Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

During our 60th Anniversary, we had conducted a parish survey. You may remember the findings published in our bulletin. There was an overwhelming desire from our parishioners to renovate and repair specific areas of our church building including the need for constructing a new bathroom. To fund these projects, we launched the “In Celebration of 60 Years, A Fundraiser for the Future of Our Church” on March 6, 2023, with the modest goal to raise $125,000, which was revised to $200,000. Months prior to that, a Fundraising Core Committee was formed with Joan Pritchard, Dolores Christmas, Edna Arguello- Hitchner as Co-Chairs, and Laura Beck, Santina Spinella and Joe Porter as members while Msgr. Seamus Brennan and Mary Pat Burke-Grospin were the staff representatives.

The Core Committee worked very hard and carried out all details of the fundraising, supported by the parish staff, especially Nathalie Godet, Vinnie Natale, Amy Hanna, and Mary Jo Loboda. The Committee created the fundraiser letters and donor contribution envelopes, planned and organized the major donor luncheon, prepared and followed up with a list of tasks to be initiated and completed, regularly updated the status of the contributions on the thermometer chart in the narthex, and held regular meetings for evaluations, updates and strategic planning. The Committee asked for a final wrap up and review meeting and it was held on February 8, 2024. They made a very professional evaluation. There was much satisfaction for the way the Committee did their job for the good of the parish, though they felt that some of the best practices they had recommended to me were not followed to their satisfaction. Though I had thanked them in that final meeting, I wish to place on record our sincere gratitude to the Core Committee for their commitment, enthusiasm and passion in fulfilling their role “In Celebration of 60 Years, A Fundraiser for the Future of Our Church.”

I am very happy to share with you all that the total contributions received as of June 2024 add up to $152,850.00, and the total invoices of projects cost add up to $86,937.00. As contributions are still trickling in, the final income and expense report will be shared later. We are happy that the following projects are already completed: Refinishing of the church pews, Construction of a new bathroom, Installation of church front entrance ramp, Renovation of the small bathroom, Installing two Adoring Angels, Installing two wood stands built with marble, Replacing sink in new bathroom with fabricated granite countertop, Diaper change station and switch change, and Installing rolling sun shades in the loft. There are more projects yet to be completed, including the following: Cleaning of the church walls and stations of the cross, Steam cleaning of all fabric covered church chairs and all carpet covered church floors, and Painting of aluminum front entrance ramp to reduce blinding glare.

As I express my gratitude once more to the Core Committee, our parishioners who contributed so generously to this effort deserve a very special thanks. I also wish to express my gratitude to Alma and Jaime Valdez, of JM Valdez Construction company, who not only constructed and renovated the bathrooms, but also generously donated their time and resources in this parish endeavor. The effect of everyone’s sacrificial giving is seen in the projects already completed as listed above. May the Lord who sees the generosity of the participants, bless them abundantly.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, June 24, is the solemn feast in honor of the birth or nativity of John the Baptist. Usually, the feast days of the saints are celebrated on or around the date of their death. John the Baptist is an exception due to his uniqueness as the Forerunner, the Voice crying out in the Wilderness, in the history of salvation. At the same time, the Church wants to be more conscious of the witness of John’s character as a model for us to grow in holiness.

It is enlightening for us to know a little church history and tradition associated with the birthday celebrations of John the Baptist. This is one of the oldest feasts on the Church calendar. In the early Church, as in medieval times, this was one of the biggest feasts of the year. As was done on Christmas, three masses were offered, one at midnight, and two in the morning. All over Europe, fires were lit on mountains and hilltops on the eve of this feast. The people had parties and lit bonfires in honor of John because our Lord called him a “burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35). These fires, sometimes called St. John’s fires, were lit on St. John’s Eve and burned until at least midnight. These fires were also a sign of Christ the Light, and a reminder that we, too, are called to be a light for the world. In Catholic sections of Europe, people prayed together to Saint John for his intercession that the summer might be blessed in homes, fields, and country. Finally, they performed some of the traditional folk dances, usually accompanied by singing and music. In addition to celebrating around outdoor fires, other customs included decorating one’s home with flowers, making floral wreaths (which were sometimes sent down a river as a symbol of Jesus’ baptism), placing sprigs of St. Johns wort around the house much as we do Palm Sunday palms, and eating strawberries. This feast placed three months after the feast of the Annunciation, and six months before Christmas served the useful purpose of supplanting the immoral pagan feasts of the Summer Solstice. St. John the Baptist was highly honored throughout from the beginning. Proof of this is, among other things, the fact that fifteen churches were dedicated to him in the ancient imperial city of Constantinople.

