From the Desk of Father Tharp

Fr. Schmitz / Fr. Tharp: “Who’s here?”

A brief explanation is in order as to how to know where each of us is celebrating as we rotate locations.  The top square above my weekly bulletin article the week before each Sunday will tell you who is at St. Ann and who is at Sacred Heart the following week.  We usually rotate every other Sunday.  However in recent weeks, I took Sacred Heart for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday for reasons of choreography, and Fr. Schmitz took St. Ann for two Sundays in a row.  So as to even it all out, I took St. Ann last Sunday and this Sunday two weeks in a row.  Of course as you are already aware, I take both the Saturday 4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart and the 5:15 p.m. at St. Ann every Saturday, so there is no rotation. 

Fr. Schmitz will be away on vacation two Sundays in May, namely the 13^th and the 27^th.  There may be some switching of the rotation schedule that month as well as it is very difficult to secure a visiting priest who will do three Sunday Masses in a row as is the case at Sacred Heart.  I will inform you the week before as to what is happening.

Vacation Bible School

This year Sacred Heart will join St. Ann in our Pastoral Region Vacation Bible School to take place at St. Ann.  I am looking for interested teen volunteers and Virtus trained and approved adult volunteers who will help with this joint program.  I am asking adult and teen volunteers from Sacred Heart and St. Ann to consider this your “home parish” Vacation Bible School.  If you have not been Virtus approved, we will provide plenty of opportunities locally.  For additional information, see notices in this bulletin.

Reflection on Scripture

They recognized him in the breaking of the bread.  After his resurrection, Jesus is beyond the physical constraints of science, beyond the temporal limitations of biological life.  Natural life is corrupted by the effects of sin.  Jesus has overcome sin and death.  He is as scripture says, “The first born of the new creation.”  Nature is perfected when it is elevated to the supernatural.  Jesus shows us the way through his own death and resurrection.  Jesus comforts his disciples by eating fish in their presence and showing them the nail marks.  He is no ghost; no vision!  He is living flesh and blood but no longer confined to the temporal. 

So what does this mean for us?  We fear the unknown, so Jesus shows us our destiny.  Death is the unknown, but if we are following the path of a friend who has already conquered the obstacle course, we know who will be waiting there to welcome us home.  You can only be comfortable living to the full if you have conquered the fear of dying.  Jesus allows us to live in him and for him, so we can know the comfort of the assurance of eternal life.  Jesus never goes back on his promise.  You can bet your eternal life on him.

Readings for Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:8-12

1 John 3:1-2

John 10:11-18

Theme:  The Good Shepherd