As we come to another weekend, a holiday weekend at that, and you are considering if you should attend mass, I would still urge you to be cautious and stay healthy. Wear your mask, maintain social distancing, but find time to spend with God if you choose not to come on this weekend. One way to do this would be to consider coming to a daily mass. There are fewer people and it is easier to space yourself a little farther from others. This does not take the place of a Sunday mass but remember Bishop still has in effect the dispensation of the Sunday obligation of attending mass. So why not consider a daily mass.
Here are links to our readings for the day:
English: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070320.cfm
Spanish: http://usccb.org/bible/lecturas/070320.cfm
To Believe or not to believe
A Feast Day for St Thomas
Thomas chose not to believe. He walked with Jesus. Heard His teaching. Saw the signs and miracles. With all this evidence, all this proof, he could not bring himself to believe. He chose not to believe.
Ever wonder why some people choose not to believe. We now have 2,000 years of evidence. We now have the Bible. We have the teaching and preaching of so many great scholars. So many learned people proclaiming they believe in God. We have far more miracles. We have had so many Marian apparitions and cures. So why do people choose not to believe?
I think the answer is challenging. Because it points back to you, to me as an individual. If you know someone who does not believe we must ask ourselves what have we done to help their belief? It cannot be all left up to a few priests and religious. You must be the example. You must be the sign of faith. That means asking yourself, “Am I like Thomas?” Do I know Christ but am hesitant to totally believe, to totally give myself to God? If that is the case, do you not think others see that doubt in you? If you have doubts why should they believe? Jesus was patient, He answered Thomas questions. Jesus will answer yours if you but ask.
May the Lord bless you in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Fr Ed Anderson
Email: fatheredanderson[at]gmail.com
Phone: 715.817.3736
St. Joseph Church – Rice Lake
Holy Trinity – Haugen
St. John the Evangelist – Birchwood
Our Lady of Lourdes – Dobie
