Dear Friends,
I am admittedly tired. We all are, right? The political divisions, wars, lies, false flag information coming from the highest offices, more shootings, plane crashes, and death everywhere. Yes, even more hate and lots of ‘keyboard courage’ on social media, too. Add in a dose of ‘Whiteous’ indignation and lack of care for those teeming at our border with a large dollop of our inability – or lack of willingness – to curb our gun access and find mental health solutions, even as so many die. It seems we are a nation, and perhaps a people, of more of everything awful and hateful and spiteful. More non-acceptance and more threats and less love. I mean, the world is chaotic and mean-spirited on a good day, but lately it all seems to be a little worse. Yes, I am admittedly tired, and this year, I need an even holier Holy Week.
In my daily Compline a few days ago, I remembered the words from a parishioner at Saint Miriam who wrote to me some three years ago now, just before she retired to Florida. She simply said, “I will miss you and this place. I see and feel how carried quite a few of us for 40-days now and worked so hard to bring us a splendid celebration. Now it is your time to sit. Rest easy, Father.” And in those words, God came to renew me.
So, I sank deeply back into the chair during Adoration, looked lovingly at the Blessed Sacrament, and I asked God for one last thing, forgiveness. Forgiveness for being so arrogant as to even ask Him for anything. Forgiveness for doubting His love for me. Forgiveness for being so weak as to not believe that I am going to be okay, no matter what happens or which side of life it comes. Forgiveness for being, well, the broken, tired, and selfish me.
And now I need to add one more forgiveness request: for not being thankful for what I already have been blessed with and that includes this beautiful parish we have created together. Maybe, that is a reason for us all to stop the hate and division this coming Holy Week and willingly attend the Masses of the most intimate encounter we can have as Catholics with the Lord who gave us so much, even this parish.
St. Augustine once said that “Our hearts are restless ‘till they find rest in You.” From His famous encounter with that woman at the well, through our recent Holy Week and Easter Day celebrations, Jesus is always inviting us to give up the constant search for things that cannot fulfill, and to let go of our hatred and complacency of others, and to turn to the only One who truly can: Himself. God is the living water that quenches thirst. He is the true “Lord” that will never leave us. He is the One who carries us, even the most broken like me, and He wants us to turn to Him.
This week, some will come; some won’t. Some will be changed and moved to a deeper place of service, and some will think the whole affair meaningless. I will try, in tandem with our priests who serve, but I know now that I won’t be alone in my effort. Jesus will be there, too.
Holy Week, is upon us, let us not lose the meaning again even in our weakness…come!
Monsignor +Jim