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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 14, 2021

From The Font

“...In those days...”

Prophecy is a funny thing… As Christians, we definitely believe that God has a plan which He has been affecting through all of history. From the so-called Protogospel in Genesis 3, Jesus has been foreshadowed and not only the Incarnation of Jesus, but His second coming and the end of this creation…

Still, foreshadowing isn’t meaningful only in light of its fulfillment. The Christmas prophecy of the Virgin who will bear a child named Emmanuel doesn’t ONLY apply to Jesus. In fact, that verse is meaningful in all sorts of ways. Bible Study 101 reminds us that there are both literal and spiritual meanings of most every verse in the Bible. That applies as much to prophecies as it does to simple morals.

And so prophecy is a funny thing. Whenever we come across a phrase like “in those days,” the Bible is usually pulling out of the ordinary flow of time and calling to think about time and space and history in a very different way. Whether it’s the end of days that Jesus points to in the Gospel or the unknown future time of the Emmanuel prophecy or even the odd way that Daniel uses it in our first reading. Daniel, in particular, isn’t pointing to some radically different date. He’s talking about his own lifetime. But he’s thinking about time very differently than we usually do. He’s not saying “in 2016 by the Julian Calendar this or that will happen.” It’s more like the beginning of Revelation where St John is in a trance and feels far away in time and space from this moment. “In those days… in that time… in that frame of mind… I saw these things.”

The reason we care about little details like this boils down to the biblical equivalent of social cues. None of us reads Hebrew or Greek fluently. And so it’s VERY hard to get the sense of all the different tenses and literary techniques that give language its subtlety. These three little words - “In those days” - are a context clue which fills in the gap between Koine Greek with all its tenses and modern English with its relative lack of nuance. A single Greek word ending can imply that the verb of the sentence began long ago and then ended and then unexpectedly began again. That’s hard to translate! With just a few context clues, we can help ourselves out a lot.

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

Did you know that clocks actually move slower as the effects of gravity decrease? It’s not just the clock, it’s time itself. Time moves slower at high altitudes… It seems insane, but it was proven 100% true when the GPS system was being perfected… It’s bizarre.

Both the philosophical understanding and practical applications of time are hard for us because we are stuck inside of the question we’re asking. It’s hard the way that psychology and sociology and even politics are hard.

It’s the question of time that makes Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory hard to get our heads around. Heaven and Hell are not “ever-lasting,” they are “eternal.” “Ever-lasting” means that something goes on for infinitely many days - sort of like taxes… “Eternal” means that something exists separate from any sense of time passing - sort of like the experience of deep love. Heaven and Hell both exist eternally without any sense of time. Without time, things don’t occur one after another… There’s no possibility of change. Without time, there’s no series of events or new knowledge or understanding. There’s only the perfection of our union with (or separate from) God’s perfect love\peace\joy (which are indistinguishable from one another in eternity).

Purgatory, though, is different. Purgatory is a process and a process means change and development and a sense of learning. Processes exist in a temporal flow. It’s certainly not the same as our sense of time here and now, but it is a sense of some sort of time.

Perhaps your starting to see why this whole time thing is hard to get our heads around! The discoveries about time of Albert Einstein (which are called “time dilation” if you’re interested) actually provide a little help in understanding the philosophy of time. In the most common sense understanding of time: ...one thing happens after another in a fixed way... ...our perception of that change (work seems to last forever which a good day at the lake is over all too soon) is just a meaningless oddity… In reality, though, time itself is not just a function of perception, but a physical part of the universe. Remember that if this were false, GPS wouldn’t work… so there’s a certainty to this way of thinking.

As a spiritual parallel, the version of time which exists in Purgatory is not merely a perception or an intellectual exercise of Catholics, but something which we would expect and predict based upon the rational and the dogmatic aspects of our Faith.

God hasn’t chosen to reveal any more detail about Purgatory than its existence and the nature of time-flow within it. But, really, that’s enough for us to get a basic idea of what it is and why it is.

Just as time in this life is a genuine function of God’s love and mercy, so time in Purgatory is a genuine function of God’s love and mercy. The absence of time in Heaven also speaks of God’s love, but not so much of His merciful love as of His eternal, perfection of love. Of course, there’s more to say, but maybe this will serve as food for thought and prayer in this month of prayer for our Dearly Departed.

