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July 22, 2001 SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Readings: 2 Corinthians,3, 12-18 Gospel: Matthew, 10: 16 -20 (English & Lebanese): *In our first reading today, St. Paul says: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." So how are we changed from one degree of glory to another, how do we become holy, how do we become Saints? By beholding the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face. What does that mean? It means God wants us to stop focusing our attention on the things that are passing away, including ourselves, our weakness, sickness, sin and death. Stop focusing on it. Does that mean we pretend it is not there? Of course not. It means we see it but we look at that which is greater, that is, we look at God, who is Greatness itself. Who would look at dust when s/he could look at gold and diamonds? Our God is like gold or diamond. He is so awesome that if we really stopped to look, to gaze, at his glory, we would see how awesome it, how it lifts us up from looking at misery, to looking at glory. How it lifts us from depression, sadness, sorrow, shame, sickness to joy and joy and greater joy. The saints were regular people, they were sinners. But what happened in their life? They stopped looking at themselves and started looking at God. And when you look at God, you fall in love with Him and he transforms you. You don't transform yourself. The work of sanctification (Becoming a saint) is not brainwashing your mind to believe certain things and doing all the actions of a holy person. These are external and imitations. The real work of sanctification happens when you behold and gaze upon God. Then he transforms you from glory to glory. It happens when we stop looking to our own means and techniques and strengths and look to God. "For your say, I am rich, I have prospered and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. Therefore, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love I reprove and chasen so be zealous and repent.(Rev. 3:17-19) Here, Christ says, "Buy from me" but how do we buy anything from God. What is the price of his "gold refined by fire"? $ 20? No we can't buy it. He gives it for free. We just have to ask. He'll give it for free, we are so poor, He is so rich. Do you SEE that? By "Charbel Bousamra" Last Week's Collection: $ 723.00 Thank you for your continued support and generosity. May God bless you and your families. Masses &Celebrations during the Week: Sun. July 22nd 9:00AM Hanna Kairouz (Youssef Kairouz) 11:00AM Jimmy Joseph Elias (1 Yr. Mem.) (Family) 1:00PM Baptism: Jonathan Charbel Abraham Mon. July 23rd 8:30AM Tony Semaan (Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sleiman) Frangie Jraige (Joseph Youssef) Youssef Abbas (Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis Diab) Elias Boutros (Mr. & Mrs. Elias Jraige) Tue. July 24th 8:30AM Boula Mikhail (Jawad Jraiche) Joseph Maksoud (Mr. & Mrs. Paul Youssef) Michael Boutros (Mr. & Mrs. Philip Youssef) Louie Youssef (Mrs. Bert Festa) Wed. July 25th 8:30AM Wadaa Sleiman (Mr. & Mrs. Paul Joseph) Antonios Youssef (Family) Alia Raheb (Mr. Joe Najem) Badiha Tannous Zakaria (Nohra Y. Nohra) 7:00PM Mother Mary's Prayers Thu. July 26th 8:30AM Haifa Elias (Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis Obeid) Louie Iskandar Georges (John Eid) Louie Mikhail (Nour Sleiman) Madem Youssef (Mr. & Mrs. Karam Boutros) 9:00AM St. Charbel's Prayers Fri. July 27th 8:30AM Alfeo Rapiz (Mr. & Mrs. Philip Youssef) Marion Andary (Mr. & Mrs. Antoine Baeini) Marie Sassine (Mr. & Mrs. Massad) All Forgotten Souls (Boula & Alice Boutros) Sat.July 28th 3:00PM Wedding: Jamie Duane Maksoud & Tara Lynn Comartin Sun. July 29th 9:00AM Nohra Douad Nohra & Wife & Sons Youssef, Mikhail & Sarkis & Daughter-in-law Shamma (Family) 11:00AM Wajih Elias (2 Yr. Mem.) (Family)  Leamington Ministerial Association invites all the Christians to pray for each other. This week we pray for : St. John's Anglican Church Bulletin Advertising: The list of Prices for St. Anthony's Parish Bulletin Advertisements: - For the period of 6 months: $ 70.00 - For the period of 1 Year: $ 120.00 We thank you in advance for your support and generosity. May God bless you all and keep you safe with your families. Please make payments at the Secretary's Office. Mother Mary's Praryers; The Prayers for Mother Mary will take place every Wednesday evening, during the summer at Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine at 7:00PM. All are welcome. Second Banns Between: Ghassan Saad & Sharon Abbas Third Banns Between: Jamie Duane Maksoud & Tara Lynn Comartin Youth Meetings Grade 5 - 8 on Monday, July 23rd , 2001, 6:30-8:00PM. NEW IN OUR PARISH: Join us for a BIBLE STUDY NIGHT every Thursday, this Thursday July 26th , 7:00 to 9:00. