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Support our Parish!
We are in desperate need to financial support to keep our parish going. We are working to raise $500 to pay our liability insurance. We need these funds by immediately! Please donate today using the following links or QR Codes:
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Venmo: @saintfrancisparish
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CashApp: $saintfrancisparish
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Joy, Boasting, and Mission: Reflections on Faith in Everyday Life
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What a cool set of readings this week! Sometimes, the Bible smacks us in the face with big, lofty ideas, and sometimes it feels like it’s speaking right to our day-to-day, messy, ordinary lives. Isaiah, Galatians, and Luke—these three readings are like different voices in a chorus. Let’s see how they all come together.
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Isaiah 66:10–14: Comfort Like a Mother
Okay, let’s start with Isaiah. Here’s this beautiful image of Jerusalem as a nurturing mother. Isaiah says, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her.” The city becomes a symbol for all God’s people—it's about comfort, abundance, and restoration. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you,” God says. If you’ve ever been homesick, or just needed a hug at the end of a tough week, this hits home. God isn’t some distant force—there’s this tenderness, a real promise that we’re not alone when things go sideways.
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Galatians 6:14–18: Where Do You Boast?
Then we get Paul in Galatians, and it’s classic Paul: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Not in achievements, not in fancy degrees, not in how many Instagram followers you have—Paul says the only thing worth bragging about is what Jesus did for us. He’s basically reminding us to let go of comparisons and competition. It’s not about what you can show the world, but about the new creation you are inside. There’s freedom in that—freedom from pressure, from pretending, from the need to keep up with everyone else.
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Luke 10:1–12, 17–20: Sent Out, Sent Back
And then in Luke, Jesus sends out seventy-two people—ordinary folks like you and me. He tells them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” There’s urgency, but also trust: Jesus doesn’t overcomplicate things. He just tells them to go, travel light, and share peace wherever they land. Some places will welcome them, some won’t. But, when they come back, they’re pumped because even the demons listen to them! Jesus gently brings them back down to earth, saying, “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
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Bringing It All Together
So, what’s the thread tying these together? For me, it’s this: God is deeply invested in our joy, our healing, and our purpose. We’re comforted, yes—but we’re also sent out. We don’t go around boasting about ourselves, but about the love that changed us. And when we get caught up in our achievements (or our failures), Jesus reminds us that the real reason for joy is belonging—being known and loved by God.
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Everyday Takeaways
- Let yourself be comforted. It’s not weak to need reassurance or rest. Even God says so!
- Boast in love, not in likes. The most important things in life aren’t always the most visible.
- Say yes to the adventure. Sometimes mission means just showing up, being vulnerable, and seeing what God will do.
- Remember where your joy comes from. Not from results or recognition, but from being known and loved.
Here’s to finding comfort, sharing peace, and walking our paths with a little more freedom and a lot more joy this week!
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Join us every Sunday at 3:00 PM at 557 Greene Street in Augusta Georgia in the sanctuary of the MCC of Our Redeemer.
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July 6, 2025: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Intention: For Bishop Ben William and his wife Darlene and for Holy Cross Parish.
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July 13, 2025: Fifthteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Intention: For Darryl, Michael, and Mrs. Joyce.
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For the St. George family; Fr. Bryan Wolf; Mary Nehls; for Kelesh’s daughter; James (Cancer); Linda (Cancer); Jacob (Cancer); James Long (Cancer); Mickey; Jacob Williams; Kelesh and family; Lindsay; Sherlock Bones; Tatum Johnson (Job); Bishop James Long; David; John; Joy; Greenbear; Bishop Ben and Darlene Williams; Ryn Ingells; growth for our parish family; all those in the path of the wildfires and severe weather, end of hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East; for an end to gun violence.
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Can't make it to Mass?
You can still join us virtually, you can by using any of the following outlets:
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Parish Bible Study
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Our Parish Outreaches
Human First Outreach
This ministry focuses on providing food and toiletry supplies to the homeless in the Augusta, Georgia area. We provide feminine hygiene products to those that need them and food for the pets of our homeless friends and family.
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We are working to bring a human touch to this ministry as we encourage volunteers to engage with the individuals we are helping in a compassionate and loving way. We expect all volunteers to refrain from proselytizing and preaching to those we serve. Instead, take a hint from Hamilton “talk less, listen more”.
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If you would like to donate to this important ministry, you can visit our Amazon wishlist and purchase items to be sent directly to us.
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Reclaiming the Cross Outreach
Check out our newest outreach in which we work to set the record straight on what the Bible says about many of the issues facing our society today!
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Reclaiming the Cross is an outreach of our parish headed up by Subdeacon Luna Godsey.
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Podcast Outreach
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Help Needed!
We need help on June 28, 2025 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Augusta Commons on Broad Street. We will be hosting a booth for the Augusta Pride day!
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Call to action!
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The Progressive Faith Community of the CSRA is hosting a No Kings 2.0 rally on July 4, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the intersection of Edgefield Road and Clearwater Belvedere Road in North Augusta, SC. We hope you will come out to support this effort!
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2025 Candid Silver Seal of Transparency
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It will give you unlimited access. We rely on our profile to gather support; it enables funders and donors to find us and learn about our impact. We’ll keep our profile up to date so you can see what your donations help us accomplish.
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Our Parish goes social...
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