This year, the Archdiocese of Detroit is celebrating Catechetical Sunday on September 19, 2021, with the theme “Disciples of Jesus: Witnesses of the Gospel.” On this special day we celebrate our catechists’ response to the Lord’s invitation to develop their own relationship with Jesus. Catechists teach us to recognize Jesus’ voice and invitation in our own lives so that we will grow as His disciples and witness his love and mercy in our world. We also celebrate our parents, grandparents, and guardians by recognizing their important role in teaching the faith.  The parish community is encouraged to pray for all catechists who dedicate themselves to the mission of helping those they teach to hear the voice of Jesus and to grow in relationship with Him.

Our Catechists

• Sharon Bannon
• Lori Caid
• Kathy Gale
• Joyce Kopp
• Brandon Milanowski
• Paul Pyrkosz
• Cynthia Ross
• Ann Rowe
• Lydia Rowe
• Cathy Vanecek
• Ashley Zimmerman
• Debbie Zimmerman

Prayer for Catechists
​Lord, as our catechists respond to your call to serve you, we pray that you open their eyes, ears, mind, and heart to see you and to hear your voice so that they may be instruments of your love, mercy, and truth to those they teach. Use them, Lord, to help them experience a personal encounter with your Son, Jesus, so that they will become joyful witnesses of the Gospel in their daily lives, at work and at school, and in their families.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill them with your gifts so that they may confidently serve those you send them this year.  Amen.

Today is the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time and St. James tells us clearly today how to start living the word. (I have already copied and enlarged this reading for my home use…) He is very clear about what it is to live in wisdom: it comes from above and is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant and merciful. Wisdom is consistent and sincere in these things—and the result of a life of righteousness is peace! War and conflict are fruitless pursuits. “You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain…You ask but do not receive…” A bumper sticker I saw once says it succinctly: “No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace.”

​I looked up the word ‘wisdom’ (thanks again, Webster) and here is the meaning: The accumulated philosophic or scientific learning (not applicable in this particular Scripture)—but the rest I read seems to apply. Wisdom: the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships; good sense and judgement; a wise attitude or course of action. This all sounds good to me—I pray for this wisdom always.

I think that today’s reading from St. James is one that should be published everywhere, carved on buildings and inscribed on our hearts. His letter also contains a very clear description of how we humans operate against God’s plans for us: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.” It is our passion in ambition and in jealousy that foment conflict among us—along with greed and fear. All that you need to do is turn on the news and you will see this observation is very true.

We hear the story in the Gospel about the Disciples arguing on the way to Capernaum about who was the greatest. Can you imagine? Arguing! When Jesus questions them about the arguing they remain silent. They know; they must have known that this is not what belief in Jesus is about…

Today Jesus teaches the Disciples (and us) a lesson about living in God’s wisdom: Like St. James’ Letter He gives us directions to avoid ambition and jealousy—and thereby living a life of true service in Christ. He says: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus calls the Twelve and teaches them (and us) a lesson of living in His wisdom: “Whoever receives one child…in my name, receives me…” ‘Receiving a child’ is to give assistance to someone who may be helpless⎯and is usually unable to ever return your support in kind. It is the understanding that there will be no (earthly) payback, no investment, no (direct) return in helping someone with no resources. This, however, certainly describes what is expected of those who are baptized Disciples of Christ! To live a life in service of the helpless and powerless is to live a righteous life, to know Jesus and therefore to know His peace.

The readings today are about our stewardship of God’s generous gifts (the usage and the sharing), and all the ways we may live our lives as true believers. (They’ll Know We Are Christians by our love and by our labor and behavior.) The “reward” for true Christian acts is wisdom and peace, and more importantly: eternal life and a place at the table. For the Healing of the Nations, you must be a channel of God’s peace and wisdom, and of God’s unconditional love. Now Go Forward! 

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: Here is a song  about the Wisdom of God.

Today is the Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the Gospel Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” We answer this question by our witness: all our actions, our priorities, our service, our love and forgiveness for each other. We daily take up our cross and lift it high. Our time, talent and treasure are consigned to God and the Kingdom on earth. (I once heard a cynic say: “I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one.”)

​St. James reminds us today that faith without works is dead. We should know that it is not enough to just believe, and to show up for church every Sunday—those actions are not enough to be our best selves and to be part of God’s intentions for us. We must live the Gospel—witness the Gospel in the world— commissioned by our Baptism to “teach” by our own personal examples of commitment to our faith by our actions in love, forgiveness, charity and sacrifice.

Sacrifice is always the challenge for us: to be tired but to visit an aged relative anyway; to rise in the night when worm out from work to comfort a terrified child; to go to work and support your family even when the work is soul-killing; to put aside what we enjoy doing to take care of needed chores and tasks…the list is endless. All our moments are about how we choose to spend them—and they show who we are and what we believe. Jesus in the Gospel today accuses us of “not thinking as God does, but as human beings do.” We are called to “Lift High the Cross” in moments of self-denial that show who we are as His disciples. This is never easy—but we must continue being practicing Christians in all we say and do.

​I looked up the word sacrifice (thank you, Webster) and found this: an act of offering to God something precious; to surrender something for the sake of something (or someone) else… On the way to sacrifice I passed by sacred and thought how in our faith these two ideals are conjoined. Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice and we are called to emulate that example in the many ways we can—although it is not often that we see a sacrifice to the death. (Thank you to those military persons who lost their lives in Afghanistan helping others to leave the country!) Any sacrifice made for others is sacred—offered up to God—even the every day small things we do for each other.

