A Reflection from Fr. Paul - Sunday, March 10th

Our first reading from the end of the second book of Chronicles gives an overview of salvation history through creation, the fall, the covenants God made with His people, their unfaithfulness, the exile, and their return to Jerusalem through the largess of a pagan king.  What comes through it all is that God’s love is always there. He never abandons His people, no matter what they do: He is waiting for their return.
 
The same is true today: no matter what we do, the Lord is waiting for us to return to Him.  That is the focus and purpose of Lent: Come back to me, with all your heart.  Don’t let fear, keep us apart…Long have I waited for your coming home to me…
 
The sacraments are a special way we come to God in our need.  At Masses this weekend we have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, asking God to heal us and support us in our weaknesses.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an opportunity to return to the Lord, asking forgiveness for what we have done wrong or for the good we have failed to do.  In addition to our normal confession times on Saturday afternoons, we have the opportunity on Tuesday evening, March 19th, to participate in a communal celebration with individual confession afterwards.  Three priests will be available. I urge you to mark your calendar for that evening and join with other members of the community in celebrating this important sacrament as a preparation for the celebration of Easter.
 
Finally, on Holy Thursday we remember the institution of the Eucharist: Christ feeds us with His Body and Blood, strengthening us to be better able to move through life living the Gospel values of love and forgiveness. I hope you can join us as we gather, as the Body of Christ, to celebrate this wonderful sacrament.
 
Jesus suffered, died for our salvation, and rose from the dead, all of which we remember on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter.  The sacraments are the gift which bring us the graces Christ has won for us.  Please join our community as we walk with Christ through these final days of his life, his death, and his resurrection.  To prepare ourselves well, let us take advantage of all the above-mentioned opportunities to receive the sacraments.
 
Church sign of the week: I have given God a thousand reasons not to love me.  None of them have changed his mind.