William Shakespeare in his play Romeo and Juliet wrote, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” Actually, Biblical names have often a rich meaning. When the time came to circumcise this child, neighbors and relatives expected him to be named after his father, Zechariah. But his mother insisted, “No, he is to be called John.” “The name, “John,” in Hebrew is “Yehohanan.” It means, “The Lord is gracious,” or maybe better, “The Lord shows favor.” The birthday of John Baptist relates to the birth of Jesus. The Church selected the time of the winter solstice to celebrate the birth of Jesus because from that time the days gradually grow longer; the amount of daylight increases. But the Church selected the time of the summer solstice to celebrate the birth of the Baptist because from this time the days gradually grow shorter; the amount of daylight diminishes. This symbolizes the words of the Baptist in speaking of Jesus, “He must increase while I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

May we too allow Jesus to increase in the way we witness to Him and His teachings.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

After honoring mothers last month, today we honor fathers. For children, it is a day to show appreciation and gratitude for their fathers and father-figures. For adults, it is a day to recall and appreciate the hard work of the fathers and husbands in their lives. We offer our dads, living or dead, on the altar of God during the Holy Mass and invoke our heavenly Father’s blessings on them.   At a time when the Fathers’ role in the family and in the society is not fully appreciated, it is good that today we can celebrate, congratulate and pray for the men who continue to reflect the Divine qualities of fatherhood as they lovingly establish, nourish and maintain their families.

Many studies have demonstrated how important a father is to his child’s development.  Children with fathers present have lower rates of delinquency, drug and alcohol use, teen pregnancy, and so on, than those with absent fathers.  The father’s presence is also a significant positive factor in children’s getting a college education, finding a satisfying job, and making a lasting marriage. Psychotherapists today are saying that both parents are vitally important to the stable development of their children; the mother’s input is invaluable in the formative pre-adolescent years but the father’s most important influence is at adolescence.  Most single mothers, who do an excellent job of parenting, say that it is very difficult to teach their children about the meaning of God the Father who seems so impersonal because their children have been abandoned by their natural fathers.  Adolescent daughters long to hear from their fathers that they are beautiful and loved.  In fact, a girl’s choice of partner and satisfaction in marriage is often directly related to the relationship she has had with her father.

While we honor our earthly fathers, we, as Christians, look up to God as our model of fatherhood. So what does the Bible say about it? Check out these verses on the fatherhood of God: Matthew 5:45; 6:9, 32; Romans 1:7; 15:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6.

There are many instances that speak of Jesus Christ, the Son, honoring His Father and honoring the will of His Father (e.g., John 17:1 and John 17:5).

The apostle Paul taught that to honor one’s earthly father is not only a commandment but the first commandment that, when obeyed, has a promise of things going well and living long on the earth. “Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and  that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

I invite us all to have a look at a few more Biblical references to fathers: Exodus 20:12, Sirach 3:1-16, Matthew 19:16-22, John 1:14, 2 Cor. 6:16-18, Ephesians 6: 1-4, 1 Thessalonians. 2:11 – 12.

The most important lesson that a father can inculcate in his children is to develop a loving relationship with God. All fathers can heed this advice of

St. Paul: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). When fathers take this responsibility seriously, there will be more unity, love, peace and harmony in families.

