Welcome Catholic Charities
When thinking of church most people think of the place they go to worship. Churches all over the world gather people in prayer who live relatively close to the worship site, thus thriving churches build a sense of community that is more locally geographic as well as spiritual.
Sooner or later, most churches create an even stronger sense of community in response to a significant part of the Gospel this weekend according to Mark. We hear a very human interaction between Jesus and the disciples. At first the brothers James and John request that they sit on either side of Jesus in eternity.
Jesus’ reply to this request is interesting. He asks if they can experience and endure the pain (Cup) that comes with discipleship AND if they can totally immerse (Baptize) themselves in his Gospel mission.
They respond “yes.” But, very similar to the rich young man from last week’s Gospel who claimed to have followed the commandments since he was young, James and John don’t fully realize all the pain, commitment and resistance they will endure as they share the cup and baptism of Jesus Christ.
When the other ten disciples overhear this interchange they become angry at James and John for seeking some type of eternal reward that is more significant than what they will experience.
This dynamic gives Jesus an opportunity to have a team meeting with the disciples. He calls them together like a good coach or military officer who senses some dissension among the ranks. He reminds them that the ultimate judge of their SERVICE will be God. He also contrasts human greatness with the type of greatness he is looking for in SERVICE of people and the Gospel.
“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your SERVANT,” he says. Then he reiterates one of the essentials of his own mission – the very reason he has come into this world, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE.”
I hope you can familiarize yourself with all of the service opportunities we have here at Holy Family. I hope that you realize that from the youngest in our Academy and Family Faith programs all the way through our teens, young adults, young families and including our seniors, we serve so many people in need all year around far beyond our boundaries. Our Lenten Social Justice projects have SERVED so many in need all over the country for several years. Please see the photo display in the hallway leading east from the Narthex for details and perhaps refresh your memory.
BUT, because our Catholic Church is never limited to one area, state or country, EVERY diocese in the world has a SERVICE agency that helps people in need in however many counties they are in.
Catholic Charities of Chicago (CCAC), serving Lake and Cook counties, was founded more than a century ago to meet human need through the Mission of Charity. A trusted partner of us all and steward of our generosity, CCAC has grown to be one of the largest human SERVICE providers in the country. Some of the SERVICES they provide include support of children, youth, and families in crisis, especially mothers and their babies, those coping with loss, seniors and veterans facing social isolation and poverty. CCAC provides dignified and safe subsidized housing for older adults and those with disabilities. Trust me, they provide many other SERVICES as well.
Catholic Charities of Chicago accompanies anyone in need, regardless of their faith, gender, race or ethnicity. In fact, the majority of the thousands of people they serve each day are not Catholic. The same is true for the majority of their partners in service who work with and support them. They are drawn to their values of compassion and overall mission of SERVICE more than their religious affiliation.
We are honored to host members of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago to Holy Family this weekend, including CEO Sally Blount. Staff members as well as donors who live in this area will gather in Common Ground before the 11:00 am Mass, then pray with us at Mass and remain with us following Mass in the Narthex. Please see any of their staff members for more information or visit their website to learn more.
I hope the capitalized words give you a sense of how this one arm of the Archdiocese, and we here at Holy Family, respond to this week’s Gospel and give you some suggestions to serve as well.