Deacon’s Corner
As I write this, it is October 31st. My mind and heart are focused on the concerns and thoughts of the moment. Entering the Advent Season and preparing our hearts for Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, have not yet entered my mind.
I am sharing some timeless thoughts I know many of you have experienced. The understanding of how fragile life is and how, in a blink of an eye, life changes forever. I am writing this because of three recent deaths in my life during a two week period.
As Catholic Christians and being children of God, He bestows on us more blessings than we deserve! The joys of Christmas, the gift of our faith, the gift of life and more. Sometimes these gifts and blessings come in the shape and weight of a crucifix.
I want to share a few scripture passages to help us understand and remind us that tragedies, sufferings, and trials are very much a part of our journey as being a Christian. Earthly life is temporal and our eternal life in heaven is our destiny.
In God’s Divine Providence everything has a purpose for the greater good, to build His kingdom. I believe when we receive those heavy crosses, our Lord gives us the grace to carry them with love, so we are still able to give glory to God; in our own way, we can be like Job.
According to St. Paul in the book of Romans, the struggles we face have a significant purpose. Our pain has a purpose and hard times are often even harder when they feel pointless. We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance which develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He gave us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Our difficulties may feel heavy, but their weight is designed to drive us into deeper intimacy with God, strengthening and anchoring us to the steady hope of His love. As St. James tells us in his letter about the fragility of life, we can not predict or control the future. We truly have no idea what will happen tomorrow. In addition our lives are temporary and fragile. We are but a mist that is here for a moment and then gone!
Congratulations and many blessings to Deacon Mike and Class Eleven for our second year Ordination Anniversary on December 3rd.
When you read this, Christmas is near, let us open wide the arms of our hearts to welcome the Baby Jesus! May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
Jesus, I Trust in You. See you at the next Mass!
Deacon Matt Martel