Saint Matthew's Church
A Roman Catholic Community
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Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Full Schedule of Services

Pastor's Weekly Message


Throughout the 50 days of the Easter season, the first reading each Sunday is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. This is the second half of St. Luke's work which began with his Gospel. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the earliest beginnings of the church, the community of believers. If you have never read a book of the Bible this is a good one with which to start. It is the story of how the followers of Jesus came to believe that he was the promised Messiah and how they gradually attracted others to their faith. Luke begins the Acts of the Apostles by writing to Theophilus (a friend, patron, influential leader,...?) saying: In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Now Luke is going to tell the story about the growth of the apostles in faith and the development of the early community.

After Jesus' Ascension, he sends the Holy Spirit upon the early followers and commands them to go out and preach the good news to the world. After choosing a replacement, Matthias, for Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost, the disciples go out to preach the good news. Luke starts by recounting a homily that St. Peter gives in Jerusalem at which, Luke says, about 3,000 persons were added that day to the community of believers. Then Luke recounts a story that reminds us of Jesus' cure of the paralytic man at the gate of Bethesda (Jn.5:1-15). In Luke's story Peter and John cure a man crippled from birth (who) was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate".
Although the people are amazed at this cure and credit Peter and John with healing powers, the disciples make it clear that only by faith in (Jesus') name, this man, whom you see and know, (Jesus) name has  made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

After this cure Peter is confronted by the priests, temple guards and leaders of the Sanhedrin, put in custody and told to stop preaching in Jesus' name. Our reading for this Sunday is part of Peter's reply to the religious leaders who want them to stop their teaching. Peter says: ...people, (you) should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this (once crippled) man stands before you. He (Jesus) is the "stone rejected by you, the builder. which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else....

Peter, John, and the other disciples are going from frightened men, huddled and scared in an upper room, to bold preachers of the healing and saving power of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. Luke writes this story of the early church not only to give us a history lesson but to remind us of what is also happening in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the challenge of the Easter season to accept our role now to carry out the message of Jesus in our day and in our time. Peter, John, Mary of Magdala, and the other followers didn't think they were up to the task either but they built the church on the foundation and the name of Jesus Christ. So do we.
 
Fr. Chris
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Seasonal Messages


SPRING ENRICHMENT
Our Diocese’s Spring Enrichment 2018 program will be at the College of Saint Rose in Albany from Wednesday, May 16 – Friday, May 18. Throughout these three days there will be just over 100 two hour courses and workshops and 25 hour-long mini-courses for adult faith formation, ministry training, spiritual enrichment, and catechist/youth minister/Catholic school teacher certification. Check the diocese’s website (www.rcda.org/springenrichment) to view the  schedule, brochures and registration form or contact either your parish’s faith formation/religious education program or the Diocesan Catholic School Office (518-453-6602 or spring.enrichment@rcda.org) for more information. Registrations received by the School Office by Friday, April 20 are eligible for the early registration discount, new this year, register online and save $5; otherwise, register in advance by May 9.