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From the Pastor's Desk: May 22, 2022
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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
The sixth Sunday of this Easter Season directs us to the message of the resurrection and the joy it brings. Today’s readings are about the effect of the abiding presence of God in His Church and of His indwelling in each one of us. Particularly, in today’s Gospel Jesus talks to us about Love, Peace and the Advocate – the Spirit of Truth. Our hearts were made for love and peace and will remain restless until we have them. The daily news reminds us each morning of how much our world needs this real peace and love. But love and peace are not things we can just wish into existence; no matter how many songs and poems we write about them, no matter how long we talk about them, we will not truly experience them until we follow the means Jesus describes in the Gospel.
As with the new love commandment, this peace is also new. It is not sentimental, complacent, secure, or even conflict-free. It is new because Jesus says, “My peace” is a peace that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. It is a gift given not in the context of cozy table talk, but on the eve of His death when one friend has already become an enemy and left the companionship of the table, and Jesus is saying goodbyes to those who, with one exception, will fail to stand by Him during the time of His trial and death. He assures them that they should not be afraid but find new courage in His peace. This peace is shalom, the right relationship that flows from our loving union with God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we will only experience the fullness of the message of love and peace when our hearts open their doors for the gifs of the Sprit, who will not teach us what to believe, but to believe. Because to believe means to live out the divine indwelling, live out the peace given, live out the mutual exchange of love between God and us and each other. Believing is living what the Spirit teaches us. Believing is an action that marries love with presence. Believing is to embrace the One who is the Prince of Peace and who is Love, who showed us the pathway to obtain true love, peace, and the presence of the Spirit. Believing is to keep His Word – His commandments.
As one of the ministries within the diocese, I am chaplain to Rachel’s Vineyard Ministry- a ministry of healing the pain after abortion. This weekend I will assist with a retreat for men and women who suffer the terrible consequences of the destructive power of abortion. I want to ask your prayers for all participants, that they will experience the true healing power of God, His mercy, love, and forgiveness.
In addition to the myriad of feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is "a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother's throne." (The Catholic Company)
“The Rosary is the best therapy for these distraught, unhappy, fearful and frustrated souls, precisely because it involves the simultaneous use of three powers: the physical, the vocal, and the spiritual, and in that order” (The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen)
I wish you a blessed and peace filled week, everybody!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
