From reading the scriptures of the Old Testament we certainly find Moses a surprising person and leader in many ways. We know that he did not want the role that Yahweh gave him. He also required help from Aaron to manage everything. Yahweh also gave Moses 70 Elders who could prophesize and then it was discovered there were two more. Moses was quite happy about these extra Elders. He saw all these peoples as special gifts from God. Some of the Jews were mad that there were these two, but not Moses. Jesus also had the same issue in the Gospel passage we hear today at Mass. There were some people who did not know Jesus personally who worked miracles in His name. Jesus was much like Moses in his response. If one can work miracles in His name, then you cannot be against Him. Jesus did not mind that there were people who were not His chosen few. They had caught the power of the Holy Spirit and were acting for God.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary’s,

Last weekend the sun and weather was at New England’s early Autumn best. The beautiful mellow and warm days certainly helped to perk up everyone’s spirits. Slogging our way through the Pandemic is exhausting and a patch of inspirational weather certainly helps. At the end of each day we are closer to the end of it all, but that end is still a good bit of distance in front of us. We can only face each day and lean into it. It is easier each day if you face life with a positive attitude and a little humor. We cannot really change much at all, but we can change ourselves and make it easier for our self. It is true one can choose to  be miserable or happy with the same circumstances. I choose being happy and suggest that you also make the same choice. I know that daily life is not easy for most of us, but we do have that choice. I think faith also helps us make a choice for the positive and better. Trust in God helps lift our spirit.  Saints did not spread gloom, negativity or misery. Our finest saints spread both joy and hope.

We often talk about "success" in our country. If you listen to some talking heads on the continuous news channels, it appears that success is usually tied up with wealth and money. In fact, on these programs only the rich are quoted or cited most often. This week's scriptures, in particular the Gospel are about what Jesus believed "success" to be.

Our first reading, which is from the Book of Wisdom, focuses our minds on the idea of the trials that "just one" must endure. The people in this story deeply resent this person who dares point out their mistakes. They ask out loud if the "just one" could stand for God and against threats of condemnation and death. Many people through the centuries have interpreted this passage as a prediction of the Passion of Our Lord, which Jesus himself tells us about in the Gospel of today. This is the second time that Jesus has predicted His Passion.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

Last weekend Bishop Robert Reed, our Regional Bishop was here to confirm the Sacrament of Confirmation upon approximately 180 young people of our Parish. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit sustains and empowers them to live our Catholic Way of Life. In this most confusing time, our faith is ever more important for all of us. It gives us direction, purpose and stability. Hopefully the young people’s parents will recognize this larger reality and help them by their example to live our faith by attending the Holy Mass and living charity and understanding each day. Young people learn best by example and may their parents be the very best of models for them.

This weekend at our Masses, the theme of each of the three readings is all about good discipleship. Our first reading, a passage from the Prophet Isaiah addresses the theme of the "Suffering Servant". We know to interpret the servant as Israel because the pain caused in the servant is a direct result of his faith. He is insulted because of his faith but note that he never wavers or steps back. His life was just because he set his face against these bad people with a face "like flint."

In our second reading the writer James continues the theme of discipleship. He writes that it is not enough to state our beliefs and faith, we must do more. Good intentions and talking are never enough. If people find their neighbors hungry and without enough clothing, it is not enough to wish them well, but we need to act on our wishes for them. Saint James always wants us to pray, but sometimes he knows that prayers alone are not enough. We must act on our own prayers or else God's work will not be done.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,

This weekend, we launch the NOON time Sunday Mass. Even though our numbers do not support this, I think it is best to put it in place. Of course, this is the weekend where it is necessary to block off Main Street beside our Town Common for the Cultural Festival so that everything is even more complicated! But that is life. This weekend going forward our Saturday/Sunday Masses will now include the second reading and the recitation of our Creed. We will also have the bulletin available for you at the tables at the front lobby of the church for you to take home. The same information is also available on our website (stmarysfranklin.org).

In this week's Old Testament passage, the prophet Isaiah announces that the present mood of melancholy in Israel will turn to its opposite. He uses images to make this absolutely clear for the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the one who cannot move will win foot races, the one who is without words will be full of words—songs even. The very land itself will come alive: sands will be watered, deserts will flower. This is quite the prophetic statement by Isaiah.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

We have now stepped into the month of September and in some limited ways we have started the Fall cycle of life. Schools have opened, after school and weekend sports have started, signups for evening enrichment programs for adults and the wondering about “where has the summer gone?” have all begun.

