Dear friends in Christ,
God bless you! I pray you are all having a blessed summer! Whether you’ve had a vacation or staycation or a day or two off, these are ideal times to refresh spiritually. Like Martha in today’s Gospel, we all need to rest our souls and bodies.
“There is need of only one thing,” Jesus says. The one thing is Him. Time with Jesus at Mass, in the chapel, with Scripture, with the Rosary, is never time wasted! Make time to be with our Lord and Friend. If you like worship music, “One Thing” by Housefires is excellent in light of this passage.
Have you ever heard of visio divina? This is when we use sacred art to help us pray. In this prayer, we engage in prayerful/divine/holy “looking.” Why do I bring that up?
The first reading this weekend reminds me of an extraordinary icon by Andrei Rublev called “The Trinity.” Check it out. The icon depicts the three visitors of Genesis 18 seated at table. There is an open seat of sorts right at the center. In your visio divina, consider that as the place prepared for you. Go and take your seat! Look; listen; be loved; be fed.
Sunday’s second reading meditates on the mystery of suffering, which can be challenging for many, if not all of us. “Through Christ and in Christ, the riddles of sorrow and death grow meaningful,” the Second Vatican Council said. Christ the Risen One appears to His friends with His wounds still visible; but, what was sorrowful and painful has become glorified. Jesus desires the same for us.
Allow yourself to be a patient in the “field hospital” of the Church. Here, there is always a bed; always brothers and sisters in the beds next to you; and the Doctor, the Divine Physician is always in, offering the medicine of the Eucharist, listening and giving encouragement, and giving healing and glory to our many wounds. “I make all things new,” (Rev 21:5).
Special invitation to ladies of the Pastorate:
Come together as sisters for a special evening of Eucharistic adoration and worship on July 22, this
Tuesday evening at St. Jane. The 22nd is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. She is known as the “apostle to the apostles” and is a special intercessor for all daughters of the Father. I will lead a brief reflection and song. All ladies are welcome—bring a friend, mother, daughter, baby, grandbaby, etc.
Special invitation to gentlemen of the Pastorate:
Join us on Saturday July 26 at the Rumor Reel for breakfast and a talk by Orioles legend Scott
McGregor. Come enjoy a delicious meal, connect with other men of faith, and be inspired by Scott’s powerful testimony! Tickets are $35; 8:30am–10:30am. See bulletin and Flocknote for more details. All men are welcome—bring a friend!
THANK YOU Marie Griffiths, staff, volunteers, and participants for your enthusiasm, prayerfulness, time and talents in Vacation Bible School at St. Jane this past week! “Jesus is our true north; He is our way home… Let’s trust in Jesus.” We look forward to another round at Our Lady of the Chesapeake in a couple weeks!
Thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!
Fr. John
