Flocknote

St. Andrew the Apostle Friday Flash | August 13th, 2021

Friday Flash

August 13, 2021

WOMEN ARE MY HEROES AND HERE IS WHY: BECAUSE OF MOTHER MARY!

Of all the fond memories that I still treasure even now as an adult, are those from my own mother Regina who I had the opportunity of being with for only just six years before she passed. I recall her as a very beautiful, gentle, kind, generous and very understanding woman. She always put our interest before hers, understood our pains even before we spoke and satisfied our hunger before her own. For instance, I do remember that even during the scarcest of food shortages, she always set aside something little for me in a special vessel which she kept in a spot she and I only knew, at least so I thought. She represented to me the best women had to offer until Mother Mary later came into the picture. So, I grew up remembering her as the best of the best. For that reason, as I have always said, if my mother were alive today, I am quite sure that I would do anything, literally everything I can, for her to make her happy and to express my profound gratitude to her. I am sure many of you would say the same regarding your own mothers and that is why I always say that women are my heroes.

It is also for this reason that I think it would be the same case with Jesus and his mother Mary. He would likewise do anything and the best for his own mother, no question about it. Looked at it that way, it is therefore, inconceivable to me that he would allow his own mother to taste the corruption of death which is the direct result of sin from which she was preserved from conception. That is why, the feast of Assumption that we are celebrating this weekend makes the most sense to me. This feast celebrates the occasion of Mother Mary being taken into heaven after her death without her body tasting the corruption of decay.

However, before the assumption was even declared by the Church as a Dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, its celebration has long been in the church since the time of the apostles! As a mother, there was not a single significant event in the life of Jesus in which Mother Mary was not involved right from conception to nurturing him in her womb for nine months. During his ministry, she was the first to compel her son to perform the first miracle at Cana even though he at first protested that his time had not yet come to do so, and she was also the last to hold the lifeless body of her son in her arms. So, Mary and her son have been inseparable right from the womb to the cross and death and resurrection.

Therefore, when I reflect on Mary, I cannot skip reflecting also on the Eucharist because, to me, Mary and the Eucharist are concomitant. They are two sides of the same coin and the two great pillars of upon which our Church is built meaning:

1.In the Eucharist we receive Jesus, His Body and Blood and soul and divinity

2.And in the Blessed Virgin Mary who gave birth to Jesus Christ we celebrate the holy tabernacle that held and nourished the body of Christ. What a woman! What a hero. That is why through Mary, women are my heroes!

From this perspective, we could confidently affirm that if it were not for the Blessed Virgin, we would not have the Holy Eucharist. So, as we celebrate this great feast of the Assumption this weekend, let us pray for our own mothers, our heroes, that they may be inspired by the example of our mother Mary to always be examples of faith, humility, and love in our families. Mother Mary, assumed into heaven, pray for us!

-Fr. Robert

The "Good News" summer/fall edition of the newsletter is here!

Visit our website or click HERE

THIS Friday, August 13th 9am-6pm

THIS Saturday, August 14th 9am-5pm

THIS Friday, August 13th

6pm-7pm

Music. Rosary. Jesus Time!

There will be confession

Ice cream will be provided right after.

Have you moved? Changed your phone number?

Please contact Mary at Finance@standrewchandler.com
To update your information

Public Masses are now offered

Monday - Saturday | 8:30am

Wednesday | 6:30pm

Saturday | 5:00pm

Sunday | 7:00am, 10:00am, 2:00pm

Daily Mass on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Sunday Masses at 10:00am and 2:00pm are also streamed on Facebook

We are in great need of your continued support. Please consider making a gift to support continued ministry at Saint Andrew the Apostle. Please visit Faith Direct: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ973 or click the banner above.

Thank you for your Generosity!