A Shepard's Care
Weekly Column

“O God… your steadfast love is better than life… for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy” (Psalm 63: 1, 3, 7). These verses from today’s Responsorial Psalm invite me to pause and give thanks for the many ways the Lord has been my help over the years; and when I do so, I realize that most of the ways God helps me is through people. Since my arrival at IHM in 2022, the Lord has used so many of you to help me in my ministry as pastor. Today I would like to offer a special word of “Thanks” to the Knights of Columbus.

I don’t know about you, but I am extremely grateful for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I know I am not perfect (just ask my wife and kids), and the fact that God and the Church give us this wonderful Sacrament to receive healing and forgiveness brings me hope. It’s the hope that although I am not perfect, I may still be called, as John says in our second reading, a “child of God.”

Everyone is asking that question in one way or another. What’s the most important thing: my health, my family, my friendships, my career, my relationship with God, my church? At the time of Jesus, it was common for Jewish rabbis to ask this question: “What’s the most important commandment?” They had 613 commandments to choose from as listed in the first five books of the Bible (the Torah). So they put this question to Jesus—the most compelling rabbi of the day. And he famously replied: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Deuteronomy 6: 4-5). This is the first and the greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22: 36-40).

Over the years I have become ever more convinced that the Church is a miracle. From her birthday on Pentecost (Acts 2) all the way to the present day, God alone knows the number of wondrous miracles He has done through the members of the Church, the Body of Christ. To name just a few, think of the parishes, schools, universities, hospitals, religious communities, retreat centers, social and charitable services. None of these were a temporary fad; they emerged in the course of Church history and continue to this day. Why? Because people were transformed by the Good News of Jesus and did something about it. The names of most of these people we will not know until, perhaps, we meet them in heaven. But one of the things they all have in common is their response to today’s Gospel reading.

“So, the Twelve (Apostles) called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6: 2-4.

The US Bishops have named October “Respect Life Month” and the first Sunday of October as “Respect Life Sunday.” This year’s theme is “Mary, Mother of Life.” The bishops composed the following reflection to focus us on this theme. So I’m sharing it with you. – Fr. Ernest

It seems that all human beings have, at least, this one thing in common: we all want to be happy, to have joy. We just pursue joy in different ways, and with various degrees of success. What would make your joy complete?

Football season has started and there are lots of enthusiastic fans in our parish, which is a wonderful thing. And although some of you may cheer for the Broncos with all your heart, mind and body, we all know there’s a huge difference between watching a game and playing in it. Catholicism, on the other hand, is not a spectator sport. Jesus invites everyone to be part of the team and even to play on the field.

There are some words which can be difficult for us to say. For example: I am sorry or please forgive me or I forgive you. These words are difficult for us to say because we struggle asking for forgiveness or forgiving someone. Why is that? Is it pride? Is it stubbornness? In today’s divided world, it seems like our society is less forgiving than at any other time in recent history. We are reminded however in today’s scripture passages from both the Old and New Testament, that God demands we forgive others as he has forgiven us so many times. For example, we hear these words from the book of Sirach: “Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?” In other words, how can we expect God to forgive us if we don’t forgive our fellow women and men? It seems like we would be hypocrites, wouldn’t you agree?

There are times in our life that require us to reflect on our relationships. Mostly, those times do not always require deep thought. I have a relationship with my family and friends, my co-workers, fellow students or just simple acquaintances. Day-to day activities require us to relate with one another in some form or another. We connect, we relate, we take care of the task at hand and then we move on.