September 20, 2020
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THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 Notes on the Gospel "The Kingdom of heaven is like this story," Jesus said to his followers. "Just after the sun rose, a businessman went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. After he agreed to pay them what they usually received for a day's work, he sent them into the vineyard. About nine o'clock, he went out and saw other men standing around the without any work. "Go work in my vineyard." At noon and three o'clock, he did the same thing. About five o'clock, he went out and found more men standing around. "Why have you stood around all day doing nothing?" the owner asked them. "Because no one has given us work, " they answered. Just before sunset, the businessman told the man in charge of the workers, "Call all the workers together and pay them. Begin with those hired last and finish with those hired first." They were all paid for a full day's work. They complained against the head of the household, saying, "These last (arrivals) worked one hour and you made equal to us, having borne the burden of the day and the blazing sun. Take your (pay) and leave. Jesus told this story to emphasize how the Kingdom differed from people's expectations. According to Jesus, the faithful, even those who practiced faith all life long, did not earn the Kingdom . The Father gave his children the Kingdom as a gift. Four images dominated the parable: the vineyard, the owner, the workers, and the pay. Jesus' audience clear saw the owner of the vineyard as the Father. The Kingdom was immanent. so the owner hired any migrant workers at any time of day to harvest the grapes. The Father chose anyone, not just the learned community elders for ministry in the coming Kingdom. Credentials and dedication were secondary to the Lord's work. Only the Father's call mattered, and his call leveled the "playing field." In the time of Jesus, the marketplace acted as their gathering area. The employers sought the workers out, hired them only for the day, and paid them the same night. Some workers travel seasonally to gain work. Others remain within a local area. When Jesus addressed this parable to his followers, they could easily relate to the image of the day laborer, for they lived such a life. The pay scandalized Jesus' followers the most, however. Imagine the most dedicated and hard-working were paid the same as the others. And they were paid last! Beyond the question of money lie the question of social treatment. The owner treated those who worked for only an hour as he would treat his own family. Those hired at dawn were treated as mere workers. The owner gave greater honor to those who worked the least by paying them well and paying them first. The owner belittled those who worked all day long by paying them so little and paying them last. And, when the workers grumbled, the owner rebuked them in public. Jesus had a bitter message for Christians, especially their leaders. The followers of Jesus would sacrifice a sense of fairness for the Kingdom. Those who grew in the faith would feel lonely. Those who grew in ministry would feel abandoned. God did not have favorites in the Kingdom. But He did have the saved community where the most senior and the neophyte shared equally in God's very life. Indeed, the first would be last and the last would be first. PILGRIMAGES TO THE BASILICA The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption welcomes all visitors encouraging them to come, pray, and enjoy our beautiful church. If you are a member of a group who would like to tour our Basilica or make a spiritual pilgrimage, please let us know how we can be of assistance. __________________________________________________________________________________ Special Events & Scheduled Pilgrimages at the Basilica: Oct. - 9, - Eucharistic Congress for 40 hours Oct. - 23, - Closing of the 75th Anniversary of the Diocese (Bishop – live-stream) Nov. - 8, - Diocesan Women Religious Celebration – (live-stream) Nov. - 22, - Marriage Anniversary Mass (Noon - Bishop (live-stream) Mar. - 20, - DCCW Lenten Day of Spirituality for Women May - 19, - PCHS Baccalaureate Mass (Basilica) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ REVERENTIAL QUIET IN THE BASILICA It is an ancient tradition in the Church to have a reverential quiet tone in a Catholic Church – especially in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. More and more, this tradition is being ignored in the Basilica. Sometimes, people are trying to pray before or after Mass – we need to respect them. Please observe a quiet tone when you are present in the Basilica. