Rev. Rafael Lavilla, Pastor [email protected] (904) 496-2539
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2400 Mayport Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32233 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Drawer 330005 Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 Office: (904) 246-6014 Fax: (904) 246-1219 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Rev. Rafael Lavilla, Pastor [email protected] (904) 496-2539 Parish Office Staff Samantha Matthews Secretary and DRE ([email protected]) Kathryn LaPointe Bookkeeper, Records ([email protected]) Monica Trinidad Administrative Assistant, Bulletin & Outreach ([email protected]) Mass Schedule Tue-Fri 8am Daily M ass Saturday 5pm Sunday 7am, 9am & 11am Parish Webpage saintjohnsatlanticbeach.org Parish Email [email protected] Confession 30 Minutes prior to each Mass or by appt. Facebook @ stJohn.atlanticbeach Instagram @StJohns_atlanticbeach Jesus, Our Peace You probably know that the Jews in the first century did not particularly like the Gentiles. Paul addresses this problem by reminding them that Jesus died for all people, Jew and Gentile. And just as Jesus rose from the dead to a new life, the converts to Christianity were given a new life also. So why was that unity so hard to accept? One reason is that as much as we complain about laws and regulations, many people like to live by them. Our decisions are simple if we have a law to cover each one. Hebrew Christians thought that they still had to keep the laws and regulations of the old covenant. There is nothing wrong with keeping the Ten Commandments: They are simply examples of Jesus' command to love God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself. So why not just do that? The problem with only keeping commandments is that we can avoid doing evil things, but still not love God or my neighbor. For example, we can avoid using God's name in vain and kick back and relax on the Sabbath, but still not really love God. Fortunately for us, God loves us first; we need only respond to that love. And if we base all our other actions on that love, we will not break any commandments, or even worry about breaking them. We will have the peace that Paul mentions in our reading, the peace that makes us all one in Christ. Readings for the Week Today’s Readings Mon: Ex 14:5-18; Ex 15:1bc-6; Mt 12:38-42 First Reading Jer 23:1-6— I shall gather the remnant of Tue: Ex 14:21 — 15:1; Ex 15:8-10, 12, 17; Mt 12:46-50 my flock and bring them back to their meadow. Wed: Ex 16:1-5, 9-15; Ps 78:18-19, 23-28; Mt 13:1-9 Psalm 23 — The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I Thu: Sg 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17; Ps 63:2-6, 8-9; shall want. Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 Second Reading Eph 2:13-18 — You who were once far Fri: Ex 20:1-17; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 13:18-23 off have become near by the blood of Christ. Sat: Ex 24:3-8; Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15; Mt 13:24-30 Gospel Mk 6:30-34— When Jesus saw the vast crowd, Sun: 2 Kgs 4:42-44; Ps 145:10-11, 15-18; his heart was moved with pity for them, and he began to Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15 teach them many things. WELL LAID PLANS Where does the word synod It is important to have balance in our lives, come from? and Jesus was indeed was trying to teach this to the Apostles, but when they got to The word “synod” has deep roots within their intended place of repose, they en- the Church’s tradition. It is a two-part countered so many people Jesus was filled Greek word: syn, meaning “together” with compassion. No doubt he went about and hodos meaning the “road or the feeding them spiritually and physically; it way.” Putting the two parts together, we get the meaning of walking would have been important for him to be together along the way. We see in the Scriptures, that Jesus often hospitable. But at some point in time, I’m taught His disciples while they walked “along the way.” This idea be- guessing that he still pulled the apostles aside and told them “Okay, people are set- came such a part of the community, that the followers of Jesus became tled now, so let’s leave all the excitement, known as “followers of the way.” delegate the job to somebody else, and find some peace and quiet.” None of us is any good at our prayer, our ministries, our THE DAYS ARE COMING lives, unless we take the time to find the Separation, isolation, and hostility are terrible things. We are, sadly, quiet and go back to replenish our own too familiar with all