Slovenska župnija sv. Gregorija Velikega | St. Gregory the Great Slovenian Church 28-29/51 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 12. 7. 2015 15. & 16. Nedelja MED LETOM 15th & 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. Drago Gačnik, sdb župnik - pastor Naslov - Address 125 Centennial Pkwy N Hamilton, ON L8E 1H8 Tel.: 905-561-5971 Fax: 905-561-5109 E-mail Gregory_sdb@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Web page www.carantha.com Hall rentals Cell: 905-518-6159 E-mail Hallrental@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Ustvarjeni za življenje Zakaj smo na svetu? Zato, ker nas ima nekdo rad in hoče, da smo! Vsekakor so bili naši starši prvi, ki so hrepeneli po otroku in so hoteli svoj zakon okronati z družinsko skupnostjo. Bog pa nas je imel še prej v svojih zamislih, že davno, v začetku časov, ko je vse nastajalo. Kakšen ugovarja, da je to samo lepa pravljica, ki pa ni resnična. Vse je stvar naključja: nekaj časa smo in potem nas ni več, zakaj bi iz tega delali zgodbice! Kljub temu lahko rečemo, da je vsaka življenjska zgodba enkratna, neponovljiva, zgrajena iz možnosti in darov, ki jih vsakdo ima. Nekateri se bolj potrudijo in zaživijo zares polno življenje, drugi so bolj zaspani. Na koncu pa je slovo s tega sveta enako težko za vse. To pomeni, da je zemeljsko življenje zares čas, ki ga ne bi radi kar tako pozabili. Za seboj pustimo določene sledi, na katere smo ponosni in bi jih radi zadržali. Ko je apostol Pavel razmišljal o svojem življenju se je čudil in je slavil Boga. Svojo izkušnjo je v pismu podelil z Efežani in danes jo deli z nami: "Slavljen Bog in Oče našega Gospoda Jezusa Kristusa. Blagoslovil nas je v nebesih v Kristusu z vsakršnim blagoslovom. Pred stvarjenjem sveta nas je v njem izvolil, da bi bili pred njegovim obličjem sveti in brezmadežni." Kakšen hvalospev Bogu in hkrati kako vzvišeno pojmovanje človekovega mesta pred Bogom. Ti stavki so tako globoki, da bi morali vsak dan razmišljati o njih in svoje življenje vrednotiti v skladu s poklicanostjo in zaupanjem, ki smo ga deležni. Žal je večina brezbrižna in neprepozna svojega mesta v svetu in v stvarstvu. Radi bi bili več kot smo sposobni biti. Zdi se, da mnogi ne znajo izkoristiti potenciala, ki so ga prejeli in namesto, da bi se potrudili trgovati s prejetimi talenti, raje sanjajo o svetu, ki ga na zemlji nikoli ne bo. Bog nas je izvolil, "da bi bili pred njegovim obličjem sveti in brezmadežni", nam piše apostol Pavel. On je imel izkušnjo, da smo rojeni zato, da bi bili čim bolj podobni Stvarniku, torej sveti in brezmadežni. V čem je svetost? V tem, da izkoristiš bogopodobnost, ki si jo prejel. Smo svobodna in hkrati odgovorna bitja, zato ne živimo zase, ampak se razdajamo drug za drugega. Ljubezni ne moreš živeti zase, ampak jo moraš deliti. Popolna ljubezen je hkrati brezpogojna in ne sprašuje, kdo je vreden, da je ljubljen. Zato je ljubezen neposredno povezana s čistostjo ali z jasnimi nameni. Kdor resnično ljubi je čist, nima skritih namenov, se ne sprašuje, kaj bo dobil v zameno. Bog je svet in brez madeža, on je popolni dar, zato ga častimo in slavimo, ne le z molitvijo, ampak predvsem s svojim življenjem. 16. Nedelja med letom Jezus je v svojem telesu odpravil postavo zapovedi. Je povzetek Božje besede te nedelje. Predpisi in zapovedi morajo biti, sicer skupno življenje ne bi bilo možno. V preteklosti je bilo kar nekaj poskusov spontanega življenja brez pravil, a se nobena takšna praksa ni obnesla. To jasno kaže, da smo samo ljudje, nepopolni in nesposobni ustvariti pravičen red brez jasnih načel in pravil. Predvsem mladi pa čutijo, da nas pravila omejujejo, da nam jemljejo svobodo in zato velikokrat opažamo, da živimo zaradi pravil in ne zaradi samega sebe. Če pravilo ni v službi človeka, je protinaravno in ga je treba odpraviti. To je Jezus kritiziral pri Judih in zaradi kršenja pravil je prihajal stalno v kratek stik s takratno judovsko duhovščino in s prestrogim pravnim sistemom. Kakšna je srednja pot? Apostol Pavel je v Jezusu prepoznal veliko širino, zato je v pismu Efežanom dovolj jasno nakazal, v čem je Jezusova novost in kako je starozavezna postava nadgrajena. Takole jim piše: "On (Jezus), ki je iz obeh (Izraelca in pogana) napravil