Parish News
Wishing everyone a Blessed and Beautiful Week
Daily Readings
Weekly reading
Readings for the week of July 25, 2021
- Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:42-44 / Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 [cf. 16] / Eph 4:1-6 / Jn 6:1-15
- Monday: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34 / Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23 [1a] / Mt 13:31-35
- Tuesday: Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28 / Ps 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 [8a] / Mt 13:36-43
- Wednesday: Ex 34:29-35 / Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9 [cf. 9c] / Mt 13:44-46
- Thursday: Ex 40:16-21, 34-38 / Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11 [2] / Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42
- Friday: Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37 / Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab [2a] / Mt 13:54-58
- Saturday: Lv 25:1, 8-17 / Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8 [4] / Mt 14:1-12
- Next Sunday: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15 / Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 [24b] / Eph 4:17, 20-24 / Jn 6:24-35
Pastor Message and Prayer
July 28
True Wisdom
Living wisely includes God in one’s life. I have no doubt about that, especially now when I am getting older, that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). What does the “fear of the Lord mean?”
Am I afraid of God? In the ancient times the word “fear” involved some notion of terror.
“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run” (Genesis 23:27). But the “fear of the Lord” has less to do with terror and fright and more to do with recognition of the awesome holiness of God. Humans, who experience the presence of an all-loving and powerful God, are awestruck in the presence of the tremendous mystery of God. The “fear of the Lord” replaces any form of human arrogance, independence, or false security. A truly wise person is the one who is surprised, shocked, speechless, astonished, astounded, and staggered, who is at a loss of words in the presence of God. And that means that our human knowledge must bow before the tremendous mystery of who God is. The “fear of the Lord” as the Book of Proverbs 3:5 says, is to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”
“Gracious God, origin of all wisdom, open my ears to hear your voice, my eyes to see your presence and my heart to let You in. Make my heart a dwelling place for You. Help me to walk with you today and every day of my life.
Amen.
Fr. Joachim
St. Mary Mass Times
Saturday 6:00pm
Sunday 8:30am
Daily Mass Times
Wednesday 8:30am
Wednesday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:45-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30am
First Friday 8:30am Healing Mass and Adoration
Confession Times
Saturday from 5:30-5:50 or
by appointment by calling the Rectory at 815-858-3422
St. Mary Office Hours
Wednesday 8:30 am- 3:30 p.m.. by appointment
Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
