Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time B. Catholic Appeal Sunday.  February 5, 2005.  Our Lady of Grace 5:15, 9:30.  Job 7:1-4, 6-7.  I Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23. Mark 1:29-39.

Despite being well off financially, Ellen fought a constant battle with a feeling of emptiness.  Seeking to fill the emptiness in her life, she started collecting things.  She collected clothes and works of art.  She collected books and magazines.  Most of all Ellen collected people.  But the more things and people Ellen collected, the less time she had to enjoy them.  Her life became a pressured rat race in which she collected everything and experienced nothing.  Then she was diagnosed with cancer.  The chemotherapy slowed her down and isolated her.  What was she going to do with her feelings of emptiness now that she was sick?  Then a miracle happened.  One day she pulled a bath robe from her huge closet. It was one of many that she had, but for some reason she noticed how soft and warm it was.  She wrapped herself in it and enjoyed feeling comfortable and alive.  Every day she put on the bath robe, sat in a chair and felt grateful for that moment.  She thanked God for the first time in a long time and her emptiness was filled with peace. 

When Ellen was finished with her chemotherapy she had a huge garage sale.  Her friends said that she had gone chemo-crazy because she was selling very expensive things, and more than half of everything she had.  Ellen said, “With fewer friends I have time to enjoy them and with fewer things I can experience the beauty and the wonder of the things I have.  Cancer surgery removed a part of my body.  It also showed me the way to my soul.”  Her emptiness was now filled with gratitude, with friendship and with the presence of God.

“Rising very early before dawn, Jesus left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.”  Jesus experienced our human temptation to fill our emptiness and our loneliness with crowds of people and a multitude of things.  He knew that unless we made time to nourish our heart and soul we would always be running and collecting and never be truly happy.  Happiness does not come from having or collecting.  Happiness comes from pure gratitude for the joy of being alive. 

Each year Archbishop Flynn asks us to share our joy and gratitude by supporting the many ministries of the Archdiocese through the Annual Catholic Appeal.  Let us listen to his words to us:

(At the End) Last year the people of Our Lady of Grace gave $251,635 to the Catholic Appeal.   Our gift to ministries outside of our parish is one of the largest in the Archdiocese.  God has blessed us abundantly.  This week you will be receiving an appeal letter from the Archbishop. Please be generous in making a pledge.  25% of your pledge comes back to Our Lady of Grace if you make a pledge before you are called on the phone.  Many depend on our goodness.  Giving fills empty hearts with a peace and joy that only generous hearts understand.  Thank you.