TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Blessed Are You

At the age of 33 I had an awakening in my Catholic faith. I believe it was through the rosary that Mary led me to realize that it was not up to me to decide which of the teachings of the Church I would believe but to accept all the official teachings as a little child believes all that her father and mother teach her. Today’s gospel contains a strong warning to those who do not accept the Kingdom of Heaven like a small child: “Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a small child will not enter it.”

God is goodness and mercy. He is our good, good Father. He created us and knows what is best for us. The Church is our mother and is protected from teaching error in matters of Faith and Morals. We can get confused if we don’t understand the official teachings of the Magisterium. We are responsible for educating ourselves, forming our consciences, and opening our hearts in daily prayer to the Holy Spirit, who leads us to Truth.

We are permitted to ask the question, ”Why?” regarding the teachings of the Church. The goal should be to grow in our understanding but not to dismiss magisterial teachings with which we don’t currently agree. In 1968, Pope Paul VI’s Encyclical, Humanae Vitae, prophetically warned of some of the ill effects of allowing birth control and related some of the benefits of following Church teaching. Time will often reveal the wisdom of Church teachings that seem difficult and the folly of doing things our way. Our gospel teaches that marriage is between one man and a woman and that the bond is indissoluble. Research now tells us that divorce causes much damage to families and society.

So, how do we properly form our consciences when our lives are so busy? Reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church may seem daunting to most of us, but what if a priest were to read a little each day and explain it? Welcome to the “Catechism in a Year” podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz! Ascension also offers a daily podcast with Fr. Mike, which will help you read the entire Bible in a year. Let’s all be like little children who seek communion with our Heavenly Father and remember his promise, “Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways!”

--Tami Albertine

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.