Happy Father’s Day!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

We are in the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that began in the 12th century, and gained popularity after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s.  This month is an opportunity for us to deepen our devotion to Jesus Christ and reflect on His teachings through prayer, reflection, and acts of charity. One popular devotional practice is the daily recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This litany is a prayer of intercession that asks for the mercy, love, and protection of Jesus. Here at St. Matthias, we pray this Litany every First Friday of the month, during the Holy Hour after our 8 am Mass.

We all are familiar with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Have you wondered why it has flames, thorns, a cross, and open wounds?

Flames: In the Gospel, Jesus says that He has come to set fire on the earth—the fire that He longs to set is the fire of divine love, the fire of the Holy Spirit, in each human heart. In Jesus’ first apparition to St. Margaret Mary, after revealing His Heart to her, he said to her, “My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race, and of you in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you.”

Rays of Light: The Sacred Heart of Jesus is surrounded by rays of light, as if rays of light are emanating from it. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says He is the light of the world. Jesus brings the light of God’s love into the darkness of our sin and suffering, our fear and doubt.

Crown of Thorns: In one of His revelations to St. Margaret Mary, Jesus told her that the crown of thorns symbolizes our individual sins, which prick His heart.

The Cross: In the image of the Sacred Heart, the Cross stands atop the Sacred Heart, as if to say that the Heart of Jesus is what supports the Cross and what supports us when we have to bear a cross. It is the Divine Love that transforms the Cross into the most powerful act of redemption.

The Open Wound: After Jesus died on the cross, a soldier pierced His Heart with a lance and blood and water flow out—the mercy of God floods the world. The open wound in the image of the Sacred Heart shows us that the Heart of Jesus is always open to us, His mercy is always available to us, and He never closes His Heart to us.

Such insights from these symbols make us realize the infinite love of Jesus for us. Pope Francis has said that it is easier for us to believe in our own love for God than it is for us to believe in God’s love for us. In this month, the Church invites us to contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let ourselves be convinced of God’s passionate love for us. One prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus we all can pray is: “Oh Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love for You.” More and more people are attending our First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart on every month. If you have not experienced it, why not try it once?

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – the very presence of Christ that we are fortunate to have each time we gather to celebrate Mass. ‘Corpus Christi’ is the more popular Latin name, meaning the Body of Christ. We receive the Body of Christ in Holy Communion. That’s why we bow our heads and say Amen to the words of the Communion Minister: “The Body of Christ.” But receiving this body of Christ will not be meaningful unless we love and respect the larger body of Christ – the people of God, who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

This week has been very special for one group of this Body of Christ in our parish: our 8th Grade students who just had their graduation on Friday. It was an exciting day for them and their families as well as for the teachers and administration. In my message in the 2024 St. Matthias School Year Book, after my words of appreciation to Mrs. Mary Lynch, our Principal, all our teachers, staff, and most of all, parents and families who have guided them along the way, I wrote this to the students:

My dear Graduating Class,

 While blessings and congratulations will be showered upon you, the question I wish to ask you is this: Are you prepared to face the challenges of life as you move on from our loving, protective and nurturing environment of St. Matthias? The challenges that teens face are many: anxiety, stress, depression, social media, bullying, cyber bullying, eating disorders, peer pressure, desensitization to violence, low motivation, temptation to drug, alcohol etc. It is only when you make the right choices, you will experience success, fulfillment and happiness, giving you good health in mind, body and soul.

We have tried our best to inculcate in you the values of discipleship in Christ Jesus to help you make the right choices. The regular sight of Fr. Lancelot McGrath in the school has given a much needed priestly presence both to the faculty and students. Attending Mass on a regular basis, holding prayer services on important occasions, highlighting the daily practice of prayer and other practices have given you a good spiritual foundation that should be of great help in dealing with difficult times ahead.

