This Sunday, Jesus helps us examine the good works and desires of those who may not share our faith or values. As He says, "Whoever is not against us is for us." As the Body of Christ, the Church doesn't go around looking to make enemies, but rather looks for seeds of truth and goodness inherent in the people, works, and ideas around us.
Last Friday night I returned from our Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage in Greece and Turkey with our tour group. A pilgrimage is a blessed time of encounter with the Lord, holy places, and cultures throughout the world. I am still soaking in the graces of that blessed time, and I hope to offer a presentation to the parish this Fall with photos and stories to help share with you what we received.
As I mentioned during last week’s Mass, I will visit Korea for a few weeks. I’m excited because this will be my first visit since May last year. I look forward to sharing my experiences as a priest with my family and friends. I am also excited about celebrating Mass in Korean.
I greet you today as Fr. Scott is on his pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. Please keep the pilgrims in your prayers so they may have a blessed time in the Lord. In today’s gospel, Jesus encounters a deaf man with a speech impediment. The people around him beg Jesus to lay His hands on him. Jesus takes the man aside, away from the crowd, and performs a healing that is both physical and symbolic.