The Pastor's Pen

March 20, 2022, Third Sunday of Lent

Christian Vs Christian:   There are many deeply disturbing aspects of the current war against the Ukrainian people , most especially  the targeting  of civilians and non-military targets by the Russian forces.   Yet  there is another aspect of this war  that should disturb us as people of faith, in that it is actually a conflict  in which the baptized are fighting the baptized!   Indeed many of the members of the Russian army are Orthodox Christians as are the Ukrainians against whom they have taken up arms. In fact many of the Orthodox in Ukraine and Russia are under the  authority of the very same Patriarch, Kirill of Mosco, who seems at this point to be  more loyal to Vladimir Putin than to Jesus Christ. .    Yet this is indeed what happens when national identity means more than one’s religious identity, and people tend to be  more prepared to fulfill their duty to country than they are to their duty to God!   This isn’t the first time this has been obvious in conflict , as it certainly was also the case in all wars in Europe since the 4th century  when nations where the majority of citizens identify as Christian were in armed conflict with others much the same.     There is a fundamental problem when nationalism is mixed  with Christianity because we risk  asking God  to  bless  political  agendas that  are  actually in complete opposition to Christ and his gospel.  The plan of God as revealed in Christ is  one in which those who are baptized would have  ultimate loyalty to the Kingdom of God and work to promote it across all borders and thus be an effective  means of creating peace and avoiding armed and deadly conflict among the nations.  This does not mean Christians  would not be loyal citizens of their own nations, but they would stop short of permitting worldly rulers  to force them to violate  any of the commandments of God most especially the one that says “Thou Shalt not Kill”.  So let us pray that Christians on both sides of this present  war will be reawakened not only to what they are being called  to be by their baptism but to recognize that those at whom they are taking aim are also children of the same Father.    Yet let us also be careful, not to let nationalism infiltrate our own practice of the faith, thus,  when the feast of  Pentecost falls on Memorial Day weekend, as it sometimes does, let us not expect that the national flag be  put in the sanctuary, nor a national hymn be sung as a meditation at Sunday Mass.   Let us appreciate that when we enter the liturgy, we actually leave time and place and enter the realm of God where national identity must always  take second place  to our Christian  identity, and where we pray for   unity  and peace among  all the baptized throughout the world.  Indeed let us participate in God’s plan for   peace above and beyond  all national borders  which can  only be possible when the faithful of every land prize the unity they have in Jesus above all other allegiances  .  Sadly the present  situation in Eastern Europe  reminds us of how we as human beings, and in particular as Christians, can impede the  plan of God,   as far  too many continue to be cognizant  of their national identity than their baptismal calling! 

 

Moving Closer to Our Goal:   Our  annual WE ARE FAMILY CAMPAIGN has now moved  all that closer to our ambitious goal of raising $300,000 which will be used to update the air conditioning system for the Church and parish complex.   Thanks to the   generosity of all donors and the extreme generosity of  several donors, most  especially those who proposed to match the next  $25, 000 collected with a gift of the same, we have to date received a total of $266,000 in gifts and pledges from 505 households of the parish.   This is  admittedly over $100,000 more than we are accustomed to collecting in this annual appeal.  However, this  still leaves us short of our goal, but that would not be the case if the 1600 other registered households who  have not yet contributed would soon come forward to collaborate with their fellow parishioners in also  giving  their fair share.  So at the risk of nagging, we must  ask them once again to do so, with the  expectation  that with their help we could soon  easily reach our goal.  

Thank You Fr. Vinny Fortunato OFM, Cap.:   We are grateful for the time that Fr. Vinny took out of his own schedule to travel for the first time  in his life to Cape Cod and to provide a Lenten Retreat for the parish more commonly known  as a Parish Mission.  Having Fr. Vinny as a guest in the rectory for 5ive days was as you  might  imagine a truly delightful experience, one filled with both amusing and also quite serious  conversations about priesthood and parish ministry.  We have all benefited from Fr. Vinny’s presence among us and so let us keep him and his important  work in our prayers as we continue to try  to live this Lent more fruitfully and effectively,  grateful that we are better equipped to do so because of Fr. Vinny’s help!