Monday, July 27, 2020

Parish Bulletin Article: "Last Six Months with Chaos": 7-12-20

Can you believe that I will be concluding the sixth year at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban and begin the seventh?  Wow!
Each year, you may remember that I offer some of my perspective, gratitude, or some updates the last six months for you.
We have had some blessed gifts earlier in 2020, like our UCA goals, students at school, a new teacher, the selling of another building, serving, and beyond.  Yet I will never forget these last several months and in the future with many of you.
Covid-19.  Period.
A perfect storm after the death of George Floyd.
I mean, we experienced the first time in world history, that most everything was closed: schools, sports, businesses, hotels, airplanes, churches, and the hardest for me: Mass.
We have also faced changes in many levels after bad decisions in our country, especially with our brothers and sisters as American Indians, African Americans, Hispanics, and more.  At the same time, we continue to see chaos, polarization, and political agendas.
What do we do for the next six months from my perspective?
First, I believe that each of us has individual responsibilities, and each of us is sinners.  We must seek God's forgiveness and seek His mercy.  If we receive that gift from God, we must do the same to others.
Second, I believe about a crucial verse: "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).  We ought to learn not only real history but also the TRUTH of God's Word in the Scriptures.  Pick up that book and read it!
Finally, we must know that God IS LOVE.  Follow Him.  Listen to Him.  Come to His Mass and His sacraments.  
To my family, work and pray for our neighbors, and St. Teresa of Avila once said, "We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us."
God Bless, and may we continue to pray with each other.

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