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Perpetual Help Devotions This Monday Perpetual Help Devotions will be offered this Monday evening at 6:15 pm. Perpetual Help devotions are the official devotion celebrated in this Basilica. We thank all parishioners who regularly attend the devotion. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AT THE BASILICA Jesus Christ Himself invites us to a personal visit with Him in our basilica. When we place ourselves in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament we place ourselves before the gaze of Christ who loves us and wants us to experience that love. Adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament is making Jesus the very center of our lives and the very center of our Parish. Jesus stays with us in the Blessed Sacrament to refresh us in mind, in heart and in spirit. Take advantage of Eucharistic Adoration which takes place at our Basilica. Come and visit the Lord in Adoration this Wednesday and/or Friday. FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK Monday, September 21, Saint Matthew (Apostle & Evangelist) Matthew was a tax collector called to be an Apostle and Evangelist. He composed his gospel in the year 85. He preached in Judea and Ethiopia where he was martyred. His gospel was composed for a Jewish-Christian audience. Wednesday, September 23, _____ Saint Pious of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Padre Pio was born in Pietrelcina. He became a Capuchian priest who received the stigmata. He spent 50 years in the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he was sought after as a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor. He was devoted to the Eucharist and to prayer. He died September 23, 1968. Saturday, September 26, Saints Cosmas & Damian (Martyrs) Cosmas and Damian were brother physicians known as “moneyless ones” because of their free care for the sick. They were martyred in 300 in Syria. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ EVENTS & MASSES FOR THE WEEK Monday, September 21, Friday, September 25, 7:45 am. - Mass 7:45 am. - Mass 12:05 pm. - Mass 8:20 am. - Adoration 6:15 pm. - Perpetual Help Devotions 12:05 pm. - Mass 7:00 pm. - RCIA Saturday, September 26, Tuesday, September 22, 9:00 am. - Mass 7:45 am. - Mass 1:00 pm. - Wedding 12:05 pm. - Mass 3:30 pm. - Confessions 5:30 pm. – Mass Wednesday, September 23, 7:45 am. - Mass Sunday September 27, 8:20 am. - Adoration 8:00 am - Mass 12:05 pm. - Mass 9:30 am. - Mass - (St. Henry’s) 7:00 pm. - Reposition of the Eucharist 10:00 am. - Mass 12:00 pm. - Mass Thursday, September 24, 7:45 am. - Mass 12:05 pm. – Mass ___________________________________________________________________________________________ SECURITY CAMERAS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED Security cameras were installed in the Basilica last week. The cameras will provide another layer of security and safety for Basilica property. We have much to be proud of here at St. Mary’s and we want to keep it that way! THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 506 4TH STREET • MARIETTA OH 45750 • 740-373-3643 September 20, 2020 Dear Parishioners, This past week, we recalled acts of terrible violence imposed on our nation. As we remember and pray for the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we must restrain our rage and desire for vengeance. That day of suffering and tragedy may, by the power of the cross, become a day of mercy and peace. The Feasts of last week - The Triumph of the Holy Cross, and Our Lady of Sorrows remind us that we are the debtors that owe “a huge amount” to God. On the Cross Christ paid off that debt for us. Through baptism and confession, we have been freed from the debt of our sins and therefore we can likewise forgive our neighbor’s injustice. God forgives us first, in order that we may be capable of forgiving others. Ultimately God’s grace sets us free from the unbearable weight of anger, enmity, and frustration. He sets us free to live for the Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be a people of faith, hope, and trust. We must also be a people of forgiveness. We must remove every desire, every temptation, every instinct for vengeance. By the power of God’s grace, we can be the Lord’s workers, clinging not to the ways of this world, but to the ways of Christ Himself. When another person hurts us, the hurt is very deep. When we hold on to hurt, we are emotionally and cognitively wounded, and our relationships suffer. Forgiveness is strong medicine for this. When life hits us hard, there is nothing as effective as forgiveness for healing deep wounds. Forgiveness does not necessarily come easily; but it is possible for many of us to achieve, if we are willing to put in the effort. Forgiveness is about goodness, about extending mercy to those who’ve harmed us, even if they don’t “deserve” it, but it’s well worth the effort.