me that our sacristan scraped off a piece of chewing gum stuck to the marble of one of the pillars under the choir loft. It was lodged between the marble clad wall and the woven baskets we keep pamphlets and bulletins. Again, no clue about what is appropriate or class for that matter. Now that we nearly have cushioned pews for everyone—please help us keep these clean! Parents with toddlers—we certainly understand the challenges that young parents with young children face. God certainly understands and there-fore we as a Christian community should as well. Infants do indeed need bottles of milk, formula and water during Mass! Is it really necessary to bring snacks to Mass—goldfish crackers, Cheerios and Fruit Loops and juice boxes for toddlers? My parents never took snacks for my brothers and myself to Mass at Holy Ghost when we were toddlers and young children. After starting the pew cush-ion project and as they started being installed I suddenly had another worry—while providing comfort—that they would not be respected or kept clean. “Keep American Beautiful!” Keep Saint Therese Parish and School Beautiful! “Toss No Mas!” Let’s do our part to keep God’s Creation Beautiful and Respect God’s Crea-tion. Father Vincent

“Keep America Beautiful!” Keep Saint Therese Parish and School Beautiful

Many people work very hard to keep our buildings and grounds in tip top shape—even “gleaming” as dear Jennifer Cantrell once noted after the weekday 8 am Mass. Keeping buildings and grounds and even personal space is a matter of respect—pure and sim-ple—respect for self and respect for others. Help us keep our School and Parish Campuses clean out of respect and as a great First Impression. Remember as Tim Fresquez once told me: “You don’t get a sec-ond chance with a first impression.” I think Tim’s dear mother, Theresa Fresquez once noted this. Can you imagine that this past Spring as I was walking to the church from the rectory prior to a First Holy Communion Liturgy, I noted a man at his vehicle lighting up a cigarette. I proceeded into the sacristy waiting for the man to go into the church. I then went out immediately looking to see where he might of dis-carded the cigarette. It was quickly found, still burn-ing and whole (not squashed under his heal) near the granite base of Our Lady of the Smile. I went into the church, found him and privately and in a gentle tone asked him: “Sir, why would you disrespect our beau-tiful home by just throwing a still lit cigarette out-side?” He merely shrugged and replied with a non-chalant “Sorry.” I then asked him if he could dispose of it properly. Reluctantly he followed me outside to retrieve his habit. Why is it that some people will impose their habits on others? How many cigarette butts are constantly being discarded on the asphalt parking lot of the church or on concrete surround of The Shrine? Many, trust me, we are constantly soil-ing our hands to remove these objects. There is also someone around here that has amazing dental habits. Bravo! Yet they always litter our grounds with their discarded “Plackers” flossing de-vices as they walk from their vehicle into our gor-geous church. I pick these up regularly. A few years ago at a funeral, a man in the second row (obviously a member of the immediate family) had a toothpick in his mouth the entire funeral. During the homily it quite unsettled my thought process while preach-ing. I was tempted to go into the sacristy during the Funeral and come out with a small waste basket and go straight to the man and ask him to discard of his used toothpick. In the end I did not do this—all eve-ryone would have remembered was that the priest was a jerk. Following the funeral we found a small pile of about six wooden and used toothpicks on the marble floor where this man sat. Some people have no clue of what is appropriate and this man certainly has no class or grace.