ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC PARISH SHERMAN, TEXAS OCTOBER 9, 2016

“TEN WERE CLEANSED, WERE THEY NOT?” by Fr. Jeremy Myers Luke 17:11-19

We find another of the stories distinctive to Luke’s gospel today when Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is interrupted by ten lepers who beg him for healing. Luke tells us, “They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!’” As we have come to expect from the Lord Jesus in the face of human suffering and misfortune, he shows mercy to the ten. “Go show yourselves to the priests,” he tells them, thereby indicating that they indeed would be healed. We are told that as they made their way to the priests, they realized that they were healed. Here is where the story takes an interesting turn. Luke tells us that “one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.” Two things grab our attention in that statement. First, that only one of the ten returned to give thanks; and, second, that this one was a Samaritan, considered a foreigner or enemy to the Jews. Jesus sees the Samaritan approach and he asks, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” That question has been asked through the centuries and there still is no answer. The ingratitude of the other nine remains the unanswered question that challenges us even now. Why in the world didn’t they thank Jesus for the miracle that changed their lives? There is an old story told with the title “The Tree of Sorrows.” As the story goes, there once was a very wise and compassionate rabbi who served a congregation in a small European village. The villagers loved the rabbi and often came to him to pour out their hearts with their woes. The rabbi listened patiently day in and day out as they complained, “Why is God making my life so difficult? Why must I suffer more than others? Why can’t my life be as profitable as his or as comfortable as hers?” The rabbi heard it all, over and over again. Then the rabbi came up with a plan. He told the congregation to place their troubles in a bag with their name on it. Then, on Friday of that week, just before Sabbath, they were to hang the bags on the great tree in the center of the village. Everyone would be allowed to exchange troubles and go home with those of their neighbor rather than their own. The rabbi’s proposal was greeted eagerly by the villagers. They imagined how their lives would be much easier and happier after they exchanged their troubles for someone else’s. So on Friday, the villagers gathered beneath the tree with bags in hand. They tied their bags to the branches and the rabbi offered a blessing. Then the rabbi told them to move about the tree, look into the bags, and choose someone else’s troubles to take home instead of their own. The villagers rushed to the tree. They looked into the bags of those they thought had happier lives than they did. But before long the villagers had grown quiet and were visibly moved by what they had read of their neighbors’ struggles and problems. As the sun set, each family sought out its own bag and walked home to celebrate Sabbath. The rabbi smiled. It was as he had hoped. The villagers had come to realize that everyone had sorrows. Also, they became thankful for what they had. As a result, all were kinder to one another. That story, paired with the Lucan story, offers us lessons in not taking our gifts for granted and not failing to express thankfulness to God for all that he gives us. It is a lesson well worth learning.

MASS INTENTIONS October 10 - 16, 2016

Monday, October 10—Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. Communion Service Noon †Chuck Lockhart by Doris Hermes (Bilingual) Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31 - 5:1; Luke 11:29-32

Tuesday, October 11—Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. Communion Service Noon Intentions of Cristian Soltero by Mom & Dad (Bilingual) Galatians 5:1-6; Luke 11:37-41

Wednesday, October 12—Ordinary Time 9:30 a.m. Intentions of Chris Brown by Mom Galatians 5:18-25; Luke 11:42-46

Thursday, October 13—Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. Communion Service Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54

Friday, October 14—Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. †Anna Mae Kirkland by Judy Baur Ephesians 1:11-14; Luke 12:1-7

Saturday, October 15—St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin 4:30 p.m. †Dolores Charske by Mom

Exodus 17:8-13; Luke 18:1-8

Sunday, October 16—Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 a.m. †Tanja Rhodes by Frank McGraw 10:30 a.m. †Barbara Thomas by Patricia Held 12:30 p.m. Parishioners by Pastor Exodus 17:8-13; Luke 18:1-8

STEWARDSHIP FOR OCTOBER 2, 2016

NEEDED TO MEET BUDGET $14,500.00 RECEIVED $13,940.00 DIFFERENCE —$ 560.00 DIFFERENCE YEAR TO DATE —$ 1,336.92

Thank you for your gifts.

“Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most, it is not he who gives most alms or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God’s goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it.” William Law

The flowers on the altar this weekend were donated in memory of Delores Charske by her mom.

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Pictured here is the middle school youth group from last Sunday. We had a great time carving pumpkins and discovering how our souls are cleansed through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, just as the pumpkins were cleansed during the carving process. Middle school youth group will meet this Sunday, October 9th, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the McCullough Center.

High school youth group had a wonderful meeting last Sunday. This Sunday, October 9th, it’s all about frappuccinos, milk shakes, the Canon of the Bible, and Reconciliation. All 9th - 12th grade youth are invited to The Upper Room from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. for fraps and chats!

Please remember in your prayers all the sick and suffering, especially Leonard Newman, brother-in-law of John Skotnik. May he be comforted and know God’s love and care.

Please remember in your prayers all the faithful departed, especially David Kenney, father-in-law of Scott Jasper, who died recently and was buried at Mead Cemetery in Oklahoma. May God grant him peace and eternal salvation.

Blessings to Jose Rolando Melgar and Teresa Menjivar who were united in marriage on Saturday at St. Mary’s Church. May they enjoy great love for each other all the days of their lives.

We welcome Myra Ann Mandala, who was baptized at St. Anne’s Church on Sunday, into our community of faith. May the example of our faith inspire her to live a good and holy life.

We want to wish a happy anniversary to all couples celebrating a wedding anniversary this week, especially George & Dolores Bernhardt and Art & Dorothy Wintz. May they find God in their midst in the good times and the bad.

St. Mary’s Women’s Guild will meet this Monday, October 10th, at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Center. Dolores Bernhardt and Carmen Martin will be the hostesses.

Voices of Angels Youth Choir will rehearse this Wednesday, October 12th, at 5 p.m. in the music portable. We will

be singing at the 10:30 Mass on October 23rd.

Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree, will meet this Wednesday, October 12th, at 7 p.m. in the KC Hall.

St. Mary’s Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society will meet this Thursday, October 13th, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne’s Place.

The following Mass intentions have been said by Fr. Jeremy in recent weeks: †Barney Ash by Dee Beaver and Tim & Judy McGraw; †Larue Bostick by John & Claire Skotnik; †Steve Bruno by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Hillary Irby Cates by Donald & Karla Vasek; †Diane Cronin by Dee Beaver; Intentions of Cuyler Duncan by Bill & Jane Crockett; Intentions of Katie Engle by Ed & Ann Supina; †C. B. & †Rose Fallon by Keith & Anna Nelson; †Cecil Hermes by Doug Hermes (2); Intentions of Molly Grogan by Ed & Ann Supina (2); †Mary Elizabeth Gutermuth by Lady Jane Hickey (4); †Sarah Hagberg by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Jerry Hancock by Keith & Anna Nelson (2); †Kenny Harp by Cathy Harp (2); †Tony Held by St. Anthony’s Prayer Group, Bill & Jane Crockett, and Rod & Carol Reichelt; †Christine Howard by Don & Nan Davis; Intentions of Nellie Howard by Melvin & Sharon Fleitman; †Dick Irvin by Joe & Donna Hood (2); †Chuck Lockhart by Dee Beaver, Gisela Leard (2), Tim & Judy McGraw, and Shirley Mitchell; †Woody Lockhart by Doris Hermes; †Jimmy Madera by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Joe & †Mary Maier by Keith & Anna Nelson (2); †Roman Malolepszy by Regina Krause and Joan Smith; †Ray Matthews by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Mike McKinney by Tim & Judy McGraw; †John Moseley by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Leonard Nelson by Sharon Vrla; †Tommy Patton by Tim & Judy McGraw; †Joe Roewe by Dee Beaver and Tim & Judy McGraw; †James Schiltz by Burditt Family (10); †Carol Shea by Tim & Judy McGraw; Intentions of Ken & Marie Smith by Randy Christopher; and Intentions of Morgan Whatley by Ed & Ann Supina (2).

Some of our Voices of Angels Youth Choir praising God with music at the St. Mary’s Fall Festival.