21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 26, 2018

This week’s Reflection . . .

Much in our readings for this Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time call us to deepen our relationships, widen our attentiveness, and expand our compassion and kindness. This is a call to be more deeply committed in our living and in our relationships with one another and with God.

Joshua gathered all the people of the tribes of Israel, especially naming the elders, the leaders, the judges, and the officers. He was direct in his question to the people. “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve…” Joshua goes on to name the many gods whom the people once followed. He stirred their memory. “Our God…brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. God performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey.” Joshua called them to remember and wanted their firm commitment to be faithful to God’s covenant.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is often misunderstood with its call for wives to be subordinate and submissive to their husbands. We need to remember the culture and the context in which this letter was written and not get caught up in its language, which today is oppressive and domineering. Rather, let us focus on Christ’s coming to dwell within our humanity as God’s action of love and a desire to be one with all people and with all of creation. God did not create humans to have power over creation. So we are called to dwell in love and in relationship with one another and with all of God’s creation.

In the gospel we are reminded that the way of Christ, the way of Crucified Love, is not an easy road. It is a life that calls for deep commitment. It calls us to experience life in ways that are profoundly meaningful. We hear that for many of the disciples, who traveled with Jesus and the apostles, the way became too difficult. They left and returned to their former way of life. Jesus then asked those closest to him, the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”

This is always the question we must ask in our own commitment to the way of Crucified Love, especially with the challenges before us today. Living attentively and faithfully means that we cannot turn away from the truth of the destruction and deterioration that we are inflicting on our Sister Mother Earth. We cannot turn away from the harsh and callous policies that separate immigrant infants and children from parents who are seeking asylum and a better way of life for themselves and their children. We cannot turn away from the apprehension and fear that many children, teens and families face as they prepare for another school year without changes that are needed in our policies on gun control that would protect them and allow them the safety and peace they deserve.

Living each day, faithfully and attentively, is a call to speak out, to advocate for change and to work for justice. Our Franciscan call to ongoing conversion challenges us to change our ways and our attitudes, so that we may effect change and promote deeper connectivity among all people and all of creation. Let us not turn away! Let us truly live our Spirit and Life!

Sr. Margaret Magee, OSF

Franciscan Action Network Board President

OUTREACH

Members of our Outreach Committee will conduct our monthly Food Pantry this Tuesday, August 28, to help assist those in the neighborhood who are in most need.

Members of St. Ann’s Outreach Committee conduct our Food Pantry on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the Anchorage from 10 am – 12 pm.

KEEP ON TEACHING

The Office of Black Catholic Ministries will sponsor its’ 28th annual “Keep On Teaching” Saturday, September 8, 9am – 2:45pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9531 Liberty Rd. Randallstown, MD 21133. This year’s theme is “Travelling With Jesus As Missionary Disciples-A Retreat”, and is a Part II to last year’s Keep On Teaching titled “Building the Believer To Strengthen Discipleship”. Retreat Leaders to be announced. Registration is $20.00 and includes Continental Breakfast, Lunch and Materials. THERE WILL BE NO WALK-IN REGISTRATIONS!!! REGISTRATION ENDS ON AUGUST 30TH. If you are interested in attending please contact the parish office 410-235-8169 or email Stann528@comcast.net. You can also register at   OBCM@archbalt.org or call (410) 625-8472. Copies of registration forms are located in the back of church.

ECUMENICAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

“Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman of God.” Saturday, September 15, 2018 9: am – 3:00pm; Waldorf, MD. Tickets are $50 and include Breakfast, Catered Hot Lunch T-Shirt and Bus Transportation. Buses leave from St. Ann’s Church. For information and details see Eloise Jackson.

WORK BALTIMORE

Baltimore City Mayor, Catherine Pugh and the Department of Human Resources will host WorkBaltimore 2018: Empowerment to Employment Convention on Wednesday, September 26 & 27, at the Baltimore Convention Center. There will be 30 days of Pre-Convention Workshops, Seminars and Job Readiness Activities from August 20 – September 21 that will focus on Applying for Baltimore City Careers, How to write a compelling resume and Learning other Applicant Essentials. For more details and registration visit WorkBaltimore.BaltimoreCity.gov or call 410-396-9897. If you do not have a computer at home, you are welcomed to visit the Church Office.

MANY THANKS

We offer thanks and gratitude to the many people and organizations that donated school supplies and volunteered for our Back To School Night to help our young students in the neighborhood excel in their studies. May the Lord guide them in this new school year and grant them wisdom and knowledge to succeed in all of their achievements. May He also bless the parents and teachers and provide them with patience and the desire to feed our young student’s eager minds.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, Dorothy Horton-Brown, James Butts, Augustine Christian, Danny Dallas, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Odessa Johnson, Tom Lutz, Penny Palmer,  Bernadette Wallace, Nelson Outlaw, and Rita Watkins, and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018         

 Sun., Aug.19      20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 AM Mass

 Thurs., Aug.23  Evening Mass (confessionbefore/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm

Sat., Aug.25       Back To School Night Anchorage, 6:00 pm

Sun., Aug.26      21st Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 AM Mass

 Tues., Aug.28     Monthly Food Pantry Anchorage, 10 am – 12 pm

 Thurs., Aug.30  Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm

Sat., Sept. 1        KPC – Ladies Auxiliary Meet Anchorage, 9 am

Sun., Sept.2        22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 AM Mass

 Mon., Sept.3       LABOR DAY

 Tues., Sept.4      Pastoral Council Meeting  6:30 pm, Anchorage

Thurs., Sept.6    Evening Mass (confession  before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm

Sat., Sept.8          Keep On Teaching Retreat 9 am – 2:45 pm,

                             Holy Family Catholic Church, 21133

Sun., Sept. 9        23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time  11 AM Mass

 Tues., Sept.10     Sista Circle Meeting, 6 pm Anchorage

Thurs., Sept.12   Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading                           Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8             

2nd Reading                      James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27  

Gospel                                Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23