June 8, 2008
Dear Parishioners,
Our Faith is expressed in the concrete deeds we perform. First we do this at Holy Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. Second we do this by Adoration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Then we are moved to regular Confession to grow spiritually. We express our faith in daily prayer which is planned, regular and sustained. All of our actions according to our state in life are the bodily expressions of the fact that by our Baptism we are a part of the Body of Christ, the Church and so have a duty to live the moral life to which Christ’s Church calls us.
Our response to the call of Jesus like Abraham and St. Matthew is total and convicted. Abraham was credited for his faith with righteousness because he lived by the virtue of hope. The virtue of hope is the act trusting that God will give us the graces necessary for salvation and fulfill our desire for the blessedness of the kingdom. How fortunate that we are able to live in the graces our Lord gives.
Abraham did not hesitate despite his advanced years and his wife’s sterility, but he trusted firmly in the power and mercy of God, being fully persuaded that is able to do what He promises. And we, “Aren’t we going to trust Jesus Christ ‘Who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification’? How could God leave us alone to deal with the obstacles we encounter which try to prevent us living in accordance wit the call we have received from Him? He holds out his hand to us in many different ways: normally in our daily prayers, in our fulfillment of the plan of life we have set ourselves, in the sacraments, and in a special way, in the advice we receive in spiritual direction. Our Lord will never leave us alone on our journey through this world, and on which we frequently experience faintheartedness and weakness. The hope of becoming saints, of faithfully doing what God expects of us, depends on our accepting the hand that He holds out to us. This virtue (of hope) is not based on our own worthiness, on our personal situation in life, or on the absence of difficulties, but on God’s will – on his will that we should reach the goal - a will which is always accompanied by all the grace and help that we can need in any possible circumstances.
‘Nam, et si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala’ – though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, no evil will I fear. Neither my wretchedness nor the temptations of the enemy will worry me, ‘quoniam tu mecum es’ – for you Lord are with me. (St. Jose Maria Escriva, The Forge, 194, quoted in Fr. Fernandez’s Conversations with God.)
The hope that saves us is Jesus Christ. He has promised and He will save us if we accept His call to holiness. If you have a chance to look at a copy of the “Call of Matthew” painted by Caravaggio, you will notice the creative call of the Lord, almost like the creative hand in Michelangelo’s creation in the Sistine Chapel. Matthew, as Abraham, must leave what he is doing and follow the Lord. He does this with hope, trust and humility and it brings total satisfaction. Let us do so likewise and enjoy what St. Matthew enjoyed – walking with the One Who loves us most.
I am looking for teaching couples for Natural Family Planning. I would like to offer the classes regularly here at St. Michael’s. All those preparing for Marriage would of course be required and blessed to take the course. Please call me.
Please welcome our seminarians for the summer: Rev. Mr. Ben Roberts, a transitional deacon, John Eckert and Noah Carter. Also, next week we will welcome Fr. Pawel Rytel, from the Diocese of Drohiczyn, Poland, who will be with us until the end of July. We are all happy to have them with us.
Congratulations St. Michael parishioners!! We have officially exceeded our 2008 DSA goal. Remember, everything pledged and paid over our goal is returned to the parish, so as long as all the pledges made are able to be paid in full, we will get a refund from the Diocese. Thank you for your generosity.
God bless you and may our Lady keep you in her tender care.With my prayers,
Father Arnsparger