Familiarity breeds contempt!
Familiarity breeds contempt!
This Sunday's reading presents the theme of rejection. In the first reading, Ezekiel is commissioned to preach to rebellious Israelites, who were rude and stubborn. The prophet Ezekiel lived 600 years before Christ, before, during, and after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. While the false prophets were consoling the Israelites, God appointed Ezekiel to warn his people about the destruction that was to come if they did not change their ways. In today’s passage (2:2-5) God warns Ezekiel that as a prophet he would not have an easy job, and has to face rejection.
The first reading prepares us to listen to the Gospel. Gospel of Mark (6:1-6) presents Jesus’ rejection in his Galilean village, Nazareth. In the first reading, Ezekiel is a priest and prophet. In the Gospel, we see the eternal priest and prophet. When Jesus came to his native town and went to the synagogue and taught, everyone was astonished and asked one another, “Where did this man get all this?” We see similar passages in the Gospel: the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds are in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 7:28); but here the astonishment is of those who take offense at him (Mark 6:2). “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3)” The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that it is Jesus’ cousin or relatives. The catechism says, “James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus", are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls "the other Mary" (CCC500).”
Jesus uses a common proverb, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his kin and in his own house (Mark 6:4).” Jesus is often called a prophet in the Gospels. We see in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd said, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 21:11).” The Samaritan woman at the well says, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet (John 4:19).”
Familiarity breeds contempt. People looked at Jesus and said, we know his family, we know him. We are in the Eucharistic Revival Years. It is an opportunity to learn and relearn our faith and to know him. What is our first thought, I know my faith, I don't have time for that, or I have a good relationship with Jesus. We need to take time to get to know him more and more deeply. Everything he did in his public ministry led to the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. At the end of the Gospel passage for today, Jesus laid hands and cured the sick. Today laying hands is part of the Sacrament: Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Ordination. Jesus continues to work the miracles through the Sacraments.
Immaculate Conception Church – Exterior renovation project.
We have a beautiful church. Our forefathers built this beautiful church 114 years ago. We have to preserve it for the next generation.
Little more than a year ago, we noticed some damage on the west side of the interior wall. Some of the paint was peeling off and some other damages. Since then, it has been part of the discussion of building committee meetings and also the Parish, and Finance councils. First, we approached Conrad Schmitt Studio from New Berlin. They gave a bid for the interior work, but they advised us to perform exterior work first, to prepare for the interior work.
The Building Committee was doing some searching regarding the exterior work. Two companies looked at the exterior work and gave us a proposal. So we decided to go with Krause Konstruction from Coon Valley, WI.
The exterior work includes: replacing defaced bricks, reinforcing the brick attachment on the north side, power washing, sealing the brickwork, replacing louvers, painting the trim work and the list goes on. This work is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025 by Krause Construction.
In the meantime, we are going to start fundraising. We have some savings, but we don't want to use up everything. Once the exterior work is completed, we need to look at the interior work. Our church is beautiful but is an old building, there will be other works down the road.
Our total cost for this project is $106,600.00. If everyone participates, together we can reach the goal. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!