Pastor’s Message – Church of Saint Benedict

September 26, 2025

Memorial of Saints Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs

O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Collect for the Mass on the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Brothers and Sisters,

Who is our Lazarus?

This is a question worth pondering in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:18-31). It is the Gospel reading that we will hear at Mass this Sunday. Remember that last Sunday Jesus warned that a disciple cannot serve both God and “mammon”, meaning the false security of material wealth (Luke 16:1-13). The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man drives home this warning.

The Rich Man is condemned to eternal punishment, but not because he deliberately mistreated Lazarus, the poor man laying at his front door. Nor are we told that he violated one of the Ten Commandments. He did not commit idolatry, murder, adultery, theft, false witness, etc.

Rather, the Rich Man is punished because of a sin of omission. He failed to love both God and his neighbor as himself. He ignored Lazarus, his neighbor, laying literally at his front door in great need. The Rich Man is complacent, meaning self-satisfied with himself and his material wealth, and oblivious to the danger he faces for his immortal soul.

Only in the afterlife, while in torment, does he notice the poor man, now in heaven. Yet even then the Rich Man’s understanding is distorted. He looks upon Lazarus as a servant who can be commanded to do his will. He does not even speak to Lazarus directly, as equal, but as a person beneath him. This suggests that the Rich Man holds him in contempt.

Complacency and contempt are the result of placing mammon over God. They allow us to ignore the needs of others, especially the suffering. We do so at the risk of eternal punishment.

Who is our Lazarus? Who are the ones whom we choose to ignore in their sufferings? Who are the ones that we neglect to love as ourselves? Who are the ones we hold in contempt, who we judge as beneath our pity, our compassion and our mercy? They are our Lazarus.

Our Parish

Congratulations to the Guerreo family, who are presenting two children for baptism this weekend.

Please keep in prayer the youth of the parish who are on retreat tomorrow in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

There will be a blessing at all Masses this weekend for those celebrating September birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

The Parish Council is in the process of reviewing the results of the recent survey concerning the use of the four acres of property owned by the parish south of Ithica Street. Thank you to all who took part in the survey.

On Thursday, October 2 at 6:30pm Dr. Karlo Broussard of Catholic Answers will be giving a presentation on the topic of Forming Minds for Mission: How to be Intellectually Prepared to Share the Faith. All are invited and guests are welcome.

The annual Pet Blessing will be on Sunday, October 5, at 2pm at the belltower. All pets need to be on a leash or in a carrier.

Guardian Angels Mass

On Wednesday, October 1, the eve of the Feast of the Guardian Angels, we will offer a Mass at 6:30pm for the special intentions of those who have experienced the death of a child and in thanksgiving for our Guardian Angels. Please reach out to those you know who have experienced the death of a loved one, especially those who have had a miscarriage, abortion and/or a stillbirth and invite them to come to this Mass.

Garage Sale

Items for the parish garage sale can be dropped off starting Monday, September 29. The garage sale will be open to parishioners on Wednesday, October 1 from 8:30am to 6:30pm. It will be open to the public on Thursday, October 2 and Friday, October 3 from 8:30am to 6:30pm, and Saturday, October 4 from 7am to 1pm.

That Man Is You

That Man Is You (TMIY), our parish’s men’s ministry, meets on Wednesdays from 6am to 7:15am in Room 101. The theme of this Fall is “Thy Kingdom Come”. There will be fellowship, prayer and discussion. All the men of the parish are invited to attend.

Catholic Charities Appeal

The annual Catholic Charities Appeal will take place at all Masses the weekend of October 4-5. The appeal benefits Catholic Charities of Tulsa.

MOCtoberfest

The Annual MOCtoberfest will be on Saturday, October 18, 11am to 9pm at St. Anne Parish in Broken Arrow. Cosponsored by the Church of Saint Benedict, it is a family-friendly, faith-filled day of food, music, games, fellowship, and Catholic outreach.

All proceeds from the event support our Ministry of Compassion, which provides vital services to those in need across Broken Arrow and Coweta, including food assistance, counseling, ESL classes, and more. All are welcome!

Priesthood Sunday

At all Masses this weekend blessings will be offered for myself and Fr. Archie. Thank you! Please continue to pray that we will be the priests that you need and deserve.

Rosary for a Eucharistic Revival

The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary due to the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated on October 7. It was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to the praying of the Rosary by the faithful. We would like each family of our parish to pray the rosary this month, especially with the focus on Eucharistic revival and our parish Eucharistic Congress happening in November. Take home a guidebook to pray the Rosary for a Eucharistic Revival handed out by a volunteer outside the main doors after all Masses this weekend.

Mini Eucharistic Congress, November 5-8

As part of the on-going Eucharistic Revival at St. Benedict, we will be hosting a Eucharistic Congress November 5-8. Please mark your calendars to participate in at least one of the days of the congress. Listen to 3 speakers from across our Diocese, attend breakouts, celebrate Mass, go to confession, and join the community in Adoration. There will also be a musical presentation by John Michael Talbot. It is open to everyone, and guests are welcome.

Learn more about what to expect at a Eucharistic Congress here.

The nursery and age-appropriate child activities will be available during the event, but space is limited. Register your child online.

God bless and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan