We had such great hopes this year for the NY Mets, with a great roster and two outstanding (and very expensive) pitchers: Matt Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Well, it’s already August and we all have had our hopes dashed. Oh well, lessons learned and we move on. For Mets’ fans I don’t think when the season began in April that we expected it to turn out the way it did. In the overall picture of life, I think there are moments or times when we don’t expect some of the things that happen. But we move forward and learn from the experience and hopefully grow.
I think when those unexpected things happen in life and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for it no matter how much we try to understand it. Whether it be personal, national, or some global event that upends our life there is one remedy that helps us gain strength and courage: go to church and attend Mass. I know it sounds simple, but there are some who just don’t feel the need because they don’t realize the great mystery and power the Mass has to offer: grace upon grace!
A great mystery is accomplished at Holy Mass. When we come together with devotion we listen to the Word of God and participate in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is present and gives himself to us in His Body and Blood. In the midst of the joys and sorrows of our lives it is the Mass that should be our most important event and prepares us for the week ahead. Especially when those moments of despair or some unexpected thing happens in our life it is our prayers and the nourishment of the Eucharist that gives solace and comfort.
Stay close to Jesus! Our Lord said to St. Faustina: “I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, my daughter, that when I come to the human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all sorts of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize love!” (Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of St. Faustina, 1385).
I hope your summer is going well. We are truly blessed! I want to thank our Family Ministry and Music Ministry for our Summer Night Prayer & Praise services at the St. Jude Shrine. It is such a wonderful, uplifting, and joyful evening. I want to thank our two guest speakers: Mr. Dominick Pepito and Fr. Roy. This Monday, August 14th, Fr. Roy will celebrate the Holy Day of Obligation Vigil Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 5:00 pm and then join us at the St. Jude Shrine following the Mass. Please join us!
St. Jude, Pray for us ~
Blessings & Joy,
Fr. Ryan