of them in our modern life, whether we look at wells. There is no way we can give to oth- world events or events in our own neighborhoods and families. All ers unless we do. That is why we return to three readings today refer to these same sad human conditions. church each week, to rest and be nour- The prophet Jeremiah describes world conditions as if the people of ished and renewed. And none of us is so his time were sheep who had been scattered by poor leadership and important that we can’t take time away to corrupt shepherds. But “the days are coming,” he assures us (Jer take care of ourselves. So be gentle with 23:5), when a new shepherd, a just king, will come. We meet that yourself and with others this week. king in the second reading and the Gospel. Paul reminds us in the Letter to the Ephesians that all divisions can now cease in Christ Jesus, who has brought us together through his blood. In Mark’s Gospel we see Jesus himself, looking with pity on those searching for him as if they were sheep without a shepherd. FEAST OF FAITH: The Prayer Over the Offerings In the liturgy of the 1570 Missal, this prayer was called the “secret” prayer. It was “secret” not because its content was mysterious, but because it was prayed in silence by the priest, who only recited the conclusion aloud: . per omnia saecula saeculo- rum. With the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, we again hear these rich pray- ers spoken aloud. They remind us to prepare ourselves for what is to happen in the Eucharistic Prayer, for it is not only the bread and wine that will be transformed. The Prayer Over the Offerings is a prayer for transformation, an expression, in a few words, of all that we hope that the liturgy will accomplish in our lives. We ask God to accept the gifts we present, and to change us even as God hallows the bread and wine. As we listen carefully to the Prayer Over the Offerings, we are reminded of what it is that we seek in the Eucharist: to be made holy; to be drawn closer to God; to come to eternal joy, unity, peace, and salvation Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time If we were to use one word to describe the scriptures for today, it would be “compassion.” In Jeremiah, God rails against those who have scattered the sheep, and vows to “gather the remnant” personally. We also hear the prophecy about the coming Messiah. In Ephesians, Christ is breaking down the walls of division between peoples and drawing them to be reconciled with God in peace. In Mark, Jesus calls the tired disciples away to rest and have some “me time,” but even then the crowds persisted. Jesus saw their spiritual hunger and neediness and was “moved with pity.” All three situations involve looking beyond one’s own agenda to see the needs of others and respond. God models how to empa- thize with others. May we continue to learn to be kinder, gentler, and more caring for each other. MINISTERS MASS SCHEDULE, SAINTS & SPECIAL OBSERVANCES SCHEDULE Sat July 17 Sun July 18 Tues July 20 Wed July 21 July 24th & 25th Parishioners of St 7am: † Diane Ferrara 59th Wedding John † Philip Lowe By Sharon Roettger Anniversary of EUCHARISTIC: By 9am Choir Gasper & Vicky 9am Quedado 5pm God loves each one † Norma Rosete Larry McKay* of us as if there By Rosete & Flores Fam St. Apollinaris Bill Pray were only one of us. 11am St. Lawrence of James Johnson —St. Augustine In Thanksgiving for Brindisi Dennis & Melody Fajura 9am Rose Imray* By Manny & Sony Scott Imray Silverio Kathy Pundt Thu July 22 Fri July 23 Sat July 24 Sun July 25 11am Nenita Romero* In Thanksgiving for † Peter Edmonds Parishioners of St 7am: the 59th Anniversary By Harry & Dottie Drake John † Harold “Red” Neville Vicky Mondares Manny Silverio of Gasper & Vicky By Carol Neville Quedado 9am LECTORS By Manny & Sony S. St. Bridget † Dick Ouellette By Speckman Family 5pm 11am 1 Denny Foster † Elfrida Powell 2 Bill Corley By Patricia Hinds 7am 1 Carol Neville 2 Valencia Kidwell 9am 1 Mike Crowder 2 Gwen Crowder 11am ALTAR FLOWERS 1 Aida Masinsin July 17-23 2 Edna Silang In Thanksgiving for HOSPITALITY Dennis & Melody Fajura 5pm Maryann Speckman By Manny & Sony Silverio Debbie Early July 24 Mary Ann Carroll For Gasper & Vicky’s John Riendeau 59th Wedding Anniversary 7am Corinne Hundley By Dommer & Pearla Bayot Jim Hundley PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL 9am Jim Feazel For Gasper & Vicky Quedado’s Bonnie Feazel 59th Wedding Anniversary Debbie Bunting By Dommer & Pearla Bayot Mark Bunting 11am Yolanda Ebuen Vacation Bible School Ana Rios Luz Reyes July 19th-23rd from 9am- Nora Suyat 12pm.