22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 2, 2018
This week’s Reflection . . .
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Mark 7:14-15
Jesus speaks this passage after calling the Pharisees “hypocrites.” He rebukes them for being obsessively concerned about the externals and failing to be attentive to the internals. Jesus makes it clear that evil comes from within and that the heart should be our true concern.
The thing that sparked Jesus’ strong rebuke of the Pharisees was the fact that they criticized the disciples for not washing their hands and, thus, they ate their meal with “unclean hands.” What’s sad is that the Pharisees seem to make a huge deal about this fact. What this reveals is that the Pharisees seemed to think that holiness is something that you obtain by scrupulous external observance of the laws and customs of the times. But they failed to see the importance of what was within.
St. Teresa of Ávila has a couple of beautiful quotes that speak of the importance of that which is within. “Within you dwells your God. Enter within, look at Him, talk to Him, listen to Him and stay with Him in your heart.” And, “Indeed, we have heaven within ourselves for the Lord of Heaven is there.”
Jesus also points out the types of evil that come from within. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile” Mark 7: 21-23.
So what’s in your heart? When you spend time alone and quietly look at your life, what do you see? What is it that makes up your interior life?
Reflect, today, upon that which is within. Know that any sin in your heart must be acknowledged, confessed and purged. Only when that is done can you meet God who dwells within. Only then can you allow God to transform your exterior from His presence in your soul.
MyCathloicLife.com
PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Pastoral Council will meet this Tuesday, September 4 at 6:30 pm in the Anchorage. All members are encouraged to attend.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Registration for Sunday School begins this month. Registration forms are located in the back of church on the usher’s table. Classes for Sunday School will begin Sunday, October 7. A planning meeting for all Sunday School Staff is scheduled for next Sunday, September 9 in the Anchorage after Mass.
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
Next Sunday, September 16, we will bless and commission all those involved in the ministry of religious education of children, youth and adults.
This includes Sunday School, Adult Faith Sharing and Bible Study facilitators and members of our RCIA Team.
ECUMENICAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
“Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman of God.” Saturday, September 15, 2018 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; 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.
PASTORATE GATHERING
Please join us for a Pastorate Day of Prayer Saturday, October 6th 10 am – 12 pm, St. Ann’s Church and Prayer Garden. All are invited as the three parishes of St. Ann, St. Wenceslaus and St. Francis Xavier come together for a day of worship and prayer. A light breakfast will begin at 9:30 am inside Mother Seton Academy Hall.
PASTORATE MASS SCHEDULES
Please take note of the Mass schedules within our Pastorate of St. Ann, St. Wenceslaus and Francis Xavier.
SATURDAY St. Francis Xavier: 5:00 pm
SUNDAY St. Ann: 11:00 am
St. Wenceslaus: 9:00 am
St. Francis Xavier: 8:00 am & 11:00 am;
WEEKDAYS Tues. & First Friday Adoration: 8:00 am -
St Wenceslaus
Wed. 10:00 am & Fri 8:00 am - St. Francis Xavier
Thurs. 7:00 pm - St. Ann
HOLYDAYS One Mass at St. Francis Xavier @ 10:00 am.
More detailed information will be published in the bulletin regarding Holy Days.
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, writing a compelling resume and other Applicant Essentials. WorkBaltimore.BaltimoreCity.gov or call 410-396-9897 for registration and details.
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.
SEPTEMBER 2018
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. 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
Sunday School Staff Planning
Meeting, after Mass, Anchorage
Tues., Sept.10 Sista Circle Meeting, 6 pm Anchorage
Thurs., Sept.12 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sat., Sept.15 Ecumenical Women’s Conference, Waldorf, MD. 9 am – 3 pm
Sun., Sept.16 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 AM Mass
Catechetical Sunday
Thurs., Sept.20 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sun., Sept.23 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 AM Mass
Thurs., Sept.27 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Isaiah 35:4-7, 8-9, 9-10
2nd Reading James 2:1-5
Gospel Mark 7:31-37