A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, August 7th

There is no doubt that there are a number of serious problems facing us: mass killings, climate change, inflation, illnesses, war in Ukraine, etc.  Most disturbing is the animosity between the political parties that makes it very difficult to address any issues.  It is easy to feel very discouraged and pessimistic, concluding that there is nothing we can do.
 
All three of our readings this weekend remind us that God is in control, that God loves and cares for us, and that, ultimately, all will be OK.  We just have to do our part to bring about His Kingdom, as we wait for its fullness.
 
Our first reading tells us that the Israelites had faith in the Lord and thus had the courage to escape Egypt and head out into the desert. Our second reading extolls the faith of Abraham, a faith that enabled him to take incredible risks because he trusted that God would be true to His word.
 
Jesus says it clearly in our Gospel reading: Do not be afraid any longer, little flock. But he then says that we must be acting in such a way that we are helping to bring about the Kingdom by the way we live.  He sums it up as “selling what you have and giving alms” so as to “build up inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”  In other words, we have to be actively involved in bringing about the kind of world that God wants. We need to do our best to help others in need, to bring peace and unity where there is division, to comfort those who are suffering, and so on.  As we do these things, we are helping to bring about the Kingdom we are waiting for.  We have to be involved, allowing the Lord to use us as His instrument.  How am I doing?
 
Church sign of the week: When we have nothing left but God, we discover God is enough.