Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s Gospel describes the inner tension Martha experiences as she complains about Mary’s perceived failure. A simplified, yet legitimate,
explanation may be that Martha is too busy about “doing” rather than spending time with – and enjoying- the company of Jesus.

However, when we take a deeper dive into this exchange between Martha and Jesus, we can’t help but realize a lesson is given for us.
Martha is not guilty of providing hospitality. To the contrary, she models virtue by providing genuine hospitality. A warm welcome, a meal, and the chores o being a good host are delivered. So what’s missing? Is it Martha’s forgetfulness that the hospitality she provides is, in and of itself, an act of charity?

How often do we feel forgotten when we provide for guests?! The preparation, the serving, the cleaning o dirty dishes while others just sit and exchange stories and conversation. Were we forgotten? Are we appreciated? Do we even matter to our guests while they sit on soft chairs and
enjoy dessert after a bountiful meal and a day’s worth of preparations?

Service is charity. Providing hospitality can be a self donation, a gift of Self for others. Did Martha forget this while Mary and Jesus visited? Did she perform the act of service without love?

Or did Martha’s service allow for Mary to encounter Jesus through conversation? Did her labor bear fruit for
Mary to experience an encounter of grace?

When Jesus responded to Martha’s lament, Jesus lovingly replies. Not judging. Not reprimanding. Simply offering reassurance that her labors are not in vain and allowed Mary to have this wonderful encounter with him.

When have we served in order to allow others to encounter Christ? When have our actions afforded others to experience the presence of others?

Many daily activities (at home, in our community, at our parish) invite us to imitate Martha so that others may encounter Jesus and one another.  How is the Lord calling you to provide service so that others might experience Christ’s company?

Prayer and Devotion

Faithfully your in Christ,

Father Gurnick

Dear Friends and Parishioners of St. Patrick Parish with St. Malachi Oratory,

As we continue to discern changes to our Weekend Mass schedule, I appreciate the input offered by those who participated in the In-Pew Liturgy Survey in May and the subsequent conversations with our parish councils and staff members in recent weeks.

In addition to the helpful comments, we are looking at key considerations as we attempt to accommodate the needs of our parish family. Some of those key considerations include:

1. Attendance numbers at each liturgy
2. Availability of Pastor (with assisting priests) and other liturgical ministers
3. Reasonable spacing of start times between each liturgy
4. Accessibility and Parking at each location
5. Financial and Energy Stewardship

Each of these considerations have led to helpful conversations and further considerations. Although change is difficult, my sincere hope is that we can appreciate the greater needs of everyone and are able to live with whatever is ultimately decided.

I invite us – especially those who are involved with greeting/ushering, reading, serving, singing, and serving as Eucharistic Ministers – to start imagining how we might make room for everyone as we come together. What opportunities await us as we include new faces and new voices within each Mass time? What possibilities are there to create a culture of welcome as we encourage participation?

In the meanwhile, I thank Fr. Hollis and Fr. Reim for their availability to help maintain the present schedule through July and August. This will give us time to reflect and prepare ourselves for any change made to the Mass schedule.

As we celebrate today’s solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (aka Corpus Christi), may we always cherish this sublime and wonderful gift given to us as a lasting sign of God’s love for the human family. Strengthened by these sacred mysteries may we, in turn, continue to go out and proclaim the Good News!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Gurnick