EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - FEBRUARY 27, 2022

THE 8TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Sirach, Paul, and Christ implore us in the readings from this Sunday to persevere in times of difficulty in order to plant seeds of goodness for our collective future. Perseverance in times like this can be difficult, but this is the purpose of the community working together for the work of the Lord. As a church community, perseverance begins here at St. Mary’s with each other

READ THIS SUNDAY'S MESSAGE

Defending the truth at all times is not easy. It is far more preferable to comfort ourselves with lies, distractions, or capitulations than to suffer for the truth. But we are reminded constantly, especially in the readings for this Sunday, that working for objective goodness now when it is bound to cause suffering will enable the roots of that goodness to dig in and spread for the future. Even if we will not personally benefit from the truth we work so hard for in the present moment, we know that doing this will enable those in the future to live in an age of truth and goodness without having to think twice about it. The alternative is to comfort ourselves now by living for the present and basing our decisions on what is considered popular in the moment. But we know that if we live with the blinders of focusing just on this moment, we neglect to see the everlasting goodness of truth. In Christ’s death, his followers lost hope; they did not know of what was to come. However, his resurrection shows us today that goodness and hope are inextricably linked. Therefore, we should trust that living for the truth now will bear its fruit in due season. This is why we must persevere through the pain of the present.

FAMILIES, ACTIVATE!

Family activity to do at home: The foundation of hope, especially as we navigate moments of pain and suffering in the present, is by turning our focus away from ourselves and to move it towards God. If all we think about is our own self-interests, moments of hardship will ruin us. But if our focus is solely on God, we can offer our pain up to Him as a message that we have hope in His Holy Will. This is a message that children especially need to hear as they navigate their shifting culture and generation. These are some instructions on how to begin teaching your child about God.