March 18, 2007
in
From Father Frank
Yesterday, it was 73 degrees…the first sign that Spring is truly on its way. One of the best things about living in a climate with four seasons is that we can visually see in the outer world a beautiful transformation of creation…from lifeless and cold to beauty and warmth. This same transformation is occurring in our hearts as we journey in faith through the seasons of life. We are gradually being transformed by God’s grace and mercy into beautiful creations, created to be images of God, giving thanks for who and what we are.
All journeys have a destination and our true destiny is paradise…heaven…the kingdom…complete and total life. The life we are living now is but a prelude for what is to come, when our own mortal bodies will rise from death and be finally transformed and re-united with our souls…and we will be living an eternal Easter. What happened to Jesus at Easter, His bodily resurrection, when body and soul were forever united….is going to happen to each and every one of us.
During Lent, we see this destiny…we desire it more than anything else; and so we look within to see the many barriers and roadblocks we have erected through our own sinfulness. We all have taken our own detours and have gotten off track; we all have lost sight of our Easter destiny. NOW is the time of a change of heart and a re-direction of our lives.
The parable of the Prodigal Son gives us a beautiful image of a God who is waiting to embrace us with His love and forgiveness. God wants nothing more than for us to be filled with joy and peace, so that even in our suffering and loneliness, we know that we will make it through and that we are on a journey with a purpose and a destiny.
On March 28 we will have a communal Penance service which will also welcome several of our children to the Sacrament of reconciliation for the first time. These children need to see in us adults a desire to change our lives by admitting our
sinfulness and experiencing the Lord’s mercy in this beautiful Sacrament. First Reconciliation, like First Holy Communion, is a celebration for the entire parish, not just for the families involved.
The celebration of this Sacrament will give all of us an opportunity to re-claim our true destiny by accepting God’s mercy so that we can continue the journey to Easter Sunday…and one day…to Easter in eternity.
PEACE, Fr. Frank
