Dear  Friends,
                                                On Your Mark, Get Set, Go to Work!

"Son, go out and work in the vineyard today" (Matthew 21:28), says a man to his son in Jesus' parable to the chief priests and elders. Three things from this statement of Jesus are worth our reflection today. First, he says, "go." The word from Jesus is a command, not an appeal or suggestion. If the Lord says the active word, get going, our only response is just to do it! Go!! There is no room for procrastination or dilly-dallying. When we hear the Lord's command either from his still tiny voice in our conscience or when we hear directly from his Sacred Word, let's act on his instruction because it must be for our good that he urges us on. It is "the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) who did the Father's will immediately and with humility.
Second, Jesus says to go out to "work." Jesus calls us to work out our salvation by surrendering our wills to his Father’s Will. Yes, we cannot obtain our redemption or live a life of holiness on account of our work alone, but as St. Augustine affirms, "God cannot save us without us." God needs our cooperation to work with him in saving us and helping us to live a life of virtue. Third, Jesus sends us to go out into his vineyard to work. The vineyard is the world, our church inclusive. There are a place and a context where we go to work, with family and friends, in the neighborhood and social media. We are in the world to make it a better place by making sure we bring the grace of the Gospel and message of the Kingdom to everyone we meet, the good and the bad alike, to virtuous and wayward people.
Many people in our parish frequently respond to Jesus’ command to go out and work in God’s vineyard. I think of groups like St. Vincent de Paul, served by  Andy Gladfelter, Men’s Club led by Mike Minnick, RCIA and Religious Education catechists led by Vicky Kern and Georgann Azzalina respectively, Liturgy support team (cantor/musician Corinne, lectors, sacristan Sandy, John Gulya’s led ushers, Knights of Columbus, Dr. Martin and Michael Checco-led TMIY Saturday morning men’s faith-growth meetings, and so forth.
It was the 20th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood of Christ on September 23, 2020. I want to thank all who came to celebrate with me at our daily parish mass and all the prayers and cards, and especially the surprise celebratory signage, balloons, and cake by parish office staff. All of you are a big part of what keeps me going out daily to work in God’s vineyard (not just the Starbucks coffee! ).
Enjoy the transition from summer into autumn, my favorite season! ( I can’t wait to go leaf-peeping in New England).
In Christ, our High Priest,
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP
Pastor
 

Dear friends in Christ,
                                                                 Is it  Autumn Yet?

 I was told by those who drove recently on scenic Route US 22/322 that the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors-from green to pretty golds, oranges and reds, and I noticed a couple of days ago that the temperature is beginning to dip into the 40s. I am a Fall foliage fan and would not mind driving up to New England just to observe nature's rites of passage from Summer green to Fall bright colors. A change will soon become palpable in flora as we begin to lose daylight. Change is everywhere. Things are changing in the world, in our country, in our lives.
 
We shall see some beautiful changes in our parish life as well. In the weeks ahead, we shall be having the launching of our new Youth Group program under the direction of Shawn Marker. Upcoming Youth activity will be a positive and welcome change for our young boys and girls. In weeks ahead, I shall return to share more details about this event. There will be a change in the utilization of our parish center as our children return to religious education classes in-person and online. That change will also become more evident as Fall leaves start to fall. This Sunday, Catechetical Sunday, we recognize and pray for our catechists, all the dedicated religious education teachers. They give generously of their time in sharing our Catholic faith with our children. Thanks to all of you.
 
There is yet another change- change in the number of years of enjoying God's generosity (Matthew 20:16). Wednesday, September 23, the feast of St. Pius (Padre Pio) is the 20th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood! The years ticked by fast and my hair color is changing fast as well. There is nothing terrible about that, as the Prophet Isaiah says to us, "my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways" (55:8). Change in hair color from black to sprinkles of grey is a sign of wisdom. Wisdom to know that my priesthood is a gift and a privilege, an office not earned by my worthiness. You have all been of immense support along the way. There will be no rewarding and happy priestly life without the love and support of you all, my marvelous parishioners and friends. I hope you can join me for the parish mass on Wednesday as I lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of God in thanksgiving (See Psalm 116:13). Please pray for me to conduct myself "in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27).