eno, s tem da je podrl steno pregrade, to je sovraštvo. V svojem telesu je odpravil postavo zapovedi v predpisih, da bi v sebi iz dveh ustvaril enega, novega človeka." Novost je torej v Jezusovi širini, ko se je sicer najprej zavzel za izvoljeni narod, a hkrati ni zavrgel poganov. Tako je odrešenje prišlo za vse ljudi brez izjeme. Kako se je to zgodilo? Po križu, po trpljenju in smrti je prišlo za vse človeštvo zveličanje. Kako je Jezus odpravil starozavezno zakonodajo? Ta zakonodaja ni bila odpravljena, ampak loe dopolnjena oziroma nadgrajena. To se ni zgodilo na zunaj, z neko novo zakonodajo, ampak na znotraj, z novim pristopom, z novo opredelitvijo ljubezni. Zgodilo se je z Jezusovim uresničenjem zapovedi ljubezni, z odpravo različnih oblik diskriminacij, z odpravo pogojev, kdo je vreden in kdo ne. S tem novim odnosom pa je postal osovražen pri tistih, ki jim je oznanjevanje judovske postave bila priložnost za bogatenje in nadzor nad verniki. Ko začnejo veljati zakoni srca, odpadejo vsa pravila, ker niso več potrebna. To je sicer ideal, ki se mu približujemo, a ga kot nepopolni ljudje ne moremo sami doseči. Zato je moral priti odrešenik, ki je oba, Izraelca in pogana spravil med seboj in novo zavezo potrdil s svojo popolno daritvijo na križu. Nič pa se ne zgodi na silo: ob Jezusovem križu sta bila še dva križa z levim in desnim razbojnikom. Samo eden je bil rešen: desni, ki se je pokesal in priznal, da potrebuje odrešenika. Ta je prepoznal v Jezusu odrešenika, čutil je potrebo, da se pred smrtjo pokesa svojih grešnih dejanj in se spravi z Bogom. »Jezus, spomni se me, ko prideš v svoje kraljestvo!« Ta prošnja je bila potrebna, ker nas Jezus ne more na silo privesti v nebesa. summer day camp_ With school almost out and summer on its way, it is time again to start planning for our annual Slovenian Summer Day Camp. We are proud to announce that this will be our 15th year. We hope that children take advantage of this week of summer with Slovenian friends and high school students sign up to volunteer and share some new ideas. Summer camp will be as always, the first week of August ... August 4-7, 2015: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily. The registration forms are available in the church vestibule, or you can email me directly for a form at novakh@sympatico.ca. Parent volunteers are also always welcome! We look forward to seeing you all again this summer! 15th Sunday in OT Response: Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. First Reading Amos 7:12-15 Amos is not a religious careerist. He is answering God's command. Second Reading Ephesians 1:3-14 With great eloquence Paul describes the blessings God has showered on us. Gospel Mark 6:7-13 The mission to go out and preach the Gospel is a two-way street. Go out to people with good news and the people will receive you. 'Take nothing for the journey except a staff." Illustration Every year people come, in their thousands, to the foot of the holy mountain. A white scar, creeping along the back and shoulder of this high land, marks the path trodden for centuries by pilgrims to this place. At first there is a fairly gentle climb, then a level piece of ground, and then a steep and rugged section leading to the conical summit of this revered place. The mountaintop is crowned with a small chapel, and there Mass will be said throughout the day for the pilgrim climbers to Croagh Patrick, on Ireland's western coast. At the beginning of the climb pilgrims are offered stout sticks, called ash plants, to be their staff and support for the journey up and the journey down. It is good to have support for any strenuous task, and for climbing a mountain most of all. The staff gives steady anchor as the climber seeks to go Christ sending out the seventy by James Tissot higher, and on the way down the staff helps to take pressure off knee joints that are beginning to ache. Travel without the aid of a staff and soon you will find yourself using all fours to steady yourself and to assist in the climb. Many years ago, a climber brought an ash plant home to his sister's house, a few miles distant from the holy mountain. It was his souvenir of a happy day out, climbing the hill. Years later, he came across the staff once more, and