Mass and Confession Schedule
Sunday
7:30am⎪9am (ASL Interpreted)⎪10:30am⎪10:30am church⎪12:30pm⎪5:30pm Filipino Mass every 4th Sunday 4pm
Weekdays
6:30am(Except Federal Holidays) ⎪8am⎪11am⎪5:30pm
Saturday
8am⎪11am⎪5:30pm (Fullfills Sunday Obligation)
Holy Days of Obligation
Eve Before the Feast - 5:30pm
Feast Day - 6:30am⎪8am⎪11am⎪5:30pm
Sacrament Of Reconciliation (Confession)
Saturday: 4- 5pm & after 5:30pm Mass
Daily: After 11am Mass
Pastor's Column
June 16, 2013
In our reading from the second book of Samuel, Nathan shows King David that he is a rich man who has been blessed by the Lord but has “stolen” from another man and had him killed to in order to get his only possession—his wife. David realizes the evil he has committed by having an affair with Bathsheba and having her husband, Uriah the Hittite, murdered. Here is the chosen one of God who has committed adultery and premeditated murder. Coming to his senses, King David responds, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answers, “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.” We see the fullness of mercy that comes from God who does not wish sinners to die but to live.
Today’s second reading comes from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. He is explaining justification in light of Jesus Christ. The Jewish understanding of justification at the time of Paul was observing the Law of Moses. He states that human endeavor cannot justify anyone. Rather it is faith, total dedication of self to God in the Lord Jesus that leads to salvation. To know oneself to be loved by Christ, loved gratuitously, with no merit—this is the key to justification. We are not “justified” as by a verdict of acquittal, still less through any consideration of personal merit, but by the gift of grace acquired by the death of Christ and by the faith that makes us enter into new life with Him.
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus has been invited to dinner by a Pharisee. While at dinner, “a sinful woman in the city” comes unexpectedly to the house. Her intrusion into the house becomes a shock to all of the guests. She kneels at the feet of Jesus, washes his feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, she kisses his feet, and anoints his feet with expensive perfume. The host, Simon, says to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus declares the woman’s sins forgiven and the guests are scandalized. Only God can forgive sins and the woman has recognized who Jesus is—the Son of God. Jesus says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Her faith is an acknowledgement of the gratuity of salvation—all things are possible with God. The forgiveness of sins raises her up and sets her on her way, toward the cross of glory, toward the paschal mystery. In faith, we approach the Lord Jesus as we confess our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation and He forgives our sins and by His grace we are healed.
May God bless all of you,
Father Ron
