Father Carey’s Pastor’s Corner (Week of 06/04/2023)
My Dear Friends,
This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This week, we now return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next Sunday, however, are designated as Solemnities. Solemnities are special days that call our attention to central mysteries of our faith. And so, today, on the first Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This feast invites us to consider what we believe about God who has revealed himself to us in the Trinity – one God in three persons. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Corpus Christi).
Today’s Gospel is from the beginning of John’s Gospel. The passage we read follows Jesus’ conversation with a Pharisee, Nicodemus, about what it means to be born of both water and the spirit. Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night and acknowledges Jesus as a teacher from God. Jesus tells him that only those who are born from above will see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus misunderstands and questions how a person can be born more than once. Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Jesus is essentially explaining Baptism, which we celebrate as a sacrament today. Yet Nicodemus, we are told, still does not understand what Jesus is saying. Jesus continues by testifying to the need to be born from above so that one might have eternal life.
After the dialogue with Nicodemus, the author of the Gospel (St. John) offers his own explanation of Jesus’ words. These are the beautiful and timeless words we read in today’s Gospel:
God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
In the context of today’s feast which focuses on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the Gospel calls our attention to the action of God, who reveals Himself in 3 persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father, out of love for the world, sent His Son into the world in order to save it. Through the death and resurrection of the Son, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As 3 persons, God acts always as a God of love; He does not condemn the world but always acts in order to save it.
This weekend, I will be speaking at all the Masses as we launch our spiritual growth plan that has been named “Building OLA’s Community of Faith.” As you know, members of our DMI Committee spoke at Mass over the past three weeks in preparation for this special day. You are invited after all the Masses this weekend to join the members of our committee with fellow parishioners to share some coffee and treats. This will also be an opportunity to find out more, share your ideas and perhaps get more involved in the areas they discussed recently with us at Mass. I take this opportunity to thank our committee for their commitment to our parish and we look forward to seeing you this weekend as we look forward to building up our family of faith here at OLA.
This coming Saturday, June 10th will mark the day of Ordinations to the Permanent Diaconate. We are especially honored this year as one of our own parishioners, Mr. Paul Fisher will be ordained to this sacred ministry. And so, we warmly offer him our sincerest congratulations. Next weekend (June 10th and 11th), Paul will assist and preach at the 5 PM Saturday night Vigil Mass as well as the 10 AM Sunday Mass. After each of these Masses, we will have a light reception in the Sacred Heart Chapel to provide an opportunity for our parishioners to greet Paul and give him our best wishes. Once again, congratulations to him and his wife, Maria. I would ask you to please keep him in your prayers as he prepares for this big day. May God bless you, Paul!
Next Sunday at the 10 AM Mass, we will celebrate a “solemn” Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi here at our Lady of the Assumption which will be followed by a simple Procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament through the church with a concluding Benediction outside in the Piazza. I invite you and your families to attend this special celebration, especially as we continue to celebrate our nationwide Eucharistic Revival.
As a reminder, we are still accepting donations towards our annual Baby Bottle Drive for Mother’s Home in Darby, PA. Baby bottles are available as you exit the church. We will collect all donations on the weekend of Father’s Day, June 18th. We thank you for considering participating in this drive and for helping mothers who are in need.
I thank you for your continued support of our parish and may God bless you and your families!
