Dear Friends,
This weekend is Two Dollar Sunday, and I will speak at all the Masses. Thanks for your patience.
We are looking forward to Bishop McIntyre’s visit on Saturday, October 21 for Confirmation. We have 143 young parishioners who will receive the fulness of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands and anointing with Sacred Chrism. They will become fully initiated members of the Mystical Body of Christ and entrusted with living and sharing the Gospel in our world. Pray for them and all of us to be open to the Holy Spirit day in and day out so as to accomplish the Will of our heavenly Father here on earth.
As we look around, this world is full of darkness, suffering, violence, war, and upheavals on so many levels. Wherever you turn there seems to be turmoil. And yet, we are not without HOPE. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer, our Savior in the midst of all of this. As He teaches in the parable in this weekend’s Gospel, God has prepared a wedding banquet (heaven) to which He invites all of us. Some reject this invitation and even kill the messengers; others, both good and bad, find themselves at the banquet.
However, it is not sufficient enough to accept the invitation, to repent, to have a conversion of heart, to enter the great hall. One must live in accord with the victory of the Lord by good deeds, humble reception of the Sacraments, especially Confession and Communion, prayer, Scripture reading, helping those in need. Each day we have the opportunity to respond to God’s invitations of grace. Each day we must choose to accept His grace and to follow His lead. Jesus invites everyone, even His enemies. But not everyone responds, accepts, perseveres.
Where are our eyes focused these days? Let us turn to Jesus, listen to Him, respond to Him and His graces, and do whatever He says. For our destiny is not in this world. Our destiny is life, face to face with God, in eternal life.
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
