From our Pastor...

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LAETARE SUNDAY

Today is the halfway mark of the Sundays of Lent. This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday for the first word of the Introit or Entrance Antiphon laetare (rejoice).  As we rejoice in God’s invitation of mercy this year, our Gospel is the story of the Prodigal Son.  There are three important lessons to learn from this powerful parable.

I. God’s timing is the best

The prodigal son went into problems because he demanded his own portion of money and wealth from his father before the appropriate time. He could have waited for the right time to receive what is due him.  Today, maybe you are asking God for so many things and have not received any answers, but don’t worry for God knows the appropriate moment to fulfill your heartfelt prayer and respond to you.  The prodigal son landed into problems because he wanted the right thing at the wrong time. It was not the due time for him to receive that wealth even though it rightfully belonged to him as the heir of his father, he needed to be trained to handle the things that belong to him.

2. God loves you no matter what

The love of God is unconditional and He will always love us no matter what. It doesn’t matter how far you have gone in sin, or how bad your life might be today. You need to know that God loves you just the way you are. This is why He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that we may receive salvation.  When you understand the love of God for your life, it will help you always turn toward Him in any situation. The prodigal son decided to go back to his father to apologize and ask for a job, but his father threw a welcome party to celebrate his lost son who returned home. This shows us the love of the father towards us all.  God is waiting to receive each one of us with open arms to show us how much He loves us. He loves us and wants to restore whatever we have lost in our lives, just as the prodigal son was received in love and restored.  

3. We are heirs of the kingdom of God

In the parable of the prodigal son, the good son became angry with his father for welcoming the prodigal son after he has spent all his money and wealth. He said, “but father I have been here with you for all these years, working hard and earning a lot for the family but you have not thrown any party for me, neither have you given me any money to spend.” (Luke 15:11–32.)  The father answered and said “Son you never ask me of anything. Whatever I have is yours.” This statement gives us an insight into who we are. We are the heirs of the kingdom of God the Father through His son Jesus who died for us and bring us into oneness with God.  What He has belongs to us also. We are part of His kingdom and can ask Him whatever we need that is good. 

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THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

We all need what Jesus gives – grace, truth, loving but firm accountability, and, above all, forgiveness.  But to receive all these gifts, we have to take the first step and repent, honestly.  We need to acknowledge where, to paraphrase the Penitential Act, in our thoughts and words, in what we have done and what we have failed to do, we have sinned.  Too often, it’s easier to focus on the sins of others.  Concentrating on our co-worker lies, our neighbor’s laziness, or our spouse’s impatience keeps our own failing in the background. But Jesus tells us, repeatedly, to repent.  None of us, no matter how good we are or how hard we try to conquer our sins, is beyond the need for Christ’s redemption.  Without, it He warns, we “will all perish as” the Galileans or the people crushed by tower at Siloam. Lent is the season of repentance, of prayer and fasting, of almsgiving.  Please pray for the success of the Annual Diocesan Appeal, and if you are able, please consider making a contribution to the appeal as a form of almsgiving this Lent. 

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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

In today’s gospel, the apostles get a glimpse of God’s future glory.  Christ’s clothing became “dazzling white,” and Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory” alongside Jesus.  On the mount, the two prophets “spoke of [Jesus’] exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”  His earthly mission is about to end; Calvary is close.  Jesus will soon have a glorified body, but this will only happen through the scandal of the Cross. We all experience our own darkness: times of ill health, job insecurity or dissatisfaction, relationship trouble, spiritual desolation.  It is part of the human condition.  But in these bleak times, belief in Christ and His promises provides hope.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead after the darkest of time – His Passion – so, too, will a better, blessed future await us, if not on earth than with God in heaven.We can help those experiencing darkness through the programs that the Annual Diocesan Appeal supports.  Please prayerfully consider sharing Christ’s light through a gift to the Annual Diocesan Appeal.

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Each year, the First Sunday of Lent sends us into the desert to recall the Temptation of Christ.  This year, in Luke’s account, the temptations follow right after the genealogy, which concludes “son of Adam, son of God.” Adam, who was also God’s son and was tempted in the garden, failed the test. Jesus, the son of God, was tempted in the wilderness, and passed the test. This sets up an interesting parallel between two contrasting ways of responding to “divine provenance.” As we continue in these early days of our Lenten Journey, let us ask ourselves: How do the three temptations connect with the three ways the church invites us to observe Lent: fasting, almsgiving and prayer?  And let us prayerfully find the answers as we journey as Pilgrims of Hope. 

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ASH WEDNESDAY

(On Ash Wednesday)...we gather to commit ourselves to our annual Lenten journey.  Enriched with the Word of God, nourished with the Body of Christ, and marked with the Ashes of Repentance, we are sent out into the world, much like Christ in the desert.  Our journey is one that seeks to renew us in the constant process of conversion.  Through the traditional practices of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving, we are invited to reflect more deeply on our relationship with God, ourselves, and others.  May this coming season of Lent become more than a “this is what we always do” approach, and rather, challenge us to discover a greater sense of devotion in living out our faith... As the words of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, heard every Ash Wednesday remind us, “Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation”.

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God bless you all,

Father Lavelle