second sunday in lent

​This Sunday we once again hear the love letters of St. Paul as he writes to the Romans.  As always, he opens with “brothers and sisters,” his beloved.  Then he makes the bold statement “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  As I always say, all Scripture is the living word of God, and Paul writes as if he is speaking to us in 2021.  So, what does this mean for us today?
 
This is the beauty of Paul’s writings and this is what I believe we need to hear today.  No matter what we face, whether that be financial difficulties, health challenges, family concerns, or even a pandemic, God takes each situation and somehow, beyond our understanding and comprehension, uses it for our benefit, in the here and now, and ultimately for our eternal benefit.  This is indeed something to wrap our minds around.
 
God is with us always, in all our times of need, on this our earthly journey.  God pours out His love and mercy upon us.  Many times, in the present moment, this is not clear to us.  It is only when we look to the past, to see how God brought something good out of a past challenge, that we can say to ourselves that we are not alone, and we trust that God will see us through this moment in time as well.  This requires faith and trust in God.
 
We are God’s chosen ones.  God is with us.  It is no wonder Paul proclaims, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?"  The answer quite simply is NO ONE!
 
As we continue our Lenten journey together as a community of believers here at St. Julia, may we hold and keep one another in prayer.  God is with us – and we, as His daughters and sons are loved.  We must never forget that.  May we unite any cross that we are carrying at this time with that of His son, Jesus Christ.
 
Please know of my continued prayers and I look forward to welcoming everyone home, that is to your spiritual home, very soon.
 
God bless,
Fr. Greg