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME especially YOUNG ADULTS. London Diocesan Shrine in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary begins its third year at its new location - St. Patrick's Church , 5773 10th Line Raleigh, near Merlin, Ontario. Pilgrimage Dates are scheduled for July 2, 13 and 16 and for August 13 - 22 (ten consecutive days). The day begins at 11:00AM with the celebration of Holy Mass followed by prayers for the sick, lunch, Rosary procession with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Benediction. It ends around 3:00PM. Please bring a lawn chair and your own lunch as nothing is sold at the Shrine. For further information, Please contact Fr. Michael Dwyer at 519-689-7760. All are welcome. Job Hiring: St. Agnes Parish, Chatham, Ontario is seeking a Director of Music. Part-time position (18-22 hours). Responsibilities include: Plan and coordinate the music program in order to facilitate the full and active participation of the assembly in the Liturgical Life of the Church, prepare choirs for Sunday Celebrations, provide music ministry for weddings, funerals and school celebrations, recruitment, encouragement and development of members of the music ministry. Qualifications include: A Bachelor's Degree in Music, high degree of proficiency in use of organ or keyboard, ability to direct choirs and train cantors, good leadership, communication and people skills. Interested persons should send a resume and three written references to: Music Search Committee, St. Agnes Parish, 52 Croydon St., Chatham, Ontario, N7L 1L3. Deadline for submissions is August 12, 2001. Starting date is September 2001. Healing Mass: Fr. John Johnson will be the Main Celebrant and Homilist of the Eucharistic Celebration at Immaculate Conception Church (800 Block of Wyandotte St. East) at 7:30PM, August 3, 2001. All are welcome. St. Joachim and St. Ann (July 26) Parents of Mary Ancient Christian tradition records the names of Sts. Joachim and St. Ann as the parents of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. They were both members of the tribe of Judah of the house of David. According to tradition, Joachim and Ann came to Jerusalem from Galilee. Over the centuries, they have been honoured, especially in the East, at great churches and shrines built in memory of them. Historically and biblically, not much is known of them, except that they are the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. By their fruits we know how people lived, Jesus taught. The Church recognizes the grandparents of Jesus as models of Family virtue and faith, which they transmitted to their offspring. O Good St. Ann, Mother of Mary, grandmother of Jesus, intercede before God for our families and their children. May one generation hand on to another faith in God's promise and trust that he will do great things for those who reverence his name. St. Mary Magdalene July 22 St. Mary Magdalene is one of the most appealing characters in the Gospel. Only a few details about her appear there, yet Christians know her as a woman of great love, desire, and unwavering loyalty. She was born at Magdala, near Tiberius, in Galilee. Mary Magdalene stood beside Jesus while he was dying on the Cross. With Mary, his Mother, and a few other disciples, she watched helplessly as the one she loved suffered through the dark hours of Good Friday. Then with the others she prepared his dead body for burial. Early Easter morning, she returned anxiously to his tomb to complete the burial anointing, only to find his body gone. She began to weep. Through her tears she suddenly saw a man standing beside her whom she thought was the gardener. When he spoke her name, she knew he was Jesus, risen from the dead. "Mary!" Jesus said to her. "Rabboni ! Teacher!" Mary joyfully responded. Then Jesus spoke these mysterious words, "Do not cling tome, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." We can see Jesus, not rejecting her at this joyous moment, but readying her, who followed him so devotedly in life, for following him now in faith. Reach out and cling to me now by faith, he seems to say. Touch me with the hand of your faith; seek me with eyes of faith; run towards me with limbs of faith. Now I will never be far from you. I am forever in your heart. "I have seen the Lord," Mary announced to Jesus' disciples. Her experiences of the Lord, in his ministry, in the desolate hours on Calvary, in the brightening hours of Easter morning, echo through the centuries to strengthen our faith. She loved much, and through her love she found the God she sought. St. James, (Apostle, July 25) St. James, the brother of St. John the Apostle, was also known as St. James the Greater in order to distinguish himself from St. James the Less, who was younger. James, a fisherman by trade, was born at Bethsaida in Galilee. One day, he and John were fishing with their father, Zebedee, when they were approached by Jesus, who called them to become his disciples and they obeyed. Leaving their fishing nets and father, Zebedee, behind, they accompanied Jesus on his mission. Jesus called James and John "Sons of Thunder," because they were so energetic and impetuous. James was with Peter and John at the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead, witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, and accompanied Our Lord during the Agony in Gethsemane. Tradition says that he journeyed to Spain to preach the Gospel. He was the first of the apostles to die for Christ and was beheaded at Palestine in 42 by King Herod Agrippa.

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