25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

09-22-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear Parishioners,

The first day of fall is today, Sunday 22nd. Parishes often function on an academic year, which means we start to get busy in September with various activities and continue to be in full swing until late spring. We, as a community, are blessed with a long history of family and individual involvement and that continues. Be sure to look over the bulletin each week and as always I encourage you to get involved, become part of a group, come to one of the many opportunities to pray together, sign up to FORMED and explore the numerous teachings available. Continue to Learn— Grow – Be Formed!

The Gospel today reminds us that sinful pride and ambition are dangerous in the Christian path. Jesus recognizes that the disciples are arguing among themselves about who is greatest. A true human weakness is to desire to be better than another. Jesus in His love does not scold or chase them away but rather takes it as an opportunity to reveal His way. NOT to be better than someone else, smarter, wiser, right – but rather to be the best you can be as a gift to God. He puts a child in front of Him to help them understand to accept children for their innocence and eagerness to grow. In the same way God accepts us – not because we are better than others, but rather because we wish to draw close to Him in meekness and humility. God’s grace and love is what gives us our greatest purpose and meaning.

I am pleased to share that we have surpassed the pledge goal of the “Building our Spiritual Home” Campaign. This allows us to move ahead with the next part of the Project, which is building the on-site rectory. We have been working with the City of Scottsdale to update drawings and prepare to pull f inal permits. The architect is working with a selected custom home builder to finalize cost details. We will seek approval from the Bishop’s office in October and, with your continued pledge support, we plan on starting the project after Christmas 2024 with the hope we can get in before the Christmas 2025. Thank you for your support and commitment to the different projects of the campaign – it is truly helping us to build for the future and maintain our beautiful parish campus. At the end of October, I will provide a Mission Impact report that will help us to see the many ways we make a difference—Together in Christ.

I want to remind you to continue to be evangelizers by intentionally inviting people to deepen their faith life here at Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The love of Jesus and His Church spreads from person to person. A personal invitation to an event, study or prayer group, or to a time of prayer, can be a turning point for a person on a journey. We invite and then let God work.

Enjoy the cooler days ahead. Be sure to give God thanks for the beauty that surrounds us.

Peace in Him,

Fr. Fred