THIS SUNDAY IS SURROUNDED WITH WHY WE MUST BE ECUMENICALLY SENSITIVE AND SINCERE AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD............

The numerically rooted designation for this season of Sundays during the Liturgical Year, Ordinary Time, is in affect, superseded today by the tragic events inflicted on the World, the past six days.  It is still the 24rd Sunday in Egypt, Libya, in Ordinary Time which has been colored and tempered by the tragic violence and killings in Egypt, Libya, and the Middle East.  God's Word on this Sunday prescribed by the common Lectionary and taken from the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, as they do for time immemorial, speak to us with a pertinent message of Living Faith, sustenance and this week, of solace, amidst the travail of tragedy.  The First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah is a passage from one of the four Suffering Servant Songs.  Isaiah 50:5-9a; proclaims and assures us, that even as we endure adversity, and the ill affects of an opponent inflicted upon us, we have reason and resolve to remain constant, and clear in our convictions, that God does not abandon us.  The Suffering Servant was severely afflicted by his enemies, yet did not flag or surrender, despite the suffering endured.  Our Second Reading today, James 2:14-18; defines and describes the markings of an authentic Christian Life, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, - Charismatic, and Evangelical, - is the consistent, daily, Witness we make to working on behalf of the betterment and common good of all peoples, uniting not dividing the Citizens of this World, in accordance with God's Plan for Creation : Love, Justice, and Peace; that supplants and eradicates Hate, Exploitation, and War; that are not of Divine origin, but derived from the fallen nature of Human selfishness and sin.  Our Gospel Proclamation on this 24th Sunday OT; Mark 8:27-35; in which Jesus asks the question, "Who do people say that I am ?", we can also apply to the response we make to the events this week has borne.  Various persons had differing views of who they thought Jesus was, in the Gospel passage.  The same can be said of our country some 2,000 years later in the World today.  Paraphrasing the question, Who do nations say Americans are ?  Just as Jesus was seen as another Elijah and John the Baptist; so too today is America seen as the bedrock of Freedom, and Liberty, for all the world by some; yet as the essence of Evil, and the Great Satan, by others.  Jesus knew and was resolute in Who He is, the Christ of All Creation and the Savior of the World.  As Americans we must remember who we are and have been intended to be, from our founding more than two and one third centuries ago, a People United and Free, committed to Justice and Liberty for All.  Our efforts to faithfully live   this reality of who we are as Americans has evolved and becomes more real through the years of our history.  The resolve America and the World is again challenged to maintain is an opportunity not only to prevail; but to reinvigorate the Ecumenical spirit of acceptance and tolerance for religious and spiritual believers of all persuasions, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, et al, without exception, discrimination, or malice.  On this Sunday September 16, 2012, may our adherence to the Higher Power who is the Eternal, Living, and True, God of Salvation anchor us in actively Witnessing to who we as national and universal Citizens and faithful and fervent Disciples of unconditional, selfless, Righteousness that promotes and fulfills the Common Good of the whole World, in which, "we live, move, and have our being". (Acts 17:28)...........Fr.  Troy