Deacon Larry Chyba (St. Richard Parish, Chicago, Illinois)
Before we kick back in our lawn chairs & fire up our barbecues to celebrate the 4th of July, let’s listen to the buzz on the streets. Once again our Pope Francis is making headlines with his newest encyclical, “Laudato Si, on the care of our common home.” The secular media is branding it as the Holy Father’s talk on global warming & politicians are divided if he even has the right to discuss any topic.. However, if you really want to learn more about it, you can read the entire letter online by visiting the usccb.org website or the Vatican.va website for more info. Truly, the Pope’s message says that we all need to be good stewards of God’s creation, especially the creation of l human life, our babies.
Maybe because I am older, I think about the money spent on all the illegal fireworks as well as those who may be injured by them. My advice, stay healthy & leave the displays to the professionals. It will still be a great holiday!
For most of us the last time we read the Declaration of Independence document we were in high school, but the importance of it should not be forgotten, that all men were given “inalienable rights of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness by our Creator, God.” So take time to thank our Almighty God for these wonderful freedoms. Work to protect them, especially our religious freedom.
Join others each year during “Fortnight for Freedom” which starts June 21st and ends on July 4th, in praying for the protection of these freedoms. Learn more about it on the webpage of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops: www.usccb.org. It’s a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More & St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter & Paul, & the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.
The theme of this year’s “Fortnight for Freedom” focuses on the “Freedom to bear witness” to the truth of the Gospel. Perhaps there is some of us who know people who believe they can be independent of God. Pray for them. It’s very sad when I hear from someone they don’t need to go to church to receive the sacraments because they pray privately at home. I don’t know about you, but when I pray to God, I feel His invitation to pray in community at the Mass with the whole family of God. We all need family, including our family of the Church for life & the pursuit of happiness. What would our relationship be if we never spoke to anyone, never sat down & ate with anyone, never shared with anyone? Sad. The same goes for God, if we His children never seek a relationship with Him. He loves us unconditionally, so don’t declare your independence from God. Prayers work. You have to trust me on this. Please don’t misunderstand me, if you are homebound or infirmed, that’s why our ministers of care bring Jesus to you. Please make a phone call the rectory or talk to your deacons about anyone who needs the visits of weekly Holy Communion.
Let’s recall the good news of the gospel ( ) which tells the stories of two people dependent on the mercy of God’s healing, the soldier with the dying daughter & the lady who had uncontrolled bleeding. Their faith in Jesus was the deciding issue. Place your own faith in God’s unending love & mercy & perhaps you will receive your own miracle. They happen every day! I believe! Do you?
See you in church ?!
