Binghamton’s First Ward: Church at SS Cyril & Methodius and Coffee at “That Coffee Place!”

Always a special time to go to mass at Saints Cyril & Methodius, my home parish growing up! Even more special when doing so with one of my siblings! This time my sister Chris the weekend of the DSGO Concert featuring Keith Urban. We are starting a tradition as we did so last year after Blake Shelton!

Plus we upped our game with iced coffee just down Clinton Street at the corner of West St. at “That Coffee Place!” Owned and operated by John Savich this is a coffee house with character, books, and comfort!

The First Ward Action Council, a nonprofit organization, owns the building and has its offices across the street. A neighborhood advocate since 1980, the First Ward Action Council has effectively stabilized the First Ward. It’s latest success with 37 housing units is the Crandall North Streets Revitalization Project.

First was the mass presided over by Father Peter. His sermon, after acknowledging the pleasure it was to be with us, quickly addressed the ‘shock’ of the gospel reading–I have come to set the earth on fire–Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division–a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother—shocking indeed!

What this is not saying, Father Peter emphasized, is that “we are separate from God.” We are in union with God at all times; in communion with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit if we choose to follow them!

The ‘fire’ that Jesus brought was the Fire of The Holy Spirit; that came to us via the Disciples in the Upper Room; always present in the heart of Jesus; and the Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary.

Like the burning bush that confronted Moses, The Holy Spirit will burn in us without consuming us. The Holy Spirit will separate us from sin; divide us from sin.

Even Saint Paul, his personal body was at odds with his self just like we are at odds with our self, with our ego.

Inside we seek the support of our Blessed Mother; we seek her patience and humility as the Mother of Sorrows. Only then can we; as the Bible tells us in the Second Reading be like Jesus; “for the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart in your struggle against sin…”

As my friend likes to joke—none of us are getting out of here alive—but will we find the peace and joy of Jesus for all of eternity?

Good things are happening in Binghamton, New York; the Valley of Spiritual Growth!

Here are the Bible Readings for your reference:

First Reading:

Jeremiah 38:4-10: “Then the princes said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death. He is weakening the resolve of the soldiers left in this city and of all the people, by saying such things to them; he is not seeking the welfare of our people, but their ruin.” 5 King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your hands,” for the king could do nothing with them. 6 And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, in the court of the guard, letting him down by rope. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

7 Now Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian, a court official in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, 8 and Ebed-melech went there from the house of the king and said to him, 9 “My lord king, these men have done wrong in all their treatment of Jeremiah the prophet, throwing him into the cistern. He will starve to death on the spot, for there is no more bread in the city.” 10 Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: “Take three men with you, and get Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

Second Reading:

Hebrews 12:1-4: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us 2 while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. 3 Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.”

Gospel Reading:

Luke 12:49-53: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”