The fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the Gospel of Matthew comprise the teachings of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. Today’s Gospel passage is the rhetorical highpoint of Jesus’s teaching from this sermon. Listen again to the words of Jesus: “Offer no resistance to one who is evil…Turn the other cheek…Hand over your cloak as well…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Yes, to love your enemies is the greatest test of love. These are kind and beautiful words when they are spoken in Church, but the thing is these words are hardly ever spoken outside of Church. They are not spoken out on the street or in the relationships of our lives when we have been hurt or betrayed or lied to.
Ed was spiritual and believed in God. There was always a lake for fishing, swimming and boating. A member of Irondequoit Rotary, Ed participated in LPGA, Camp Haccamo and activities for seniors at St. Ann's and Shire at Culverton.
Sara was a practicing Roman Catholic and was a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church. She supported her husband Ray’s endeavor and goal of developing the Knights of Columbus organization at St. Joe’s. Sara loved to be active in Ray’s social and community activities such as Knights of Columbus and Kiwanis Clubs, eventually holding positions herself. • She was a past president of the Ladies Auxillary of K of C and past president of Lakeshore Kiwanis Club.
Mary was a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church for 47 years. Jim and Mary enjoyed extensive worldwide traveling, logging over 50 countries, wine making, golf, gardening and do-it-yourself projects. Mary and her husband Jim were married for 64 years.
In our first reading Isaiah shares a powerful statement of how we are called to live out our lives: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked" As a prophet in the 8th century Isaiah was calling the ruling elite as well as us today to recognize the plight of poor and marginalized. The Rulers at the time talked much about reaching out and helping the poor, but they were only empty words without action. If we embrace the gospel we cannot ignore the poor or those pushed to the margins of society.
Claire was a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church over 46 years. Her involvement included teaching at Children’s Liturgy 25+ years (she loved the children and did it until she physically couldn’t do it anymore), was a Eucharistic minister, participated in Bible Study Groups, and attended the cancer survivor group. Claire attended Mass weekly including holy days of obligation. (She made sure that her children attended as well.) She was devoted and looked forward to attending Mass. She was strong in her faith in God. Claire also volunteered at Dimitri House: (She loved volunteering there and did it until she physically couldn’t do it anymore.)