August 23, 2020 ~ 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Stewardship
In the first reading this Sunday, Shebna has his keys taken away. He was the king’s steward, responsible for the opening and closing of the doors of the royal court. He was the treasurer, charged with looking after the king’s interests. Instead, he looked after his own. For his pride, the keys were taken from him and were given to Eliakim. His poor stewardship cost him dearly. His downfall invites us to take account of our stewardship. Have we been good stewards of God’s gifts? Of human life and creation? Of our economic gifts? The most important gift is the gift of Faith. Have I been a good steward of the sacred mysteries, handing on the Faith to others? In short, if the king took account of our service to His Kingdom, would he take away the keys?
Stewardship and the Parish Festival
This weekend would have been our parish festival. It was to have been a joyful time of building community, engaging volunteers, and providing fun for families, while providing the parish with the resources for the mission of evangelization. The pandemic ruined our plans. Nevertheless, this weekend at all the Masses, we will be selling Main Award tickets for the raffle. The drawing will be held this Sunday, August 23rd, with a grand prize of $10,000. You can still buy tickets. Consider spending what you would have otherwise spent at the festival as a means of supporting the parish. The Festival Committee is busy generating ideas for community building and fundraising. Stay tuned.
The Parish and the Gift of Faith
The parish, of course, is not built on money but on faith! Today, we hear Peter, whose faith was so weak two weeks ago that he began sinking into the sea, make a great confession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” As a result, Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom in the Gospel. For rabbis, keys were a sign of authority. Often a learned rabbi would teach others the law. When the scholar of the law felt his apprentice had gained a certain mastery, there would be a ceremony of handing over the keys as a sign of spiritual authority. Jesus hands over the keys to Peter after his proclamation of faith. Peter and His successors have spiritual authority over the Church. Parents too have authority over children until they come of age. Authority, properly exercised, is meant to be a service – to the Church, to the person, to parents, to the family. Authority can be abused. It can be used to control and manipulate rather than to serve. People can also neglect their responsibility. We see the tragic consequences when parents fail to discipline children, when a parent is simply absent from a child’s life, or even when a priest misuses his authority. If you are one with authority, how do you use it?
The Parish and the School
I have said many times that we are not an athletics program, which happens to have a school, which happens to have a church. We are a parish first. Nevertheless, our school and sports programs are ways of evangelizing our youth, forming their character and educating them in the faith and values we expect Catholics to hold. This week many children will return to school. Our parish school is a great tool for evangelizing our young people and forming them into virtuous young men and women. Our school’s integrated approach to education has made it a model for others. The reason the parish invests so heavily in the school is to hand on the gift of faith. If we do not do this and fail to form young missionary disciples, then, in my mind, we have failed. Although parents are the first educators of their children in the way of faith, teachers are extremely important. I ask your special prayers for all teachers and students returning to school. Take some extra time this week to pray that we may have a successful school year, marked by good health and joy. Amidst all the darkness we have experienced, we must rejoice in hope!
I have also been working closely with our Athletics Association, following the guidelines of the state (Responsible Restart Ohio) and those of the Archdiocese. It is unfortunate that the prospects for most fall sports do not look good. I am convinced that children need to stay fit, exercise, and learn the value of teamwork. I am very grateful to Nick Kremm and the many coaches who have been collaborating with the parish to see what is possible for our youngsters to engage in sports in a healthy and responsible way.
The Parish, the Church, and Salvation
Jesus gives Peter the keys to heaven. The location of Caesarea Philippi is important. There were giant doors to the city which had an enormous lock. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the Pharisees’ shutting the doors of heaven to men. Now Jesus gives Peter the keys to open the doors to the kingdom. Jesus makes Peter and his confession of faith the rock for his Church. Jesus intends to found a Church and today the Church is Christ’s visible body. Jesus has opened the gates of paradise for us. The Church becomes the means through which one can enter into the kingdom of heaven. There are many who love Christ but say they don’t need the Church. How can one speak of the head without the Body? No. The passage makes it clear that the Church is to last, and Peter (and his successors), is empowered to bind and loose. The Church does what the Pharisees refused to do – receive Christ and make him known as the Son of the Living God.
Today many people, especially the young, are seeking answers to the questions of life. The scribes and Pharisees of our day cannot give them answers – to questions about the pandemic; race relations; the economy; human sexuality; and above all, eternal life. It is true many have wandered from the fold, but Christ asks us: “Will you also walk away?” With Peter, we answer, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”
Updates on Mass, Confessions and Adoration
Christ is the answer to life’s questions, but we encounter Him most intimately at Mass in the Holy Eucharist. I am pleased that last week’s Mass attendance was considerably better, but it is also creating a new problem – logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all those coming for Mass amid social distancing requirements. We have moved 10:15 am Mass from the gym to the church, but not everyone can come to 10:15 am Mass or noon Mass. If you plan to come to Mass, please arrive on time or early. The problem of late arrivals is creating problems for seating people in church. Arriving early also allows us to prepare for the sacrifice we are about to offer. Please stay alert for updates about Mass through Flocknote, Facebook, the Parish Website, and the Bulletin. Last Sunday, a number of people turned up at church for 7:30 pm Mass, which we ended in April, and will no longer offer.
Likewise, we had a number of people turn up for confessions on Saturday morning at 9 am, which we also ended. If there is interest in confession at that time, please inform the parish office. Fr. Dave and I have resumed hearing confessions on Saturday at 3 pm. He also hears confessions on Wednesdays from 6-7 pm, and I hear them Tuesday–Friday morning following Mass and on Thursdays from 5-7 pm.
Eucharistic Adoration will now be held on Thursdays in church, beginning with the conclusion of 7 am Mass and concluding with Benediction at 7 pm. Please use the SignUp Genius for Adoration. Adorers should sanitize their pews. Thursday is a fitting day for Adoration. It is the day the Lord instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood. It is also a day that the Lord asked St. Margaret Mary to see that there were Holy Hours of Reparation offered to atone for sins. We have expanded our times so that you may console the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and be consoled by Him.
Concluding Remarks
This is already a long bulletin column. Last week I saw Archbishop Schnurr. He was telling me how many negative emails he receives daily that are directed at him personally and how many complaints he has been getting about priests and parishes during this pandemic. I can believe it! It is very difficult to make decisions when everything changes every single day. At the beginning of this crisis, I asked for your patience. Let me now express my gratitude for your patience. Not everything has been done perfectly or run smoothly, but I am grateful for you and for the hard work of the parish staff. For my own shortcomings and failures, I ask your pardon.
Often, we priests feel like Simon Peter – very imperfect. Nevertheless, Peter understood Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Like us, he would be asked to be a good steward, a servant who would have to use his authority wisely. He would falter, but the Lord still had confidence in him, and would give him the task of feeding the sheep. Peter’s mission demanded that he would be dragged where he did not wish to go. This was the burden of the keys, but his reward was well worth it – eternal life. Together, let us continue our journey, with Simon Peter, on the road that leads to Paradise.

Fr. Fernandes