In Christ my life,

Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

 Dear Friends,
                                                God is not a Mathematician. He is a Poet

Now, what do I mean by that? Before you rush to a conclusion, I ask that you please place my claim within a theoretical context. In simple terms, I think that God's action and response to human hubris, to our flaws, our sins, are not calculated, abstract and objective in their make-up. Instead, they are spontaneous, subjective, personal, hearty, and compassionate in their revelation. I am looking at this assertion from the theoretical framework of the Enlightenment versus Romanticism. To put it in a rather simplistic way, the former view life from a cold and calculated window while the latter sees it generally from a subjective and spontaneous vista. I think God's approach to human failures, to the enormous debt incurred by our sins, is better understood when we see him in the mold of a poet rather than a mathematician. Only the mind frame and subjective heart of a poet will instruct an offended person to "forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22).
Peter wanted Jesus to clarify how far or deep forgiveness should go. Be mindful that Peter is coming from a worldview where revenge, a calculated payback, or counter-punching sensibility held sway. In that world, you hit back when someone hits you. There is no room for turning the other cheek or letting go of the offense, even if the guilty begs for forgiveness. Our modern world is no different from that world. We want to hurt back who hurts us; we want revenge. That is what many of us would do.
Joyfully, there are instances contrary to the norm to inspire us.  I was still studying for my doctorate at the University of South Carolina in 2015 when the news broke that a young man walked into the historic AME Church in Charleston and gunned down nine of her members sharing the Word of God with him.  Reactions from family members of those who lost their lives in the hate crime showed me the possibility of a Christ-like response to those who inflict evil on us. "I forgive you," says Felicia Sanders, a survivor, and mother of one of the victims of the senseless shooting. At the sentencing of the shooter, instead of allowing herself to be eaten up by hate, anger, and vengeful spirit, she chose to forgive the one who brought her a lifetime loss and pain. She adds, "that's the easiest thing I have to do. But you don't want to help somebody who don't want to help themselves (sic). May God have mercy on your soul."
If only we think of God's extravagant mercy in forgiving us the debt of sin against him that we can never pay up and allow our actions to be influenced by his when we confront those who hurt us, the world will look more like the Creator intends it. Jesus says to the unforgiving servant and he says to us too, "I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?" (Matthew 18: 33). Such an act of mercy can only come from a God who is a poet, not a mathematician. So, is forgiving those who offend you the easiest thing you have to do? Is your approach that of a poet or a mathematician towards those who commit crimes against you?
As we celebrate the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows this week, let us ask for the grace to carry the cross of heartfelt forgiveness and share in the liberating sorrows of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Yours in Jesus of Extravagant Mercy,

Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dear friends in Christ,
                                                              Listen to The Voice of Love

The Psalmist refrain for this Sunday's Mass says, "if today you hear his voice, harden not your heart" (95:8). The import of this admonition is worth reflecting upon today. When I think of the word "today," I do not refer only to this day of the Lord, this Sunday that the divine word is proclaimed to our hearing, I imply as well the age we currently live in, a time of division, distortion, disobedience. Our world is painfully divided based on perceptions and ideologies people choose to embrace and live by. Our world is ruled by distorted truth that informs how people act. Our world is made up of people who made deliberate choices in disobedience to our Lord's Gospel injunctions.
 The timeliness and urgency of the Psalmist's invocation are illustrated in the parallel between the hardened hearts of the people of Israel to Yahweh's voice and the deafness of our modern culture and society to the Lord's voice of charity. The voice of God, as expressed in the commandments of love, is a call to order. Are we listening to that voice? The voice of love dissuades the wicked from their evil ways. We are called to be an extension of that voice of corrective love, bringing our erring brothers and sisters back to the path of divine love and truth. Prophet Ezekiel reminds us to "speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way," or we will be held "responsible for his death" (Ez. 37: 8). If we love our neighbors as the voice of love instructs, we must call them away from the path of division, distortion, and disobedience because true "love does no evil to the neighbor" (Romans 13:10). The voice of love seeks that we reconcile the world to Christ's Gospel (2 Cor 5:19) and strive to make the voice heard and listened to as we heal wounds of division, distortion, and disobedience in our family, community, and world at large. We must pray that our neighbors listen to our voice of love and are won over to love (Matthew 18: 15). The Lord is speaking to us of love and mercy today. Can we pay attention and listen? Can we pray as the body of Christ for the healing of wounds of division, distortion, and disobedience? If today you hear the voice of love, please harden not your hearts.
  The Gospel speaks of praying in common. When two or more members of the body of Christ or in a more specific way, members of a parish come together to pray for a need, God is made present through the Holy Spirit who helps us to pray. We do this as a parish not only at mas but outside of mass. The Knights of Columbus sat around Marian grotto last Sunday after the 10:30 am mass to pray for the unborn. God was present by their prayers, an act of charity, and response to God's voice. I encourage other groups to do the same. If you hear his voice today, harden not your heart.
 
In Christ's love,  
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP