The 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From the Scriptures
Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground.
It’s hard to overstate how much effect speakers and microphones have had on preaching and teaching. Before amplification, any speech given to a group of more than fifteen or twenty needed a specially-designed room or space. A trained speaker or actor can be heard by a thousand or so people from a raised dais or in a Greek theater. That’s part of the reason that most of the sermons Jesus gave were given in the temple (where there were plenty of raised rostra from which to speak) or on a mountain side (where the people could arrange themselves like a Greek theater).
For the most famous part of His most famous sermon, Jesus deliberately walks down from the mount (from which the “Sermon on the Mount” gets its name) and stands on level ground with His listeners. While it would have been much harder to hear, the symbolism would have made it worth it. The so-called Beatitudes (a name taken from the Latin word for “Blessed are you”) are spoken not from above but from a place of shared rank. It’s not quite about equality (which is a VERY modern and deeply problematic idea) but rather about God descending among us in order to raise us up beyond where we could raise ourselves.
In just the same way that an adult has to bend down to talk face to face with a toddler, so the Lord must descend from Heaven to speak with us. And just as that adult must bend down in order to pick up the toddler, so God descends among us to lift us up to a higher place than we could achieve on our own.
Now, sharp readers will note that the Gospel today isn’t actually the “official” Beatitudes, those are found in Matthew’s recounting of this sermon… Good catch! Both Matthew’s version (Mt 5-7) and Luke’s tell about the same sermon, they just choose different sections of it to record in their Gospels.
Nowadays, we tend to think of sermons as 10-20 minute speeches with a structure and, hopefully, a clear starting and stopping point. But for Jesus, sermons could go on for hours and include meals and Q&A and a few healings and a few venue changes. Oh, how times have changed…
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The Beatitudes, found in today’s Gospel (Mt 5:3-12), and the Our Father (Mt 6:9-13) are two fundamental teachings of Jesus that together outline the path and spirit of Christian living. Both passages, when examined side by side, reveal a profound interplay that illuminates the essence of Christian ethics and spirituality.
The Beatitudes begin with, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3). This first beatitude sets the tone for a life of humility and dependence on God, which resonates with the initial line of the Our Father, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Mt 6:9). Here, holiness is attributed to God, suggesting that true blessedness comes from recognizing our spiritual poverty and aligning our lives with His sanctity.
The third beatitude, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land" (Mt 5:5), speaks to those who submit their will to God's, a theme that finds echo in "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven" (Mt 6:10). Both teachings emphasize the surrender of personal ambition to divine purpose, advocating for a life where God's will supersedes our own.
Mercy and forgiveness are central to both passages. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Mt 5:7) directly corresponds with the plea in the Our Father, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Mt 6:12). This parallel underscores the Christian principle that the grace we receive is often measured by the grace we extend to others.
The beatitude, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God" (Mt 5:8), speaks to an internal purity and sincerity which is necessary for true prayer, as reflected in the simplicity and trust of the Our Father. This purity of heart enables one to engage with God not just through words but in spirit and truth, aligning with the authenticity required to address God as "Our Father."
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Mt 5:9) aligns with the invocation for God's Kingdom to come. Peace is not merely an absence of conflict but an active pursuit of justice and love, mirroring the Kingdom where God's will reigns supreme. The Our Father thus becomes a prayer for peace through divine governance.
The last beatitudes address the inevitability of persecution for righteousness ("Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:10), which finds a counterpart in the enduring trust and reliance on God's providence in the Our Father. The prayer concludes with "deliver us from the evil one" (Mt 6:13), asking for strength and protection amidst life's trials.
Both the Beatitudes and the Our Father are not separate teachings, they are interconnected and offer a blueprint for living a life that is both spiritually rich and ethically grounded. They teach us to approach God with humility, seek His will, practice works of mercy, maintain purity of heart, pursue peace, and persevere in faith... In sum, together, they encapsulate the essence of Christian discipleship.
From the Saints
"The Beatitudes are the perfect standard of the Christian life." -- St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
"The blessed of whom Jesus speaks are not those bereaving the death of a spouse or the loss of cherished servants. Rather, he is speaking of those blessed persons who do not cease to mourn over the iniquity of the world or the offenses of sinners with a pious, duty-bound sentiment." -- St. Chromatius (d. 405)
"The Beatitudes are a new program of life, to free oneself from the false values of the world and to open oneself to the true goods, present and future." -- Pope St John Paul II
“The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise him to the greatest extent of our powers.” -- St Maximillian Kolbe
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat and Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva and R.L. Reynolds
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of Payton Trichell (birth)/family
- Tue No Mass
- Wed 9:00a In memory of John Johnson(birth)/family
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills/Massey Legacy
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York/Ervin
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Vicki Morelli/Ernst
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning in memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | M Ernst |
| 2/16 9:30a | Courtland & Cooper | Youth - Michael M | - |
| 2/22 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | N Ernst |
| 2/23 9:30a | Annie and Thomas Meyers | C Guizerix | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- Feb 19 Pastoral Council Meeting - 6 p.m. - Church Hall
- Mar 2 Potluck Brunch to celebrate Mardi Gras - First Quarter Social - after Mass
For Your Information:
FORMED.ORG… 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 https://signup.formed.org
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. THE WORD AMONG US… Pick up the February copy at the entrance of church for your daily meditation.
FIRST QUARTER SOCIAL: The First Quarter (Jan, Feb, March) Social Committee will organize a Potluck Brunch for March 2 following Sunday Mass. Margo Corulla and Darryl and Abby Ellerbee (co-chairs), Norman and Marie Ernst, Katherine Ernst Bedgood, Brian Johnson, Sidney and Mary Jane Johnson, Robbie and Tori Kivett, Brian and Brittany McFall, Ed Mills, Billy and Courtney Nadeau, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, Mike and Sue Rome, Jason Trichell, Mary Trichell, and Levi Washington make up the committee. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the Mardi Gras fun!
Stewardship The words of the psalmist echo the theme of all of today’s readings. “Happy are they who hope in the Lord.” As good stewards, firmly grounded in that hope, may we bear fruit in due season–assisting the poor, feeding the hungry, and consoling the sorrowful whenever we have the chance
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| January Budget | $ 8,444 |
| January Collections | $ 9,518 |
| January Total Expenses | $ 7,591 |
| February Budget | $ 8,444 |
| February 9 Collection | $ 5,226 |
| February Collections To Date | $ 7,735 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Tim Harris (Feb 15)
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, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Alyssa Oliver, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Kenny and Betty Smith
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne Edwards, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Emily Fortenberry, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Callie Halback Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu March, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
