By the Faithful Disciple
Grow as a Disciple
Sometimes I stop paying attention to the news for a period of time. There seems to be little that’s “new” in the daily barrage of natural disasters and the countless ways we humans hurt each other. I’ve even stopped using social media, which at least made me smile when seeing photos of friends and family welcoming little ones or celebrating big milestones. Which brings me to today’s Gospel: Sometimes it seems overwhelming to want to love as Christ commands, and I feel that there’s little, if anything, I can do for people outside of my social circle, let alone on the opposite side of the world. Hearing of my struggles with compassion fatigue, a friend recently reminded me of some wise words that have been attributed to St. Mother Teresa: “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” We love as Christ commands by willing the good of the other. And it is not trite or cliche to say at times, “honestly, all I can do right now is pray.” After all, as the Lord says, “If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate.” When our compassion is exhausted, let the Lord carry it, for he never tires. And then, when it is possible, practical, and seems to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, we can do more – whatever that may be.
Happy All Saints Day…
We begin this month of November always with the celebration of All Saints’. Who is a saint? Many of us have strange ideas of what a saint looks like. For the most part, these saints are people just like us. Their lives mirrored ours – our desires, our doubts, and our struggles to follow Jesus. The saints were fully human. They struggled with temptation; they had life’s joy. On All Saint’s Day I think of all the good people who have crossed my path and enriched my life – parents, grandparents, classmates, parishioners here in the parish. They were not perfect, but they were in their own way great human beings. This is our call, this is our first vocation, to be a Saint!
Do you want to be a saint? This is a very serious question. Not tomorrow, not next year, but here and now! Do you desire to be a saint? Do you pray for that? Do you ask God to be a saint? To be with Him in heaven?
Come and celebrate with us this holy day of obligation with Masses at 9 am and 7 pm. Also, do not forget to stop by the reliquary in our church praying for that grace of holiness through the intercession of the saints whose relics we have been blessed to have in our church.
Thank you, Lord, for all the saints who pray for us and help us every day. We praise and glorify you, Lord, for preparing us a place with them, where we can worship you for all eternity. Give us a deep desire to be a saint, here and now, to be a person that you created us to be.
All Saints/All Souls Day…
On Thursday Nov 2nd, All Souls Day, we will celebrate two Masses, in the morning at 9 am and in the evening at 7 pm for all the faithful departed and all the souls in purgatory. Those who died cannot help themselves, but we, the pilgrim church, still can! Please come and pray with us for their heavenly happiness.
The whole month of November is dedicated to special prayer for those who died and still have been waiting for the final purification before they see God face to face. Join us on Sunday, Nov 5th at 1:30 pm at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery for the Rosary.
I pray for all of you to be A SAINT!!!
Fr. Tom