Pastor's Letter

LIVING FOR GOD 

In the second reading, Paul wrote something remarkable for us to reflect on:
 
 “As to his death, [Jesus] died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.  Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”  (Romans 6:10-11)
 
In the last few months, we’ve been absorbed in all kinds of matters of life. As the pandemic continues, we’re aware of the numbers of how many lives around the world have been lost or have been battling the virus. A growing number of us know someone in our immediate circles who has been affected one way or another. As a country, there’s also been a heightened awareness of the sin and deep wounds of racism. As Catholics, we stand for human life, including life in the womb, regardless of race, gender, culture or any kind of difference. All human life is valuable and something God treasures as a gift. (John 17:24).
 
When a scribe asked Jesus what the most important commandment is, he responded that it’s to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we see our life that way, Paul’s statement comes to life.  Jesus lived for God, and we’re meant to overcome our own sinfulness so as to live for God, too. But we don’t have to do it alone, we live for God in Christ.
 
And maybe that’s why Jesus’ words in the gospel today hit us so strongly. Jesus tells us, in terms of priorities, God comes first. When we love God fully, we begin to love others more fully and ourselves more fully, too. He tells us “whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  It’s when we reach out of ourselves, when we reach for God, we find ourselves and understand the importance and priority of relationships over things. When we shift our thoughts from “only me” to “we” a new world opens up.  And those who make that shift, often find more fullness in life…and even joy.
 
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
Today, we have a food drive to help restock the pantry shelves at Church of the Holy Spirit.  The need for food isn’t going away, and so our need to help doesn’t go away either. Not just in the last few months, but for many months over many, many years, our community goes out of its way to share what we can. But what’s been life-giving to see—especially recently—has been the sincere warmth that comes with each person bringing in food or paper goods to give to someone else.  The team that collects the food is energized and strengthened by the goodness they witness, and it truly is heartwarming. Thank you for caring for our brothers and sisters—our neighbors—who need a helping hand right now. It’s a way to live the gospel.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
As we re-open the church doors for more people to experience the Mass and the sacramental life, we’re only able to do it because of the goodness of those who are volunteering to help. It’s a powerful witness of what it means to be at the service of others. And it makes me think of the Last Supper when Jesus knelt down to wash the feet of his apostles. Through his example, he showed us what it means to come out of ourselves for the benefit of someone else.  All of you who are helping us through this time are washing the feet of all of us. And we’re very grateful, because it allows us to be together in our house of prayer to lift up our hearts to God.
 
May God bless you and keep you and your family in His infinite care,
 
               —Fr. Mike