Author: Jenna Violi
Which One Are You Like?
Homily – Deacon Gregory Maskarinec – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings present us with three different responses to God’s blessings…that of the nine lepers, that of Naaman, and that of the Samaritan leper. Which one are you?
Sometimes I can be like the nine lepers in today’s Gospel. A long time ago I was having a conversation with someone and the following question came up: “If you get to heaven and you can say one thing to God, what would you say?” I thought about it, clearly not long enough, and said: “God, why did you give me so much curiosity and ambition, but so little brains and intelligence to go along?” On one hand the response is kind of humorous. On the other hand, the response showed how ungrateful I was for all the blessing that God had showered down upon me. Continue reading “Which One Are You Like?”
“Choose Wisely”
Homily – Deacon Mark Dillon – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings focus on choice – or more specifically, on making a wise choice. It’s important to recognize that every choice we make has consequences that directly affect some aspect of our life: sometimes good…other not so good. So it’s important to choose wisely.
If you remember the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, you may recall a scene that requires Dr. Jones to make a difficult choice, similar to what today’s readings speak about. His choice was focused on obtaining “The Holy Grail” or chalice that held the Blood of Jesus Christ. Using an ancient map that led him to a cliff-side Temple, Indiana enters a dangerous pathway leading to a chamber that holds the Grail. But there’s a catch: the Grail chamber is guarded by a knight who stands vigil over the sacred chalice, which is hidden among dozens of false grails. Choosing the true chalice of Jesus would take careful thought and considerable wisdom. 
“No Coincidences”
Homily – Deacon Greg Maskarinec – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
There’s a saying for people of faith…there are no coincidences, only aspects of God’s providence that have not yet been fully understood. On this 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, God speaks to us about the necessity of taking up our cross and following Jesus. Earlier today on this 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Blessed Mother Teresa was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta…the perfect example of someone in our own time who picked up her cross and followed Jesus. My sisters and brothers, it is not coincidence that these readings fall on the same day as Blessed Mother Teresa’s canonization. Rather, it is a personal invitation form the Father Himself to each and every one of us to enter into the divine mystery of His Son’s cross…just as Mother Teresa did.
MDP COMMUNITY CARNIVAL
The Carnival begins on Tuesday, August 16th and runs through Saturday, August 20th. Don’t miss any of the fun! We have something for everyone at the carnival!
Visit our Fundraising tab shown above and click on Carnival for details, or visit our Carnival webpage at http://mdpcarnival.com
“Why Do you Pray the Lord’s Prayer?”
Deacon Greg Maskarinec’s Homily for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Luke – 10:25-37
Our lives are often filled with great challenged and difficulties. We live in…
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a world filled with division between family members, races, nations, ethnic groups, and even between religious groups.
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a world who popular vision of God, if He exists at all, is an old man with long white hair and a beard, sitting on a throne, with lightning bolts in His hands, waiting to hurl them down upon those who disobey Him.
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a world which is skeptical of anything beyond this physical universe.
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a world where we cannot pray to and worship our Creator in public. Continue reading ““Why Do you Pray the Lord’s Prayer?””
“Persist in Prayer”
Deacon Mark Dillon’s Homily from the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C – “Luke 11:1-13”
Have you ever sat in front of the television not knowing what you wanted to watch? You start flipping the channels until something catches your attention. That happened to me a couple of months ago. After about two minutes of channel surfing I finally landed on a “Strong-man Competition.” You know, that’s where overly muscled men do feats of great strength to see who is the strongest.
I caught the tail end of the elimination round that led to the finals. It was fascinating! Each guy had to life a 5 foot, 300 pound tractor tire and throw it into the bed of a truck. After all that, the contestants were fitted with a harness that the tethered to a five ton bus. The challenge was to see who could pull the bus 100 feet in the least amount of time. To put it in perspective, imagine pulling a SEPTA bus the length of the center aisle of this church. I was impressed because I have trouble lugging overloaded grocery bags from the car to the house.
So I was really curious about what feat of strength awaited the five finalist. Would it be pulling an airplane down a runway? Or maybe carrying a boulder across an open field? I must say I was a bit disappointed when the challenge was announced. Each contestant grabbed a trapeze bar and was lifted 20 fee in the air, suspended over a pool of water. They hung there to see who could hold on the longest. Continue reading ““Persist in Prayer””
Join the Novena for Peace – July 14th through July 22nd
Please make the Novena Prayer for Peace a part of your daily prayer, such as part of grace before or after meals, during adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and before or after the Holy Rosary.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may no so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Deacon Greg Maskarinec’s Homily from Sunday, July 10th
There’s a true story about an 18 year old American boy who fought in World War II. One day his unit was engaged in close combat with the Germans. The American soldier came around the corner of a building and found himself eye-to-eye with a German Soldier. The had their rifles pointed at one another, both ready to pull the trigger. The American soldier later recalled that in the stare down he realized that this German soldier was just like him, a young boy. He realized that the “enemy” was not some monster, but a human being just like him. The young American sensed that the same thoughts were going through the young German’s mind. The young soldiers turned away from each other, their hearts filled with mercy! A mercy that is rarely displayed nor expected in war.
This true story of these young soldiers is a powerful illustration of the dignity due to every person since, without expectation, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. Continue reading “Deacon Greg Maskarinec’s Homily from Sunday, July 10th”