Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
From The Font
“As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”
The idea of “being saved” once and for all is simply unbiblical. From today’s Gospel to the story of the seeds and the sower where some seed falls in shallow soil, grows quickly, and just as quickly dies, the Lord speaks all too often about those who follow Him only to abandon Him. This is why Christianity is a religion first and foremost of human failure and repentance (Catholicism) rather than a religion of singular acts of saving faith (Calvinism & Lutheranism). And while this can be jarring for those raised among ideas like “sola scriptura,” “sola fides,” and the like. It’s really a statement of profound consolation… St. Paul reminds us that “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” So too, all of us have gone from being disciples of Jesus in some aspect of our lives and then returning to our former ways of sin. For some of us, this turning from the Lord may have been dramatic and for some of us it may have been subtle. Still, for all of us, sin and repentance is the hallmark of the Christian journey. And while one in a million of us may have that self-control and sheer force of will to avoid expressing any sin with our actions, every single one of us sins every day. Every single one of us “no longer accompanies” Jesus for some moments each day. And so each Christian is forced to confront himself with the choice to stop walking away from the Lord, to turn back to him (as Hosea the Prophet says), and to accompany Him once again.
It’s hard enough to do that when my own sin is involved. In some ways, though, it’s more difficult to do when we’re confronted with one of the hard sayings of Jesus that demands of us more than mere obedience to a rule, but a change of mind and heart. Of course, every repentance of sin demands a certain change of heart. Sometimes that’s easy and sometimes it isn’t. As we read today’s Gospel and as we more deeply consider the entirety of our Faith, it helps to think about every difficult teaching and each of our daily decisions through the lens of this constant change of heart. Fortunately, the Lord is good and His love in itself changes and forms and remakes our hearts daily if we let Him! If we let Him, Jesus will transform our hearts into mansions within which He will dwell!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
In Bangladesh, computer hacking is one of the top-paying jobs you can have… There are a ton of options for you to choose from. It seems bizarre, but that life intersects ours in the form of a type of hacking called “spear-fishing.” Hackers write a little script that looks for priests and pastors on websites and social media. The script then compiles people who seem to be associated with that priest and cross-references those people with public phone directories. Then, one of these paid “hackers” will start working their way through the list texting people and claiming to be their pastor. They lay out a sob story about someone in need and how the pastor wants to give them money in the form of a gift card but he’s busy at the moment. So the “pastor” asks the individual to buy $100 or $500 of these gift cards and text him the secret code on the back. The hackers redeem the cards and no one is the wiser until the victim asks for the pastor for the money.
Be assured that I will NEVER text you a request for money or this kind of errand. If you ever get a text like this, PLEASE CALL ME RIGHT AWAY! Also, please consider putting my phone number (at the bottom of this printed page) in your own phone so that you know it’s me or it’s not me.
Most of us will have seen in the news that it’s not just hackers and well-meaning but unwitting parishioners who are in real trouble because of their phones nowadays. At least four priests and two bishops are in hot water at the moment because of their phones… Thankfully, we’ve reached the point where those men have been removed from ministry quickly and decisively. But their sins and the crimes of the hackers is an important reminder for all of us of the dangers that we face from carrying around an always-online, always-connected computer with microphones, cameras, and GPS. Every single website we visit, app we use, map we follow, word we say, and step we take are tracked. That’s not tin-foil hat thinking, it’s in Apple’s Terms of Service. And whether you’re on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Orange, or whoever, every packet of data that gets sent across their network is visible to them. Whether it’s checking sports scores or sending a text message to your doctor, there simply is no possibility of privacy. The age of privacy is dead and gone.
As Christians, this is something that the Lord told us to expect - not necessarily in a societal way, but in a real and consequential way. We read in Luke 12:2 that “there is nothing concealed which will not be revealed… What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.” For better or worse, that reality is no longer merely personal, it’s communal and basically absolute.
So, whether it’s getting “spear-fished” by an imposter-Fr-Ryan or being tracked and traced by the sinister, but very real machinations of our phone company, internet provider, or social media services, we need to be more cautious than ever about how we lead our lives in public and in private. The world is changing, but our Faith can and will direct us through it.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Fred Wyly/Magoun
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Lillie “Mame” Jumonville/family
- Wed 9:00a For a special Magoun family anniversary
- Thurs 9:00a in memory of Rosa Gremshell
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Kirby and Paul Fortenberry/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/P Gilfoil
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche & Skeeter Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8/21 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 8/22 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, and Maura | B Sullivan |
| 8/28 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 8/29 9:00a | Preston and Evelyn | C Guizerix |
| 9/4 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 9/5 9:00a | Chandler, Cooper, Maura | Volunteer |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- August 22 RESUME SUNDAY MORNING CATECHISM in Hall after 9:00 a.m. Mass.
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 with the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
ARE YOU INTERESTED, OR KNOW OF ANYONE INTERESTED….in a piano that is in the Church Hall. Originally, the piano belonged to Pearl Luckett, grandmother of Abby Wood Ellerbee, and was given to the church when Pearl’s household was dispersed. If you are interested, please contact the Church Office. Also, there is a dining table and 3 straight back chairs that are looking for a new home as well as two wing back chairs (one gold and one hunter green) AND 2 couches (one is a hide-a-bed)….again, contact the Office if interested.
CONGRATULATIONS…..to Jared and Ainslie Oliver Duff on the birth of their second son, ANDERSON KIRK DUFF born August 12, 2021. Weighing 9 pounds 9 ounces, Anderson was 22 inches long. Big brother, John Oliver, welcomed him home along with our parishioners, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver!
Stewardship “In today’s first reading, Joshua challenges the people to decide whom they will serve. Recalling God’s faithfulness to them and to their ancestors, the people declare, “We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” May we, too, be mindful of God’s gifts to us and renew our commitment to serve Him with grateful hearts.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| July Budget | $ 8,444 |
| July Income | $ 7,574 |
| July Expenses | $ 9,001 |
| August Budget | $ 8,444 |
| August 14/15 Collection | $ 1,959 |
| August Income To Date | $ 6,412 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Elizabeth Crothers (Aug 21), Will Donham (Aug 23), Bruce Copes (Aug 29)
Happy Anniversary Susan and Johnny Gilfoil (Aug 22), Mary Jane and Sidney Johnson (Aug 26), Kendra and Dave Collins (Aug 29)
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 Holy Father Pope Francis and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; 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, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Harper Bedgood, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Mary Ernst, Monique Florence, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Charlotte Marsh and Lance and Stephenie, Brittany and Brian McFall, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning, Sharon Hansen of Gonzales
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Jenna Faye Allen (Florence), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Molly Corulla, Sara Cannon (Gilfoil), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Carol Dipert (Rome), Jared and Ainslie Oliver Duff, Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Sharon Jackson (Wilks), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Cameron and Katie Murphy Murray, Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson, Lee and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Theresa and Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Elaine and James Trimble (Rome), Teresa Vidrine (Wilks), George and Katie Magoun Williams, Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Calli Ezell, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver, Bailey Rome, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood
Those Catholics residing at Christian Acres, Louisiana Transitional Center for Women, and our local Detention Centers and for their families and loved ones.