5th Sunday In Ordinary Time February 9, 2020
THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION
Being the Salt of the Earth
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13
Do not become “salt” that loses its taste! The end of this kind of salt is that it is thrown out and trampled underfoot. So how is it that we lose our taste?
First of all, let’s start with the purpose of salt. It’s an amazing seasoning that adds flavor to food. Salt by itself is not that tasty. But when added to a variety of food, it enters in and adds much.
We are called to be the “salt of the earth.” And just like salt, we are not made to simply be the star and center of attention. We are not made only for ourselves. Instead, it is our Christian duty to enter into our world and add to it, helping to transform it into a world of grace and mercy, full of the “flavor” of God’s Kingdom. This is done, especially, by the building up of relationships. It’s done by striving to touch one person at a time so as to enhance their lives and help them to be closer to Christ. The love of God that we bring into our world, and into the lives of those whom we encounter, can be seen analogously as salt entering into food and enhancing it.
Now back to our first question. How do we lose our taste? In other words, how is it that we fail to be the “salt of the earth?” We do this when we enter into our world, encounter various people, and fail to truly enhance their lives. When our presence in the lives of others has little or no effect upon them for the good, then our actions are like tasteless salt that is only good to be thrown away and “trampled underfoot.” This reveals to us that we have a duty to have an effect on the lives of others. We have a duty to enhance the goodness and faith of those whom we encounter on a regular basis. If we fail to make a difference in the lives of others, we are missing the point of those relationships and we are failing to be the salt of the Earth.
Reflect, today, upon this duty that you have been given by Christ. Reflect upon the calling you have been charged with to make a difference in the lives of others. When others grow in faith and love as a result of your presence in their lives, you are fulfilling this most basic command of Christ. Commit yourself to being the salt of the Earth so that this world of ours will be a better place, filled with the flavor of the Kingdom of God.
-MyCathloicLife.com
WORLD MARRIAGE SUNDAY
Today we celebrate World Marriage Day. We praise God for the fidelity and commitment of our married couples. We also acknowledge the strong, faithful and spiritual bond with those who have gone before us. Grounded in family values and strong faith in our God, these couples witness to us the love and happiness found in married life centered in God. Thank you for being with us today to renew your vows and “jump the broom”. Thanks also to our volunteers that have prepared a special reception for our married couples in the Anchorage immediately following Mass.
SISTA CIRCLE
The Sista Circle meets this Tuesday, February 11, 6:00 pm in the Anchorage. All members are encouraged to attend.
MOTHER LANGE AWARDS
The 23rd Annual Mother Mary Lange Awards Banquet will be held this Friday, February 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Martin’s West. The event is sponsored by the Office of Black Catholics to honor members of our Black Catholic parishes for leadership, service and youth activity. We take great pride in announcing this year’s awardees from St. Ann:
Leadership Award: Eric Bundy
Service Award: Charlie Waters
PRAYER WALK
Bishop Madden invites you to join him for his next Prayer Walk for Peace on Wednesday, February 19 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church (4502 Park Heights Ave).The evening will begin with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. and end before 7:30 p.m.
LENT
The start of Lent is 2 weeks away. Ash Wednesday is February 26. All are invited to join us for Mass at 7 pm here at St. Ann. This year our Lenten Program will focus on, “Encountering Christ…”, and will also include Soup and Scripture on each of the 5 Wednesdays of Lent with a special guest speaker and weekly reflections. We encourage all to join us as we gather together for our walk with Jesus.
Within our Pastorate, Ash Wednesday Services will also be held at St. Wenceslaus Church at 9 am and St. Francis Xavier at 10 am and 7 pm.
SOCIAL MINISTRY CONVOCATION
SAVE THE DATE FOR The 41st Annual Social Ministry Convocation “Who Is My Neighbor” for Saturday, February 29th at Mercy High School, 1300 E. Northern Parkway 21239, from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Former Director of Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, will be the keynote speaker. To register and to view a list of workshops visit https://www.eventbrite.com.
OSP CHICKEN DINNER
The Oblate Sisters of Providence will hold their Annual Chicken dinner at St. Francis Center 501 E. Chase St. on Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 11 AM – 3 PM. The price of the dinner is $10 for fried or baked chicken, potato salad and green beans. Beverages and desserts will be sold separately. Ralph Moore will be available in the back of the church with tickets. Please help in supporting the Oblate Sisters of Providence!
SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date for Saturday, April 18th 5:00 pm as the St. Ann’s Choir presents a Gospel Music Celebration Concert, “Lord, You've Been Better Than Good To Me.” Along with our Choir, this event will have musical performances from local Churches and Organizations from the Baltimore area and will be performed here at St. Ann’s Church. Donations are $10. Please join us!!!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Cornelia Baily, Florence Barber, Kathleen Beckhardt, Pat Brown, James Butts, Willie Curbean, Joshua Cousin, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Eric & Harriette Lowery, Tina Lutz, Tom Lutz, Nelson Outlaw, Penny Palmer, Bernadette Wallace, Brenda Waters, Rita Watkins and Vincent Watkins and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.
We would like to reach all of our sisters and brothers who are not able to join us regularly. Please provide us with the name, address and phone number of a sick and shut-in relative or friend whom you would like for us to send a card, make visit or send flowers.
FEBRUARY 2020
Sun., Feb.9 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Marriage Sunday 11 am Mass
Sunday School, 9:30 am
Anchorage, 2nd floor youth room
Adult Bible Study, after Mass
Anchorage Dining Room
Tues., Feb.10 Sista Circle Meeting, 6 pm
Anchorage
Thurs., Feb.12 Evening Mass, 7pm Bible Study after Mass,
Anchorage Chapel
Fri., Feb.14 Mother Mary Lange, O.S.P. Awards Banquette
7 pm Martin’s West
Sun., Feb.16 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 am Mass Sunday School, 9:30 am
Anchorage, 2nd floor youth room
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
1st Reading Sirach 15:15-20
2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Gospel Matthew 5:17-37