St. Cecelia Church

ST. CECELIA CHURCH
45 Wilus Way, Iselin, NJ 08830
Tel. 732-283-2300 | Fax. 732-283-3326
www.StCecelia.com

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Clergy
  • Parish Staff
  • Ministries
  • Religious Education
  • Parish Organizations
  • Contact Us
  • Calendar
  • SCRIP
  • Adoration Chapel
  • Youth & Young Adult Ministry
  • Gift Shop
  • Gallery
  • Join Our Parish

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 13, 2017

August 10, 2017 By St. Cecelia Church

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ,

Do you worry? Yes, we all worry a lot about many things.  I think the people who worry the most are mothers. I believe worrying is one of a mother’s instinct.  Once I asked my mother, “When are you going stop worrying about everything?” She said, “When they put me in the grave.” I told her, “I don’t think so, you will still be worrying about us.” I guess that if we were to write down all the things we are worried, anxious, or concerned about our list would go from the sanctuary here right back to the main door of the church and maybe even well out into the street. Just think of all the things we are worried about: parents worried about their children, people worried about their health, or that of others, farmers worried about the weather, or their livestock, financial worries, worries about relationships, worries about world events and worries about so many different things.

We see in today’s gospel that the disciple’s were in great troubled and were worried about their safety. But Jesus walks towards them and saves them. All the time when we are faced with troubles, just as in today’s Gospel, Jesus comes to us in some way, usually through the help of those near to us and says, “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.” How often I have heard it said, “If it was not for the grace of God’s, or if it wasn’t for the help of so-and-so, I would never have made it through that time.” Therefore, when we are worried let us turn to Jesus and continue to trust in him.  He may not come in the way we expect him to come. He has his own way, that is what we see in today’s first  reading. God promised that he will pass by Prophet Elijah. The prophet looked for God in many different forms. “A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks— but the LORD was not in the wind.   After the wind there was an earthquake — but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound and Lord was there. When he heard this Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.”

I have a question in my mind, “Was Jesus ever worried? And what did he do then. Was Jesus ever afraid? Did Jesus ever worry? Yes, he did. And what did he do when he had worries and how did he overcome them? On two occasions in the Gospel we see Jesus afraid. On each of the two occasions he prayed to his Father and in prayer he found the strength to continue and face the difficult situation. In Gethsemane, the night before his crucifixion, he prayed to his Father to let the cup, i.e. his passion, pass him by. Jesus’ prayer was answered because he got the strength to face his passion, “Not my will, but yours be done.” On another occasion, also thinking of his passion, Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled.” (John 12:27) Imagine Jesus saying “Now my soul is troubled.” It is perhaps a bit of a shock but on this occasion also Jesus prayed to his Father and recovered his strength during prayer. When troubles and worries come our way, our best approach is the approach of Jesus. PRAY, and we will get the strength to continue and, hopefully, like what happened to the pregnant woman in Trinidad, Jesus may send help to us through some kind person.  Whatever happens continue to trust in Jesus.

When troubles come our way often we forget that God is still with us. It is strange really, but that is what happens to so many people when they get upset. They think God has gone on vacation. But that is not so. God is still with us. We cannot always rely on our feelings, and we can rely on them still less when there is something bothering us. The truth is that God is with us always, whether or not we feel his presence. Don’t ever forget that Jesus and Mary are always with you no matter what your feelings tell you. God and Mary will not abandon you. Remember when Jesus was worried he prayed and received strength in prayer to face his passion. Let’s finish with a reflection to  assure us that Jesus is still with us even when we don’t feel his presence.

 

God bless you,

Fr. Thomas

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: From the Pastor's Desk

From the Pastor

February 17, 2019 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ…, Blessed are they who realize they can’t depend on material things for happiness and, as a result, put all their trust in God.   Years ago there was a movie called Quo Vadis. It starred Deborah Kerr and dealt with the persecution of Christians in ancient Rome. One day, after […]

February 10, 2019 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ…,  A Valentine Story for World Marriage Sunday – (long before on-line dating) In 1920 a man placed the following ad in a newspaper: “Middle-ranking civil servant, simple, Catholic, 43, immaculate past, from the country, is looking for a good Catholic , pure girl who can cook well, tackle all household […]

...More from the Pastor's Desk

News

Shalom World TV – Family Television Network

Shalom World TV – Family Television Network

December 7, 2017

    Related

New Christmas Mass Schedule

New Christmas Mass Schedule

December 7, 2017

Related

...More News

Mass Schedule

MASS SCHEDULE

Effective Sunday, December 2, 2018 – New Sunday Mass Schedule (below)
Weekend
Saturday Vigil
4:30 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
5:00 PM
Weekdays
Monday to Friday
7:00 AM
9:15 AM
Saturday
8:00 AM
Holy Days – During the Week
Vigil
7:00 PM
Holy Day
7:00 AM
9:15 AM
12:05 PM
7:00 PM
Christmas
Vigil
4:00 PM
6:00 PM
Midnight
7:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
Easter
Vigil
8:00 PM
7:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM

CONFESSION

Saturdays
11:00 AM
3:15 – 4:15 pm before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass
You can also make an appointment with our priests by calling 732-283-2300.

Related

e-Giving

FaithDirect

St. Cecelia Parish is now accepting donations through Faith Direct – an easy-to-use web-based donation processing system. Members of our parish who pay their monthly household bills online now have the same option to contribute to St. Cecelia Parish.

Give Now button

 

Related

Church Etiquette

Please participate in the singing and responses. Come to Mass early enough not to disrupt and leave late enough not to insult. The Mass does not end until the final song has been completed. Worship reverently enough not to distract. This includes silence in the church and the spirit of quiet in the vestibule before Mass.

Be mindful to turn off your electronic devices and quietly put the kneelers up and down during the Mass.

Dress modestly and appropriately as you would for any special occasion.

Related Links

Diocese of Metuchen
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Vatican Holy See
MassTimes.org
New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC)
Daily Readings

 

Related

Vocationist Fathers & Brothers

sdvlogo

Related

Sign me up for Updates!

* indicates required

© St. Cecelia Church · Design by Carl Beltran Studio · Log in