The sign of the cross always reminds us of the emblem of our belief. We begin all liturgical and Para-liturgical celebrations, blessings, and prayers with this sign. In Baptism we are signed by the cross, we are anointed with it in Confirmation and in the Sacrament of the Sick. On Ash Wednesday we make the sign of the cross in ashes on our foreheads. We understand we must follow Jesus’ example and take up our own cross in order to live lives of hope—to live in the new life we are promised, making those sacred sacrifices to which we are called.

We gather today in the midst of all joy, sorrow, gratitude, and burden. Each day we are given the opportunity to lift our crosses high; this symbol of our salvation whose mark we carry. We believe in its power to destroy death and restore life. This is the core of our faith; to embrace the cross and its ability to transform death into life.

Our final hymn today (Lift High the Cross) has a verse that says: “Each newborn fol’lwer of the Crucified, bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Lift high the cross! The cross of Christ proclaim!”  To paraphrase the “Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers” (another Liturgical Ministry!), we must grow up as Christians and step beyond just trying to be good people; we must also be good for people. How to do this? Sacre sacrifices. Lift High the Cross!

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: Time is passing and flying quickly by—please don’t forget to seriously discern your mission and ministry here at St. Aidan. All our Staff is looking for committed volunteers for all of the liturgical groups and ensembles. Consider joining and sharing your gifts and talents!  I am looking for interested singers for my ensembles (both the young and the youthful), for instrumentalists (particularly another guitarist or two and a bassist). Please come and see me: make a joyful sacrifice of time to enhance our St. Aidan worship.

Another Note: Here is a song about sacrifice, enjoy!

He gives power to the faint, abundant strength to the weak (Isaiah 40:29).

Fortitude, or courage, is often associated with the willingness to face physical danger.  Fortitude is especially associated with the willingness to defend those you love.  But let’s take this to a higher level.  The Christian understanding of fortitude, while including physical courage, is not limited to that. Fortitude strengthens the will so that we make the right choice even when faced with great difficulty.  Practicing the Christian virtue of fortitude is often about the far less dramatic task of remaining committed to putting one foot in front of the other, like participating in weekly Sunday Mass, praying regularly, and performing acts of charity. It is not easy.  However, fortitude in the face of tedium and weariness will eventually lead to the victory of being in heaven with God.  Recall what Jesus tells us,  The one who perseveres to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).

Prayer for Fortitude

Dear Jesus, lay Your hand upon my head, and teach me to have courage in the paths that I must tread.  Bless me, and bless those whom I love, and give us grace to see these crosses bravely borne by us will keep us close to You.  And if at times a shadow falls in unexpected ways, put Your gentle Hand in mine and guide me through the days. So bless my people, one and all, with Your protecting grace, and impart to them Your wisdom until they meet You face to face.  Amen.

David J. Conrad

Today St. James reminds us to walk the walk—not just talk the talk. He tells us that the Word has been planted within us and is able to save us, if we are “doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves.” We hear these words of St. James today after the Old Testament Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy about observing the statutes and decrees of God. Moses tells the people that observing these laws carefully gives evidence of wisdom and intelligence—and that by following the law (the commandments of the Lord) you will be happy and this will set you free. He tells us that in living the law we evince God—as doers of God’s law—and that we are evidence of God’s goodness and mercy.

​The Responsorial Psalm that we hear between the first and second reading tells us explicitly: “They who do justice will live in the presence of God.” The Psalm today (#15) is literally a list of what to do or not to do: basically the idea is to be a just person and then you will live in the presence of God (now and later, I think). St. James (the Second Reading) puts it all more simply: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word…care for orphans and widows…and keep oneself unstained by the world.”

In the Gospel (we are back to St. Mark!), we hear about people honoring God with their lips and not their hearts; living the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. It is clear in all the readings today that we must live our Christian life characterized more by what we do, than what we say we are...

The Gospel story also tells us to watch carefully what comes from within us—that we must examine our consciences for those things that are evil, to be watchdogs of our motives for the things we say and do. Jesus talks about ritual for its own sake rather than for the heart of belief, and he quotes Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…” We all have experienced this at times; we know Christians who judge and condemn, who have a lack of compassion or mercy. Jesus continues, “…in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts…” We are told that we disregard God’s law of love and cling to human tradition as if it were law. In the Gospel today, Jesus warns us to know the difference.

In a discussion with a non-believing family member, I was informed that the Church was full of hypocrites. Wow! Surprise! Stop the presses! (or the blogs…) News flash! I had no idea that people come to church with impure motives, smile when they don't even like you, and really don't mean it when they sing “Here I Am, Lord.” I'm just shocked. Of course, it's nice to know that God has rounded up all the hypocrites and put them in church buildings—at least on Sunday mornings—so that all the other people in the world who have pristine motives and clear consciences don't have to put up with them… (Yes, I know, a little sarcasm…)

But my family member is right, you know…there are hypocrites in the church. There are Christians who would fight to the death over the inspiration of the Bible, but who rarely take it down off the shelf to read it for themselves. There are Christians who would defend the importance of the Church, but who think nothing of gossiping about and slandering its fellow members. There are Christians who profess the peace of Christ and cry war; who profess love and spread hateful attitudes; and those who have a lack of charity for the marginalized and poor of the world.

I really am rarely surprised anymore, but I am frequently amazed at some of the attitudes that we Christians exhibit. I think it must astound and distress the Lord at our inconsistency between our beliefs and our behaviors—our ability to say we believe one thing while living another. I pray that we all stop deluding ourselves and that today we listen carefully to the Word of God proclaimed and ask: “Am I just a hearer of the Word, rather than a doer—do I live the Gospel of Christ?” Food for thought.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note:  Here are a couple of songs about the Word of God. Be Doers, but be Hearers of these songs….