Cathedral Family,
“Pray always without becoming weary.” These words from the gospel this weekend are challenging. For most of us its hard to do anything when we are weary, let alone continue to call out to an invisible God that we are seemingly not experiencing His presence or help in a time of trial or trouble. However continuing to pray---to lift our heart to God---even when we don’t feel like it---is normally the beginning of a “spiritual breakthrough.” Just a like a growing up---in order to become healthy and well balanced in our relationship with God, we must begin to trust Him even when we think we must handle it on our own. To trust Him with nothing less than our life, our future, our family, our success in the eyes of the world. We are all seeking a revival in our Church. If you are reading this bulletin it is because you care. Thank you. We need you. You are the ones who make our parish “work.” But we must all continue to go deeper. To ask the hard questions and be willing to accept the call to change our heart and mind on a regular basis to be in a living relationship with God.
Last weekend I spoke in my homily of the need for us to be intentional about our worship of God. We have all been “designed” by God to be in communion with Him, which is the basis of worship. We must know God and love Him in order to worship Him. We all need “connection.” And it is a mysterious process where, the more we connect with God, the more we can authentically connect to others. The original place that we learn these connections is in the family. If we want a revival in worship---then we need a revival of marriage and family. I attended a day long workshop on Marriage preparation in an age where those seeking marriage in general, and sacramental marriage in the Church in particular, is on the wane in our culture. One of the cited reasons why so many young couples do not seek marriage today is that they see no need. They view marriage as an outdated institution that ultimately “doesn’t work.” It unnecessarily complicates matters when one or both parties no longer are “satisfied” with the relationship. Personal satisfaction is the one unflinching data point that should be respected according to emerging adults in today’s world. The sadness is that world view will end in shallow relationships and endless seeking to be filled in all the wrong places. Real transformation of the human person happens when we undergo pain, suffering, repentance, forgiveness over and over---precisely because of love for the other person. Let us pray for all married people and those thinking about a vocation to marriage. Other people should look at our Catholic marriages and say “wow” how do I learn to love like that? I want what they have! And very often the way to a revival in marriage is to turn wholeheartedly to God. I found over and over in my ministry that when a marriage is suffering, they are lacking God at the center. All things are possible with God!
This Tuesday is the Feast of St. Luke, one of the four gospel writers. He is known in tradition to be a “physician.” Typically we invoke his protection and guidance upon doctors, nurses and all dedicated to the care of the sick. The real health care worker realizes their limits, and knows that all healing ultimately comes from the Hand of Loving God and Father. May all those dedicated to healing the sick find new strength for their work in knowing that God first is caring and healing them.
Please continue to pray for our parish, especially that we may come to the full knowledge of God’s love for us and in knowing it surrender to Him. Jesus is waiting for us to visit Him in Eucharistic Adoration. The Mary Chapel is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:00 pm. May we soon have enough committed adorers to expand our times into the evening.
Have a blessed week.
In Jesus,
Father Christy