“Calling upon the name of the Lord” is no substitute for our
working to bring about the reign of God on earth.
Building Our Lives On Rock
June 25, 2020
Today’s Touchstone is the last of a series (that we really weren’t even aware we were doing!) on the famous Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s gospel. Over the past two-and-a-half weeks we have been reading these chapters in our daily lectionary and each of us, in our term, has opened up the various themes that come through this well-read part of Matthew’s gospel.
We hear today a warning from Jesus that “calling upon the name of the Lord” is no substitute for our working to bring about the reign of God on earth. While “Jesus is our foundation”, we must build our lives on his commands to help one another, rather than our reflective exercises and rituals. To be established on the “Rock of Jesus” is to live lives modeled on Jesus. This asks us for a daily commitment, not just to quiet reverie and contemplation, but also to the discomfort of encountering one another’s suffering and working to overcome it.
Our beautiful new Easter candle.
This is not an easy Christianity and has often been ignored by those in professional ministry who prefer a “modern-day gnosticism.” This heresy is based on salvation by a secret knowledge: if you were instructed in the secrets you were saved. It made the priest (or in other faiths, the guru, prophet, etc.) the only person who could “get you to salvation.” Your chance to follow God rests in his hands, instead of your heart.
I’ve chosen the song “Church of Justice” as a reminder that our holiness is an active thing in the world. Rooting our deepest spirituality in quiet reflection has been a historical trick of upper-class religiosity through the years. The idea was that our relationship with God could be at its best when it was found in leisure — a quiet, peaceful part of the day that could only be carved out by those whose lives are prosperous enough to allow such things.
MASSES AT CHURCH IN JULY:
Please note that we will have sign-ups for those who feel ready to begin attending mass at the Church. Many of the practices put in place will seem a lot less “friendly” than our usual atmosphere, but this is necessary at this time.
BUT PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:
SHOULD I ATTEND MASS?
This will perhaps be the most difficult issue for people to understand. The obligation to attend is still suspended at this time and may be for some time to come. This does not mean “I don’t have to go, but a really good Catholic would go anyway.” It is going to be a bit new for us to make this type of decision. The Church wants you to evaluate for yourself your personal risks, your personal medical health, your own beliefs of the dangers presented by the pandemic at any given time. From there, you alone should decide whether or not you are ready to come to a room with 100 people in it for close to an hour.
If you decide to stay home and join us for our online mass while someone else decides to come back, it does not make either of you the “better Catholic.” If your feeling that you are drawn to come back at this time outweighs your concerns, then you can make that decision as well.
BUT EVERYONE SHOULD PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
REGISTERING TO ATTEND MASS
REGISTERING TO ATTEND MASS
- In order to attend Mass you MUST register ahead of time. No walk-ins will be accommodated. There will be a volunteer and/or staff member at the entrance of the Church to “check in” those who have signed up. While this seems “out of place” at a church, it is necessary for now.
- We will be able to welcome 100 people into the Church for each Mass (which will be inclusive of everyone in the church, including lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, etc.).
- We will have two Sunday Masses (8:00am, and 11:00am, MDT),
- We will be sending out a link in the next few days (no later than Monday) for JULY masses.
- At this time, as we work to give everyone access, you will only able to attend one Mass per month.
- The dispensation from the Sunday and Holy Day obligation to participate in the Mass remains in effect until further notice.
- Registrations for Mass will be per month.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
- Those who come to Mass must wear masks. Any children under the age of 2 will be exempt from this requirement. Children will be expected to remain with parents during Mass and not be allowed to wander around.
- Be prepared to check in when you arrive for Mass. At all times — when inside the space itself and when arriving or exiting — please follow social distancing guidelines with other individuals or families. Again, families can cluster together as a family unit.
- Doors to the spaces will be unlocked 30 minutes before Mass begins and lock 10 minutes after Mass begins. All entry will be through the main doors to the Church and all other doors (East and West sides) will be the Exits.
- Those who are not checked in/seated 10 minutes after Mass has started will not be permitted into the building. This is so that whoever is at the door may finally come in as well without having to “keep an eye on the entrance.”
- It is strongly recommended that anyone who has a higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 (65 years and older, chronic lung disease, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised, diabetes, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, etc.) refrain from attending a public Mass and instead participate in the livestream Saturday or Virtual Sunday Mass which will continue to take place as it has.
- It is of the utmost importance that you help us maintain 6 feet of distance between you and other parties both while entering and exiting the church and while sitting in designated pews. If you are with your family, you can stand and sit in closer proximity, but your family should remain 6 feet away from all other attendees.
- Hand sanitizer will be available at the doors and we encourage its frequent use.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MASS
- Register for Mass ahead of time.
- Arrive 15 minutes early for Mass to get checked in and be escorted to your seat.
- Please enter through the main front door. We ask you to closely follow the traffic flow and you may exit the doors nearest your seats.
- A number of pews have been roped off to help facilitate appropriate distancing between people. Members of the same family unit do not need to be distanced within their group.
- Allow 6 feet of separation between you and other attendees as you enter and exit the church.
- No food or drinks will be allowed in the church.
- Please do not congregate on the Plaza area before or after Mass.
- Liturgical differences during this time will be explained during the Masses themselves.
I suspect that Mass will not be the experience we’ve come to know and love. I also suspect it will not be nearly as awkward as all of the above stipulations make it sound. We will move through this together, some online, some in person, and hopefully all continuing to hold one another in our hearts and in our prayers. As I have said so many times during this time:
God Bless. Be safe and be well.
Fr. Pat
P.S. And as our youth minister John has said even more often: “Don’t forget to wash your hands!”
Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.
Mass - LIVE and Later!
- All parishioners are invited to be a part of the "safer-at-home" virtual assembly for the LIVEStream Mass on Saturdays at 4:30pm. Sign up by Fridays HERE and you will be sent a Zoom videoconference link and instructions by Saturday morning.
- Watch our Livestream Masses every Saturday at 4:30pm.
- Watch the weekend Mass on your own once it's posted online (by Sunday morning) for the remainder of the week.
- For more information, check out our Virtual Worship page.
Faith Direct remains our approved partner so that parishioners can give electronically. You can securely register or update via this link. Thank you MPB for your continued generous support of the parish and our many ministries.
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