Jesus Takes Up His Cross second Sunday of Lent

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1 Blessed Sacrament Church "I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven. If any man eats of this Bread, he shall live forever; and the Bread I will give, is My Flesh." John 6:51-52 SCHEDULE OF MASSES LORD S DAY: Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:30 a.m. HOLYDAYS: Vigil: 6:00 p.m. Holyday: 9:00 a.m. WEEKDAYS: 9:00 a.m. SATURDAYS: First Saturdays only: 8:00 a.m. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment Jesus Takes Up His Cross second Sunday of Lent And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple cloak, and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him. Mark 15:20 BAPTISM: As part of the preparation process an interview with the Pastor and two instructional sessions are required. Please contact Laurie at ENGAGED COUPLES: Arrangements for your marriage must be made at least nine months in advance of the marriage date. NEW PARISHIONERS: We welcome you and ask that you register at the Rectory. We want to know and serve you! We hope that you will favor your parish with your prayers, your presence and your talents. Pastor Rev. Timothy J. Campoli Church Rectory 221 Federal Street 182 High Street Greenfield, MA Greenfield, MA blessedsacramentgreenfieldma.org (413) Deacons Deacon John Leary Deacon George Nolan (413) (C) (413) deaconjohnleary@gmail.com gnolan5366@gmail.com Director of Religious Organist Education/Child Advocate Choir Director Laurie Tilton Stephen Glover lltilton2@gmail.com Alternatives Pregnancy Ctr. Calvary Cemetery Pregnancy Tests, Counseling, Support Wisdom Way Post Abortion Support Greenfield (413) Hispanic Ministry Sr. Caritina Olmos, M.P.S. Natural Family Planning Ed & Suzi Cottrill Sr. Rosa Torres, M.P.S Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place in the side chapel twenty-four hours a day, every day. All are welcome to come and worship and adore our Eucharistic Lord. Could you not watch one hour with Me? Matthew 26:40

2 Blessed Sacrament Church Greenfield, MA Weekend of March 23 & 24 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Saturday, March 23 4:00 Deacon John Leary Jason Semaski Francis Campbell Kerry Semaski Monica McCarthy Bill Randall Joanne Yestramski Hannah Lively Winston LaBelle SATURDAY, MARCH 16 TH (Fr. Di Mascola) 4:00 Janet Zilch by Mike Zilch SUNDAY, MARCH 17 TH Second Sunday of Lent (Deacon Culliton) 10:30 Martin Leo and Frances B. Coyne MONDAY, MARCH 18 TH St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Fr. Aksamit) 9:00 Michael Joseph Elwell by Sharon & Mark Elwell 6:30 Stations of the Cross TUESDAY, MARCH 19 TH St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Fr. Lunney) 9:00 Grace and Blessings for Fr. Joseph Medio by Laurie WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 TH (Deacon DeCarlo) 9:00 Grace and Blessings for Mary Filiault by Mom THURSDAY, MARCH 21 ST (Fr. Goni) 9:00 Ignatius Cardinal Kung by Betty Fritz FRIDAY, MARCH 22 ND (Deacon Nolan) 9:00 Joyce Tilton by Laurie SATURDAY, MARCH 23 RD St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (Fr. O Connor) 4:00 Annie & Andrew Dedinas by Birute Hanley SUNDAY, MARCH 24 TH Third Sunday of Lent (Fr. Bermudez) 10:30 Blanche Edes by Jackie Jurewicz *************************************************** REMINDER: Please join with us in praying the Rosary before each daily Mass at 8:15 a.m. and before the 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mass. Confessions after each weekend Mass. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel. All are invited to come and pray with us. Blessed Sacrament has a Prayer Chain which is available for anyone. Simply contact Marie Boynton at or memeboynton@comcast.net with your petition. Sponsor Certificates - Many parishes require certificates of sponsorship for Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors. These will be issued only to those who are confirmed adult Catholics, registered in the parish, regular participants at Mass, validly married in the Church (if applicable) and providing for the religious education of their own children (if applicable). 10:30 Deacon John Leary Judy Lapointe Donna Leary Bob O Connor Lionel Martin Suzanne Hunter Joyce Thibodo Mary Jane Bardwell Bob Page Holy Trinity Church Weekend Mass Schedule Poet s Seat Nursing Home: Lectors / Cantors: Sat., March 23 Sun., March 24 Sunday: 8:00 a.m and 10:30 a.m. Deacon John & Donna Leary 4:00 Wayne Cottrill / Betsy Grybko 10:30 Dennis Roux / Jane Winchester Greeters: 4:00 Prima Chadwick, Hannah Lively 10:30 Alex Duda Saturday, March 23 4:00 John Semaski, Joshua Semaski 10:30 Jacob Christi, Ezra Christi

