The Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"
When it comes to understanding the Bible, there is the surface level of the event itself and then there are spiritual meanings beneath that surface. In this Gospel, the surface meaning is easy enough - Jesus somehow multiplied the food so that a supply of food which should’ve fed about 10 people fed 500 times that number.
Beneath the surface, there are layers of meaning. There is, for example, a moral lesson to be learned about generosity and hospitality. There is an “anagogical” meaning as to how this passage relates to eternity and salvation... Unless we eat of this bread Jesus offers, we cannot be saved. There are also literary ways to consider the passage. St John has decided to tell this event in the life of Jesus just before he recounts the all-important Bread of Life sermon in which Jesus foreshadows the Holy Eucharist. And there are plenty of others...
One of the most fascinating types of scriptural interpretation is called the “Patristic method.” It comes from two great Fathers of the Church: St Basil the Great and St Gregory Nazianzen. All Christians should acknowledge that the Bible is profoundly layered and that nothing happens by accident... Even the choices of words and the ordering of events by Ss. Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. And because these early Fathers of the Church could read the Bible in its original Greek, they could suss out details that even the best English-only scholars can’t hope to notice.
In recent years, there’s been a resurgence of this kind of scholarship, led in many ways by Pope Benedict XVI. (He was such an amazing man!!) And in today’s Gospel, many Patristic scholars see in the five loaves and the two fish, the seven Sacraments. As Jesus multiplies the food but insists that the Apostles distribute it rather than Himself, so the Church distributes the Sacraments and their effects are multiplied far beyond what their physical aspects would seem to make possible.
When you’re reading scripture, it’s good to think as deeply as you can about what’s going on at every level - especially the deeply spiritual ones.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Many of the Bishops in the United States have come together to call for a “Eucharistic Revival.” Many of you will have seen the news of the Eucharistic Congress held this past week. Vatican II calls the Holy Eucharist the “Source and Summit of the Christian Faith.” Pope St. John Paul rightly noted that where people are more devoted to the Holy Eucharist - especially where Eucharistic Adoration is offered - everything just goes better!
On First Fridays and First Saturdays here at St. Edward, we expose the Holy Eucharist in a “monstrance” - an ornate display stand - to give us time to be with the Lord “face to face” so to speak. Those who participate find real benefits!
Of course, all of us have a taste of this with our First Sunday Benediction... On first Sundays, after Holy Communion, I expose the Holy Eucharist in the Monstrance along with a hymn called “O Salutaris Hostia.” We take a few moments in silent prayer. Then we sing another hymn called “Tantum Ergo Sacramentum.” Then I give the blessing for the end of Mass with the Holy Eucharist in the Monstrance. Then, we say the Divine Praises and we head out as usual.
Pope St. John Paul II had this say about Eucharistic Adoration:
The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full
of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.
American Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote in his autobiography (Treasure in Clay):
The [Eucharistic] Holy Hour is not a devotion; it is a sharing in the work of redemption. In the garden … Our Lord asked, ‘Could you not watch one hour with me?’ He asked for an hour of reparation to combat the hour of evil, an hour of victim union with the cross to overcome the anti-love of sin.
To find out more about Eucharistic Adoration, consider visiting these websites:
https://catholic-link.org/how-to-go-to-adoration-eucharist
https://watch.formed.org/eucharist
https://catholicworldmission.org/guide-to-eucharistic-adoration
https://www.omvusa.org/blog/what-is-eucharistic-adoration
https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/eucharistic-adoration
https://stpaulcenter.com/why-do-catholics-have-adoration
https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/adoration
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Racer and SeSe Holstead on the anniversary of their marriage/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Carol Folk LaHitte/P Lancaster
- Thurs 9:00a In memory of Irvin and Lee Rome/LeBeau
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Joseph Testa/Magoun
- Sat 5:30p In honor of the sixtieth wedding anniversary of Margaret and Pat Gilfoil
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Cathy VanderVieren
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/27 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | A Keene |
| 7/28 9:30a | MaryKatherine and Courtland | S Marsh | - |
| 8/3 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | M Ernst |
| 8/4 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | A Oliver | - |
| 8/10 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | L Magoun |
| 8/11 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | B Sullivan | - |
Stewardship
“The hand of the Lord feeds us, “says the psalmist, “he answers all our needs.” Both Elisha’s servant in the first reading and the disciples in the Gospel story who witnessed the feeding of the five thousand saw this happen and knew it to be true.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| June Budget | $ 10,555 |
| June Income | $ 11,651 |
| June Expenses | $ 10,913 |
| July Budget | $ 8,444 |
| July 20-21 Collection | $ 2,895 |
| July Income To Date | $ 6,770 |
Upcoming Events
Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
August 2 First Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 5:30 p.m.
August 3 First Saturday Devotions to our Blessed Mother-Mass and Holy Hour– 9 a.m.
August 3/4 First Sunday Benediction following Mass
August 18 Third Quarter Social will be a Potluck Brunch in the Hall following Mass. See notes elsewhere in the bulletin.
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
FIRST FRIDAY …. AUGUST 2...Holy Hour and Mass 5:30 p.m. ...make a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and attend first Friday devotions for nine consecutive months.
FIRST SATURDAY … AUGUST 3… Mass and Holy Hour … 9 a.m. Our Lady of Fatima called for special devotions to be offered on the first Saturday of each month. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION… …. AUGUST 3-4 at the conclusion of weekend Masses as part of our larger program to improve Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.
THIRD QUARTER SOCIAL…On Sunday, August 18 following Mass, we will have a Potluck Brunch in the Church Hall for all parishioners and guests. Hope you will join us for the faith family event. Giving leadership to the event will be the Third Quarter (July, Aug, Sept) Social Committee - Shannon and Bart Wood and Betty and Kenny Smith, co-chairs, MaryKathryn Book, Kendra and Dave Collins, Connie and Dan Copes, Dana and Randy Dukes, Kaci and Norman Ernst, Lance and Stephenie Marsh, Peggy and Phil Scurria, Beth and Chip Sullivan
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Enrique Paz (Aug 1), Louise Magoun (Aug 2)
Happy Anniversary Renee and Robert Wood (July 30), Blanche and Skeeter Wilks (August 1), Margaret and Pat Gilfoil (August 3)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope, Francis; our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Hannah McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry & Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Gail Gilfoil Graugnard, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” & Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, family of Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Gannon Sims, Robbie Sims, Keri Post, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON...Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during the Hurricane Season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hastened to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
