In the First Reading, Elijah is waiting for God, One Who has great power. Having spent time focused on God, Elijah recognizes Him in the quiet whisper, after not perceiving Him in the powerful acts of nature. May we grow close enough to Him to recognize
when He is speaking to us - be it through great events in our life,
or the mild voice of a stranger.

In the Psalm, we ask recall the justice, love, and mercy of God, and ask Him to show these to us. He will reveal them in our lives if we take the time to look, and listen to others' stories, but often we don't see it as bold as - or in the way - we want. Spending time with Him brings the revelations of His Presence.

 In the Second Reading, St. Paul raises awareness that his ancestry from the Chosen People is not a source of pride. They were given the greatest gifts from God, and spurned them. Our favor with God needs to rest not in who we are and are security in the hope of salvation should not come through confidence because of our actions. Rather, all good from God exists solely because God is good and wishes good for us. We need to respond, but always remember in humility that the good we do springs first from the good - and love, God has bestowed.

In last week's Gospel, Jesus learned of John the Baptist's death and withdrew seeking silence with God, the Father. The crowds followed and were miraculously fed. This week's Gospel begins after the crowds are feed - now that the people's needs are met. Jesus again withdraws - and having received both the Word of God and the miraculously produced food, the people are satisfied enough to not follow. The Apostles, however, find themselves on a stormy sea. Jesus comes to them and in a moment of great faith, Peter trusts God to work a miracle for him - and walks on water. The world's pragmatism, however, creeps in and undermines his faith until He touches Christ's saving hand. As a parent, finding quiet spaces to talk with God can be challenging - and our children seem perpetually getting into troubles the more we desire - and need - time alone with God. Ask for the miracle of quiet time, expect God to provide it (however brief!), and trust that He will manage the worldly events during your reprieve!
Newsy Notes

Join us for the August Monthly Rosary!
August 19th!
and the 3rd Wednesday of every month
Mary is God's chosen fully-and-only-human person through whom we receive Jesus. Through her did Christ become human for us to get to know Him. Today, she is still bringing her Son to us an bringing us and our concerns to Him. An intercessor in her earthly life, as at the Wedding in Cana, her actions on our behalf are far more powerful now - because God wishes it so!3rd Wednesday at 6:30 pm in Church

**************************************************

PSR Resumes September 13th!

First Communion Celebration Date: September 20, 2020!
8th grade Confirmation - October 4, 2020
Meditation

"Anxiety is the greatest evil
that can befall a soul except sin. 
God commands you to pray,
but He forbids you to worry.” 

- St. Francis de Sales
Greetings Parents!
"I'm bored, Mom. When I can see more friends?" "School is starting soon, you'll see friends then." "Noooo! Not school! Ugh!"

To every cloud there is a silver lining, and to every silver lining there is a cloud - You have to take the good with the bad and the bad with the good. Those are my thoughts, which I sometimes share, but they're not usually what the boys want to hear. "You could be doing the yardwork I mentioned or setting up an obstacle course for the dog or playing one of the zillion games we have with your brother." Nope. None of it "feels" right. But feelings change.... How often don't I "bully" (that is exert my parental authority and demand) them into an activity that they end up enjoying. Especially the games with brothers! But even the labor - though they don't like to admit it to us. When I "forced" them to help cut major branches off a dying tree and strip those branches to leave simply logs behind - of the horror! But later, they shared with others their adventures using axes, hatchets, and handsaws (Mom wouldn't let us use a chainsaw!).

        Considering my life in faith, it is ftenthe same. A task seems insurmountable - how can I possibly add a prayer regimen or prayer group and I don't really know a lot of these people... I'm so not sure that this will be comfortable, much less fun or helping in my growth. And making it happen on a regular basis is a major trial, but afterward the rewards are unquestionable. Some of the concerns might have validity, but the benefits that flow are so worth it. The clouds and the lining. Jesus promised a cross - not a party, in this life. All silver lining comes in the next phase of our eternal life, after our death here.

               Recall that here we are at war for our souls and the souls of those we love - in a battle against the spirits of darkness that eternally spurned God. In the absence of all that is good, they seek the destruction of everything He loves so they suggest all the reasons why we shouldn't do the good things and raise barriers to our following through in whatever way they can. It can be exhausting to plug on! But gives us the graces we need if we keep asking and trusting that He'll either smooth the way - or point us in a better direction.
              
            Hug your children tight and help them know the battle we are in - and how to call and lean on God to win it!

-- Linda Bader, Coordinator of Religious Education

P.S. Did you know... our guardian angels are always with us, but so are the demons trying to pull us astray. Pray for your guardian angel's strength in the battle and for your own strength, faith, and wisdom to grow into the faith warriors seeking heaven.