3 March 17, 2019 Requiescat In Pace Lucille A. Harris Elizabeth A. Roy For the Glory of God and in memory of Stella Lachapelle a donation was made to Blessed Sacrament Church from Deerfield Police Relief Association, Susan & Thomas Neal and Thomas & Gina Stone. God Bless you! The Sanctuary Candle will burn this week in memory/honor: Mini McCrea - from Mary & Jim Greene The Adoration Chapel Candles will burn this week in memory/honor of: 1.) Albert LeBeau, Jr. from Marie Boynton 2.) Mildred LeBeau from Marie Boynton 3.) Alfred LeBeau, Sr. from Marie Boynton 4.) Patricia Duffey - from Robert Earley Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross will be prayed every Monday evening during Lent at 6:30 p.m. Food Pantry Please remember to leave your non-perishable food donations at the doors of the church for our Food Pantry. We especially need cereal, peanut butter, baked beans, canned ravioli, and tuna fish. Want to Send a Birthday Greeting? A volunteer is needed to send Birthday cards to the shut-ins of our parish. Cards and stamps are provided. If you would like to help, please call the rectory. Thank you! Knights of Columbus Council #133 Meetings 3 rd Thursday, 7:00 p.m. Fr. Casey Hall, Holy Trinity Church We are looking for new members. If interested, please contact Jason Semaski ( ) or Jay Dillon ( ). Knights of Columbus Scholarships The Knights of Columbus have two (2) one thousand dollar scholarships available to a 2019 high school graduate who lives in Greenfield, is a practicing Catholic and who is a member of either Blessed Sacrament or Holy Trinity Parish. Applications are available from Lionel Martin ( ) at 22 Union Street in Greenfield. Closing deadline is April 1 st. Annual Catholic Appeal Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Our Faith in Action - the Annual Catholic Appeal is underway. We are called to hear the Gospel and put it into action. Your combined contributions reach the unborn, children at risk, the sick, the elderly, the dying. Reaching into all four counties of Western Mass, you help to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe those in need. This is the 60 th year Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield have answered the needs of their neighbors. Please take a donation envelope or contribute on line at and be as generous as you can. Our Lady of the Hills Pot Roast Dinner Our Lady of the Hills Parish, Route 9 in Haydenville, will be holding its Annual Famous Pot Roast Dinner on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a homemade Pot Roast Dinner with all of the fixings rolls, beverage and dessert. Adults - $15, Children up to 12 years old - $5 and children under four are free. Takeout is available. Tickets may be purchased by calling (413) Monday Thursday during office hours (9 A.M. to 1 P.M.). Second Sunday of Lent Spiritual Food for Thought "Be gentle to all, and stern with yourself." St. Teresa of Avila Prayer Services On Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m., there will be two diocesan Prayer Services for Healing, in response to the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The prayer services will be held simultaneously at St. Michael s Cathedral, 254 State St., in Springfield and at St. Joseph Church, 414 North St., in Pittsfield. All are invited and encouraged to attend. Crisis of Abuse Listening and Dialogue Sessions Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski invites the Catholic community in western Massachusetts to participate in one of four regional listening/dialogue sessions addressing the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The sessions will allow the faithful to make their concerns known, offer observations, and ask questions of the bishop and diocesan officials. The sessions are scheduled for Monday, March 18, at St. Mary Church, Westfield, from 7-8:30 p.m.; and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Northampton from 6-7:30 p.m. Second Annual Vermont Catholic Men s Conference Saturday, March 23 rd, 2019, 9:00AM 3:00PM, St. Anthony s Church, White River Junction, Vt. Four inspirational talks, opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, confession, and fellowship. Mass at midday with Bishop Christopher Coyne. Keynote speaker, former NFL coach Eric Sutulovich. Admission: adults $40, attendees 21 and younger $20. Lunch is included. Go to to register, or for more information call Diocesan organizer Deacon Phil Lawson: (802) x1453, or John Morin: (802) A Pilgrimage to Greece, Patmos, Ephesus Oct , 2019 Join us on a spiritual journey to many towns of the New Testament where St. Paul first spread the Good News. Also visit Patmos where St. John wrote Revelations and Mary s House in Ephesus. Fr. Timothy Campoli and Msgr. Ronald Yargeau are our Spiritual Directors. Daily Mass will take place. The cost is $4199. A bus to Logan will be arranged if there is interest. For a flyer and more info., please contact Helen Shea Murphy at or helensheamurphy@verizon.net. View the website at Back to Bach Extravaganza! The combined musical forces of a hundred musicians from the three historic downtown churches of Springfield (South Congregational Church, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel) will be presenting an all Bach program featuring