Dear Friends:

While enjoying our afternoon tea-break together, we discussed today's readings. We laughed as we read of Abraham's child-like way of speaking to his Heavenly Father. We remembered how one of our grandsons would pull an "Abraham" on us trying to get us to stretch our limits just a little bit further. Isn't that what Abraham is doing? He is trusting that His Heavenly Father, in His mercy, would allow Himself to be pushed just a little bit further, and He did!

Abraham was pleading to God on behalf of the pagan people of Sodom. We too can be intercessors with active compassion for the people of our world. Abraham is the Father of Jews, Muslims and Christians. Spiritually we are all sisters and brothers. God told Abraham that "all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him". We as his descendants can mediate and intercede for one another. We can forgive the conflicts of the past and work together to achieve mutual understanding and promote peace.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us how to pray to the Father, asking Him to forgive us as we forgive others. He tells us to be persistent in prayer...to keep knocking until God gives us whatever we need.

We may be in the midst of situations in which we feel helpless. We need to remember that, no matter what is going on in our life, God is in control and will make it work out for our good. Through our trials, our faith grows stronger. We will live in the joy of knowing that "with God, all things are possible!"

We will continue our adult computer classes on Saturday mornings beginning October 2nd. We will have a six-week session in the Fall and another in the Spring. If interested, please, call the Rectory and put your name on the registration list. Spaces are limited to the number of computers in the St. Robert's School Computer Lab. More details will be given closer to the first class.

The Church Is Open

St. Robert's is open from before the 6:30 am Mass until 5pm. As you're going from work or school or are on your way to the park, why not come in and thank the Lord for the gift of life and the beauty of these days?

Dear Parishioners of St. Robert's:

I am finally settling down at St. Denis and beginning to remember all the things necessary to manage a Parish plant - what key opens what lock and so on.

Thank you for all your best wishes, prayers and gifts. There is no way I will ever be able to express my gratitude to you. All I can do is promise you my prayers. St. Robert's will always have a special place in my heart. I learned so much from you in regard to living out our Catholic Faith in good times and in bad. You were the best of teachers.

Please keep me in your prayers. If you ever want to take a ride into "the country", give me a call at 854-5976, and I will give you the grand tour of St. Denis and Our Lady of the Wayside.

The rectory receives at least 2 calls a day from people in need of food.
Because of this our food supply is at an all time low.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Listed are a few of the food stuffs that we are running low on: jams and jellies, canned vegetables, cereal and oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, juices, packaged cookies, condiments, canned meats and tuna. We are also collecting Scrip for MOLLYSTONE, ALBERTSON'S, LUNARDI'S & SAFEWAY.

This Sunday's Genesis reading is the wonderful story of Abraham bargaining with God to save the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Notice that Abraham pleads for the whole population of both towns to be saved, not just the good people in each place. What a great reminder that God is willing to bend over backwards to save anyone and everyone he as created! The gospel underlines the same point with the story of the man who begrudgingly gets up to lend bread to a friend with unexpected company. Our God is the very opposite of this fellow, lavishly giving more than we can imagine without our even asking. This teaching of the Our Father has words a bit different than those we are accustomed to, but please notice one thing: we who pray this prayer need to use plural pronouns and adjectives: our, us, we. We can't pray this as the "rugged individual" our society extols; we need to pray this prayer as a community. And we can only pray it honestly if we examine ourselves: "Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us." Is there someone in my life whom I need to forgive? If it is a very painful hurt that I bear, could I begin by praying for the gift of forgiveness and actually praying for the person who has hurt me? It may seem strange to pray for someone I'm angry with, but amazingly, it changes my perspective and I begin to see the person the way God sees him or her. Then the possiblity of forgiving enters in.

Two babies were found dead in Palo Alto this past month, allegedly killed by their mothers. Were either of them aware that California has passed a law allowing a baby to be dropped off at any hospital with no questions asked? Had they ever heard of Birthright, the national organization which provides emotional and material support for women with difficult pregancies? Was there not one person to whom either of these women could have gone who would have helped her? Let us keep our eyes and ears and hearts open for people we may know who, due to seemingly insurmountable challenges, are close to such desperation. Let us pray for these women and all women who are pregnant.

Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Servers:
If you are unable to serve, especially during these last weeks of summer vacation, could you please be sure to get a substitute? It will be greatly appreciated by those who serve with you.