St James Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we recognize and honor all those who work. There is dignity in work no matter how humble the task or job may seem or whether it is paid or not. Those who work or who are looking for work are celebrated on Labor Day. As we gather today around the table of the Lord, we hear Jesus teach guests also gathered around a banquet table of the importance of humility.
Jesus issues two challenges to the people at the banquet, one to the guests and one to the host. To his fellow guests he warns them about taking places of honor and advises them to exercise humility. This is consistent with his message last week that for God some who are last will be first and vice versa. Even those of us who have achieved some success are not entitled to always getting our way or assuming that we are always right. We are all called to exercise humility. After all, no one truly knows where they stand with God.
Meanwhile, the challenge Jesus issues to his host is to invite those who cannot reciprocate. Reach out to those on the margin of society. This is consistent with the beatitudes, which laud the poor, the meek, the unjustly persecuted, and the shunned. How much more would it mean to someone such as this to be invited, whether to a dinner, to receive a gift, or even to offer an opinion, than to someone who has grown to expect such invitations? On this holiday weekend, let us commit ourselves to work to lift up those who find themselves forsaken by society and others, for in them we can find the Lord.
Certainly our Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry as well as the monthly meal program are great ways of reaching out and inviting them to the banquet.
Love, Peace, Joy,
Fr. Bob
This week also celebrates our annual rummage sale. We are grateful to our chairperson, Donna Bricco, her committee, workers, volunteers, those who gave items to be sold, as well as our guests who will buy from them. Pray for the success of this annual fundraiser, not only its financial success, but that we as the family of Saint James may grow closer to the Lord and one another as a result of our efforts.