a monumental cantata for chorus, soloists, and orchestra as first performed by Bach on Palm Sunday in 1714 (cantata no. 182 Heavens King, You Are Welcomed!). The concert will be at Christ Church Cathedral, corner of Chestnut and State Streets, on th at 4:00 PM. The American Guild of Organists sponsors the event. Easter Bazaar and Spring Gaik The annual Easter Bazaar and Spring Gaik will be held at Our Lady of Częstochowa Church, 84 K Street, Turners Falls, on Saturday, April 13 th from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the church undercroft and the St. Thérèse Catechism Center. Included will be a Polish food sale, items from Poland, religious goods, sacramental gifts, bake sale, Easter and spring crafts, Chinese raffle, white elephant table and more. Breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, call

4 Does John 3:16 Teach Eternal Security Through Faith Alone? By Steve Ray My mother asked me, How would you like fifty cents? I quickly responded, I would like it very much. What a silly question to ask an eight year old. Of course I would like fifty cents. Fifty cents was a lot of money when I was a little boy. My mother continued, Here is a Bible verse I want you to memorize, and when you can recite it perfectly, I will give you the money. And that is how I first learned and memorized some of the most well-known passages of the Bible. I memorized all of Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd... I learned Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, which was a constant reminder of the Bible s place of preeminence in my life, the sole rule of faith and practice. Of course the most important verse to be memorized by any Evangelical Protestant child is John 3:16. It is a verse that encapsules the Gospel of Christ in one elegant and pregnant sentence, a sentence that reaches to the heart of God and explains the essence of history and salvation in twenty-five short words. The key action words stand out with stark clarity: loved, gave, believe, perish, and have. We can possess (have) something because of God s act of love, and a response by man. The loving act of God in history, opened an otherwise locked and bolted door, providing man with an escape from damnation and an offer of eternal life. No one comes to the Bible, or any other information for that matter, with complete objectivity, without a tradition and mindset by which the information is filtered. Before finding the Catholic Church, my wife and I, like our Evangelical friends, held to the fundamentalist traditions of belief in Christ and justification by faith alone. Recently I was approached by a Fundamentalist who said that Abraham believed God and was made righteous (Gen. 15:6), and since the word believed is in the past tense, it meant that Abraham was saved in the instant He believed God. Abraham supposedly was saved and had eternal security from that point in time based upon his one-point-in-time mental assent. The Fundamentalist friend then moved to John 3:16 and tied Abraham s belief to our belief in Christ. There is an interesting twist with this verse that seemed to elude my Fundamentalist friend. I asked him if he had ever looked carefully at the tense of the action words in John 3:16. He hadn t, and because his tradition tells him that one-time-belief is the basis of salvation, he automatically understood John to mean that by a momentary mental assent to Christ, one could be assured of eternal security and a guaranteed place in heaven. I dissected the verse to give him the information he lacked, and which I had lacked all my life before Catholic Church. First a note about the action words. In Greek, the language of the New Testament there are many tenses for verbs. We will discuss two: aorist and present. The Aorist tense describes one point in time. It is as simple as that. Present is the current, ongoing present action. It is also as simple as that. Aorist is represented by a point (. ). Present is represented by a continuous line ( ). Now, with this simple understanding, lets look at John 3:16: John 3:16 For God so loved (aorist, a past point in time) the world, that he gave (aorist, a past point in time) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth (present, current, progressive action) in him should not perish (aorist, a past point in time), but have (present, current, progressive action) everlasting life. (KJV). Interesting, uh? The present tense that whosoever is believing in Him puts a different light on the verse. One would expect the word believe to be aorist, to show it s a once-and-for-all act, a one-point-intime event. I used to say, I believed in Christ on such and such a date so I know I am saved. But now I say, I did believe in Christ, I am believing in Christ and I am being saved. One could ask why Jesus switched to the present tense in a verse full of aorists. The present tense implies continually believing, a process of believing, and not the past mental assent I once thought.

