Pastor’s Letter: September 11, 2022

Pastor’s Letter: September 11, 2022

9 Sep 2022 | Posted by: chadmin

The September 11 bulletin is now available online.

Dear friend,

“Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,” begins the Gospel of Luke this weekend. The Gospels make it clear that Jesus had not only the gift of healing, but the gift of speech. The Lord knew how to draw in a crowd. The sinners felt loved and the religious protectionists felt threatened. One thing we see about the Lord is that he was always consistent. He calls us to be the same.

We all know that we are sinners. We all know that we have weaknesses. Most of us realize that our strengths and weaknesses affect others. The words of Jesus this week challenge us to see life from a different angle. This is one of the truest messages of Jesus, he constantly challenges humanity to look at the big picture, to see our own bias, to allow the Lord to heal us while we are agents of healing for others. The story of the Prodigal Son has consequences for at least the three characters in the story: the father, the older son, and the younger son. The father in the story sets the framework for how each of us is called to process our own failures and the sins of others. Mercy. Mercy is forgiveness even though it hasn’t been earned. This is why the tax collectors and sinners draw near to Jesus. They know that they need what only He can provide. His words move them to desire spiritual peace. Peace comes with a forgiven heart. Put simply, the Life of Christ challenges us to seek forgiveness from Him and be people of forgiveness for others. This draws us to Christ in this life and the next.

In the second reading today, Paul reveals how grateful he is that Christ has strengthened him. I think it is an important daily reflection for each of us to approach gratitude for the many blessings we receive. God truly calls each of us to see life, faith, and family as gifts to be celebrated. Like Paul, let us all pause this week to think gratefully about the blessings of the past, present, and future. May the Lord guide us through the daily joys and sorrows with a thankful heart.

The Sacraments of the Church are the ordinary means by which we believe God helps us through this life. The day-to-day sustenance of God’s gift of grace comes through the sacraments. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the ordinary way for adults to join the Church and receive the sacraments for the first time. As we enter September, we are beginning plans for a new RCIA class. We will have an informational night and introduction to the RCIA process on Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30pm in the Banquet Room of the Parish Center. If you are or you know anyone interested in receiving the sacraments, please contact us to register or with any questions. The RCIA class is for those who are not baptized who would like to receive baptism, for baptized Christians who want to become Catholic, and for baptized Catholics who have not received confirmation. You can email the parish office at parish@stphils.com or just show up on September 13. Please feel free to reach out to us if you are interested.

God bless,

Father David