found that it was doing service as a handle to a sweeping brush in the yard. He smiled at the sight of it, at the memory it triggered and the stout help it had been to him on a memorable day. Gospel Teaching In today's Gospel story of Jesus sending his disciples out on mission, Mark tells us that the one thing they were allowed to take with them was a staff for the journey, nothing else. The disciples were not going on holiday. They did not need to pack anything. In fact, all they needed was the assurance of Jesus and the power that he gave to them to teach and to heal. All other requirements they could expect to receive from the people they visited -shelter, a place to sleep and food to eat. These things they could reasonably expect in return for the work they were doing, preaching the word of God and healing those who were sick. The mission that Jesus sent them on is the extension of his own life and mission. Their purpose is to save; to save people from the ruination that destroys so many human lives, when people go astray or find themselves lost in this life. This saving work is done chiefly by announcing the nearness of God to us, and by healing those who are sick or afflicted. The instructions that Jesus gives are geared to keeping the focus on the importance of what the disciples say and do. That is why they are commanded to find a place to stay and to stay there. They are not there to look for the best accommodation. They are there to serve and save people. That is why the command is given to shake dust from their feet if they are rejected in their work. It is meant, not as retaliation or rebuke, but to be a sign. Even in being dismissed they can still preach the Gospel and indicate its importance. Application Some priests and religious people are career people. Religion is their preferred way of life, but not a matter of salvation. It's a job. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, in today's first reading, was such a person. When he tells Amos to go away and stop interfering in the religious business, Amos makes it clear that he is preaching because he has to. He is not doing it for the good of his health! The Lord demands this of him, that he should preach the real word of God to people, and not some idle nonsense. When people climb holy mountains, they do so because they feel a call to climb, a summons to go higher, a desire to see more clearly and a yearning to be a better person. The word of God calls to us all the time. The faith we have been given is the stout stick that helps our climb, the staff that supports our journey. Let us take up our staff every day and journey together to the mountain of the Lord. f \ 16th Sunday in OT \_/ Response: I myself will gather the remnant of my flock and raise up shepherds over them. First Reading Jeremiah 23:1-6 Jeremiah does not think much of the "shepherds", the leaders who are supposed to be looking after God's people. His vision is that one day God will be a true shepherd. Second Reading Ephesians 2:13-18 The author stresses that although his Gentile readers used to be very far from the Jews, Jesus, in his death, has now united the two groups so there is only one humanity in Christ. Gospel Mark 6:30-34 In the prelude to the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus is cast in the role prophesied by Jeremiah: he is the shepherd who leads his disciples to pasture and a place of repose near restful waters. "He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length." Illustration In a world of communications dominated by text messages and social media, we may think that limiting the number of characters in a message is a modern idea. Well, it isn't - at least, writers having to work within limits isn't new. It was around even when the Bible texts were written. The issue then was not about limiting messages to a maximum number of characters, but the challenge for writers was to make sure that not a single word they had written was unnecessary. This was for the very practical reason that papyrus, on which the documents were written, was both hard to come by and very expensive, so it made sense for writers to ensure they neither wasted nor used up unnecessary papyrus. Every word would be carefully considered to see if it was absolutely necessary. These considerations have helped give us a rule that says that when we read a Gospel text, a psalm or whatever, there can never be a word that the writer did not positively intend to include. In other words, nothing got there by accident. Gospel Teaching This has important consequences for us when we are reading biblical passages today and we wonder why some details are included that do not make sense, or something is apparently repeated unnecessarily. Today's Gospel gives a good illustration of this. This story both reminds us of what has gone before this episode and gives hints about what is to follow. As it opens, we are told that Jesus' disciples have been away (he had sent them out to proclaim the Good News just as he had been doing). As the story ends, the set-up is complete for the account of one of the most famous miracles ever: the feeding of the five thousand. In between, and using no more words than are absolutely necessary, Mark the evangelist describes both the arrival of people, and the place where they gather, in a way that will give added significance to the feeding miracle, which we will hear next week in John's version. Mark gives us brief clues that conjure up much older and equally well-known stories without going into detail and thereby using up his precious papyrus supply. He also enlists the help of a well-known psalm to set the scene. It will be easier to set that scene first, and then look at how Mark hints at its significance. We are told that Jesus instructed his disciples to come away to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. This sounds like repetition, but a more accurate translation would be that they went to a deserted - or desert - place to be by themselves. The desert reminds us immediately of the Israelites' forty years in the desert. The disciples have not had any- thing to eat; the Israelites were faced with starvation until God fed them with manna. There's a whole history in a few sentences. The famous psalm "The Lord is my shepherd" is really a commentary on how the Lord cares for his people - as he did in freeing them from slavery in Egypt, in bringing them safely through the Red Sea and in feeding them from nothing. In poetic form, it says that the shepherd leads us to pastures near "restful waters". The shepherd guides his sheep "along the right path". These ideas are alluded to in the Gospel story. Jesus leads the disciples and a crowd like sheep without a shepherd to a place where he will feed them -"pastures green". The shepherd guides them along the right path; Jesus sets out to teach people. Application Every single image, every single word in this Gospel story has significance. It reminds us of Israel's history; it recalls the prayer of Israel - which is what the psalms were - and it is likely Mark wanted his readers to think of the Eucharist. Once Jesus was no longer visibly present on earth, Mark needed to reassure his readers that the one who shepherded the crowd, who fed those who were hungry and who had compassion on those who lacked a shepherd, is not absent from this world. He continues to be present and to minister to each generation in the same way. It is especially in the Eucharist we celebrate that the Lord who is shepherd, teacher and source of food continues to be present to us today. Obvestila - Announcements dogodki v bližnji prihodnosti ♦ 12. julij: London-Triglav - Piknik ♦ 18. julij: Bled-Planica 13 - CAN-SLO-FEST ♦ 26. julij: Bled-Planica 13 - Proščenje: maša ob 12:30 p.m. ♦ 1. avgust-sobota: Slovenski park - Soccer Torunament ♦ 2. avgust: Slovenski park - maša ob 1:00 p.m. - Mladinski dan - Balinanje ♦ 4. - 8. avgust: St. Gregory the Great - DAY CAMP ♦ 9. avgust: Lipa Park: Music in the Park from 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. ♦ 15. avgust: Triglav-London: Piknic - pevka Brigita Šuler iz Slovenije st. joseph society - Društvo sv. Jožefa Društvo Bocce Tournament: Saturday, August 29th, 2015 - For information contact Frank Erzar @ 905-643-0285 Trips planned by the Društvo for 2015: Oktoberfest - Sava Club-Saturday, October 17th, 2015 Cleveland Polkafest Weekend - November 26-28th, 2015. Details to follow! scholarship