5 Notice that have everlasting life is also in the present tense. It does not say you will have eternal life in the past or future, but that you will currently be having eternal life. One Greek Grammar explains the present tense this way, says, The present tense is basically linear or durative, ongoing in its kind of action. The durative notion may be expressed graphically by an unbroken line ( ), since the action is simply continuous. This is known as the progressive present. Refinements of this general rule will be encountered; however, the fundamental distinction will not be negated. He who is currently, habitually and continuously believing... will be currently and presently having eternal life. One needs to be careful with the interpretation of the Bible, for what what believes and understands has eternal consequences. Does the word believe mean a mere mental assent. The biblical term believe can t be reduced to just a mental acceptance. The word believe in biblical times carried with it the concept of obedience and reliance. Kittel says pisteuo means to trust (also to obey )... Vines says,... reliance upon, not mere credence... This is confirmed further by John the Baptist s statement in John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not (apeitheo) the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (KJV) The work apeitheo is understood by all good translators and commentators to mean obedience. The opposite (antonym) of believe is disobey. The verse in the RSV says He who believes ( is believing, present tense) in the Son... he who disobeys ( is disobeying present tense) the Son... The NASB translates the verse like this: He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Kittel, a Protestant reference work, clearly defines apeitheo to mean to be disobedient. The word belief has the element of obedience wrapped in its arms and the opposite of biblical belief is disobedience. One cannot consider themselves to be biblical if they teach salvation by mental assent (which amounts to cheap grace) without the subsequent and corollary present and ongoing obedience. My Fundamentalist friend has never responded to the explanation of these verses. I hope someday he will see past the high walls of his Fundamentalist traditions and see the great beauty of the Church and her past. The wall is very difficult to peer over, but many of us have done it. Many of us have not merely peered over the great barrier, we have actually climbed and struggled, finally scaling the barrier and finding the glory of the Catholic Church. Endnotes: 1. Aorist Tense: The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. The events described by the aorist tense are classified into a number of categories by grammarians. The most common of these include a view of the action as having begun from a certain point ( inceptive aorist ), or having ended at a certain point ( cumulative aorist ), or merely existing at a certain point ( punctiliar aorist ). The categorization of other cases can be found in Greek reference grammars. The English reader need not concern himself with most of these finer points concerning the aorist tense, since in most cases they cannot be rendered accurately in English translation, being fine points of Greek exegesis only. The common practice of rendering an aorist by a simple English past tense suffices in most cases. 2. Present Tense: According to Dana and Mantey in their A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament The fundamental significance of the present tense is the idea of progress. It is the linear tense... the progressive force of the present tense should always be considered as primary, especially with reference to the potential moods, which in the nature of the case do not need any present punctiliar tense... Narrowing it down further they say, There are three varieties of the present tense in which its fundamental idea of progress is especially patent. Under The Progressive Present This use is manifestly nearest the root idea of the tense. It signifies action in progress, or state of persistence... In short the present tense expresses ongoing action in the present time. 3. New Testament Greek (James Hewitt, B.A., B.D., M.A., Ph.D.; Hedrickson Publishers; 1986, page 13) 4. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament by Gerhard Kittel, a renowned Protestant theological dictionary of ten volumes. Eerdmans, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W. E. Vines (TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984)