08-21-2016 Insert St. MARK.pub - Eugene

August 21, 2016
One of the greatest concerns of the faithful today is, “WILL I BE SAVED BY JESUS?” Frankly speaking, it profits us nothing to speculate whether we are saved or how many will be saved. Jesus teaches us to be prepared and ready to
march into salvation.
Jesus is "the narrow gate," the only way of salvation, the path by which all must travel to enter the kingdom of the Father. In Jesus, God has come—just as He promises in the 1st reading— ‘to gather nations of every language, to reveal
to them His glory’.
Jesus is making his way towards Jerusalem. On the way, he visits villages and towns, teaching, healing and proclaiming a message of hope to all. The pre-taste of God gathering all the nations around him, is seen in Jesus as He draws
those thousands to him. God is being glorified in His kindness by all who are touched by Christ along the way. God
invites people from all directions to be His people. In His plan of salvation, the kingdom was proclaimed first to the Israelites, and last to the Gentiles. In the Church, all have come from the earth's four corners to make up the new people of God.
The challenge is: to be part of God’s flock one must accept His narrow way. It will be a difficult journey, but a sure
path to salvation. Refusing to accept His narrow way, weakens and renders oneself unknown to the Father himself.
We don't want to be numbered among those of drooping hands and weak knees. So we must strive for that narrow
gate, a way of hardship and suffering—the way the beloved Son willingly took to complete his mission in obedience.
“Will I be saved?” The answer will be ‘YES!’ if as true sons and daughters we allow ourselves to be disciplined and
strengthened by God in our trials – the narrow way. Let us pray for the grace to endure the narrow way – to be found
worthy to enter the gate and take our place at the banquet with the saints and angels in heaven.
Fr. Michael
Una de las grandes preocupaciones de los feligreses hoy en día es, “¿SERÉ SALVADO POR JESÚS?” Francamente
hablando, no nos va a notros especular si seremos salvados, o cuantos lo serán. Jesús nos enseña a estar preparados y listos para marchar hacia la salvación.
Jesús es “la puerta angosta,” la única forma de salvación, el camino por el cual todos debemos viajar para entrar al
reino del Padre. Dios ha venido en Jesús – así como lo promete en la 1era lectura- ‘a reunir las naciones de cada
lengua, a revelarles su gloria’.
Jesús está haciendo su camino hacia Jerusalén. En el camino, el visita aldeas y pueblos, enseñando, sanando y proclamando el mensaje de esperanza para todos. El previsto de Dios, reuniendo a todas las naciones alrededor de él,
es visto en Jesús cuando el atrae a miles de personas. Dios está siendo glorificado en su bondad por todos los que
han sido tocados por Cristo, en el camino. Dios invita personas de todas las direcciones para ser su pueblo. En su
plan de salvación, el reino fue proclamado primero a los israelitas, y por ultimo a los gentiles. En la Iglesia, todos han
venido de los cuatro puntos de la tierra para ser el nuevo pueblo de Dios.
El reto es: para que alguien sea parte del rebaño de Dios; debe aceptar su camino angosto. Será un viaje muy difícil,
pero un camino seguro a la salvación. Rehusando aceptar su camino angosto, nos debilita y hace que desconozcamos al Padre mismo. Nosotros no queremos ser contados entre los que dejan caer las manos y debilitan las rodillas.
Nosotros debemos esforzarnos por la puerta angosta, un camino de dificultad y sufrimiento- el camino que el Hijo
Amado tomo para cumplir su misión con obediencia.
“¿Seremos salvados?” La respuesta será ‘SI!’ si permitimos como verdaderos hijos e hijas de Dios ser disciplinados y
fortalecidos por Dios en nuestro proceso, en nuestras pruebas – el camino angosto. Oremos por la gracia de Dios
para soportar el camino angosto – para ser dignos de entrar en la puerta y tomar lugar en el banquete con los santos
Padre Miguel
y ángeles en el cielo.
