24 Sep 2016

This Week Letter – September 25, 2016

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Dear Parishioners and Friends,

 

Death will come to each person, and after death there will no longer be any divisions between the rich and the poor, between “believers” and “non-believers”. We will all stand before the Righteous Judge . We have to reckon with grief after death. The lack of mercy on earth will turn against the merciless.

This is what we have to consider in our conscience, listening to today’s readings.

What is poverty and suffering? Humanly speaking, we can only dream that they will never affect us, but often these qualities lead us to make efforts to gain the higher good and to put our hope in God. We try not to see people searching the trash bins, sleeping on the street and begging. We treat these people as just an image, as an example of their awkwardness. But it’s not so.  They also had their dreams, their own life plans; now they are materially poor but are they spiritually lacking as well?

Today’s readings, contrary to their appearance, are not about the social classes, the rich, poor or middle. The basis for the interpretation of the readings is the dilemma of our actions while we are on Earth, our attitudes that we show, whether in a natural way, or forced by situation and circumstance. It is about our life and our attitudes leading us and those around us on the way to salvation. Saint Paul is writing correctly to Timothy: “But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Tim 6,11-12).

In principle, the main theme of the Gospel is faith that was passed on to us. It is that which the Holy Scriptures are telling, then what the priests preach in sermons. If we will embrace these words, we will understand that every word spoken during the Liturgy of the Word is personally dedicated to each of us, and sometimes brings forth fruits immediately, and sometimes – as a seed – will wait until the right opportunity and situation to be born again, as the Word of salvation.

Jesus Christ, help us to see You in every human being. Give us the grace of the Holy Spirit to understand where we are going and how we perceive our neighbors.

I give my warmest birthday wishes to our organist Mr. Joseph Homik. May the Lord bless you with health and prosperity. May the Lord bless all those who are involved in the preparation of the 100-year-old gift of St. Constance Parish, so that together we can give thanks to God for her.  God Bless You!

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