Today we hear a rather famous and also heavily debated passage from the Gospel. Martha is busy serving at table while her sister Mary is listening attentively to Jesus teaching. Martha complains to Jesus about Mary not helping, and Jesus responds that Mary has chosen the better part and that it would not be taken from her. 

A priest one time had a wedding and was invited to the reception afterward. For once, he actually had time to go to the reception so he accepted the invitation. While there, a guy sat next to him who clearly had a myriad of questions he wanted to ask. He started by asking the priest, “Father, if you could have preached the wedding at Cana, what would you have said?” The priest responded by saying, “Well, that would be tough as Mary actually gave the perfect homily and it would be hard to follow that.” The man asked, “What do you mean?” The priest quoted Mary, “Do whatever He tells you.” The man didn’t ask any more questions after that.

One phrase I have been hearing tossed around more and more over the last few years is “my truth.” I keep hearing people say things like, “I need to speak my truth,” or, “That person is speaking their truth.” I have even had discussions with people who outright deny that there is anything true; everything is subjective (up to me to decide), there is no objective truth. However you phrase it, the debate comes down to a simple question, one that was famously asked 2000 years ago: What is truth? (see Pontius Pilate)

A couple of weeks ago, we had a parish town hall to present the plan for what will be accomplished in Phase 2 of our Restoration Project. For the benefit of those who were not able to join for it, I wanted to be sure everyone had a chance to find out what we will be doing. Phase 2 will basically be accomplishing those parts of the restoration that could not be accomplished in Phase 1 for one reason or another.

Unless you have been to a weekday Mass here, you may not have had a chance to see our sanctuary gates. If you do get the chance, you will see that they are each decorated with a bird. Most people immediately think the bird is an eagle, but the second you look more closely, you will see that this is not the case. The bird’s neck is too long to be an eagle. It is actually a pelican. 

Earlier this week, we celebrated the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. This may seem like an odd title for Mary: how can she be mother of an organization? The first thing that this title calls us to remember is that the Church is more than a mere organization. The Church is not some non-governmental organization or charity group; the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. Just as the human body is compiled of many individual cells united together by a single soul, so too the Church is compiled of many individual persons united together by the one Holy Spirit and united to Jesus Christ her Head. What is it that Mary gave birth to? Jesus. Therefore, Mary is the mother of the Church Universal. 

This weekend, the Church celebrates the great solemnity of Pentecost. This feast is traditionally held to be the birthday of the Church inasmuch as the Holy Spirit is poured out onto the disciples. Just as God breathed the Spirit into Adam to bring him to life, so now God sends forth the Spirit into the Church (the gathered disciples) to bring her to life! 

The meaning of this occasion is to show Mary’s faith in the message she has received: she goes to Elizabeth, not to confirm what the angel has said, but because she already believes it and knows that Elizabeth (being pregnant at an older age) will need help.

Perhaps the most immediately obvious characteristic of churches throughout the world is that they are decorated with beautiful art. Whether paintings sculptures or stained glass windows, the most historic and respected churches are those that are filled with beautiful works of art.