Welcome to St. Therese, A Vatican II Ecclesiology Parish Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Who is Jesus? Already in Jesus lifetime people asked themselves many questions about him. Some, although they were astonished by the authority of his words, said: It is the carpenter s son. Others saw in him a traitor, a rebel, even one possessed by a demon. Still others considered him a prophet. For Peter, it is clear, Jesus is the Messiah. He will be the liberator, the savior of Israel. Even acknowledging him as Messiah, they misunderstood the type of liberation brought. When Jesus reveals to his disciples that his destiny leads to the cross, Peter rebels, immediately drawing down upon himself severe reprimand: Your idea of the Messiah is that human beings, not that of God! Jesus is not the Political Messiah they are awaiting. One cannot contain him in human ideologies. Today, what are they saying about Jesus? Is he sort of a Ghandi, a Martin Luther King Jr., a Che Guevara, the first of the Marxists, a superstar? To limit ourselves to what they are saying about Jesus is to condemn ourselves to constant confusion. To touch the truth of his mystery, we must accept the personal question he asks us: Who do you say I am? An accumulation of facts about him will never replace a personal knowledge of Jesus and his cross. The cross is the moment of truth for the Christian. It is the test which verifies whether we are truly disciples of the Messiah, unexpectedly hidden behind the features of a suffering servant. To share life with the one we love, is the logic of friendship. It is to this vocation of friendship that Jesus summons us. Background on the Gospel Reading Today s reading is the turning point in Mark s Gospel. In the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus disciples, have not yet realized his identity. In today s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples for a field report by asking what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ. The word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, which means the anointed one. At the time of Jesus, the image of the Messiah was laden with popular expectations, most of which looked for a political leader who would free the Jewish people from Roman occupation. Jesus does not appear to have used this term for himself. As we see in today s reading, Jesus refers to himself instead as the Son of Man, a term derived from the Jewish Scriptures, found in the Book of Daniel and in other apocryphal writings. Many scholars suggest that the phrase Son of Man is best understood to mean human being. Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting. Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Chris s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross. We can easily miss the fear that Jesus words must have evoked in his disciples. Death by crucifixion was all too familiar as a method of execution in Roman-occupied territories. It was also an omnipresent danger to the Christian community for whom Mark wrote. The path that Jesus was inviting his disciples to share meant tremendous suffering and death. This is the kind of radical commitment and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to adopt for the sake of the Gospel. Family Connection Peter had expectations about what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but his life and death would show a different understanding of what it means to be the Messiah. We, too, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world. Like Peter, however, we may risk limiting our image of God by thinking only in human ways. God's plan is always more that we can ever imagine. As you gather as a family, talk about what we expect God to be doing in our world and in our family life. Then read today's Gospel, Mark 8:31-35. Why do you think Peter was so upset by what Jesus was saying? Notice how Jesus reprimands Peter. Do we sometimes forget to let God be God for us? That is, do we sometimes get discouraged because God doesn't act in our world in the ways that we expect? Pray together that we will remember that God is always working for the world's salvation in ways that are beyond our imagination. Conclude by praying together today's psalm, Psalm 116.
ST. THERESE SCHOOL ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Sept. 28th, Friday Time: 8:00 am Shotgun Place: Paradise Hills Golf Course Cost: $125.00 per player. We still need sponsors, teams and nice silent auction items. Proceeds go to help build new cafeteria. The Pastor and Parishioners of The Shrine of the Little Flower -St. Therese Catholic Church warmly welcome you to our parish family! We hope that you find us to be a family of faith and love, exemplifying in word and deed the generosity of the Father, the self-giving service of Jesus Christ, and the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, & put your trust in the LORD. 9/9/2018 Friends, Please watch and share my most recent video with your family, friends, and pastor. In light of the recent scandals, I know many people are wondering whether they should remain in the Catholic Church. And I totally get that; the outrage is warranted. But in this time of crisis, I beg you not to flee, but to fight--not violently, with the weapons of the world, but with the weapons of the Spirit. We need you. Watch and share the video here: http://bit.ly/2wadhho BOWLING FUND RAISER SPONSORED BY FELICIAN SISTERS LADIES AUXILIARY Saturday, October 6, 2018 Santa Ana Starlight Bowling Center This is a family event. Teams will consist of 4 bowlers. COME JOIN THE FUN!!! COST: $30 per person or $120 per team There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place AWARDS & PRIZES REGISTRATION: 1:00PM OPENING CEREMONY 1:30PM BOWLING BEGINS 2:00PM SHARP!! FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT PATRICIA SANDERS AT 505-250-4669. PRAY FOR THE SICK Nasario Gutierrez Helen Jaramillo, Lucas Baca, Ramona Moya, Debra de la Peña, Peter Martinez, Julian Charrette, Florinda Cortez, Raymond Cortez, Carin Gallegos, Taliana Vargas, Ethel Garcia, Rocio Medina, Mary Lovato, Kristin Chavez, Frances Pino, Jim Meek, Julia Tafoya, Theresa Hernandez, Joseph Saavedra, and for those in hospitals or their homes and cannot attend church. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Monday Thursday 1:00p.m.-6:30p.m. Sunday 8:30a.m.- 12:00 noon Registration fee for grades 1-8 is $25 and $40 for Confirmation which will cover the youth retreat fee. September 30, 2018: No faith formation (Confirmation and all grade levels) classes due to St. Therese Fiestas. Confirmation candidates must sign up for service hours during the 3 days of Fiestas (September 28 5pm-9pm; September 29 12pm-9pm; or September 30 1pm-6pm). A minimum of 6 service hours is required during the fiestas. Religious Education will be hosting the game booths again this year. October 21, 2018: Mandatory Confirmation Parent/Candidate Retreat 10am through the noon Mass. The retreat will be held at the St. Therese Parish Hall. Workshop on the Sacraments October 10 th- 11 th & 15 th 16 th 6:30pm to 9:00pm at St Therese Hosted by: Megan Mckenna Ms. McKenna is a renowned Catholic theologian, lecturer, storyteller and author of over 50 books. Megan has given workshops and lectures in numerous places in North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, as well as Ireland, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Haiti and Burma.
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Tuesday, September 18, 2018 1 Cor 12: 12-14, 27-31a; Lk 7: 11-17 8:00 AM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH Wednesday, September 19, 2018 1 Cor 12: 31 13:13; Lk 7: 31-35 8:00 AM Leina Dinkel By: St. Therese Parish Thursday, September 20, 2018 1 Cor 15: 1-11; Lk 7; 36-50 Antionette Perea (8th Anniversary) By: Myrlin Perea & family Kristelle Parras By: Rachel & Carlos Garcia Saturday, September 15, 2018 1 Cor 10: 14-22; Jn 19: 25-27 8:00 AM Maida & Eloy Sandoval By: Marie Sandoval Anthony Cortez (1st Anniversary) By: Florinda Cortez 4:00 PM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH Sunday, September 16, 2018 Is 50: 5-9a; Jas 2: 14-18; Mk 8: 27-35 8:00 AM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH Antonio & Annie Perea, & Frank Luna By: Lorraine Luna 12:00 PM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH Monday, September 17, 2018 1 Cor 11: 17-26, 33; Lk 7: 1-10 8:00 AM Communion Service Frank Baca By: Baca family Congratulations! Mr. Schultz For turning in the 1st completed book of raffle tickets! $25 tokens Friday, September 21, 2018 Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13; Mt 9: 9-13 8:00 AM Andres, Vicenta, & Clara Arretche By: St. Therese Parish Saturday, September 22, 2018 1 Cor 15: 35-37, 42-49; Lk 8: 4-15 8:00 AM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH 4:00 PM For the health of Mary Lovato By: Carol Kastning Pedro Ortiz Sr., Albert & Dulcinea Harrison By: Pete & Linda Ortiz Sunday, September 23, 2018 Wis 2: 12,17-20; Jas 3: 16 4:3; Mk 9: 30-37 8:00 AM Blas & Mercedes Grajeda By: Family Benedito Lopez By: Doris Ted Cordova ( Birthday remembrance) By: Children 10:00 AM FOR THE PEOPLE THE PARISH 12:00 PM Judy Garcia By: Severo & Romelia Garcia Joe & Chris Gabaldon By: Patricia Lucero Al, Rita, & Marie By: Margie Rodriguez Thank You to our bulletin advertisers! The advertisements pay for our bulletins. ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK Prime Time Athletics 505-492-7340