This is a day on which we as Americans celebrate independence, liberty and freedom. But, what really is true freedom? God created us in his image and likeness and gave us free will. This free will is one of the ways in which we most resemble God. For that reason, God never violates our free will.
Yet, we are never so free as when we freely choose the ultimate Good, who is God alone. Our true freedom is found in God. Our true citizenship is found in heaven, as it says in Philippians 3:20. True Christian freedom is the choice to choose the good.
It was for freedom that Jesus set us free, in order that we might not submit to the slavery of sin (cf Galatians 5:1). We continue to receive the grace of God through the Holy Spirit, to make a free choice for God.
This gift of freedom is not a license. It is not exercised by choosing to do evil, by turning a deaf ear to God’s Word, by abandoning our responsibility to care for our neighbors in need. In fact, when we sin, we become less free to love God and neighbor and to give of ourselves. When we focus on ourselves and turn inward, we are not exercising Christian freedom.
It is only when we receive the grace of Christ that our wills are healed so that our choices are good ones. We cannot do it on our own. God working in us doesn’t lessen or prevent our freedom. It actually makes true freedom possible.
As we celebrate this day of freedom, let us freely choose to express our love for God and neighbor that come from the depths of our hearts. Let freedom ring!
Kate Smith sings that classic song that is still our prayer today.
Pope Francis Begins a Series of Talks on the Letter to the Galatians
Pope Francis has finished his series of talks on the topic of prayer. Last week he introduced a new topic for the coming week: the letter of Paul to the Galatians. For us at St. Patrick’s, this is timely because our summer Bible Study is also on this topic. You can find details about our Bible Study in this newsletter.
Here is the Holy Father’s first talk in the new series of talks at his Wednesday public audiences. He speaks about the theme of this letter and how our situation in the Church today is similar to the church in Galatia in Paul’s time.
Cost is $15; (cash or check payable to St. Patrick Church)
Sponsored by the St. Patrick Bible Study Team.Please Join Us & Bring a Friend
Paradise Valley
Inspired by the book of Revelation 22:1-5, this song has a message of hope. This particular rendition is amazing because it is sung by a brother and sister in four part harmony.
Online Giving Reminder
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account to make sure your payment method is up to date.
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.
"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.
Which saint is called “the apostle to the apostles”?
Which saint is the patron saint of bakers?
In the book of Genesis, who is the third son born to Adam and Eve?
In the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, which parts of the body are usually anointed with oil?
Who were the three disciples present at the Transfiguration?
If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.comWe will be pleased to add them.
We have opened a YouTube channel where we have daily and Sunday Masses as well as Fr. Ron's new Bible Study posted for the parish called St Patrick Church Carlsbad that you can subscribe to.
The Lord sends the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 123:1-2,3-4
A prayer to God for mercy
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul bears insults and weakness for the sake of Christ.
Gospel Reading
Mark 6:1-6
Jesus is rejected in his hometown.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Gospel immediately follows upon last week’s stories of the raising of Jairus’s daughter and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage. It sets the context of our Gospel readings for the next two weeks in which Jesus will extend the work of his ministry to his disciples.
Today’s Gospel describes what many believe to have been the typical pattern of Jesus’ ministry: teaching in the synagogue followed by acts of healing. In his hometown of Nazareth, the people are amazed by what they hear, but they also cannot comprehend how someone they know so well might move them so powerfully.
In this Gospel, we learn some interesting details about Jesus and his early life. Jesus’ kinfolk know him to be a carpenter, an artisan who works in wood, stone, and metal. He probably learned this trade from his father. Family members of Jesus are also named. Mark describes Jesus as the son of Mary, which is an unusual designation. Adult males were more typically identified with the name of their fathers. It is unclear why Mark deviates from this custom.
Brothers and sisters of Jesus are also named. Scholars are divided on how to interpret this. As Catholics, we believe that Mary was and remained always a virgin, thus we do not believe that this Gospel refers to other children of Mary. Some have suggested that these family members might be Joseph’s children from a previous marriage, but there is little evidence to support this. Others explain this reference by noting that the words brother and sister were often used to refer to other types of relatives, including cousins, nieces, and nephews.
This Gospel tells us that Jesus is hampered from performing miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s lack of faith. Jesus is said to be surprised by this. He did not predict or foresee this rejection. In this detail we find a description of the very human side of Jesus.
This passage unfolds a continuing theme of Mark’s Gospel: Who is Jesus? His kinfolk in Nazareth might know the carpenter, the son of Mary, but they do not know Jesus, the Son of God. Mark is foreshadowing Jesus’ rejection by his own people, the people of Israel. He is also reflecting on and trying to explain the situation of the community for which he wrote. While many of the first Christians were Jewish, Christianity took hold and flourished in the Gentile community. Mark’s community was mostly a Gentile community, who may have been experiencing persecution. By showing that Jesus himself was rejected, Mark consoles and reassures his first readers. He also prepares us to accept this possible consequence of Christian discipleship.
“Más allá de nuestras cualidades y de nuestros defectos, más fuerte que las heridas y los fracasos del pasado, que los miedos y la preocupación por el futuro, se encuentra esta verdad: somos hijos amados”. El Papa Francisco mando este tweet la semana pasada y pensé en compartirlo con ustedes. Tenemos la tendencia de ser duros con nosotros mismos, especialmente cuando callemos en pecado. Nos frustramos tanto que quisiéramos correr, escondernos en vergüenza, a veces hasta dañarnos, por el mal que nos sentimos. Obviamente el pecado no es bueno, hace mucho daño de diferentes maneras. Pero Dios no nos deja solos, El no se esconde para castigarnos, mucho menos golpearnos. Se mantiene cerca de nosotros y espera que nos demos cuenta de su amor. A rezar durante el día, pidamos que nos demás cuenta de su amor por nosotros. Dejar que su amor por nosotros penetre nuestra mente y corazón, no por lo que estamos haciendo, porque somos hijos amados.
Por favor haga clic en los enlaces indicados. Espero que les ayude en sus momentos de reflexión.
Detente
Hablemos de Jesus en la Sinagoga
Religious Education & Family Ministry
Margit Dornisch Director of Religious Education
Registration Information for the 2021 -2022 School Year
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are here to support you in forming your children in the Catholic Faith and to help you connect with other families in our parish community. We offer in-person classes and a home study option for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Confession, First Communion age 6 and older) is a two-year process.
Choices for school year 2021-2022
For each child choose one of the following on the registration form
Sunday 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Pre-K, Kinder, and grade 1/2 (Year One Communion class)
Sunday 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Year Two Communion Class & classes for grades 3-8
Our parish offices are now open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm
During this time of inactivity, we will use our parish email system to communicate with parishioners to offer spiritual reflections and make announcements.
In case of an emergency, you can always reach us by phone. We will be checking regularly for messages and respond as soon as possible. If need be, the answering service can get in touch with one of our priests quickly- 760-729-2866.
If you know someone who does not receive our emails, please forward this to them, or have them reply to this message.
To email a priest at St. Patrick Church click the link below:
