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  • from the pastor
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    • This Week's Article
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    • Ten Commandments as our Compass
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    • And the Answer is...
    • 2021 Past Articles
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    This Week's Article


    • January 29, 2023 • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

      In my last column I continued to address how we embrace our baptism through a correct attitude of tithing and stewardship. Tithing and stewardship are about having the right attitude of dependence, thanksgiving and desire to serve God’s will. It is the desire to be an instrument of God by sharing his bounty with the world. It is about wanting to be that disciple whose very life proclaims the Kingdom of God in how we make use of material goods. This attitude must inevitably lead to a stronger and proper relationship with God, and a daily desire to deepen that relationship. But again, stewardship and tithing are not simply about our material gifts but also about our time and talents: how they must be put into service for the Kingdom of God.

      In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus teaches us about stewardship through the parable of the talents. Jesus says, “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

      “After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

      “Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so, out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So, you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter. Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For, to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

      I am amazed by how many people tell me that they do not get involved in Church activities beyond going to Mass. The excuses they give is that they are too busy, or not sure what they can do, or the worst one: no one has asked me to get involved. These excuses and so many others are just that—excuses. Jesus makes clear in the parable above what He expects of his disciples; through our baptism we have a duty and responsibility to get involved in promoting the Kingdom of God. If we do not actively make use of our time and talents, Jesus will hold us personally responsible at the end of our lives. And He will not accept any excuses for why we decided not to engage in his command. If you are waiting to be asked, Christ has already done so.

      This brings to mind an incident in my own life when I was working as a software engineer at Digital. I had been in my position for about a year and a half when Steve, one of my colleagues, came to talk to me. He said that if I didn't make some changes, I would probably, in the next few months, be in danger of losing my job. He explained that I was not taking enough initiative in my work. I told him that I did whatever my supervisor asked me to do and I thought that was enough. He made it very clear to me that it was not. I needed to figure out ways to make myself a more valuable contributor to the project and to start taking on tasks without being asked. I thanked him for his insight and then started to look at what more I could do. I decided to volunteer to take on an important part of the project called The Build, and from there things began to change quickly for me. After about a year my role in the group dramatically changed and I was given a 14% raise. Steve didn’t tell me what to do. I needed to look at my own talents and figure out what more I could do to benefit the work my group was doing.

      In the same way, the parish needs each and every person to take the initiative and put their time and talents to work for God’s kingdom. It is not always possible for someone else to figure out exactly what you should be doing. Steve didn’t tell me exactly what I should do, only that I needed to be doing more. He gave me a wakeup call. We need to find out for ourselves what we can and should be doing for the parish to reach its potential in Christ.

      If you have any questions about anything, please do not hesitate to ask me directly, email me (link above) or call me at (978) 254-0560.

      Please keep me in your prayers.                                                                     
      In Christ,

      Fr. Brian
    2023 Past Articles
    • Fr. Brian 2023 Weekly Articles


      January 22, 2023
      January 15, 2023
      January 8, 2023
      January 1, 2023
       

    2022 Past Articles
    • Fr. Brian 2022 Weekly Articles


      December 25, 2025
      December 18, 2022
      December 11, 2022
      December 4, 2022
      November 27, 2022
      November 20, 2022
      November 13, 2022
      November 6, 2022
      October 30, 2022
      October 23, 2022
      October 16, 2022
      October 9, 2022
      October 2, 2022
      July 31 - September 25: Ten Commandment Articles (to left)
      July 24, 2022
      July 17, 2022

      July 10, 2022
      July 3, 2022
      June 26, 2022
      June 19, 2022
      June 12, 2022
      June 5, 2022
      May 29, 2022
      May 22, 2022
      May 15, 2022
      May 8, 2022
      May 1, 2022
      April 24, 2022
      April 17, 2022
      April 10, 2022
      April 3, 2022
      March 27, 2022
      March 20, 2022
      March 13, 2022
      March 6, 2022
      February 27, 2022
      February 20, 2022
      February 13, 2022
      February 6, 2022
      January 30, 2022
      January 23, 2022
      January 16, 2022
      January 9, 2022
      January 2, 2022

