SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

​Forgiveness.  Loving one another.  It sounds wonderful.  Here we have yet again, as I see it, another opportunity and challenge, as is the case with so many things in life.  The challenge is evident.  How can I possibly forgive someone who has hurt me?  Perhaps it was recently, or perhaps it was many years ago.  And to take it one step further, I am called to love them.  Challenges, challenges, and more challenges.  So why does our Lord ask us to forgive – and to love?

Here is the opportunity - something I came across a number of years ago.  Pastor Rick Warren writes:
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If you don’t forgive, you’re not going to enjoy God’s vision for the rest of your life, because unforgiveness will keep you stuck in the past.

Forgive—and then get on with your life.  This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences for what somebody did to you.  It just means that you let go of your anger and hurt and give it to God so that you can move on with God’s purpose for your life.

What an opportunity this is.  Allowing God to reveal the purpose of your life.

The season of Lent is quickly approaching, as we prepare to celebrate Ash Wednesday on March 2.  I invite you to begin thinking about your Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – with the underlying theme of forgiveness, and how much God loves each one of us.

This weekend, please join me once again in welcoming Fr. Stephen Innamorati who will be presiding at our Saturday evening Mass as I complete my tenth day of isolation.  I am most grateful for his ministry and assistance.  I look forward to my return on Sunday at our 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses.

May God bless and keep safe each of you and those that you love.  Rest assured of my prayers.
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Fr. Greg