The Lord
Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that we do not belong to the
world any more than He belongs to the world. As David’s Psalm 24:1
declares: “The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds, the world
and those who dwell in it.” And for five days and nights it may
seem that the world is here at Saint Joseph’s Annual Carnival and
Food Feast 2012 which will take place Tuesday, May 22 through
Saturday May 26. This wonderful annual event that kicks off summer
is something that one just has to experience.
We thank in
advance all those who volunteer and attend and support it. The
rides are fun and with the new addition of wristbands, the young of
all ages can enjoy even more. And the food, lovingly and expertly
prepared, is simply delicious. The money goes to support our
fantastic school and the benefits are out of this world if we
remember what St. Augustine, our Diocese’s patron, wrote centuries
ago in an explanation of the Lord’s Prayer: “We call it
“daily” because it’s as necessary as the other bread. We can’t live
without it. Our bread is daily bread, and it feeds—not our bodies
but our souls. It is necessary for us who are laborers in the
vineyard right now; it is our food, not our wages. Whoever hires a
laborer for his vineyard owes him two things: food to keep him
going and his wages to make him rejoice. Here on earth, our daily
food is the Word of God, which is always given out in the churches.
Our wages after our labor are called eternal life.”
Welcome Father Augustine Tan Minh Nguyen!
I visited Vietnam in July, 2005 for two weeks with my priest friend
from seminary, Father Thien Nguyen. What a life changing
experience! What I really understood was the Catholic faith
there--although a minority--is alive and vibrant. I was amazed as I
saw packed churches for daily Mass at 4:30 a.m. before the hot sun
rose and at 7 p.m. after it had set.
The news
announced last week that newly ordained Father Augustine would be
stationed here is another blessing. Escaping the communists 28
years ago in a tiny fishing boat with his sister and 47 others is
inspiring and a lesson for us all!
Events like
parish carnivals seem to bring out the simple pleasures in life
because of the love, the people, the energy and the joy, words which
describe Father Augustine.
We really
are blessed here in this exceptional nation and we must be
ever vigilant that it remains one nation under God. Amen!
