Pastor’s Letter: November 19, 2023

Pastor’s Letter: November 19, 2023

17 Nov 2023 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear friend,

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeing.” These words from Proverbs Chapter 31, along with many scriptural passages, invite us to put life into perspective. By our nature, we are people who sense the world around us. The gifts of hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting allow us to participate as active members in this world. The loss of one sense or another many effect the full picture of a situation, but often the loss of one sense adds to the ability of another sense. People that have limited or no vision are often reported as having extraordinary hearing capabilities. The body and our senses can be quite adaptive. However, no matter how well we sense the world around us, the interpretation of our senses requires a well-formed conscience. Charm and beauty may involve positive attributes but if they are an end in themselves, they lose divine significance. Our Church teaching is clear about the importance to wonder at God’s creation but that wonder and awe is always directed at the One who created. Whenever we grasp onto an aspect of the created order as an end in itself, we end up disappointed. All things in the physical world are constantly changing. Whether it is physical beauty, money, power, prestige, honor, recognition, or even affirmation, they all change in significance throughout time.

The Scriptures and our Church Theology call us to affirm the gifts of the created order as temporary extensions of the eternal beauty of God. It is the Spirit of God and the human soul that alone carry eternal significance. While the Bible calls us to ponder and reflect on the gifts of our senses and the gift that we can be to each other, no created physical gift has the eternal value as the human soul. If we participate in the physical world, in all its beauty, with our senses focused on appreciation of the Creator, all the worldly aspects of God’s beauty elevate the soul and conscience to appreciate God’s eternal beauty. The passage from Proverbs this week emphasizes the value and beauty to the spousal relationship, not because of personal physical attributes, but because true friendship and marital companionship completes the self, while helping one multiply personal gifts beyond oneself. This week is a great time to pray in thanksgiving for the gift of family and the role of spouses and family members to help us on the journey to heaven.

Special thank you to all who participated in the St. Philomena School Benefit Auction. Jessica Stecher and Alex Mathern did a phenomenal job as co-chairs this year. There are truly too many people to thank when it comes to organizing and successfully running an auction. Please know all of us on staff at St. Philomena are truly grateful for your participation in time, talent and treasure. This important fundraiser allows us to continue offering the best education to our St. Philomena Tigers. Thank you for the support!  Have a great week.

God bless,

Father David