Saint Aidan Catholic Church - Livonia, MI
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  • Discover
    • Schedule >
      • Holy Week
    • Livestream Masses
    • Lent Fish Dinners
    • Contact
    • Register
    • About >
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
      • PRES Plan
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Young(ish) Adults
    • Links
  • Grow
    • March Enrichment
    • Lent '23
    • Families
    • Blog
    • Bible Studies >
      • Exodus
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Young(ish) Adults
    • Youth Ministry
    • Ongoing Enrichment >
      • Online Studies
      • Sacraments
      • Faith Basics
      • Library Database
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Become Catholic
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Assistance
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    • Volunteer
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    • Electronic Donations
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God Chooses the Foolish

1/22/2023

 
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we hear what seems like paradoxical words from St. Paul in the second reading, and from Jesus in the Gospel.

​Jesus gives his famous “Sermon on the Mount” from St. Matthew’s Gospel; which includes the Beatitudes. We hear how the meek shall inherit the land, those that mourn will be comforted, those that are hungry and thirsty will be satisfied, those who are merciful, clean of heart and ‘poor’ in spirit will be called children of God. These words are so contrary, so contradictory to all the messages of our culture!

St. Paul, explains these paradoxical perspectives of Jesus. He tells us that God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, the lowly and “despised” to reduce those who boast as ‘something’ to nothing─so that no one boasts except in the Lord. These, like the beatitudes, are contradictory statements, seemingly illogical statements from all that our culture espouses and teaches about what makes success, happiness and a good life.

Websters tells us that a paradox is a tenet contrary to received opinion; a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. It is something with seemingly contradictory qualities or phrases. We Catholic Christians should be accustomed to this kind of language in our theology: “Mary, Virgin and Mother” or “Jesus, fully human and fully divine,” or “God, crucified and resurrected.” It seems that these things should cancel each other out, but we know and believe that they do not. It is precisely in these mysteries and contradictions that we discover our God. Foolishness for the world is the wisdom from above. It is another, an “other” perception we must seek in order to be in a state of grace, in order to live in spiritual grace.

In our faith journey we must try every day to be “Fools for Christ.” In the eyes of the world we choose simplicity, we choose ‘less is more,’ we choose the truth. Our time, our talent and treasure is for God (first). We bring service and compassion to the marginalized, and just say “no” to what the world tells us is true. We do this because we know: “Rejoice and be glad, your reward will be great in heaven.” And we know there is joy in being foolish for Christ in the here and now, too.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: As we have now entered a new season in this new year, The St. Aidan Music Ministry is looking for a few good men and women. If you love to sing and love good music, come and see me after any weekend mass. I may also be reached by emailing me at: ejdyc@att.net. Come and sing what you believe and believe what you sing!

Resolutions

1/15/2023

 
I have written in past articles about personal epiphanies and our own particular decisions for transformation and change. I made some suggestions in one article once about a different kind of day-planner/calendar for this new year; about setting aside time for God, family, other for rest and renewal. This is a great resolution to make and have; one only hopes for success…

​We are already almost half-way through January, and the Christmas Season is over. Christmas is collected and stored away (for the most part) and we have entered Ordinary (counted) Time. I don’t know about you, but I feel I need more shoring up and support at this time and if you feel the same, the scripture for this weekend (the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time) may help us all.

The First Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah reminds us that we are formed by God; “formed…as the servant from the womb…glorious…God is now my strength!” This helps, as it reminds me that I am God’s and here to do His will (look at today’s psalm!)—and that God will help me in all holy endeavors. Holy endeavors: working to be the best me that God created me to be in all the ways that matter to God. That helps as I already struggle with all the many physical, mental and spiritual resolutions I have made for myself.

How are your New Year resolutions going? Have you made a spiritual resolution for a more holy life? 

Saint Paul reminds us and the Corinthians today that we are called to be holy with all those everywhere who call upon the name of Jesus. In the Gospel of John today, we hear John the Baptist witness (testify) to Jesus as our Savior, something you can do also, by your life and your everyday decisions and priorities (and resolutions).

There is a poem by the poet Ella Wheeler Wilcow that begins:

One ship drives east and another drives west,
With the self-same winds that blow:
 ‘Tis the set of the sails and not the gales,
Which tells us the way to go.

I encourage you as I do my own self, to reflect on what drives you and your choices. Which way are your sails set? A blessing of our belief in God is that we are forgiven our sins and short-comings: if you make a not-productive choice today, there is the next moment to choose more wisely. (Thank you, God!) The psalm today says: “God stooped toward me and heard my cry, He put a new song into my mouth…a hymn to our God.” Sing a New Song with your life, your resolutions and your choices.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

The Work of Christmas

1/6/2023

 
Epiphany is always described as an unanticipated understanding; it is a light of comprehension that shines in the dark of unknowing. It is an astonishing and unpredicted perception and discerning. An epiphany is a sudden and unexpected consciousness, awareness and insight. It is a leap of understanding, of knowledge, and of faith and it is part of our true conversion in Christ!

​Isaiah today tells us to raise our eyes to look about, then you shall be radiant at what you see, “your heart shall throb and overflow…” You will ‘get’ it! When you ‘get’ something, when that grace of understanding is given, it feels like that, doesn’t it? Our hearts throb and overflow because we recognize that a personal epiphany is a gift, an actual grace from God. In those moments of conversion and transformation, when we all experience our personal epiphanies, our own personal stars come to rest over us. A light shines upon us and in us!

As we near the end of our Christmas Season and prepare to start a new liturgical season (Monday we finish with The Baptism of the Lord), I would first like to share a text of a choral piece our Adult Choir sang in the past. It is called: The Work of Christmas by Dan Forest, text by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). This text gives us great food for thought as we are starting to end this season and begin the New Year.

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, To release the pris’ner,
To rebuild the nations: To bring peace among brothers,
To make music, music, make music from the heart.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins.

We know all the things that God came to earth to be for us—to exemplify and witness for us: hope, strength, peace, wisdom and joy; a love that renews and light for our eyes to see (and understand). In the Christmas season in our readings we name God for all the things that God is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, God of Mercy, Justice and Love, Healer Spirit and Light of the World. If Christ is truly all these things for you, celebrating Epiphany: the manifestation and presence of God on earth and in our hearts makes so much sense, and is all the sweeter. May God bless you with the grace of epiphany. But remember: He came, was born, and did what He did for us. So now that Christmas is ending, the work of Christmas begins for God’s people.

Keep Singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

    Authors

    David J. Conrad, M.A. Theology. Our Director of Faith Formation.

    Paul Pyrkosz. Our Youth Minister & Bookkeeper.

    ​Elizabeth Dyc. Our Director of Music Ministry.

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St. Aidan Catholic Church
17500 Farmington Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: 734-425-5950
office@saintaidanlivonia.org

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 a.m.

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