banquet_ Slovenian Canadian Scholarship Foundation organizira 19. letni Scholarship Banquet in "Fundraiser" v nedeljo, 25. oktobra 2015 v Župnijski dvorani sv. Gregorija Velikega. Zbiranje ob 12:30 popoldne in ob 1:00 p.m. kosilo (Dinner). Slavnostni govornik bo g. Jerry Ponikvar. Prijavnice so ob vhodu v župnijsko cerkev. Vstopnice za odrase so $40 in za študente $25. Rezervacije sprejemajo: Karl Ferko (905-578-5890), Rosemary Pavlič (905-6437394), Ed Kodarin (905-309-4050), Andy Habjan (905 -899-3876) in Irene Glavač Petrič (905-379-3667). sveti krst - baptism_ V soboto, 27. junija 2015 je zakrament prejela Abigal Orbillo NABOR, hči očeta Leonarda Nabor in matere Ruby Orbillo. Krščeval je g. Frank Kelly. V nedeljo, 28. junija 2015 je sveti krst prejela Savannah Rose, TIN, hči očeta Matthew Tin in matere Kristine Špiler. V nedeljo je prejel zakrament svetega krsta tudi deček Geovanny Arquimedes PANIAGUA BAEZ, sin očeta Sean Christopherja in matere Alexandre Baez. svete mase - masses 15. Nedelja me letom 12. Julij Mohor in Fortunat, muč za žive in rajne župljane tt Stane in Frančiška Napast f Janez Žvan 9:30 A.M. Družina Pinter 11:00 a.m. Družina Vengar Ponedeljek - 13. Julij Henrik, kralj Monday f Paul Richard Novak t Janko Šimič 7:00 P.M. Mimi AT Torek - Tuesday 14. Julij Kamil, duhovnik ff Za verne duše v vicah 8:00 A.M. N.N. Sreda Wednesday 15. Julij Bonaventura, škof f Eddie Žeks ff Marija in Jožef Heric f Jožica Vovk Žena 7:00 P.M. ,,. , Hčerka Družina Novak Četrtek - Thursday 16. Julij Karmelska Mati Božja f Paul Richard Novak 7:00 p.m. Tone in Marija Bukvič Petek Friday 17. Julij Aleš, spokornik f Štefan Gonza f Paul Richard Novak 7:00 p.m. Tone in Marija Bukvič Štefan in Gizella Ray Sobota Saturday 18. Julij Friderik, škof f Paul Richard Novak f Milan Štefanec, 5. obl. ff Pokojni Farani ff Franc in Verona Korošec f Mary Hochevar 8:00 a.m. Mary Ann Kutleša 5:30 p.m. Žena z družino Marija Štefanec Sin Ignac in Marija Korošec Mia Goodfellow in družina 16. Nedelja me letom 19. Julij Arsenij, puščanik za žive in rajne župljane f Mary Hochevar f Steve Booth 9:30 A.M. Družina Groznik 11:00 a.m. Vida Sajder z družino svete maše - masses Ponedeljek - Monday ^ • „. , 2Q jUL|J f Martin Jr. Malevic, obl. 7:00 p.m. Družina Malevic MarjetaAntiohijska, mu. ff Anton in Anica MaleviC' John Družina MaleviC Torek - Tuesday 21. Julij f Paul Richard Novak 8:00 A.M. Frank in Lojzka Novak Danijel (Danilo) prerok Sreda - Wednesday 22. Julij f Štefan Gonza f Janko Šimić 7:00 P.M. Tone in Marija BukviC AT Marija Mgdalena Četrtek - Thursday 23. Julij Brigita Švedska, red. ff Ivan in Ana KovaC f Ivanka BrinovCar 7:00 P.M. Marija in Ignac Korošec z dr. Družina P. Novak Petek - Friday 24. Julij Za razumevanje v družinah 7:00 p.m. Slomškovo oltarno društvo Krištof, mučenec Sobota Saturday 25. Julij Jakob Starejši, Apostol Teja, mučenka ff Ana ZorCiC in družina f Jožef Kociper ff Terezija in Rudi Hajdinjak ff Vencij in Marija FerenCak ff Marija in Toni Kociper f Elizabeth Farkaš 8:00 a.m. Jožica vegelj z družino 5:30 p.m. Martin in Regina Nedelko Martin in Regina Nedelko Martin in Regina Nedelko Martin in Regina Nedelko Darinka in Regina Nedelko 17. nedelja me letom za žive in rajne župljane 9:30 am. 26 jul|j ff Starši VlašiC in sin Matija Jožica in družina 2 ' ff Ivan in Ana Tompa 11:00 a.m. Matija Tompa z družino ff Pokojni Clani društva BLED 12:30 p.m. ProšCenje pri društvu Bled svete maše - mass times: Ponedeljek/Monday - Petek/Friday: 7:00 p.m. Sobota/Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - slovenska / in Iii Slovenian 5:30 p.m. - slovenska / in Slovenian - Nedelja/Sunday: 9:30 a.m. - slovenska / in Slovenian - 11:00 a.m. -angleška / in English krsti/baptisms: Po dogovoru, prijava 1 mesec prej. - For an app't, call one month before. poroke/ marriage: Prijava eno leto prej. / For an app't, call one year before the wedding date. spoved / confessions: Vsak prvi petek ob 6:00 p.m. / First Friday of the month 6-7:00 p.m. (or by appointment) bolniki - SporoCite, Ce je kdo bolan ali v DON BOSCO bolnišnici, da ga obišCemo. You are welcome to call for a personal conversation (person counselling) with your priest -please call during business hours for an appointment. Tel: 905-561-5971.