Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30

This weekend liturgy invites us to focus on the prophetic call from God given to each individual personally. Through this call, God communicates His message of love to all, a love that is sacrificial and caring. It is love that enables us to be compassionate, understanding, patient, forgiving and accepting of others. Love sustains us with courage, with power to endure and carries us confidently through every challenge.

Do we believe that God wants to act with power in our lives today? Power to set us free from sin and hurtful desires, fear and oppression. Throughout the Scriptures we see God performing mighty acts to save His people from death and destruction.

Jesus praised individuals who put their faith in God as they remembered the great and wonderful deeds He had performed time and again. Jesus even praised outsiders -- non-Jews and pagans from other lands -- who had heard about the mighty deeds of the God of Israel. One example Jesus mentioned was Naaman the pagan army commander from Syria who was afflicted with leprosy -- a debilitating skin disease that slowly ate away the flesh (2 Kings 5:1-15).

When Naaman went to the land of Israel to seek a cure for his leprosy, the prophet Elisha instructed him to bathe seven times in the Jordan river. Naaman was indignant at first, but then repented and followed the prophet's instructions. In doing so he was immediately restored in body and spirit.

What is the significance of Naaman's healing for us? Naaman's miraculous healing at the River Jordan, prefigures the mystery of the healing which is freely granted to all nations of the earth by our Lord Jesus through the regenerating waters of baptism and renewal in the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Therefore, Naaman was sent to the Jordan and to the remedy capable to heal a human being. Indeed, sin is the leprosy of the soul and human nature must be delivered from this disease by Christ's power which is hidden in baptism.

Jesus told Nicodemus, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). The Lord Jesus wants to renew in each one of us the gift of faith and the regenerating power of baptism and the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) which cleanses us of the leprosy of sin and makes us "newborn" sons and daughters of God.

Blessings! 

 2021 Catholic Ministries Appeals Update

                                             St. Finbarr           St. Patrick           St. Ignatius

Goal                                     $8,356.00           $5,935.00           $9,774.00

Donors                                        27                          21                         49

Total Received YTD           $13,260.00          $7,120.00           $12,150.00

$ Goal Exceeded               + $4,904.00        +$1.185.00          +$2,376.00

Please keep sick, hospitalized & home-bound Tri-Parish members in your prayers.

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If you would like to add someone to the Tri-Parish prayer chain, send an email to  triparishsecretary@gmail.com

Mass Time:  Sunday Mornings @ 8:30 am

Mass Time:  Saturday Evenings @ 5:00 pm

Mass Time:  Sunday Mornings @ 10:30 am

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Fr. Marreddy Pothireddy