31st Sunday in Ordinary Time NOV. 5, 2023. Whoever Humbles Oneself Will Be Exalted. Who doesn't desire the praise and respect of others? We want others to see us at our best with all our strengths and achievements - rather than at our worst with all of our faults and shortcomings. We all aspire to be “HALL OF FAMERS”! Don’t we? Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers, and rulers of Israel, to teach and serve their people with humility and sincerity rather than with pride and self-seeking privileges and honor. They went to great lengths to draw attention to their religious status and practices, always bragging: "See how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!" In their misguided zeal for religion, they sought recognition and honor for themselves rather than for God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were supposed to serve. Life Message: Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, the religious authorities of the Jewish people, in the presence of his disciples? Jesus wanted to warn both his own disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek honors and titles that draw attention to ourselves in place of God and his word. Pride tempts us to put ourselves first above others. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6; Prov. 3:24). Conclusion: Respect for God and for His ways inclines us to humility and to simplicity of heart - the willing readiness to seek the one true good who is God Himself. What is the nature of true humility and why should we embrace it as essential for our lives? Humility frees us to love and serve others willingly and selflessly, for their own sake, rather than for our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and... who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). Q= Do you want to be a servant as Jesus loved and served others? The Lord Jesus gives us his heart - the heart of a servant who seeks the good of others and puts their interests first in his care and concern for them. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and kindness.

Oct 29, 2023: Ex 22:20-26; I Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40. 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time In today’s gospel, Jesus gives to his disciples this important and greatest piece of advice, which is cited in the first sentence of the Jewish Shema prayer: “… you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Dt 6:5). Then He added its complementary law: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18). Certainly, we have all felt love for a person at some point in time in our lives: for our children, parents, spouses, friends, partners etc. But what is this love that Jesus asks us to live as Christians? Today’s world defines to us a love that is full of emotion and desire; this is about the physical or psychological attraction that we call infatuation, that we feel for another person. Life Message: For us Christians, this conception of love seems deficient, superficial, and transitory, because when difficulties, doubts or infidelities break the relationship, this type of love becomes fleeting and disappears. In short, there is always jealousy, betrayal, manipulation, selfishness, and no serious commitment. Alternatively, today, Jesus tells us that true love is giving one’s own life for the other helping each other in a selfless, honest, and authentic way. It is a commitment that lasts a lifetime and is built on trust, joy, and mutual respect. In short it is an unreserved love of soul and body, of feelings and mind. Thus, when we love as God and Jesus his son ask us to love, then there will be peace, serenity, and well-being in the couple’s life. Conclusion: Some examples of sincere love are given to us in today’s 1st reading (Exodus): “You shall not wrong any widow or orphan or poor person”. We must lend a hand to, instead of mocking and abusing, those in our family, or community who have financial problems, those who suffer from addictions, and those who are discriminated against, and are alienated. That’s why, Paul the Apostle writes, "For freedom Christ has set us free... only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh [sinful inclinations], but through love be servants of one another" (Gal. 5:1,13).

October 22, 2023 (Is.45:1,4-6; 1Thess.1:1-5; Mt.22:15-21) 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time “Repay to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar, and to God what belongs to God. What do we owe God and our neighbor? Scripture tells us to give to everyone whatever is their due and to owe no one anything, except to love one another(Rom. 13:6-8). The Jewish authorities sought to trap Jesus in a religious-state issue. The Jews resented their foreign rulers and despised paying taxes tonCaesar. They posed a dilemma to test Jesus to see if he was loyal to them and to their understanding of religion. If Jesus answered that it was lawful to pay taxes to a pagan ruler, then he would lose credibility with the Jewish nation who would regard him as a coward and a friend of Caesar. If he said it was not lawful, then the Pharisees would have grounds to report him to the Roman authorities as a political trouble-maker and have him arrested. However, Jesus avoided their trap by confronting them with the image of a coin that represented Ceasar, the owners name, and authority on it. Significance: We have been stamped with Gods image and likeness. Indeed, this story has another deeper meaning as well. We, too, have been stamped with Gods image since we are created in his own likeness - God created man in his own image ...male and female he created them; (Gen. 1:26-27). Conclusion: We rightfully belong not to ourselves, but to God who created us and redeemed us in the precious blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 6:19-20). Paul the Apostle says that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Rom.12:1). Do you acknowledge that your life and everything you possess belongs to God and not to yourself? If so then, let’s give to God what rightfully belongs to him.