 Be assured of our love, prayers and support, for “You are the Body of Christ,” as the Year Book theme reminds us. Do continue your friendship with Jesus and your association with this faith community of St. Matthias. Remember this message from the Bible: “Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

As St. Matthias School is part and parcel of the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, I wish to thank the entire parish community for the constant support and encouragement to the school. Without your generous financial support, it would have been very difficult to run our school that has received lots of awards both as an institution and as individual students. God bless our parish and our school.

 

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

We have been hearing a lot about the National Eucharistic Revival during the past three years, with its national phase, diocesan phase, and the parish phase. In our parish, we have done many events, practices, and devotions – thanks to our enthusiastic Eucharistic Revival Committee. Among those, our weekly Monday adoration is of special importance as so many of our parishioners continue to come on a regular basis to spend half an hour or more in silent prayer and communication with Jesus present in the Eucharist every Monday between 6-8 pm.

The concluding celebration of the National Eucharistic Revival will be in Indianapolis where the 10th Eucharistic Congress will be held from July 17 – 21. This is the First US National Eucharistic Congress in 83 Years. This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church. In preparation for this Eucharistic Congress a walking pilgrimage is already on the way to Indianapolis. While pilgrimages have a long legacy within the Church, this is the first undertaken at such a scale – walking coast-to-coast with Our Eucharistic Lord, with four routes from the north, east, south, and west of our country:

  • Marian Route (North) starting from: Mississippi Headwaters, Lake Itasca, MN
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route (East) starting from: New Haven, CT
  • St. Juan Diego Route (South) starting from: Brownsville, TX
  • St. Junipero Serra Route (West) starting from: San Francisco, CA

Pilgrims on our route, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route, began walking on May 18 with Pentecost Vigil at the tomb of Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. The Seton Route will be punctuated by many meaningful stops. Pilgrims will visit holy sites, embrace the sacraments daily, and publicly proclaim Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist as they accompany him on his way to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Even though we may not be able to walk this pilgrimage or to attend the Eucharistic Congress, we are invited to join this National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for short distances or join for one of the many events scheduled along the way.

We are privileged that the Seton Route will pass through our Diocese of Metuchen this week, on May 27-28, 2024. During these two days, the Diocese of Metuchen will welcome the National Eucharistic ‘Perpetual Pilgrims’ (the few young adults who will make the full journey to Indianapolis are called the ‘Perpetual Pilgrims.’) as they process from the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi to St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick, and St. Augustine of Canterbury in Kendall Park.  We are invited and encouraged to eat, pray, and walk with them as they witness to the world that Jesus is here, present in the most Blessed Sacrament, and that he accompanies us -all of us – on our pilgrimage of our individual lives.

Next Sunday is the solemn feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – more popularly known as ‘Corpus Christi.’ Here at St. Matthias, we plan to continue our beautiful tradition of the Eucharistic Procession around our campus after the 5 pm Mass on Saturday. All are welcome to join this prayerful devotion.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

 

Pentecost Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we join the rest of the Christian world to celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. Most Christians –  Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches as well as most Protestant churches – view this as the watershed event in Christianity, the birthday of the Church in many ways. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of the original Pentecost when the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary, who were gathered in the Upper Room, were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different tongues (Acts 2). Peter’s speech that day brought about three thousand people to the way of Jesus. (Acts 2:41). And the Church began to grow.

Pentecost is the New Testament celebration of unity that reverses the Old Testament divisions and animosity of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. If the people who wanted to build the Tower of Babel were divided by language and race because of pride and arrogance, people on the Pentecost Day were united despite the diversity of language and race. Thus Pentecost is a feast that invites us to live and promote unity in diversity. Our parish of St. Matthias is a living proof of this diversity while keeping our unity in faith and fellowship.