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

  • Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald Trichell/family
  • Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
  • Mon NO MASS
  • Tue NO MASS
  • Wed 9:00a In memory of Inez, C.B., and Claude DeMoss/family
  • Thu 9:00a In memory of Kirby and Paul Fortenberry/family
  • Fri 5:30p In memory of Anna May Farlow/family
  • Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/Rome
  • Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish

ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date Servers Lector(s)
11/13 5:30p None Scheduled L Bullard
11/14 9:00a Maura and Evelyn Guizerix
11/20 5:30p None Scheduled A Farlow
11/21 9:00a Preston, Evelyn, Courtland Youth
11/27 5:30p None Scheduled M Rome
11/28 9:00a Caroline, Cooper, Marsh A Oliver

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

  • Nov 16 Pastoral Council Meeting– Parish Hall – 6 p.m.

  • Nov 17 Wednesday Evening Catechism– Parish Hall – 6 p.m.-- Topic: Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

  • Nov 21 Thanksgiving Potluck - Parish Hall - following 9:30 a.m. Mass

For Your Information:

NO WEEKDAY MASS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 … as Father Ryan will be out of town on family business.

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.

MAUSOLEUM COMMITTEE… appointed to serve as the committee working under the leadership of Michael Lancaster, Chairperson, with regard to development of the Mausoleum on our property are Sidney Johnson, Louise Magoun, and Mike Rome.

RENOVATION TO THE CHURCH… after First Communion and Confirmation are over in May 2022, the Pastoral Council has voted to replace the ceiling in the Church. During the repair time, Mass will be held in the Church Hall. Appointed to serve on the committee for renovation are MaryKathryn Book, Norman Ernst, Buda Evans, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Jamie Howington, C.W. Keene, Michael Lancaster, Cathy VanderVieren, and, ex-officio, Darryl Ellerbee, Finance Council Chairman. The group will determine what the needs are, what action should take place, develop specifications, put out for bid and determine a contractor, and supervise the construction. If you have thoughts, please share with the Committee and/or Father Ryan.

PASTORAL COUNCIL….will hold its regular meeting on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, at 6:00 p.m in the Church Center. Appointed members of the Council: MaryKathryn Book, Kendra Collins, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Louise Magoun, Levi Washington, and Blanche Wilks. Appointed as Trustees by the Bishop are Michel Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. Appointed by the pastor to serve as Finance Council Chair is Darryl Ellerbee. All members are requested to make a special effort to attend. Parishioners are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussions.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CATECHISM…In the Church Hall at 6 p.m. This month’s topic is “The Rosary-The Joyful Mysteries.” Father will answer questions after the presentation. Guests are welcome!

FOURTH QUARTER SOCIAL … Sunday, November 21 in the Church Hall following 9:30 a.m. Mass, we will have a Potluck Brunch to celebrate the Thanksgiving season. All faith family members as well as family and friends are encouraged to participate in this event! The Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) Social Committee is comprised of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun who will serve as chairs, and other members include Dorothy Dyer, Leslye Ellerbee, Carol and Jerry Ezell, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Sherry Lynn and Timmy Harris, Michael Lancaster, Billy and Ginny Marsh, William and Sharyn Marsh, Hannah McCartney, Sug Regan, Don Wood, Robert Wood, Edward and Margaret Yerger

CONGRATULATIONS… to our parishioners, Teddy and Alyssa Oliver, whose grandson, ANDERSON KIRK DUFF, was baptised on Sunday, November 7 at St. Edward. ANDERSON and big brother, John Oliver, are the children of Jared and Ainslie Oliver Duff. Anderson was born August 12, 2021 in West Monroe.

PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON… Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us from all harm during this Hurricane Season. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Amen. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to our help!

Stewardship The readings today speak of the end of the world and the coming of the Kingdom. The bishops’ pastoral on stewardship says clearly that “that 'life to come’ is in continuity with this present life through the human goods, the worthy human purposes, which people foster now.” May our good stewardship cause us to be numbered among the chosen on the last day!

Second Collection… to support Radio Maria in the Diocese.

Our Return to the Lord
Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 $ 2,111
October Budget $ 8,444
October Income $ 9,666
October Expenses $ 8,612
November Budget $ 8,444
November 6/7 collection $ 3,301
November To Date $ 3,301

Let us Rejoice in the Lord!

Happy Birthday Brian McFall (Nov 13), Cathy VanDerVieren (Nov 13), Isabel Hernandez (Nov 19), Libby Bullard (Nov 20)

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: 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, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood

Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning

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), Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Carroll Holmes and family (Keene), Lyn and Calvin Lisonbee (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin-Mills (M Gilfoil), Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), John and Martha Rogan, Lee and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Theresa and Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Elaine and James Trimble (Rome), Teresa Vidrine (Wilks), 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.