    Fr. Brian Video Library
    •  
      Click Here to Visit
      Fr. Brian's Video Library
    Ten Commandments as our Compass
    •  Ten Commandment Article Series

                                      
         First  Second
        Third  Fourth 
      Fifth    Sixth and Ninth CommandmentsSeventh and Tenth Commandments
           8th Commandment                   Conclusion              

    Eucharist Articles

    • Fr. Brian Eucharist Articles


      • Week One: Introduction to Eucharist
      • Week Two: Eucharist a Noun
      • Week Three: Eucharist as Verb
      • Week Four: Eucharist as Sacrifice
      • Week Five: Eucharist as Meal
      • Week Six: Eucharist as Covenant/Memorial
      • Week Seven: Conclusion 
    Teaching on The Mass
    • Fr. Brian Teaching on The Mass
      From October 18 - November 15, 2021, Fr Brian presented a 5-week Teaching on The Mass. Below you can find a link to both his videos as well as the coinciding articles that appeared in the previous Sunday's bulletin.


      Teaching on The Mass Videos

      • Part One: Why we go to Mass
      • Part Two: Introductory Rites
      • Part Three: Liturgy of the Word
      • Part Four: Liturgy of the Eucharist
      • Part Five: Concluding Rites
    And the Answer is...
    • Coming soon....

    2021 Past Articles
    • Fr. Brian 2021 Weekly Articles


      December 26, 2021
      December 19, 2021
      December 12, 2021
      December 5, 2021
      November 28, 2021
      November 21, 2021
      November 14, 2021
      November 7, 2021
      October 31, 2021
      October 24, 2021
      October 17, 2021
      October 10, 2021
      October 3, 2021
      September 26, 2021
      September 19, 2021
      September 12, 2021
      September 5, 2021 [No Article]
      August 29, 2021
      August 22, 2021
      August 15, 2021
      August 8, 2021
      August 1, 2021
      July 25, 2021
      July 18, 2021
      July 11, 2021
      July 4, 2021
      June 27, 2021
      June 20, 2021
      June 13, 2021
      June 6, 2021
      May 30, 2021
      May 23, 2021
      May 16, 2021
      May 9, 2021
      May 2, 2021
      April 25, 2021
      April 18, 2021 [No Article]
      April 11, 2021
      April 4, 2021 [Easter]
      March 28, 2021
      March 21, 2021
      March 14, 2021
      March 7, 2021
      February 28, 2021
      Februry 21, 2021
      February 14, 2021
      February 7, 2021
      January 31, 2021
      January 24, 2021
      January 17, 2021
      January 10, 2021
      January 3, 2021

    2020 Past Articles
    • Fr. Brian 2020 Weekly Articles


      December 27, 2020
      December 20, 2020
      December 13, 2020
      December 6, 2020
      November 22, 2020
      November 8, 2020
      November 1, 2020
      October 25, 2020
      October 18, 2020
      October 11, 2020
      October 4, 2020
      September 27, 2020
      September 20, 2020
      September 13, 2020
      September 6, 2020
      August 30, 2020
      August 23, 2020
      August 16, 2020
      August 9, 2020
      August 2, 2020
      July 26, 2020
      July 19, 2020
      July 12, 2020
      July 5, 2020
      June 28, 2020
      June 21, 2020
      June 14, 2020
      June 7, 2020
      May 31, 2020
      May 24, 2020
      May 17, 2020
      May 10, 2020
      May 3, 2020
      April 26, 2020
      April 19, 2020
      ​
      ​​​​​​April 12, 2020
      April 5, 2020
      March 29, 2020
      March 22, 2020
      March 15, 2020
      March 8, 2020
      February 23, 2020
      February 16, 2020 

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Home to St. John the Evangelist, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Mary Parish Families. Leading ALL to the ONE TRUE CROSS!

Parish Offices: 115 Middlesex St. | North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Phone: (978)-256-2374

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 am - 5 pm | Wednesday 9:30 am - 5 pm | Friday 9 am - 3 pm

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