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AREA NEWS
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EUGENE CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS Group — Join the discussion this coming Thursday, August 25th ,
6:45pm,
6:45pm at St. Mary in downtown Eugene. ECYA is for ages 21-39, single or married, and meet on
most Thursdays …. Inquiries: [email protected] or 541-270-9329 or facebook.com/
EugeneCYA.
IT’S AN INVITE! — Catholic Community Services invites you to their 3rd annual Great Hour of Caring
Breakfast on Wednesday, September 12st, 88-9:00am, at Valley River Inn.. Guest speaker is Archbishop
Alexander Sample. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Sept. 10th. This is a FREE event (thank you generous donors!!), but space is limited. Email: [email protected], or call 541-345-3628, ext. 313.
“MAKING THE ROSARY A FAMILY PRAYER IS VERY PLEASING TO ME. I ASK THAT ALL FAMILIES STRIVE
TO DO SO. BUT BE CAREFUL TO SAY THE ROSARY WITH GREAT DEVOTION, MEDITATING ON EACH
MYSTERY, AND STRIVING TO IMITATE IN YOUR DAILY LIVES THE VIRTUES DEPICTED. LIVE THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY AS I LIVED THEM, AND IT WILL BECOME A CHAIN BINDING YOU TO ME FOREVER. THEY WHO ARE FOUND IN THE CIRCLE OF MY ROSARY WILL NEVER BE LOST. I MYSELF WILL
LEAD THEM AT DEATH TO THE THRONE OF MY SON, TO BE ETERNALLY UNITED TO HIM.”
Words spoken by Our Lady to Sister Mildred (Mary Ephrem) Neuzil,
as recorded in her 48 page Diary entitled OUR LADY OF AMERICA.
UPCOMING RETREATS:
WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY: Kitchen v. Chapel — This Retreat at St. Benedict Lodge (McKenzie Bridge, OR) is Sept. 16-18,
with facilitator Sr. Beth Quire, O.P. To reserve a spot, please send a $30.00 deposit to: St. Benedict Retreat and Conference Center, 56630 North Bank Rd., McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413. For more info call 541-822-3572, or go to website:
sblodge.opwest.org.
RACHEL’S VINEYARD — SPECIAL WEEKDAY RETREAT: TUESDAY — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25-27 — Experience God’s
love … compassion … forgiveness … therapy for the soul! You don’t have to continue living with fear, grief, numbness,
anger, shame. Rachel’s Vineyard is for healing after abortion, in a confidential, non-judgemental, safe environment. For
more info on the mid-Oregon & southern Oregon retreats, call: 541-942-2861, or email: [email protected], or visit:
www.project-aurora.org, or visit the national website: www.rachelsvineyard.org
CATHOLIC CURSILLO — Getting to know Jesus Christ in a more personal way and living Faith more deeply. Facilitated by
a team of laypeople and two priest, presenting a series of talks that combine personal witness with spiritual teaching. Cursillo is Spanish, meaning “short course in Christian living”. Come celebrate daily prayer, Mass, joyful fellowship, and wonderful meals, all in a comfortable setting, at St. Rita Retreat Center (Gold Hill, OR). Women’s weekend is Sept. 22-25, and
Men’s is Oct. 13-16. For info contact Louie German (541-756-4882), or email Fr. Karl Schray at: [email protected], or
check out the website at: natl-cursill.org/Portland. Registration forms also available in the parish office.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Did you know that couples who attend a Worldwide Marriage encounter (WWME) Weekend:
▪ Experience only a 2% divorce rate
▪ Become more involved in their church
▪ Live the true meaning of the Sacrament of Marriage
▪ Renew the Church through discipleship with other couples
Our Lord wants us to put others first, and to treat them with kindness-respect-love-compassion. Allow Jesus to transform
you marriage and show you how to truly love your spouse. The next Marriage Encounter Weekend is November 11-13
(2016), at Mt. Angel Abbey. For more information call 503-853-2758, or apply on-line at www.rediscoverthespark.org.
Additional dates and locations are listed on-line.
RETROUVAILLE WEEKENDS have helped tens of thousands of couples at all stages in their marriage. For confidential information or to register for the October 14-16, 2016 weekend: www.helpourmarriage.org or 1-503-225-9191.