ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH Consecrated to the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary FEBRUARY 3, 2019 • FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 502 WEST FRONT STREET • MONROE, MICHIGAN 48161 www.stmichaelmonroe.com • [email protected] • 734-241-8645 SUSAN’S CORNER Catholic Morality: Huh? The wonder of it all!Deacon Tracy M. Esper We are all called to be saints! This is what we are I had a friend who joined the military right out of high made for and this is the only way to happiness. Life in school. Every time he would come home on leave Christ, a life lived according to the will of God, is the there was a family party. His family would get together only way to live out our dignity and to experience the and throw a little bash upon his return. This went on for freedom we so long for. In the next several articles we several years until his trips home became less hope to shed light on the glorious calling we have frequent. For one reason or another, my friend stopped received to become saints. A life of sin leads to death coming home and he went about building a home with and despair, a life of grace and moral uprightness his wife. I always found it interesting that whenever he leads to happiness. This is a simple truth that we must came home during those first few years, life, in his all discover and live. This is the perfect time to begin mind, in Monroe did not change. He would always ask this series before we enter into Lent. about people we went to high school with or used to Catholic morality reveals how we are called to live. It work with, you know, “the old gang.” The only problem reveals the effect of coming to believe all that is was life moved on without him at least in Monroe it did. contained in our Creed with a deep faith and This can be hard to understand especially when you surrendering to God through a life of prayer, worship are coming home, and you expect everything to be the and the Sacraments. The effect of faith and worship is same. This of course does not happen. I think that my a life lived in Christ. And a life lived in Christ is our life friend felt a little out of touch and that may have led to of morality. less trips home. Catholic morality is often seen in a negative way. We Sometimes we tend to freeze things in our minds, often think morality is about “what I can’t do.” It’s true whether places or people. We want things to stay the that Christ’s teachings on the moral life limit us from same ─ just as we remember it or the way we engaging in actions contrary to His will and contrary to experienced it. We don’t like to go back to places that our dignity. But morality is so much more than just a list have a very special meaning to us and find that the of restrictions. Morality is also about living in freedom! establishment is closed. It is easy to slip back to a time It’s about living in the freedom that our Triune God has when things were a little easier or the best vacation in store for us. Conversely, sin is a slavery. And when ever. Life has a way of marching on and things change. we give in to sin, especially serious and habitual sin, Nothing stays the same forever and to be honest it we lose our dignity and the freedom in which God shouldn’t. What doesn’t change is our expectations. wants us to live our lives. We want things to be just as we remember them, and not be disappointed. Morality is also about embracing a life of virtue. It’s all about what I’m called to do in a positive way. And the It is good to hang onto memories, but we should not “positive way” we are called to live is through a life of expect the memories to keep people or places from virtue. Virtues are spiritual habits that strengthen us to changing. It can be difficult to realize when a child has live good and morally upright lives. Just as sin can moved away and is now an adult and you may ask become a bad habit, so also virtue can become a good yourself, “how or when did that happen?” habit. In our gospel today, Jesus returns to his native place Lastly, morality is about living even beyond virtue. It’s a and speaks in the synagogue as was his custom. He calling to live in beatitude. “Beatitude” is a supernatural runs into trouble with the hometown folks when he tries way of living that only makes sense in Christ. We need to explain to the people that even though prophets His wisdom and His grace to live holy lives embracing were not accepted in their native place, he gives a the Beatitudes He taught. couple of examples of how the prophets extended their help to those who were foreigners. This did not sit well To be continued with the locals, so they tried to take his life. The people https://mycatholic.life/the-my-catholic-life-series/my-catholic- were expecting one thing, a miracle of some sort but morals/introduction got something different, a lesson about how God’s love reaches out to all people. This was hard for them to grasp. Jesus was trying to get the people to understand that they cannot freeze the word of God into their own understanding; and the scriptures are meant to be living, breathing words. Scripture bring us new insight and the same goes for Jesus himself; we cannot keep him in a manger or on the cross, but we can keep him in our hearts. Peace be to you. Ordinary Time Ordinary Time is the season outside of the other major liturgical seasons. It runs immediately after the Christmas season, and then resumes again after Easter season. Its focus is on the entirety of Christ's person and deeds. Lord Jesus I know that all human relations take time if they are to grow and deepen. This is also true of my relations with You, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which must grow over the course of my life. However, this growth is not automatic; time alone means nothing unless I add earnest efforts to it. You have inspired Your Church to set aside special times when this growth can develop more intensely - the special seasons of the Church Year. Discovering Christ is coming to our parish! If I fail to move toward You during these times, I waste precious opportunities What exciting news! and endanger my spiritual life. Wednesdays, February 27 - April 17 Help me to take them seriously 6:30 pm and make a real attempt to use them well, so that I may grow into the person with our famous homemade soup & bread You want me to be. Amen. dinners! New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book Are you ready to do something for yourself? Will you ask a friend who is seeking more? There is no cost to attend, so mark your calendars now! The evenings will consist of dinner, friendship, music, short engaging videos, and conversations. It’s time to treat yourself for a few hours out with people from all walks of life. Place your reservation today: 734-241-8645 ext 35. Susan The Monroe Vicariate Evangelization and Catechesis Committee is sponsoring a Healing Prayer Day on Saturday, February 16th from 1 - 3 pm at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2420 N. Dixie Hwy., Monroe. Members of the prayer team stand with you, united in God’s love, to intercede for physical, emotional, spiritual and/or generational healing. All are welcome. FAITH FORMATION Holy Hour for Vocations and Priests Have you ever moved away from where you lived and St. Mary Catholic Central High School returned to the old neighborhood years later? Or Infant of Prague Chapel maybe you have left a job and came back to visit? Or Thursday, February 14, 2019, at 7 pm have you ever been part of a parish, then attended another one but came back years later? No matter how A Holy Hour for Vocations and Priests is held on the many great connections we make with people while we second Thursday of each month at 7 pm. The Holy are together, once we leave and make new Hours will be held at different locations in the vicariate connections, coming back is never the same. And the each month. people we knew only know the person we were, not the This month the Holy Hour is Thursday, February 14 person we have become. It can be a bit awkward. We at 7 pm in St. Mary Catholic Central High School carry these great memories with us and expect Infant of Prague Chapel. everyone to be just as you left them. But we all change The Holy Hour will include prayers, the rosary, spiritual and move on in our lives. This even happened to reading, intercessions, litany for priests, silent prayer Jesus. When he returned to his hometown, they and meditation. Come and join in praying for vocations remembered the little boy who lived there and did not to the priesthood, religious life and permanent recognize him as the person he had grown into – the diaconate and for our ordained priests.