Dear Parish Family,

In today's Gospel, the apostles ask the Lord for one of the most beautiful and perilous gifts. They say to Jesus, "Increase our faith." Faith indeed is a gift that bestows a beautiful and glorious power to act in God's name, but it also comes with the dangerous but worthwhile cost of putting God first in everything. 

 

As St. Paul speaks to his younger brother bishop, St. Timothy, about stirring into flame the gift of faith he received at his ordination, he reminds him that he didn't receive a spirit of cowardice, but rather a gift of power and love and self-control. Like a fire, faith needs to be stoked and tested to burn brightly. We should embrace the tests of faith in our lives with courage and confidence that God is testing us to strengthen us, not to punish us. 

 

Paul also reminds Timothy not to be ashamed of his testimony, and to bear his share of hardship for the gospel with God's strength. The stronger and more real our faith is, the more compelling our testimony to Christ will become, but also the more hardship we will endure for it. Keeping faith lukewarm, mediocre, weak because of cowardice may protect us from being ridiculed or ashamed by those without faith, but it will not make us good disciples or evangelists. 

 

If you love someone, you aren't ashamed to tell others about them. Do we love Jesus? Then don't be ashamed to proclaim Him publicly, to let others witness our prayers of grace before meals, to pray over others in Jesus' name, to let them see us make the sign of the cross, to let them know that we will be late to an event because we're prioritizing Sunday Mass. If we're doing these gestures to attract the attention of others, then shame on us. But if we are doing these things because of our faith and love of Christ, then blessed are we who suffer insults for the sake of Christ.

Remember the power and the glory of faith. Yes, there will be persecution, ridicule and insult from people who just don't get it, but our testimony will be greatly appealing to a world and culture very desperately searching for Christ even if they do not recognize Him yet in their search. Lukewarm faith does nothing to spread the Gospel. Christ grants the request of His apostles to increase their faith, and He will grant our prayer as well. Do not be afraid. Pray for the gift of faith to be poured out upon you this day!

 

This weekend we have gifts from the Holy Land being sold after Masses. Please be generous and consider purchasing a few of these beautiful hand-crafted pieces as gifts throughout the year. Proceeds support Christians in the Holy Land who desperately need our support and assistance during this time of violence. 

 

Please also come to our Classic Italy pilgrimage information session this Sunday at 2:30 pm in the St. Mary ABC room. Eddie from Trinity Tour Travels will be there to review the itinerary and answer questions about the pilgrimage. Fr. John Betters and I are leading this pilgrimage from May 18-28, 2026. I hope you will consider joining us for this awesome Catholic experience! Pick up a brochure in the back of the church for more information. 

 

We are hosting an Estate Planning Seminar on Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 pm in the St. Mary Banquet Room. If you've ever considered leaving a legacy gift to the parish in your will or trust, this seminar will help explain various options, approaches, and verbiage for your gift. We've been blessed by many parishioners who have included our parish in their wills, and look forward to helping you include our parish and other charitable institutions in your legacy gift. Please see the infographic in the back of the church or call the St. Mary Parish office at 440-285-7051 to RSVP.

 

I am yours in Christ,

Fr. Scott Goodfellow