28th.Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct.15, 2023.: Matt. 22:1-14. One of the most beautiful images used in the Scriptures to depict what heaven is like is the wedding celebration and royal feast given by the King for his newly-wed son and bride. Whatever grand feast we can imagine on earth, heaven is the feast of all feasts because the Lord of heaven and earth invites us to the most important banquet of all - not simply as bystanders or guests - but as members of Christ's own body, his bride the church! Jesus' parable contains two lessons. The first has to do with the original guests invited to the marriage feast. But how insulting for the invited guests to then refuse when the time for celebrating came! The invited guests not only insulted the King but the heir to the throne as well, because they openly refused to give both of them, the honor, they were due. The second part of the story focuses on the "good and the bad" along the highways certainly referred to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and to sinners. This is certainly an invitation of grace -undeserved, unmerited favor and kindness! Conclusion: Jesus directed this warning to the Jews of his day, both to convey how much God wanted them to share in the joy of his kingdom, but also to give a warning about the consequences of refusing his Son, their Messiah and Savior. But this invitation also contains a warning for those who refuse it or who approach the wedding feast unworthily. In a nutshell, God's grace is a free gift, but it is also an awesome responsibility. “And they Would Not Come to the Feast!” Are you then ready to feast at the Lord's banquet table?

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 1, 2023: Ezek.18:25-28; Ph.2:1-11; Mt.21:28-30. “…The son replied no, but he later changed his mind and went…” Sometimes the characters of the two sons, found in this weekend’s Gospel, hit close to home. The first son’s initial response to his father’s request is disobedience, and a most serious offence. But he then has a change of mind and heart and does what his father asked him to do. Indeed, we have all probably been there. Maybe we are having a bad day, or we were busy, or tired, and someone asked us to do them a favor, and we turned them down. Then maybe we realized that we were not as busy as we thought. Or maybe we felt bad or guilty for disappointing the friend. And so, we change our mind and heart, and then respond positively to what we wanted to do or give. The second son gives solid lip service and then he doesn’t follow it through. Again, we may have experienced people who promised to do or give us something but didn’t keep it or said one thing but did another. Truthfully, we probably may have been that person who doesn’t keep promises- giving a commitment with no real intention to follow through; and to avoid confrontation or looking bad before people, would lie just to save face. Life Message: In Christianity, it’s not about lip service or the image you can put up to look good. Living the Christian life is about what’s going on in the heart! Specifically, it demands a constant quest for seeking an inner change of heart, i.e. A CONVERSION, A METANOIA- a positive growth, that helps us to move toward, and become more like Christ (like a sunflower that follows the movement of the sun). In fact, this reality of the Christian life, corresponds to the character of one’s present manner of behavior- to the kind of person one has become. And this is why we hear Ezekiel proclaim (1st.reading): “…But if the wicked turns from the wickedness he has committed, and he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life…he shall surely live, he shall not die…” Conclusion: Q= When we look at the things that we say and do, when we assess the promises kept/broken in our lives, when we look at our own inner depth or shallowness, who is the person that emerges? Who is the person we have become! How great is the light of Scripture that shines on us today, that invites us to look at and assess the people we have become! For if the light shows us to be people who strive to be like Christ, people who take to heart the words of St. Paul to as it were, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; but rather to regard others as more important than ourselves, each looking out for the interest of others…”, then there is reason to rejoice and give thanks. Otherwise, as long as we live, we still have this great opportunity for conversion and change to embrace! (Song: Like the sunflower…)

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct 8, 2023: Is 5:1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43. “…As laborers in God’s vineyard, do these things, and the peace of God will be with you…” Introduction: The common theme of today’s readings is the necessity of bearing fruit in the Christian life. In short, they admonish us about the punishment for spiritual sterility, ingratitude, and wickedness. Hence, in today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah describes how God’s Chosen People, Israel, failed to bear fruit, despite the blessings lavished upon them by this loving caring and forgiving God. Further, they were poor tenants in the Lord's vineyard. Hence, God laments: "I expected My vineyard to yield good grapes. Why did it yield sour ones instead?" In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells an allegorical parable in which the landowner is God, the vineyard is Israel as God’s special people, and the tenants are the political and religious leaders of Israel. The story emphasizes the failure of the tenants, the Chosen People of God and their leaders, to produce fruits of righteousness, justice, and mercy. Giving a theological explanation of Israel’s history of gross ingratitude through the parable, Jesus reminds us Christians that, since we are the "new" Israel, enriched with additional blessings and provisions in the Church, we are expected to show our gratitude to God by bearing fruits of the kingdom, fruits of the Holy Spirit, in our lives, giving Him all the Glory. Life Message: What responsibilities have you been entrusted with? Are you a parent caring for your children? Are you an adult child, caring for your aging parents? Are you an older sibling with the responsibility to be a good role model for your younger siblings? Jesus is calling you today that, “I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will remain” (John 15:16). Conclusion: Therefore, beloved, this parable speaks to us today as well. It richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals with his people. First, it tells us of God's generosity and trust. The vineyard is well equipped with everything the tenants need. The owner went away and left the vineyard in the hands of the tenants. God, likewise, trusts us enough to give us freedom to run life as we choose. This parable also tells us of God's patience and justice. Not once, but many times he forgives the tenants their debts. But while the tenants take advantage of the owner's patience, his judgment and justice prevail in the end. Consequently, by virtue of our baptism, having been washed clean and grafted to the body of Christ, we have been called to be laborers in God’s vineyard. Hence let’s heed the counsel of St. Paul (2nd.Reading): “Finally, bothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things…Then the God of peace will be with you.”

