Week of August 7, 2011

Greetings from the Pastor

Nineteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time:
Caves And Callings

Today we gather together to celebrate the Mass for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading from the First Book of Kings, Elijah stands on the Mt. of Horeb and is told that the Lord will pass by. First a strong wind passes by and the Lord is not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake but the Lord is not in the earthquake. Then a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Then there was a tiny whispering sound, then the Lord was in the wind and Elijah hid his face in his cloak. This story itself wants us to believe that there is gentleness about the Lord. Sometimes as believers we are frightened but the Lord doesn’t want us to be frightened.

Our relationship with the Lord must be one of joy, not fear. He is with us to give us courage. When we get that kind of feeling in our heart, then we know that the Lord loves us wholeheartedly. We work all our life to get this feeling about the Lord. When it isn’t there, there is something about us that is wrong.

God has given us our lifetime to make the relationship a good one. We have from early childhood to strengthen that relationship. We have our whole lifetime to make improvements. We work at it everyday and if we are open-minded, we will see improvements. If we don’t see it, then we have time to begin again.

We know that we have help at every turn in our life. We have to make the effort and we have God at our side in every turn of the way. When we are trying, God is pleased by our effort. He cannot ask for anything more.
We have moved into a new month and new things are before us. We know that God is with us and we rely on his help and he is there to be a help. The older we get, the more we are assured that God is with us.

We need only to watch our faith grow with each day. Relying on God gets easier each day and our reliance on him is the one thing we have. God Bless each of you as you progress along the way.

–FR DAVE