.=: T H I S W E E K E N D :=. from Father Pat Umberger __________________________________________________ P I L G R I M A G E 2 0 0 8 Southern Italy, Assisi, Rome and the Vatican - 10-22 November 2008 Assisi, Rome, the Vatican, Orvieto, Loreto, Lanciano, Sorrento, Capri, the Blue Grotto, Amalfi, Pompeii, Montecassino, Mt St. Angelo, San Giovanni Rotondo, the Wednesday audience with Pope Benedict XVI and more! Departing from 3 Cities: La Crosse, WI, Chicago (ORD) and New York (JFK) At least 18 of the 26 seats we're holding from La Crosse have already been taken. Use the brochure ... on-line at www.frpat.com or pick up a brochure in Church! __________________________________________________ .=: V O L U M E 2 0 0 8 , Number 08-17 :=. .=: T H I S W E E K E N D ' S S C R I P T U R E S :=. Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Weekend of 16 and 17 August 2008 "Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. I we would consistently "observe what is right, do what is just," how would our lives change? How would our relationships with others change? "I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" ""Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." Why would this request attract the attention of Jesus? Of others who lived around this woman? He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Who are the people and groups that don't "belong" to the circle of people we find "worthy" of friendship? She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." If we were to hear similar words from people we look down upon, how would that touch us? Would it move us beyond our own personal prejudices, or would we simply force ourselves not to listen? Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour. What does "great faith" look like? Who do we know who exhibits this trust in God consistently? How can we cultivate this "great faith?" How are these readings challenging? Comforting? .=: S P I R I T U A L R E F L E C T I O N :=. "Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass." Jesus' response is to a Canaanite woman requesting healing for her daughter. Jesus and his disciples responded to her because of her persistence, and because they couldn't ignore her faith. Sometimes it is harder to appreciate the faith of those around us we see as different. We can come to believe that churchgoers, the wealthy, the educated, the clean, the Polish, the German, the Norwegians, the Irish, the "nice people" who look and act like us are the ones most worthy of God's love and attention. Sometimes we need to look a little deeper, as Jesus did with the Canaanite woman. When God looks at us, he sees the goodness He has put into us. He stands ready to help us use that goodness to do good, to help His Kingdom to grow by the gratitude we show through sharing His gifts with others. School starts soon. We might already be worrying about the things our kids will be exposed to. We may have already pre-judged some of the kids in their class. It's good for us to be wary of behavior that might rub of onto our own children. Still, it's dangerous not to allow for the growth of their friends. In helping them to avoid wrongdoing it can be better for us to speak of wrong behaviors more strongly than the names of those we don't like. In speaking of races and groups of people it can be better for us to take a look at behaviors that are less than worthy, rather than groups or races. We too encounter many people in our dealings each week. There may be newcomers to our city and area. We might work with those who come from different cultural traditions. Some may even speak a different language. It is easy for us to respond to those who seem different with fear and suspicion. We can easily pass on that fear to our children and grandchildren as well. We can do that through comments, jokes and stories. We can make casual comments that we hardly notice. Yet they influence the opinion of a whole new generation. We hope we'll all be together one day in heaven. God has given us some time here on earth to get ready! It is good for us to consider from time to time, the people we see as less than ourselves. Then we need to remember God's love for them and His call for us to reflect that love as well. This week we can spend some time considering our oneness with all people God has made. We can examine our own prejudices and the ways we pass them on to still another generation by what we say or do, or the example we give. We can look first for the good in those around us, especially when we are tempted to stop looking when we see the flaws. We can suspend judgment on those closest to us, our sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, friends and co-workers, simply loving them and looking for the good that is there. Jesus Himself looked past the Caananite woman. Through her persistence He and His disciples came to see the faith and love that was in her. As she begs Jesus for help, insisting, "even the dogs eat the leavings that fall from their masters' tables," He replies, "Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass." That very moment her daughter got better! This week we can take another look at our own personal prejudices. Sometimes we can trace them to our parents and grandparents. They can be reinforced by news media and supported by the stories we listen to. We can take another look at those around us and realize that we are all children of God, and called to treat one another that way. Have a good week! (c)MMVIII Fr. Pat Umberger. This Spiritual Reflection is found each week at the Web Site www.frpat.com. Feel free to link to this page or reproduce them for parish use as long as this credit remains. __________________________________________________ <TW>This Weekend is free, and comes from: Father Pat Umberger, a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin U.S.A. Web Site: www.frpat.com Evangelization (reaching out): www.cmonback.com .=: M A K E A D O N A T I O N ? :=. www.frpat.com/donation.htm .=: F O R W A R D I N G :=. Please leave these credits when doing so. .=: C H A N G E Y O U R S U B S C R I P T I O N :=. Unsubscribe from your old address before you subscribe with your new address. 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