If you have not noticed yet, our New Testament (second) reading since the beginning of the season of Ordinary Time has been from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. We shall be hearing from this letter until before the season of Lent.
There are a lot of information we need to know in order to understand the context of this letter. It is sufficient for now, though, to understand that Corinth was the most prosperous city in all of Greece. It was a trading center ranking in importance with big cities such as Ephesus and Antioch. Commerce flowed in every direction, and there were abundant signs of wealth. However, not everyone shared in this wealth. There was a great divide between the rich and the poor, the freemen and the slaves. The church in Corinth also reflected what was happening in the city. There were also contrasts in social and financial standings among its members.
Hence, you will understand why St. Paul took the image of the body and its parts to highlight the importance of every member, rich or poor.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, ” nor again the head to the feet,
“I do not need you.” Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary…” (1 Cor. 12, 21-23). Each one is important and can contribute to the well-being of the whole.
This weekend, St. Paul emphasizes how important it is to contribute out of love.
“If I give away everything I own, and if I hand over my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor. 13, 3) Indeed, love is the only honorable motivation in the any endeavor.
“Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13, 8)
Your love once again never failed in the way that you supported our Diocesan Development Fund (DDF) Campaign last year. I am so happy to report to you that we reached 124.78% of our goal of 175,125.00. Our Finance Council has decided to put the over goal to our Restricted Funds for Repairs, as we foresee more repairs in the near future. Our facilities are nearing 30 years old, and we need to take good care of it.
As we launch our DDF Campaign 2022, I ask that you please support it by making your pledges. There are 7,154 registered families in our church and yet, only a little more than 1,000 families/individuals give their pledges. The fund supports so many entities in our diocese – families, priests and seminarians, parishes, and the poor. Hospital chaplaincies, formation of seminarians, Catholic Charities, Ministry to Young Catholics, and land acquisition for future Churches, among many others, were heavily supported by last year’s DDF. (For more information, please see flyers).
While we are yet to receive our (expectedly higher) goal this year, any over goal will go back to our church, so please do not hesitate to be extra generous. May God whose love and generosity never fail reward you a hundredfold.