21st Sunday In Ordinary Time August 23, 2020
One of the most interesting characters in the Gospel is surely Peter. Peter is almost too human, too like ourselves. We see his ups and downs. At times he is very brave. At other times he is very cowardly. At times he is rocklike in his faith. At other times he is more like a piece of jelly. But what is fascinating to watch the way Christ dealt with him. How patient he was. How he helped him to grow into the man who was ready to lay down his life for him, and who eventually did. But this should not surprise us, for this is how growth happens. Let us, therefore, take a closer look at the relationship between Christ and Peter. It will help us to in Closeness to Christ. It will teach us how best to help those we love to grow. It all began with the fact that Christ called him. He did because he obviously saw potential in him. We all need someone to believe in us. Christ involved him in his work. He made him a partner in it, not a mere messenger boy. Responsibility helps people to grow. When Peter made his great declaration of faith, ‘You’re the Christ Son of living God’, Christ praised him and promised him further responsibility. We all need recognition for work well done. We all need affirmation. This encourages further generosity. Christ corrected him. He confronted him, He even threatened to cut him off completely over the feet washing incident. We have to be stem at times and refuse to compromise in matters of principle. He understood that when Peter denied him, he did so not so much out of evil as out of weakness. He allowed him the space to learn from his failure. He forgave him and give him the chance to be begin again. He didn’t cut him off. We all need someone who can understand our weakness, and who doesn’t cut us off simply because we don’t produce the good right away. The one thing Christ never did was spoil him. It was only when Peter regained his faith and reasserted his love that he was put in charge of the flock. In a way Peter’s story is our story too. We are so much like him. We too blow hot and cold in our loyalty to Christ. Sometimes we are strong, and sometimes we are like a reed shaking in the wind. But we should not be afraid to look at ourselves to see if we are growing as Christians; to see if we are becoming more attached to Christ. Without a warm relationship with Christ, such as Peter had, we are only in the fringes of Christianity. We are like someone talking about love compared with someone who is in love. We can learn so much from Peter for our own relationship with Christ. Peter was the first Pope. In assessing a pope, we should not so much look for cleverness, for there is enough cleverness in the world, but for goodness.
SUNDAY MASS:
As we resume masses in the church , mindful of those who cannot make it due limited seating capacity, Mass will be still live-streamed every Sunday at 10 am in our Parish Website and YouTube page. You can also watch the mass later in the day. If you can, please consider dropping off your church donations in the mailbox, newly installed at Atwater Ave Church entrance door .
POPE FRANCIS’S PRAYER TO MARY :
O
Mary, you shine continuously in our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We
entrust ourselves to you, Health of the sick. At the foot of the cross you
participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman
people, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that as you
did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of
trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to confirm ourselves to the Father’s
will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself,
and bore our sorrows to bring us , through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge
under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas-we who
are put to the test-and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and Blessed
Virgin.
At
a time like this I feel uncomfortable to talk about giving. Our primary concern
is health and well being of our parishioners. However, No doubt you are aware
that our Parish relies on the support of our parish members for the upkeep of
the church. Kindly support us with the donations (weekly offerings) thank you
for your great help during this challenging time! God bless you!🙏
At this time we ask the faithful to please donate to the Lebanon relief effort, if you are able. The Archdiocese if Toronto will send donation to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association ( CNEWA) a papal agency with extensive as the-ground networks in Lebanon. CNEWA staff are currently working to send food, water, medical supplies and hygiene products to Beirut. Spiritual and psychological support will also be provided to those who lost everything in a blink of an eye. Later, CNEWA will rebuild housing and help re-establish those who lost their livelihoods in this disaster.
THOSE
WISHING TO HELP May do spin the following ways:
-
online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website (Click on the “Donate Now”
button stays the top of the page www.archtoronto.org)
-
by phone through the Development office- 416-934-3411.
-
through the parish, making cheque’s payable to:
Name
of Parish - Lebanon Relief Effort- Disaster Relief.
REST IN PEACE :
+
Raymond Swatuk
+
Marianna Marchewka
+
Geraldine Jeans
SHWETHA
ANGELO
GULLA
DOMENIC
SANTAGUIDA
ROY
CRIS
OSBORNE
MARIANA
WEGLINSKY
FRANCA
METCALFE
JESSY
FERNANDES
TERESA
JULIANA
SANIYA
& FRANCESCO
NANCY
CHRISTA
FEUERSTAKE
ANNA
PATRICIA
GONANO
CHRISTINA
LUGUN
THANK
YOU!
Sunday.
9.30 am mass:-Val, Branca &Lisa
Sunday.
11.30am mass- Erica, Amy, Rose.
