What Makes America, America
Our founding pastor, Fr. Med Laz, has written several books, and his latest is very timely, for this weekend and this season of our nation. It is entitled What Makes America, America. On this 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, Med offers both timely and enduring reminders of the core of our American identity. The major sections of the chapters give us some values to reflect on. What makes America, America?
Hard Work …Courage … Determination … Zeal…
Gift … and Dedication … make America, America.
This week’s Gospel tells us that Jesus praises God, who is Lord of heaven and earth, and what has been hidden to the wise and learned is revealed to the little ones. Little ones can mean many different people, but perhaps children and those who are considered little in the eyes of society hold a particular importance to the revelation of God and what make America, America.
Med begins with a reference to the Statue of Liberty and the words carved on her base that he calls a national mirror. They are the words of a VERY learned and wealthy poet named Emma Lazarus. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Med continues by saying of that slogan, “Most of all it calls us to continue the work of freedom. The work of building a country where every child – born here or brought here – can say without fear or hesitation, ‘I belong. I matter. I am free to dream.’” The Statue of Liberty will continue holding her torch, steady and unafraid. The question is whether we will still lift our eyes to it. Whether we will remember what those words require. Whether we will choose, again and again, to be American—not a fortress, not a slogan, not a memory—but a promise. That is what make America, AMERICA.
Last week’s Gospel passage from Matthew encouraged us to see that discipleship comes as we receive and welcome the very presence of God in one another, and that means the tired, the poor and the huddled masses and those longing to breathe free. It is a commission that includes including the least around and, most importantly, among us. This week, we are encouraged from the same Gospel to accept the yoke or work of both discipleship and freedom as national celebrations merge with a message of the Gospel.
Ministry Spotlight – Ministers of Care
I have made several attempts in the past to regularly focus on one of our 110 ministries here at Holy Family on a regular basis. I admit that this effort has lacked consistency, and I will try to do better in my remaining time with you. Some feedback from our Conversations in the Spirit has conveyed to us that many people don’t know enough of what goes on here in our community and the tremendous scope of our mission. So, in response to that feedback, I will more strongly commit to a regular Spotlight on one of our many ministries.
This week, I would like to highlight our Ministers of Care who visit and bring Communion to those who are homebound, in assisted living or rehab facilities, or hospitals. Jeannie Parry from our staff coordinates 26 ministers who provide this very important service. Cheryl Withey and Bev Hansen are our ministry leads.
Being a Minister of Care is more than being a Eucharistic Minister at Mass. In collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago, we provide training for this ministry that entails the proper way to access, carry and share the Body of Christ with those who are unable to join us for Mass.
Ministers of Care access the Body of Christ by approaching the tabernacle in church and putting consecrated hosts into a small container called a pyx. This enables them to carry Communion reverently. They then travel to visit someone who is hungering for this sacred gift. They pray with them and share Communion.
Consider that these visits are special because a trained member of the Body of Christ carries to and shares the Body of Christ with a member of the Body of Christ. This sharing of the Body of Christ is something that only the Catholic Church provides. EVERY CATHOLIC PARISH has Ministers of Care, and so those in the areas where your loved ones may be should be contacted for this service.
I hope this spotlight serves a couple of purposes. Please let us know of ANYONE who may need a visit from a Minister of Care. This helps us develop a relationship with those who are ill, and perhaps seriously ill, and also may need the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. I am amazed still at the number of funeral requests we get from those who have been ill and confined to home or hospital and we have not been informed that they were ill. Ministers of Care serve people and families during times of transitional illness, as well as the serious and terminally ill.
Please contact Jeannie Parry if you are interested or if your loved one or friend can be served.