Medieval legends inform us that most knights died from defending truth, beauty and freedom, but historians of later centuries inform us that the knights actually died from the result of their armor. The constricting metal "clothing" caused them to succumb to excessive heat exhaustion and dehydration; they usually died from a heart attack. Are you aware that the rules and customs of life which are supposed to support a good life often times can cause the death of one's heart. This is an issue which Jesus spoke and taught about, the death of life caused by rules that do not give life, but cause death.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

Next weekend is Labor Day Weekend. When I was young and at my grandmother’s house in Scituate there was a ritual pattern which we followed. Everyone gathered for the weekend at her house. This meant lots of adults and children and thus lots of laughter and fun. What a crowded house it was between all of us staying there with the day-hoppers and also relatives and friends in near-by houses! Then on the next day, Tuesday we all packed up and went back to Boston and started school the next day. Times change and now schools start different weeks and days for various institutions. Our Town has already begun. Colleges and Universities seem to start the soonest and private high school academies seem to start the latest. I treasure the memories of my summers in Scituate and hope that you all have created some memories this summer to cherish. I did. My grand nephews and nieces were at our home in Falmouth and it has been great fun and joy.

Whenever we enter a room through a doorway, we go through a place that it is called a "threshold". We cross this threshold when we have entered a new space and have left behind the room and space which we had been in. Many times, we stop at the threshold of a room to see what is before us, to remember what we left behind or to think about if we should even enter the new space. Thresholds hold great meaning, although often times we do not realize it. Thresholds are quite symbolic.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary’s,

In this past week a great and wonderful light in the Town of Franklin left us. Reverend Carol Rosine, the Minister Emerita of First Universalist Society in Franklin died. In more than 12 years which I have served at Saint Mary Parish, I was privileged and blessed to know Reverend Carol, serve with her on the Interfaith Council and various committees and projects, and also treasure her as a special friend. Reverend Carol brought joy, hope, strength and the presence of God to all who she met in her dedicated service in Franklin. The lost and lonely, the less and the frail knew that she was not only their friend but a strong advocate for them. Her ministry touched the lives of many, many people, including many beyond her congregation. On behalf of Saint Mary’s I have expressed prayerful condolences to Carol’s family and to her Universalist congregation. We are a better Town and Community because of her faith, heart and soul. We mourn her loss, but we rejoice that she touched our hearts and lives with her faith and strength.

The Feast of Mary's Assumption into heaven is a feast that celebrates the triumph of Mary into heaven first and then also includes "all who hear the word of God and keep it." Slowly, ever so slowly, the honor paid to Mary by Christians grew through time. In early church documents we learn of Mary's "dormition" meaning the falling asleep or death. In fact, it was the Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, which first celebrated as a formal feast Mary's Dormition, or what we have come in the Church of the West to call 'the Assumption of Mary into heaven." No matter its history or whatever word(s) you use to describe this reality, this feast of Mary is precious and is cherished in our Latin Rite Roman Catholic Tradition.

Today most of us are very conscious to "eat healthy" and not to indulge frequently in food that is not nutritious for us. Many people now shop only for organic certified foods. Some folks have now switched to an entirely plant-based diet. Overall we are blessed in this country with the privilege of having such a great variety of fresh and healthy foodstuffs. There are some among us, even in the Town of Franklin, who do struggle to obtain food. For them, food is a scarcity which both through your generosity, our Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Franklin Food Pantry help them. Many of us also have memories of being young and having our parents say to us "Taste and see if you like it or just have a little". We often hear how important it is to taste food. This week's readings are about the spiritual food which is good for us.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary’s,

We are stepping right along to the Fall and the re-start in various ways of many of the activities and programs in our Parish. The Pandemic will still be among us in many ways, but we can begin a safe and thoughtful transition as people continue to be vaccinated and practice good COVID protocols. In many ways we will be transitioning for one full year. Whatever the new normal will be, it is mostly likely one year from this Fall. We will be consistently and slowly re-starting or opening various ministries, programs and services. With the arrival of our new part-time Pastoral Associate Leo Racine shortly after Labor Day, we will re-start according to good COVID safety rules Communion Services at our various institutional facilities. We will also be offering some evening meetings for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers to help address these roles and now the different requirements and protocols in serving due to COVID Safety.

This weekend, we discover in our first reading that life was not easy for the Israelites as they left Egypt to go to the Promised Land. God had rescued them from the swords and whips of the Egyptians and now they had very tough going in the desert. They had adopted a typical human behavior of complaining unceasingly. When they quite bitterly and angrily complained of being hungry to God, he sent them manna, but they resisted that food. They continued to complain. It took Moses to point out to them that the manna was the answer to their prayers to God. They missed the obvious.