Dear St. Theresa family,

As someone on TV said: “We may be done with covid but covid is not done with us.” Regrettable but true. With the dramatic multiplication of cases, we are all being called to greater diligence. The Fourth of July is coming up and lots of folks have traditions and get togethers that are being reconsidered. Common sense tells us to think about how we will celebrate.

It seems that good common sense is not as common as it should be.  As evidenced in the media there has been and continues to be a great deal of throwing caution to the wind. It seems clear that this resurgence is the price paid.  While I have said in the past “this, too will pass”…I didn’t say when. It is unhelpful to point fingers at questionable leadership. Virtually everyone is making this up as they go along.  We have what we have and leaving politics to the politicians, it is up to us to do our best to stay well and help others do the same.

Masses will continue at the parish, but we encourage everyone to wear masks for the benefit of all. We ask that   everyone follow the protocol for seating and receiving communion. Everyone should come forward for communion or a blessing to avoid having people pass in front of you in the pew. Please observe distancing in the communion lines as well as when entering and exiting, your neighbor will thank you. If there is a change in the Mass schedule, we will give everyone ample notice. Thank you for your cooperation in this peculiar time.   

We will continue to livestream the Mass on Saturday night and have it available on the website for Sunday.  Don’t forget we have a farewell reception for Fr. Hai in the courtyard following the 10:00 Mass.

This Sunday we hear Matthew 10:34-42. Go get your bible and sit down with this so that when you hear it again on Sunday it has a familiar ring. It’s the passage where Jesus talks about how he came not to bring peace but rather a sword and then ends the passage blessing those who give little ones a cup of cold water.

In this bit of Matthew Jesus is asking that the quality of our love for him be at very least of the same depth and intensity as the quality of our love and commitment to those dearest to us.  We will make sacrifices for them.  Will we make sacrifices for him?  We will give time to them.  Will we give time to him?  We will give our utmost to strengthening a nourishing relationship with them.  Will we do at least the same for our relationship with him?  Just as we are the only ones who can make these decisions about our human relationship, so only we can decide about the quality of our relationship with Jesus.

There is so much profound content in this passage we can only touch some of it.  As the core is the paradox at the heart of life.  The more we try to possess life for self-centered ends, the more we lose its essential meaning and joy.  The more we give ourselves to God, the more real we will find ourselves to be.  Right at the end, Jesus implies that the ultimate measuring rod for our Christian faith is our actions.  Loving him is not a sentimental concept.  Love is obedience to him.  Love is a deed done for another.

Be a blessing and stay well!

Fr. Larry