Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Oberlin gave a warm welcome to Bishop Edward Malesic on a cold, snowy Sunday morning.
The bishop traveled to Oberlin on Feb. 16 amid a snow storm to celebrate Mass and to visit with parishioners. Father David Trask, Sacred Heart pastor, concelebrated the liturgy. Young parishioners participated in the liturgy as lectors and they presented the offertory gifts.
In his homily, the bishop recalled visiting an amusement park called Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, his home state. The upside down house, one of the park attractions, offered visitors some fun –– but with some confusion. Everything was upside down or the opposite of what it normally was, he explained. The experience relates to life, which also can be confusing.
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“Jesus tells us he had to die so we could live,” he said, pointing out how that could be confusing.
He also reminded the faithful that we can’t take our possessions with us when we die, so it’s important to be generous in life.
“We are blessed in America. It’s true, we work hard for what we have, but there are people in Haiti who work much harder and have much less. We are blessed and we are called to share our blessings,” the bishops said.
“Woe to those who see their neighbor’s need and don’t help,” he said, emphasizing Jesus’ message that we must love one another as he has loved us. The bishop also reminded the faithful that Scripture tells us blessed is the person who can cry and woe to those who can’t laugh.
“A person who will do anything to get someone to like them could lose their soul. If we live only to care for ourselves and shut everyone else out, we will be like a barren bush in the desert. We must open our hearts to God and his love. The more we open our hearts, the more we are filled and blessed,” he said.
“Being rooted to God is what we need in order to have ‘riches.’ To lift up the poor makes us rich in spirit. May we be poor enough to experience God’s love and may we be hungry enough to show our hunger for God,” the bishop added.
He noted the parish was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which Pope Francis said is the core of who we are.
“We need to carry the heart of Jesus out into the world. We are about to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. May we be empty enough to receive his love,” the bishop said.
After Mass, he greeted parishioners and some students from Oberlin College before heading to a social gathering in the parish hall.
Learn more about Sacred Heart Parish, which was established in 1880, here.