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Feb. 5, 2023 / 5th Sunday ● Isaiah 58:7-10 ● Psalm 112 ● 1 Cor 2:1-5 ● Matt 5:13-16 ●
Title: Light of the World. / Annual Appeal Kick off
[__01_] I’m Father Jim Ferry, Pastor of Our Lady of
Lourdes. This is
the kickoff for the annual appeal video for the Archdiocese of Newark and I'd
like to connect this to the Gospel message of “you are the light of the world”.
Remember the popular song “A B C” which Michael Jackson /
Jackson 5 sang out – it’s as simple as Do-Re-Mi-A-B-C, you and me. Or is it
that simple?
Is being the light of the world really as simple as ABC?
[__02_] For years
ago, my uncle Joe, my uncle Joseph was an electrician in NYC, and one of his
frequent electrical / wiring jobs was at Madison Square Garden,
[__03_] ….. at MSG to connect
the electrical for major concerts in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Jackson
5, Earth, Wind & Fire, Crosby, Stills and Nash and other celebrities. We
thought this was a great benefit, the equivalent of a backstage pass and front
row seat,
[__04_] …. but it's not as simple as ABC /
Do – Re Mi to collect electric connect electricity at “M . S. G.” it's not easy
to bring the lights or to bring electricity, it's not easy to bring the light
of the world.
[__05_] My uncle was the one we all trusted –
outside MSG and at home – for installing outlets, hanging lamps, running the
wiring. He loved doing these things for family and friends. He made it appear
easy. Perhaps, it was easy, compared to M.S.G.
But, installing an electrical outlet or
hanging a light is not as simple as connecting your computer and printer, or
uploading a YouTube video, there's a lot more to it. When you are bringing the
light, you are dealing directly with the current, the voltage, the amperes, the
wattage. It, it can be dangerous.
Being the “light” can be risky, and being the
light of the world is a risk.
In simple everyday scenarios that may be difficult
to bring the light, we find may find ourselves in disagreements or disputes at
home or at school regarding how much light should be on in the room. How bright
should the room be? Should we turn this lamp on?
Have you ever been rebuffed or rejected by
someone who doesn't want you to turn the light on? Perhaps he or she was
happier in the dark, and just was not in the mood for brightness. It's not easy
to bring the light, even in your own home.
[__06_] Jesus came into the world as the light and
he ended up paying the ultimate price.
Jesus also didn't turn all on all the lights
at once. For example, he wanted His disciples to come to know Him.
He recognizes that, that there may be part of
our lives, we're not ready to change yet, or we may not realize they need to be
changed. But he's there with the light of His mercy when we come to Him, and He
wishes to lead us in the proper direction.
Being the light of the world, we may not be
able to solve every problem or we uncover by our own lights. We're also called
to work with others to love those who don't love us to allow others to turn on
God’s light for themselves.
At MSG, the electricians did not create light
or power, but they did provide the light. God’s creative plan is that He makes
the light first – in Genesis Chapter 1 – and relies on us to reflect it to
others.
[__07_] This is annual appeal Sunday and I'd like
to highlight that the annual appeal allows us as a church regionally, the
Archdiocese of Newark, which includes Essex County as well as Hudson, Union and
Bergen County. The money raised in the appeal provides services that no one
parish can provide on its own.
E.g., Learning to Worship, Listening to the
Word, Doing good works.
This Sunday also Annual Appeal Sunday for all
parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark. Your gifts help us to live out our
calling to be the light of the world.
Your
gift to the Annual Appeal enables us to be the light of the world for those in
our Archdiocese who also need – we do – to listen to the WORD, to learn to
WORSHIP, and to looking out with good WORKS – or charity.
And, our good works or charity are meant to be RESULT of
listening to the Word, and learning to Worship.
And, the annual appeal of Archdiocese is about this as well
– examples:
WORSHIP: Persons with Disabilities RCAN has a Mass in Essex County (and other
counties) for the hearing impaired to stop & learn to worship – including 1
Sunday Mass plus social gathering at St. John’s Newark.
WORD At the Seminary, Listening to God’s Word is a
key. The Archdiocese relies on our support for men to educate them, help them
to listen to God’s call. Father Bob
Suszko (Lourdes weekend assistant and former parochial vicar), works at our Seminary
at Seton Hall University.
WORD College Campus Ministry.
Priests of Archdiocese do
outreach – such as Father Jim Chern at Montclair State University – to build up
Catholic community on 9 campuses, so that young people may listen to the Word.
WORKS
Catholic Charities serves the most vulnerable with food, nutrition, shelter,
job training and more.
[__08_] The
grants and money collected through the appeal have come back to help us at
Lourdes including …
“Dig underground”/ environmentally of old oil tank.
Sealing up inside church/ caulking of church windows.
“Tearing up” – cancelling money/bills owed to Archdiocese.
This DIGGING / SEALING / TEARING = about $125,000 to
Lourdes – from Archdiocesan funds - over the past few years.
WORKS/Lookout Catholic Charities – on our property rents
out our school building to teach children with special learning needs, many of
whom are on the autistic spectrum. The rent paid by Catholic Charities to
Lourdes comprises more than one half – more than 50% of our parish’s income/revenue.
We would be in a very different situation if we did not have this rental
income.
[__09_] I ask your prayerful consideration. Our goal this year is $28,210. Last year, we
exceed the goal and our $9,200 was used toward necessary repairs on our heat
and air conditioning. We need your continued support so that we may all listen
to the word and stop / learn to worship. The Annual Appeal exists to look out
for good works that we could not do on our own.
If we make our goal by June 30, the parish
will receive an estimated $15,000 reduction in assessment expenses.
You may also give online. (https://support.rcan.org/a/donate)
Please select “Your Parish” as “Our Lady of
Lourdes – West Orange”
[__10_] You
are the light of the world … You may contact me at anytime via phone or email
with questions, or see me at church. Thank you… Play
official video of Archdiocese of Newark [__end_]
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