Daily Homily 3-19-2020

Fr. Mark’s Homily for March 19 with Parish News

Dear Parishioners,

          St. Joseph’s Day is usually a day for parties and celebrations.

St. Joseph is the patron saint of many countries including Italy and Belgium.  My home parish in Kewanee, Illinois was a Belgium parish named St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Moline started as a Belgium ethnic parish. 

          I remember the statue of St. Joseph that stood at the top of the high altar in my parish church. Joseph looked lovingly down on the working-class congregation holding a lily in his left hand and the infant Jesus in his right arm as we prayed at each liturgy. I spent many a Mass gazing up at the statue of Joseph. He looked as if he were enthroned in the heavens.  My father’s name was Joseph and I recall sitting on his lap as he read the funnies to me when I was a boy.  I always felt safe and secure looking at the statue of Joseph and the same way when I was being held by my Dad.

          Later, I took the name Joseph at confirmation based on all these memories.  In one parish building project I was involved in we asked St. Joseph to pray for the successful completion of the massive task we had committed to.  We asked St. Joseph to intercede because he was the patron saint of carpenters and construction workers. In the end, we achieved our goals. I felt St. Joseph’s prayers provided the supernatural boost that everyone needed to complete our good work.

          I am often struck by how people come to Sacred Heart to light votive candles in front of our St. Joseph statue. Many will touch the carved wooden image for a while and worshipers draw comfort from this gesture. We Catholics use all our senses to pray.

          It is for this reason that this is a time that is most difficult for us.  We miss the handshakes, the smell of incense, the beauty of sacred art in our church, the sound of music, the taste of the Eucharistic elements.  We also miss our friends in the Christian community.  The loss of all these things, puts a hole in our lives.

          St. Joseph dealt with the unexpected in his life.  He had a plan.  He wanted take Mary as his wife.  He probably envisioned a quiet existence in Nazareth raising children and being a craftsman.  But then came an unexpected pregnancy and later a flight into exile.  Joseph seemed to handle the surprises of life with a trust in the providence of God.  In the cryptic comments about him in scripture we never get the sense that he was overwhelmed or disheartened. He never utters a word in the Bible.  He simply does the right thing. 

          Joseph is a model for us.  Can we quietly persevere?   Can we unselfishly protect the vulnerable?  God has entrusted us with each other.  How do we respond?  If we quietly do the right thing, we all will be better off.  We may not live in luxury, but we will live secure in God’s grace.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    

Parish Tidbits

1. You will be glad to know that the work on Sacred Heart’s stained-glass windows continues.  All the glass on the lower level has been reinstalled.  The smaller windows shine bright and strong.  Three major windows in the upper nave have been removed for re-leading and three more will be removed by next week.  That will mean that there will be only two more windows to be removed.  If there is one bright spot in the present situation it is that the work on the windows is well ahead of schedule. Thanks again to all our benefactors.

2. Some people have asked if we will be having confessions in the days ahead.  The policies about religious services continue to change from day to day because of the Covid 19 scare.  Hopefully, we can arrange an open time in the church for the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon, but keep in mind that anyone can make an appointment with Fr. Mark or Fr. Matthew in our office for individual confessions.  If you don’t want to go out, with proper precautions we will try to come to you.  The priests are also available by phone to talk to anyone who is troubled.  Hopefully, everyone will feel like they have someone to listen to them.  Just call 762-2362.

3. This weekend Sacred Heart will be live streaming the Mass starting Saturday evening.  Fr. Mark and Fr. Matthew will be concelebrating.  The liturgy will be embedded on our WEB page and you can watch the Eucharistic celebrations at any time in the upcoming week.  We will be filming in the Lee Center. Our church is unavailable for filming because of the ongoing window restoration.  Please spread the world.

May our Lady protect us from all harm. Amen