24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 16, 2018
This week’s Reflection . . .
Suffering from the Divine Perspective
[Jesus] began to teach [the Apostles] that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Mark 8:31-33
This was most likely not the reply that Peter was expecting from Jesus. Peter was struggling with fear as Jesus explained that He would be entering into much suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders of the time. Peter loved Jesus and was fearful and anxious about the thought of his Master suffering and being killed. So Peter, motivated by fear and confusion, tried to “talk some sense” into Jesus.
The result? Peter was rebuked in the presence of the other Apostles by Jesus. Jesus went so far as to say, “Get behind me, Satan.” That must have hurt.
To understand this properly, we must start with the obvious conclusion that Jesus’ words were words of great love. Jesus is not capable of anything other than love. Therefore, we must seek to understand how these strong words from Jesus were loving and holy.
The key to understanding this is the second thing Jesus said. “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Jesus had just revealed to the Apostles the deepest mystery of His life mission. Namely, He just revealed that His mission was to accept unjust persecution and death at the hands of the religious leaders. But in revealing this, it is also clear that He intended to bring good out of this suffering. He would not have allowed this suffering if it were not for some greater good. The hard part is that, in order to understand this great mystery of suffering, one needs a deep faith. The Apostles were being challenged to see this situation from the divine perspective. Peter was having a hard time doing so and that is why Jesus had to challenge him so directly.
Jesus’ rebuke was a rebuke of love helping Peter break free of his fear and limited vision so as to enter into this profound mystery of Jesus’ loving sacrifice.
Reflect, today, upon your own struggle with the Cross of Christ. His sufferings continue to be made present in our world through the love and sacrifices of His sons and daughters. When Christians suffer on account of their faith, we must see this from the eyes of God, not the eyes of men. We must see the divine blessings that accompany such sufferings and we must accept them in accord with the great mystery of God’s plan.
MyCathloicLife.com
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
Today begins a new season of religious education for our children and adults. In the spirit of Christ, we commission our Sunday School, Adult Faith Sharing and Bible Study facilitators and members of our RCIA Team. We also ask a blessing on parents, grandparents and all who contribute to the Christian formation of our young and adult members. May the Lord inspire our catechists with growth, wisdom and grace for our church family.
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.
SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE STUDY
There will be an Open House for Adult Bible Study on Sunday, September 30 after Mass in the Anchorage. All are welcome to attend.
PASTORATE DAY OF PRAYER
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.
PRAYER WALK FOR PEACE
Bishop Madden invites you to join him for his next prayer walk on Wednesday, September 19 at Immaculate Conception Church (1512 Druid Hill Avenue, 21217). The evening will begin with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. and end before 7:30 p.m.
During the walk, we will pray at specific locations that have been affected by violence, and for all those individuals who have been so terribly affected by violence, and for a change of heart in those given to violence. Parking: There is on-street parking around the church.
ST. ANN’S MOVIE NIGHT
Please join us Friday, September 28 for St. Ann’s Movie Night for a showing of “A Question of Faith”, 7 pm in the Anchorage. Refreshments will be provided. All are invited to attend this FREE SHOWING. Please use the sign-up sheet in the back of church if you are interested in attending the event.
SAVE THE DATE
Save the date for Saturday, December 8, 2018 as St. Ann’s Sista Circle presents their Holiday Tea at St. Matthew’s Church, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd. 1 pm – 5 pm. This year, the St. Ann’s Sista Circle celebrates 15 years in ministry! Proceeds benefit the St. Ann Health & Wellness Fair.
THE JOSEPHITES FATHERS & BROTHERS 125TH ANNIVERSARY
The Josephites Fathers & Brothers will celebrate their 125th Anniversary November 16–17 with a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Banquet to follow at the Baltimore Convention Center. Please help the Josephites keep to their missions to the African American Community and support the Josephite programs home and abroad. For more information please review the flyer inserted in this week’s bulletin.
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/OCTOBER 2018
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
Tues., Sept.25 Monthly Food Pantry
Anchorage, 10 am – 12 pm
Thurs., Sept.27 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Fri., Sept.28 St. Ann’s Movie Night
Anchorage, 7pm
Sun., Sept.30 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 AM Mass
Adult Bible Study Begins,
after Mass, Anchorage
Tues., Oct.2 Pastoral Council Meeting
6:30 pm, Anchorage
Thurs., Oct.4 Evening Mass (confession before/after) Bible Study 7-9 pm
Sat., Oct.6 Pastorate Day of Prayer
St. Ann’s, 9:30 am – 12 pm
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
2nd Reading James 3:16-4:3
Gospel Mark 9:30-37