We are excited to introduce the proposed Parish Family, a union of faith and community that includes: - St. Aloysius, Buckley - Sacred Heart, Enumclaw - St. Barbara, Black Diamond - St. John the Baptist, Covington Now, we look forward to hearing your valuable input. We invite you to share your thoughts, hopes, anxieties, and concerns regarding this proposed family. Your voice is crucial in shaping our future together. Kindly join us for one of the nine listening sessions, scheduled as follows: 1. Wednesday, September 27, 10:00 am 2. Thursday, September 28, 6:30 pm 3. Saturday, September 30, 9:30 am 4. Sunday, October 1, 11:30 am 5. Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 pm 6. Saturday, October 7, 9:30 am 7. Monday, October 9, noon 8. Tuesday, October 10, 6:30 pm 9. Friday, October 13, 6:30 pm Please note that the duration of each session may range from an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the number of participants. No RSVP is required; you may simply show up. All sessions will take place in the Main Church Sanctuary. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the parish office. Your participation is greatly valued, and we look forward to building our future together. Watch Archbishop Etienne's invitation to participate in the input phase of Partners in the Gospel.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept 24, 2023 (Is 55:6-9; Phil 1:20c-24, 27a; Mt 20:1-16a). That’s not fair!” How many times, in the course of a given day, have you heard someone protest, “That’s not fair!” Children on a playground shout when they detect a foul play, “That’s not fair!” Siblings doing household chores may complain, “I’m doing more work!” or “My chores are more difficult; that’s not fair!” Someone at work receives a raise in salary when one thinks one is more deserving: “I have seniority. I’ve been here longer; that’s not fair!” In each of these several examples, human sensibilities regarding fairness/justice and patience have been offended, precisely because of the fact that they are human. Therefore, when confronted with a situation which we find in today’s Gospel parable of “identical wages for different numbers of hours of work”, our sense of fairness is provoked. Life Message: The paradox of grace: What really bothers us in the parable is God’s equal rewarding of latecomers and newcomers. We are tempted to ask the question "Is it fair that we, the hard-working Christians, are going to be treated like these workers? Is the man who lives a life of sin/wickedness, but who converts on his deathbed, going to get the same reward that we receive? Conclusion: Today’s readings are all about the human sense of justice contrasted with the extravagant grace of a merciful and compassionate God. God rewards us, not in the measure of what we do, but according to our need and His good will. In a nutshell, to God, we are more than just numbers on a payroll! In other words, as Parish Families, we are collaborators and not competitors! Summarizing, Pope Francis says: “The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.” It is in this spirit, the Archbishop Paul Ettiene, this weekend, is officially launching this program: “PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL”.

St. Barbara Catholic Church All Parish PIZZA PARTY! September 17th at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall Celebrate reaching our Annual Catholic Appeal goal with an all parish pizza party. Farrelli's pizza, salad and sodas will be served. Please bring a dessert to share. See you there!

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept 17, 2023 (Sir 27:30-28:7; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35) "How often should I forgive?" Jesus' answer comes in the form of an idiom: "Seventy times seven times." Intro: This past Monday, Sept. 11, was the 22nd anniversary of an event that Americans consider as one of the epic historic events, equivalent to the founding of the United States, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. On 9/11, 2001, America met the challenge both to their freedom as a free people and to their willingness to accept and use the grace of forgiveness God wanted to give them so they could obey the command of Lord Jesus Christ to offer forgiveness to all, even to their enemies; but forgiveness is not an easy gift to give! Despite this fact, our readings this weekend concern forgiving and being reconciled with those who wound us - a challenge to us to walk this path with Jesus, the only Way to Life. Life Message: Peter’s question resonates within us: "How often should I forgive?" Jesus' answer comes in the form of an idiom, "seventy times seven times," which means that, at all times and in all places, we are to embody God's forgiving grace. Forgiveness involves more than absolution of guilt. It involves reconciliation – the mending of our past, now-fractured, relationships and the healing of our mutual brokenness. In short, it involves intentional work to heal and be reconciled with another. Matt 7:2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you,” says Jesus. Based on this, Alexander Pope once said, “To err is human, to forgive, Divine.” Believe it – because God alone is the Divine! When we withhold forgiveness, we remain the victim. When we offer forgiveness, we are doing it also for our own well-being. Forgiveness allows us to move beyond the pain, the resentment, and the anger. We always have a choice: to forgive or not to forgive. When we forgive, we make the choice that heals. Conclusion: Forgiveness does not mean condoning evil, neither in God nor in the Christian community. Do forgiveness and reconciliation mean the indefinite tolerance of evil and unjust behavior? The king was perfectly ready to forgive the senior official, but how could reconciliation take place when the official later behaved in such an abominable way to a brother? We can be ready to forgive the sinner indefinitely, but we must fight against sin without counting the cost. God and the Church can forgive the repentant sinner, but they cannot condone unrepented behavior that is a source of real evil and suffering. God cannot be reconciled with the sinner who chooses to stay in sin, nor can the Christian community fully incorporate a member who refuses reconciliation and the healing of the behaviors that offend against truth and love. With God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, forgiveness is easily available to the individual Christian (The Prodigal Son, and Mary Magdalene), but along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we must seek a mutual healing of wounds and a real change of mind, heart, and evil behavior.

