Dear friends,
We have been blessed extraordinarily because of you. Do you believe that? Like, really believe that? I believe that very strongly. God has been good to us. Our lives are very short. We are here one day and are gone suddenly without a trace. But our faith is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Your commitment to our parish is astoundingly unique. So, thank you again for all you do. You are very much treasured because God has graced us with the gift of faith.
St. Paul is a classic example of a person who credits his conversion, the change of heart and his complete turnover from being a persecutor of the church to a passionate and zealot Apostle to grace. For he tells us in 1 Cor 15: 8 - 10 thus: “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them, not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.” What a splendid awareness of grace working in Paul.
St. Peter is another example of a person who let grace invade his soul. All his effort at getting a good catch of fish failed him and his companions that particular night. When Jesus asked him to lower his nets for a catch all he could tell Jesus was: “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing” (Luke 5:5). Despite his frustration and disappointment and futile labor, when he let grace invade his life, everything changed. Now, he could not hold his net as it was brimming with fish.
You are witnesses like Paul and Peter who have let the grace of God invade your lives and what a blessing you have become. But again, it is a choice we make every day of our life. Satan is prowling constantly around to devour us. He puts into our mind and heart seeds of hatred, anger, jealously, unforgiveness and a thought of giving up on your faith for various reasons. Please do not give room to Satan. He can ultimately drag you down to the pit of self-destruction. Jason Ball says it this way: “I don't think it's one day we wake up and we've found ourselves on the sidelines. It's the decision here and the decision there that puts us there.”
This month is very special to us and to our wonderful diocese as we prayerfully consider giving to Our Catholic Appeal. Again, the devil can enter in and put thought that will dissuade you for various reason not to participate in it. Let grace invade your heart and mind so that the good that is done by the diocese in reaching the love of Christ to numerous people can still continue unabated.
Congratulations and thanks to Beth and Steve Lowry, the recipients of the Family of the Month award for January 2022. Both are involved in numerous ministries in our parish and we are blessed because of them. They are another example of people who choose Christ every day of their lives. Like most of you, they too decide to be with the Lord and listen to his words: “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4). If you go deeper into the recesses of your heart, you will find there the voice of God calling you to be faithful to him.
Thanks to the Brother Knights for their generosity in presenting to us $100,000 toward our God’s Heart...Our Dream 2.0 and for helping with the serving of the pancake breakfast last weekend.
In honor of St. Blaise whose feast was 3rd February, those who wish to have your throats blessed, can have them blessed at the end of all the Masses.
Have a blessed week!
With love, Fr. John