Homily reflections for the Scripture readings for the Roman Catholic Mass will occasionally be posted. These are unedited versions submitted to the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, for their publication. (Printed here with their permission).

 Homily based on these scripture readings:

1. Joel 1,13-15; 2,1-2 

2. Luke 11,15-16

Focus:  Time for Choice; Time for Conversion

 These weeks of October are marked by discussions and debates leading to our governmental elections .  Uppermost in many of our minds are the humanitarian concerns that affect us personally and as a community.  Basic needs such as employment, health care, education and peace are necessary if we are to pursue happiness and find human dignity. These are the goals our nation was founded to provide and they are also the gospel values that Jesus  calls us to experience.  We hear these concerns raised in campaign speeches of candidates for governmental offices.  We know, too, that these have been the same concerns proclaimed by many candidates for leadership over the past decades.  These concerns provoke our consciences to search for God’s will as we make decisions for future leadership.  We hope that God can save us from devastation and demise and make us a wholesome people and nation.

Today’s reading from the prophet Joel speaks to a society riddled with concerns about the well-being and survival of the human family. In Joel’s time, about the year 400 BCE, many thought that history was coming to an end because the times were so bad and so troubled.  For many years the people lived with struggles and devastation in their midst.  This moved Joel to call for a national time of mourning and fasting, hoping that this could turn the tide to move positive days.  He directs the call for a fast to the priests of the people, the leaders, and urges them to cry out to the Lord for salvation from their terrible plight.  Darkness and gloom are spreading over the land.  Conversion is necessary to change the course of events.  Truly, Joel’s words are prophetic for our time just as they were for his time.

Then, in the Gospel, Jesus casts out a demon and says. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste”.  Jesus casts out demons not because he is associated with demons but because he is  Son of God.  Empowered by God’s Spirit, and the “finger of God”, Jesus identifies and  drives out evil.  He does this in the Gospel story and he does this when we call upon him to cast out evils in our lives and in our society in order to bring God’s presence to people, places and things.  Jesus drives out paralyzing  demons in order to bring God’s life and healing into being.  Jesus always offers life and salvation.  A time of fast and prayer is sometimes necessary  for this kind of change to take place.

Joel called for reform among the leaders.  Jesus calls for exorcism of evil in our communities.  Both of these prophetic voices anguish over the suffering of the people.  Jesus, above all, knows  the suffering of today’s people in their struggle for life, liberty and happiness.  The campaign speeches of our governmental candidates point out to us the dark side of our nation’s culture because they name our weaknesses and point to our hopes for a better day.  We still have time to ask for guidance from the “finger of God” to direct our minds to those actions that will alleviate devastation for people and hold the promise of God’s life in our  local and national communities.

Joel and Jesus, prophets of God, acted with the conviction that God’s promises of peace and fullness of life are possible for all people.  We are moving toward a days of  decision.  Let us be sure to bring God’s values to our decisions so that God’s reign may be seen on earth.

--Rosemarie Greco, DW

Thomaston Savings Bank Awards a Grant to Wisdom House

Sister Rosemarie Greco, administrator of Wisdom House, accepts a grant award of $1000 from Roger Perreault, Director of Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, and Diane Roveto, its Bethlehem Branch Manager. The grant was given to assist in funding the restoration of the historic stone wall(c.1785) at Wisdom House.

An accompanying letter from bank president, Stephen L. Lewis, states, "I believe we have witnessed today the kindness and charity of the individuals that make a distinct difference in our local townships."

The celebration of the bank's grant night was held at The Thomaston Opera House in Thomaston, CT. For further information, visit www.thomastonsavingsbank.com.

Rich Answers: The Catholic Worker House, Hartford

Sr. Jo-Ann Iannott, OP, Wisdom Correspondent for The Conference of Churches, interviewed Jacqueline Allen-Doucot, co-founder of The Catholic Worker House in Hartford.

The St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker community is a lay community of Catholics and like minded friends, living in the north end of Hartford, working and praying for an end to violence and poverty. To find out more about the outreach of this community visit www.hartfordcatholicworker.org

Her interview will be aired on the program, "RICH ANSWERS" on WRCH 100.5 FM on Sunday, October 10 at 5:45 am. The program is sponsored by The Conference of Churches.

Wednesday evening, September 29, Wisdom House hosted its 12th Annual Wisdom Award Celebration.

This year's honorees were Marie Wallace of Litchfield and Dr. Matthew Pagano of Winsted. Marie was honored as a Promoter of Democracy and Matthew was honored as a Courier of Compassion.

Family, friends, and colleagues joined in the evening's celebration.

Antoinette Bosco Discusses 'Radical Forgiveness'

On September 11, Antoinette Bosco, author and award-winning journalist, presented a program titled, "Radical Forgiveness." She shared with participants what she had experienced and learned about forgiveness from the events in her life. Through small group interaction, there was an opportunity for participants to share their stories and experiences of iving and receiving forgiveness.