13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

06-28-2026Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

Fifty years ago, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Poland (later Pope St. John Paul II) gave an address during the 1976 Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia on the occasion of the bicentennial celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He said something that many people might consider prophetic in light of the troubles and divisions that have been present in our Church, in our country and in our world.

He said, "We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society, or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, between the gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God's Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously."

Now 50 years later, on this occasion of the 250 anniversary of the United States of America, one can’t help but be made ever more aware of the insidious power of evil, its devastating ripple effects and our need for divine protection, and deep healing and restoration. While we have become repulsed, infuriated and shaken by the scourges of hatred, selfishness and indifference, we have gained a special insight about how weak and vulnerable human beings can be – even supposed “good” people, and how flawed and narrow-minded institutional structures and systems can become. It highlights the important reason why God the Father chose to express His love for us by way of Jesus’ death on the cross. For it brought about the forgiveness of sins and the transforming power of His grace – something we all need. And the new life, which came after Jesus’ death gives us hope for a resurrection from this “death” as well. This difficult time calls us to renew our commitment to be holy, to continually choose to turn away from all that is not of God and stay close to Jesus and the sacraments, and to live in conformity to His mind and His heart. May the words of Pope St. John Paul II give us confidence that God’s Divine Providence will work powerfully if we face this trial courageously – head on, with trust and diligence. Let us pray for one another, our Church, our country and our world; we’ll get through this, but it will take time.

God bless you!