23rd.Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept 10, 2023: Ezek. 33:7-9; Rom 13:8-10; Mt 18:15-20. “We are our brother’s/sister’s keeper…You shall love your neighbor as yourself..) As God’s children through Baptism, and brothers and sisters in Christ, we are challenged to be each other’s “keepers,” and take on a painful, triple responsibility, of lovingly and prudently correcting each other when we err, forgive those who offend us, and ask forgiveness from those we have offended. Summary: In the first reading, God tells Ezekiel that he is to be a "watchman for the house of Israel,” obliged to warn Israel of moral dangers. If Ezekiel should refrain from speaking God’s word given to convert the wicked, God will hold Ezekiel responsible for the death of the wicked. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that true Christian charity obliges a Christian, not only to assist his neighbors in their temporal and spiritual needs with material help and prayer, but also to aid with correction those brothers and sisters who have damaged the community by public sin. If the erring one refuses a one-on-one, loving correction by the offended party, then the Christian is to try to involve more people: first, "one or two others,” and eventually "the Church." Finally, Jesus mentions the efficacy of community prayer in solving such problems, for Christ is present in the praying Christian community. Life Message: In the 2nd. reading, St. Paul points out/Summarizes that the love we should have for one another should be our only reason for admonishing and correcting the sinner. Love seeks the good of the one who is loved. And so he says: “Brothers and sisters, owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…Love does no evil to the neighbor. Hence love is the fulfillment of the law.” Therefore, we should admonish one another so that we all may repent and grow in holiness. Conclusion: We are our brother’s/sister’s keeper. Sadly, modern believers tend to think that they have no right to intervene in the private lives of their fellow believers. I have heard people saying: “IT IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS…”.Others evade the issue saying, “As a sinner, I don’t have the moral courage or the right to correct anyone.” But Jesus emphatically affirms that we are our brothers' keepers, and we have the serious obligation to correct others. We need to offer advice and encouragement to our friends, neighbors, and coworkers when it is needed, and loving correction, in private, for a personal offense where that is possible.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept. 3, 2023. (Jer. 20:7–9; Rom 12:1–2; Mt 16:21–27) “…there could be no victory and no glory without the cross. Yes, No Cross. No Crown!” What is the way to glory and victory in the kingdom of God? Jesus told his disciples that he must first suffer rejection, be crucified, and then rise again on the third day. In so many words he explained that there could be no victory and no glory without the cross. Yes, “NO CROSS, NO CROWN”! Jesus'; prediction caused his disciples great dismay and disbelief. That is why Peter, (primus inter pares), who wanted to protect Jesus from any threat or harm, rebuked the very thought of Jesus having to face rejection, condemnation, and crucifixion. Life Message: Now, after calling him “Rock”, why did Jesus use the word satan; when he addressed Peter in this instance? The word satan literally means adversary: - one who stands in opposition. Hence, Jesus reminds Peter that his role is not to be an adversary but a disciple - one who gets behind his Master to follow with trust and obedience. Yes, “NO CROSS, NO CROWN”! Jesus knew that the cross was the only way he could ransom us from slavery to sin with the price of his blood which was shed for our freedom. Jesus told his disciples that they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives in order to gain new everlasting life with the Father in his kingdom. This means, we lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. Better still, when we try to run our life our own way, we end up losing it to futility. Only God can free us from our ignorant and sinful ways. Indeed, “NO CROSS, NO CROWN”! Conclusion: Therefore, when we surrender our lives to God, he gives us new life in his Spirit and the pledge of eternal life. In a nutshell, God wants us to be spiritually fit and ready to do his will at all times. Because, when the human body is very weak or ill, we make every effort to nurse it back to health. How much more effort and attention should we give to the spiritual health of our hearts and minds! A true disciple gladly gives up all that he or she has in exchange for an unending life of joy and happiness with God. God gives without measure. Are you ready to lose all for Jesus Christ to gain all, with Jesus Christ? Indeed, “NO CROSS, NO CROWN"!