Fr. Bill's Weekly Message for 2/28/99
Dear Parishioners:

Looking ahead, short term. Next week we begin our parish Lenten Mission. The mission will be directed by Father Alan Hartaway.

Father's theme is Reconciliation - Making Peace by the Blood of the Cross. This year is dedicated to God the Father.

How often we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses..."

"Now - and this daunting - this outpouring of mercy cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love, like the Body of Christ, is invisible; we cannot love the God we cannot see if we do not love the brother or sister we do see. In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and their hardness makes them impervious to the Father's merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace" [Catechism 2840].

Jesus is so insistent on reconciliation that He tells us to "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift," [Mt. 523-4].

Clear your calendars and make plans to attend the mission. We all can benefit from becoming more like God the Father of Mercy.

***************************************************
Looking ahead, long term. Yours truly has been invited to present one of the workshops at an international RENOVARE conference to be held June 30 -July 3, 1999 at the George R. Brown Center.

RENOVARE [Latin for to renew] was founded by Richard Foster for the renewal of the Church of Jesus Christ in all her multifaceted expressions. Christian in commitment, international in scope, and ecumenical in breadth, we seek to combine the best from six traditions which include the contemplative [the prayer-filled life], holiness [the virtuous life], charismatic [the Spirit-empowered life], social justice [the compassionate life], evangelical [ the word-centered life], and incarnational [the sacramental life].

There are brochures in the book rack for more information. Our Holy Father has called each of us to be ecumenical in spirit as well as deeds. I think you would enjoy the conference.

**************************************************
Today's readings let us see more deeply into God's beauty and majesty. Jesus knew that we would all face obstacles in life. He knew that these could overwhelm us and be the cause of our defeat. He knew that we humans could never survive without hope.

Many people have given up on life. They walk around waiting for the other shoe to drop. They see any change as an enemy of life. "You have to put up with hell here on earth in order to earn heaven," is their motto.

St. Theresa says, "It's heaven all the way to heaven because Jesus is the way." Let us walk with Jesus and be transfigured more and more into His likeness.

God bless,
Index of Fr. Bill's Letters
STM Index Page