The Church of St. Mary, followers of Christ, are inspired by our Catholic Faith to brough the Eucharist, Prayer, and Education, as the family of God, and with one another, we desire to live our faith in the world.

 

St. Mary's Church Elizabeth, IL

Pastor Message and Prayer

 

9/28

May God grant us the spirit of peace

READ EPHESIANS< CHAPTER 4, VERSES 1 TO 6

The dividing line between the pagan faiths that Christianity replaced and discipleship in Christ is clear. A basic tenet of those former ways of belief held that if we do good things, the gods might come to love us. The basic tenet of the Christian faith is the opposite: Because God loves us, we do good things. Today the Ephesians are exhorted to live a life that reflects the transformative experience of God's love, which they received through their baptisms.

"Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

                                                                                                                                               EPHESIANS 4:1

     The individual manifestations of such a life are myriad, but the blueprint is simple: a life filled with "all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity ofthe Spirit in the bond of peace." This is a list reminiscent of Paul's beautiful reflection on the nature of love in 1 Corinthians 13. We are invited to live a life that becomes a catalyst for the peace and unity that were the subject of earlier reflections in this letter.

     We find a beautiful expression of the relationship between the personal and communal dimensions of discipleship in this passage. Cherishing the virtues of humility, gentleness, and patience within ourselves will inevitably "spill-over" into our becoming agents of unity and peace in the larger community. This connection is quite natural and unavoidable given the nature of the enterprise with which we are involved as disciples of Christ: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all."

->Where is the connection between inner peace and outer peace most clearly manifested in my life?

Prayer Starter: Lead me, Lord Jesus, on the worthy adventure of a life of discipleship.

 

Fr. Joachim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Mary Mass Times

Weekend Mass Times
Saturday 6:00pm
Sunday 8:30am

Daily Mass Times
Wednesday 8:30am
Wednesday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9am-9:30am
Friday 8:30am
First Friday 8:30am Healing Mass and Adoration

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Saturday from 5:30-5:50 or
by appointment by calling the Rectory at 815-858-3422

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Tuesday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:30 am- 3:30 p.m.. by appointment
Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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