When 44 youth of our parish received the Sacrament of Confirmation two weeks ago, Bishop Checchio reminded everyone present that the Holy Spirit can transform us into bold witnesses of the gospel. For that to happen, he encouraged all, especially the Confirmandi, to attend the church on a regular basis. During his homily, he asked me a question: “Fr. Abraham, if I give you $168 and ask you to return to me just $1, will you accept my offer?” I said yes. And then he told the congregation that God has given us all 168 hours every week for our use and God is asking us to return to God just one hour out of those 168 hours. Spending that one hour in Church every Sunday will have great benefits for us both spiritually and mentally. (Btw, the Bishop still owes me that $168 ☺)

Today’s feast of Pentecost often falls in the month of May, which is the month of Our Lady. Pope Francis encourages us to be praying her special prayer – the Rosary – every day. Considering that May is also the Mental Health Awareness month, we should be expressing with particular zeal our petitions for help and our confidence in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary so that we can experience more peace of mind. Our own young people are inviting all to join the SmyleWithBraces Next Level team and SMYLE Youth Ministry to pray the rosary following the 10:00 Mass this Sunday.

May we all be open to the Holy Spirit who Jesus sends to be our Helper, Comforter and Guide (John 14:16) Let us call upon this Spirit: “Come Holy Spirit, come into my heart and fill me with your grace and power.” Repeat it like a mantra and see what happens to you!

Happy Pentecost!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Ascension of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

There are three important celebrations calling for our attention and reflection this week.

First, Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord! Biblically, Ascension took place 40 days after the Resurrection and so the actual Ascension Day falls on a Thursday – which is what we used to celebrate. But last year, the bishops of New Jersey decided to permanently transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension to the following Sunday. The bishops’ discernment to have the Ascension on a Sunday is very welcome for more of the faithful to participate in this feast and to be more conscious of the mission Jesus gave before ascending to heaven: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…” (Mark16:15). To be a Christian is to be a proclaimer and an evangelizer.  There is a difference between preaching and proclaiming.  We preach with words but we proclaim with our lives.  We do this when we learn about Jesus and his teachings by our daily study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church, experience him in personal prayer, reception of the Sacraments and works of charity, and convey to others Jesus whom we have experienced with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Second, Happy Mother’s Day! We salute all our Mothers today! The opening sentence of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia, offers the perfect context for Mother’s Day: “The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church.” We are truly happy to celebrate the vocation to motherhood as we honor all Mothers of our parish this weekend.  The Pope beautifully describes the impact Mothers have on children: “A mother who watches over her child with tenderness and compassion helps him or her to grow in confidence and to experience that the world is a good and welcoming place. This helps the child to grow in self-esteem and, in turn, to develop a capacity for intimacy and empathy.” Thank you dear mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, single mothers, and spiritual mothers for living out your vocation, this divine call, despite the overwhelming challenges to be a mother in our times.

Third, happy feast to us all on the feast of our own parish patron, St. Matthias – on May 14. The name ‘Matthias,’ similar to Matthew, means “gift of God.”. The Acts of the Apostles describes the process of choosing Matthias to replace Judas: “it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22) Since there were two candidates fitting these conditions, the Apostles “cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26). According to various traditions, Matthias preached in Cappadocia, Jerusalem, the shores of the Caspian Sea (in modern day Turkey) and Ethiopia.  He is said to have met his death by crucifixion in Colchis or by stoning in Jerusalem. We honor St. Matthias as someone who knew Jesus personally, and was a witness to the resurrection, meaning that Jesus wasn’t dead, but is very much alive. May our patron saint help us to increase our intimacy and friendship with Jesus.

Happy Feast of Ascension! Happy Mother’s Day! Happy Feast of St. Matthias!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

6th Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Many of us will remember Pat Leposa who was our staff member, doing ministry as Spiritual Director for twenty-four years, bringing much peace to the many under her spiritual guidance for discerning God’s will in their lives. In 2020, she decided to retire, due to failing health, and moved out of New Jersey to be with her family. Here’s an excerpt from her farewell message to the parish which was published in the bulletin then:

“It was twenty-four years ago that I began my ministry here at St. Matthias as your Spiritual Director. Coming to know and love the good people of this faith community has been my privilege. Now, I am excited to be moving on to the next chapter of my life. Even as my heart is filled with the joy and purpose that the last twenty-four years has blessed me with, I am deeply saddened at the prospect of leaving St. Matthias. As I go on to join my family in Montana, I am grateful for the countless ways that you, my St. Matthias family, have enriched me and strengthened my faith. It is though the experience of Spiritual Direction that I have been blessed to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will miss you.

