Rev. Edward J. Holterhoff, Pastor

Deacon Clark Rutledge, sfo

 

MASS SCHEDULE

Monday - Saturday 8AM

Saturday Evening 5:30PM

Misa en Español El Sabado en la Noche 7PM

Sunday Masses 8:30AM & 10:30AM

 

 

DIRECTIONS TO ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

BULLETIN

CALENDAR

PRAYER LIST

 

LECTOR/EUCHARISTIC MINISTER SCHEDULE

 

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, March 2, 5:30PM

+ Gemma Davis by Mary Martin

Sunday, March 3, 8:30AM

+ Maria Menezes by Gabriela Nova

Sunday, March 3, 10:30AM

Joanne L Carr by Ken & Marie Allen

Monday, March 4, 8:00AM

+ Morri McCaffrey by Women’s Guild

Tuesday, March 5, 8:00AM

Cecilia Deines by Office Staff Wednesday, March 6, 8:00AM

St Timothy’s Parishioners

Wednesday, March 6, 7:00PM

St Timothy’s Parishioners

Thursday, March 7, 8:00AM

+ Jose Gonzalez Sr

by Jose & Belinda Gonzalez

Friday, March 8, 8:00AM

Cecilia Deines by Office Staff

Saturday, March 9, 8:00AM

+ Lupe Sylvester

Saturday, March 9 5:30PM

+ Frank Rodrigues

by Larry & Josie Hunt

Sunday, March 10, 8:30AM

+ Maria Menezes by Lucia Fagundes

Sunday, March 10, 10:30AM

+ Candy Maddox

by Oscar & Barbara Munoz

Click here for archived EXPRESSIONS 2018.

Click here for archived EXPRESSIONS 2017.

Click here for archived EXPRESSIONS 2016.

Click here for archived EXPRESSIONS 2015.

Click here for archived EXPRESSIONS 2014.

Haz clic aquí HOMILIAS EN ESPAÑOL

 

Sunday, April 7, 2019

EXPRESSIONS by Father Ed

 

Varied Solutions

 

Somewhere recently I read that the solution to a problem must be different than the cause.  This seems an obvious and useful strategy for resolving both personal and societal issues.  It simply means moving in a completely opposite direction.  Thus, if violence is the problem, peace is the solution.  Limiting guns is the reasonable approach, as New Zealand just did, not making them more accessible than they already are, as some in our country have suggested.  If war is the problem, then again peace, achieved through negotiation and diplomacy, not further aggression or belligerence, is the best path.  Better to deal with foes and enemies — to hug them, as Shakespeare urged, but to hug friends, and allies even more.  Hostility and danger are lessened that way.   The current trends of authoritarianism, nationalism, and populism, propagandized as patriotism, are the reverse of this tactic.  Force and fear are never effective and invariably result in worse problems.  Many wars and revolutions are only postponed reactions.   Nor will poverty be eliminated by just lowering taxes.  It may help business, both small and large, but it has failed to improve the prospects of the ordinary worker.  The gap between rich and poor has never been wider, and the middle class is steadily declining.  A whole new approach needs to be improvised.  Perhaps starting with people instead of numbers might be more successful.

 

 

The same is true in our personal lives.  Directly confronting an issue rarely works.  All 12-Step programs understand this.  A former culture or way of life has to be changed, not just giving up an addiction.  This is the Biblical meaning of conversion.  To avoid, or at least down-tone, a family or spousal argument, for example, means looking at the importance of the person and relationship, rather than the particular conflict, to gain better perspective.  There may be fewer disagreements this way.  Likewise, with losing weight.  Diets by themselves are ineffective.  They need to be complemented with exercise and a change of eating habits.  To focus on health, then, is the best way to lose weight.  People often mention to me that they want to be better, for example, more intelligent, but that means not watching TV so much or letting it be the primary source of information.  It entails reading, including books and articles that may challenge personal viewpoints.  To be smart means to be open.  Similarly, most people want to be generous.  It is more than just doling out money to family and people in need.  It is a relational quality that respects others, and treats them with compassion and patience.  Generosity is not hard-edged or judgmental.  It does not use people but contributes to their well-being.  It helps just because there is need.  Goodness, therefore, is a process not a prescription or a goal.  It is a choice everyone can make.  People, however, prefer themselves more than others, and thus impede goodness.  No wonder we have so many problems in the world!

 

 

You may still read Expressions when you are away . . .
           Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExpressionsbyFr.Ed
   or read the Expressions by Father Ed at http://sttimothymorrobay.org/expressions.html