One of my favorite movies is the 1991 comedy What About Bob? Bill Murray plays a troubled, paranoid hypochondriac named Bob Wiley who innocently but annoyingly hounds Dr. Leo Marvin, played by Richard Dreyfuss. Bob is paralyzed by his fear of, well, everything, and is convinced the psychologist can heal him. But Dr. Marvin’s failed attempts to heal Bob end up driving the doctor to attempt to murder Bob. He fails. The surprise is that, having faced death head on, Bob is suddenly healed. He attributes his healing to Dr Marvin for break-through “death therapy.” In facing the cause of his deepest illness and dysfunction, Bob is healed.
Underneath this light-hearted comedy is a dead-serious resonance with this week’s feast: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Christ is lifted up on the cross to force us to face the truth of sin and death. In that reckoning we find healing. Like Moses’ snake on a pole, the cross says: this is what is causing your sickness – rebellion, disobedience, sin. Look at it! Don’t run from it. Now seeing it exposed, we see life. We see our physician mercifully healing us. In this sense, we are all like Bob Wiley. The “death therapy” of the cross is our only hope for healing.
This week I invite you to “exalt the cross.” If you don’t have one in your house, get one. Use it for prayer. Gaze on it frequently. It teaches us to not be afraid. It heals us. — Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
For the Church, that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross may inspire us to carry our own crosses with the confidence that we never carry them alone, let us pray to the Lord.
That leaders around the world may promote and advance initiatives that save lives, improve health, and aid vulnerable populations, let us pray to the Lord.
For first responders, 911 operators, and other hotline staffers, that they may realize how vital their interventions to save lives are and may be strengthened in their work, let us pray to the Lord.
For our community of faith, that we may see those who are burdened by crosses they feel unable to bear by themselves and step up to assist them as best we can, let us pray to the Lord.
For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
We have a second collection today for the Black and Indian Missions. Your gift will go to help fund programs such as evangelization and catechesis for these missions.
Our Parish Fiesta is less than a month away, our presale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office. We are also looking for volunteers for that weekend. If you would be interested in helping please leave your name and phone number in our Parish Center.
Next Sunday is our annual Mission Appeal. Father Joseph from the Apostolic Vicariate of St. Joseph of the Amazons, located in the Peruvian rain forest, will be present at every Mass, sharing his mission. Your contributions enable Fr. Joseph's community to follow the call to serve the people in this remote and very poor area. We thank you for your generosity.
