Dear Friends in Christ,
God Bless you! In our readings this weekend, we encounter our Jubilee Year of Hope.
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.” A fair question to ask in our life of faith is: how do I get hope?
I will share that my most common “hope-sighting” is Reconciliation—both as a recipient and in hearing confessions. It is beautiful to receive and to witness the comfort and healing work of God's grace.
St. José Maria Escrivá once said that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying. What good company to be in! As we hear the Beatitudes in the Gospel, perhaps another we could add is: Blessed are the ones who keep trying. Reconciliation is our reminder that we are known and loved, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who is risen, Who is alive, and Who has come to seek and to save the lost, not to condemn. God is for us.
A trusted spiritual director once told me that we move at the pace of grace—no falling behind and no getting ahead. Reconciliation is the moment of allowing the Lord to reset the pace, to get up and be led by Him. To add another Beatitude: Blessed are the ones moving at the pace of grace.
As you may have seen by now, Fr. Steve has shared a letter with the Pastorate about Archbishop Lori’s decision to lower the age of Confirmation to nine years old. Please keep our faith formation team in your prayers as we discuss and plan for the implementation of this.
Since I have not written for the bulletin since it happened: we had a moving time of Eucharistic adoration with our families on February 2. We hope to plan another one, so be on the lookout!
Know of my prayers for you all and please keep the spiritual family of our Pastorate in your daily prayers!
In Christ,
Father John