If you are moved to draw closer to the God who loves you, and to seek out a new perspective in your life, then I urge you to consider Spiritual Direction. Inspired by the Spirit, it is through your visits with your spiritual advisor that you will become more aware of the many ways that God works in your life. Your visits will open your eyes, and your heart to enable you to embrace His love. It will provide you with the spiritual perspective to celebrate God’s goodness, even as you meet the challenges in your life. This investment in your spiritual health can be a life-changing experience.”

All those who knew her, and those of us who worked with her in the parish office, were saddened to know that she passed away on December 30, 2023. She was an embodiment of gentleness, compassion, listening, understanding, care and prayerfulness. She touched countless lives through her service including opening her home to a refugee Vietnamese family, Cursillo Christian retreats, Kairos prison ministries, and Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer in Watchung, NJ, where she was the first retreatant! She was most fulfilled through her 38 years as a Mercy Associate with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the first layperson to be a member of the NJ Associate Leadership Team. Pat also contributed to a CD of spiritual songs called Tender Mercy to raise funds for Mercy ministries in New Jersey.

We had announced her passing away and prayed for her at all the weekend Masses here at St. Matthias. I had offered a Memorial Mass at the House of Prayer in Watchung last month where her family and friends gathered to pay her tributes. This Monday, the 8 am Mass is offered in her memory. We gladly welcome her son John and other family and friends who plan to be present for this Mass. (John told me that he is flying in from North Carolina to attend this Mass!) The Parish Community of St. Matthias remains ever grateful to God for the gift of life and ministry of Pat Leposa. May she continue to intercede for us from her heavenly abode.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

5th Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

I wish to highlight two feasts we keep this week. Tomorrow, April 29, is the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, a very fascinating figure in church history for many reasons. When we realize that Christian theology has been largely shaped by men, her contribution to theology is very significant. No wonder that the Church not only canonized her but also declared her as one of the few women doctors of the church.

Catherine was a Dominican Tertiary, living in the 14th century in Siena, Italy.  The corruption in the church and in the society during her day caused her great distress.  She loved both but speaking truth to those in power was one of her great gifts.  Catherine was passionate for the reform of the church and did not hesitate to challenge the church and she did bring about reform in the church. How did she do it when she did not even have much formal education?

The answer is her deep mystical spirituality. She knew Jesus on a personal and intimate level. Her interior life was so aligned with the divine that she was able to speak the truth of God to anyone – no matter how high that person was in the ecclesiastical or political ladder. Thus she was bold enough to instruct popes and cardinals, as well as adjudicate quarrels among statesmen.

“No more simony, no more unbridled luxuries, no more dealers in blood, no more swindlers in what ought to be the temple of God,” St. Catherine wrote to Pope Urban. After meeting with Catherine in Florence, Pope Urban, in his pomp and worldliness, turned to his advisors in amazement. “This little woman confounds us,” he said. “For while we are afraid, she stands without fear, and by her persuasions, she gives us courage”. Catherine inspired confidence in the pope by reminding him of his vocation. When writing to Pope Gregory IX during the infamous Avignon crisis, she called him out on a private vow he had made to return the papacy to Rome.

These vignettes from her life show us her radical witnessing to the prophetic message of the Gospel. If you can read her biography, the details will amaze you. She is model to all of us and an honor to all women in particular.

This week we enter the month of May with the feast of “St Joseph, the Worker.” Human labor is one of the important means of achieving holiness. It was Pope Pius XII who instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955, in order to foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, and in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfills the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gen 2:15) and to be productive in their labors. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labor. Without the spiritual element of work, we will succumb to its drudgery, and consider our labors as toil. But when we order our work to praise God, we experience, in some way, the joy and blessedness of labor which Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal