A Letter from Fr. Paul - May 19, 2019

The date of this letter (May 19) is two days before my foot operation in which three bones will be fused. I thank all of you who have been promising prayers for its success. Some have asked about visiting me. Because my primary insurance is Medicare, I will not know where I will be until after the operation. When I am ready and able to have visitors, I will let you know through the bulletin. When I can move a little better, maybe I’ll come and heckle Deacon Patric from the pews!! As I shared before, Frs. Jeff, Peter, and Reed will cover for me until Patric is ordained on June 23, and then he will take over. I thank them for the assist.

A recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel featured the closing of the Greater Milwaukee Free Clinic and the wonderful ministry it has been over its 24 years of existence. We thank our community members Kathy and George Schneider for their commitment to the poor in a very tangible, meaningful way. I am pleased our community has been supportive of them over the years. Read the article here from the AP.

Our Gospel reading jumps back to the Last Supper and presents to us the very last words of Jesus to his disciples before He left for Gethsemane. In one sense, one could look on this as His last will and testament: he even says, “I will be with you only a little while longer.” So, we KNOW these words are important. He says, I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. This sums up everything it means to be a follower of Jesus.

WHAT does Jesus say? LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
HOW should we love? AS I HAVE LOVED YOU? And remember, just before this HE washed the feet of the disciples.
WHY should we do this? THIS IS HOW ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES.

This is our constant challenge. We will never love perfectly in this world, but we need to be growing in our ability to do so. I invite us to reflect this week on one area in our lives that needs more love and develop practical strategies for growing in that area. And let us support each other with prayer, as we strive to be more loving.

-- Paul James Portland, SDS