A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, September 5th

This coming Sunday, September 12th, we will be celebrating a special “Welcome Back” Mass at 10:30 followed by a luncheon in the gym.  Please join us (click here for more information and to register).
 
Today is the feast day of Blessed Mary of the Apostles, who joined Francis Jordan in founding the Salvatorian Sisters. Blessed Mary felt called to be a missionary, to bring Christ to others in the world.  But, in the mid-19th century, the role of women religious was very limited.  Blessed Mary joined and left several religious communities, before beginning her own ministry of running a community house for poor, working women.  She was attracted by the openness and inclusivity of Jordan’s attempt to involve all baptized people in active
ministry.  I invite us to ask Blessed Mary of the Apostles to
accompany us as we strive to grow in our ability to bring the goodness and kindness of Christ to the world around us.
 
Now the reflection for the week: If you were perfectly healthy but blind and you could be given one wish, what would it be?  If you were deaf?  If you were paralyzed?  If because of changes in weather there was no water where you made your living by farming?
 
Our first reading from Isaiah tells us that God will come with exactly the thing that a person needs: Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag…Streams will burst forth in the desert…  Our Gospel gives us an example of Jesus curing a deaf man.  Jesus truly is the one promised: here is your God…he comes to save you.
 
What do I want?  What do I really need?  Are they the same thing or not? How do I know?  Our faith tells us that God will give us what we need, not what we want.  Do I believe that?
 
As I have aged, I have come to realize that I don’t always know what I REALLY need.  I certainly know what I want, but I am never sure it is what is best for me or for those for whom I am praying.  As a result, my manner of praying has changed.  I used to tell God what to do, e.g.  “Dear God, make Mrs. Lozano better” or “Take this pandemic away.”  Now I share my concerns with the Lord as I pray, without being so bossy, e.g., “Please watch over Mrs. Lozano and her family, according to your will” or “Lord, help us to know how we are to act in this pandemic.”
 
The Lord will give us what we need, but we have to be open to what He is saying.  It might not be what we want or what we think is best, but He will come through.  My prayer is that we can believe and give Him the space to do it.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week:  This is a CH—CH.  What is missing? “UR” (Come to our welcome back Sunday)