Dear Friends,
Happy July 4th weekend to all! On this anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776, we celebrate the freedom we cherish. It was interesting for me to read that the first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776. He described “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” throughout the United States. As we celebrate the positive aspects of the United States on this patriotic holiday, let this also be a time for us to express and give thanks for the freedom and liberties fought for and won by the first generation Americans.
America is often referred to as a land of diversity and welcome. This diversity is celebrated as a source of strength and enrichment, with a long-standing tradition of welcoming those seeking freedom and opportunity. This attitude of welcoming all with a universalist outlook is an echo of Jesus sending out 72 disciples on a mission in today’s gospel. That begs the question: Did Jesus send out 12 or 72 disciples? Luke, the only gospel writer who mentions this, has a universalist outlook. He wants us to know that the mission of Jesus was not restricted just to the 12 Apostles, but also to a much larger group. The 72 thus represents us all who are baptized Christians whose duty it is to pass on our Faith, “… from one person to another, just as one candle is lit from another. … It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus” as Pope Francis wrote in his first Encyclical.
We are part of that beautiful chain of witnesses, binding us, all the way back to Christ and the first 72 he sent out. Whether others become part of that chain depends on whether we do our part like those ahead of us have. It is wonderful to see some of our parishioners doing precisely that. Some have told me that they joined St. Matthias because someone invited them. That’s a beautiful example for the rest of us. If more of us were to do that…. well, you know the result!
But there are difficulties too. Some parishioners have shared with me their struggle to answer some of the questions people put to them about our faith, our church, our doctrine, and about the Bible in general. We feel less confident to share or speak about faith matters. How do we equip ourselves? The many small groups of Bible sharing we have are one such program that has helped many people speak about the Bible. The GIFT is another wonderful program that anyone can attend. Debbie Schurko and her dedicated team of catechists are very welcoming: even if you have no kids in the GIFT program, you are most welcome to join the adult segment which will be beneficial for anyone who wishes to educate himself/herself about what we believe. It will enable you to engage other adult acquaintances and friends on religious topics.
It is good to be reminded that the Lord sends out each one of us with a mission to bring His love to our own people.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal