SHF Pastor's Blog

Today we celebrate the feast of the holy and blessed apostles, Peter and Paul. I like this feast because it is the feast of hope for all faithful Christians. Often we are plagued by what we have done in the past, sometimes thinking the God may be keeping score. Yet, that is never the case with God. Our heavenly Father loves us and in that love overlooks our sins, failures and weaknesses and sees “the glory that has made us a chosen race, holy priesthood, a nation set apart” through the paschal sacrifice of Christ Jesus. God loves us because he desires to do so. Because of this we can always see a future full of hope. If you don’t believe me, that God does not keep score, than today’s two saints are certainly proof.

St. Peter was taught the very secrets of heaven as Christ’s disciple. He witnessed the power of God in Christ’s sermons, miracles and prayers. Yet, when it came time to witness to Christ, Peter denied Jesus. God did not keep score and punish Peter. Instead God loved Peter and gave him the power to become the greatest witness of the Christian faith that the world will ever see.

St. Paul’s great desire was to eradicate the Christian faith from the known world prior to his conversion. There was nothing that he would not do and nowhere he would not go to imprison and execute Christians. God did not keep score and punish Paul. Instead God loved Paul and gave him the power to become the greatest teacher of the Christian faith that the world will ever know.

Because of God’s loving mercy 2000 years later we remember Sts. Peter and Paul. If God could take a hard-headed, confused fisherman and build the Church upon his confession of faith, then there is certainly hope for us. If God could take a religious zealot and make him the greatest Christian teacher ever, then there is certainly hope for us. Yes, friends, today is the feast of simple, ordinary Christians such as you and I who struggle to live our faith as best we can and always feel the blessing of God upon our lives. Sts. Peter and Paul remind us that nothing and no one and no past events can keep us from being victorious in our faith, for God’s love reaches deeper into our souls than do our mishaps and our sins. May we follow the examples of Sts. Peter and Paul and keep “fighting the good fight” and “running the race” of faith for God has never failed us yet. Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us.

The writer of the Book of Wisdom has some very straight forward words for us: God does not make death; all things, including you and me, are fashioned in his image and because of this, we are wholesome- WE ARE GOOD; we are given everlasting life.

Our Heaven Father wants us to know that because He IS we ARE and nothing will ever change this. GOD’ DEEPEST DESIRE is that we live in the joyful knowledge that because we are formed in his divine image WE ARE ALWAYS OKAY IN HIS EYES.

YET, somehow this holy, positive and life-giving message gets lost. Looking in the mirror we see the new lines formed on our faces. the receding hairline or the extra ten pounds that has mysteriously appeared around our waits. We can easily compare ourselves to others, attempt to fit our lives into other’s expectations and want things that we really do not need. Unfortunately all of this clouds the divine reflection within our souls.

-The truth of the Matter is that we are made for God and God desires us. By realizing who we are and what is ours as sons and daughters of God, life can truly be free of the false ideas of what we should be and we can become the people that God wants us to be: loving, holy and whole, just the away we are.

Now this does not mean that we should not take better care of our health, or grow intellectually, or try not to learn from our pasts. Being images of God, lovingly fashioned by Our Father call us to be people who see ourselves as unconditionally loved with a future that is full of hope because our future is governed by God.

This week lets rejoice in our graced lives by thanking God for what we are and who we are, and see ourselves as God’s sees us: the most precious portion of his creation. To our heavenly Father all that makes a difference is that He sees himself in us. Should this not be enough for us as well?

In today's first reading at Mass (Genesis 12:1-9) Abram builds an altar to the Lord upon entering the land to which God lead him. Building an altar was a way to honor the Lord and the way to remember the blessing of the Lord in one's life. To see the altar was to remember God and God's movement in one's life.

It is no secret how much God loves us. It is no secret how the blessings of the Lord are abundantly unleashed into our lives. God never stops blessing. Today, if we are looking all around us, we are living these blessings. How will we remember these blessing? What are the altars that you and I will build today to honor God and to remember His loving presence in our lives. Maybe we can start by just saying "Thank You Lord".

Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful.

On this most holy solemnity of the Pentecost we celebrate the imparting of the Holy Spirit upon the Most Holy Church and all humankind in fulfillment of Christ's promise. God remains with us and we with God in an eternal covenant of love. Once again God reminds us that his greatest desire is to be one with us. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the sign of this desire. This Pentecost let us renew our love for the Lord and live joyfully in the presence of our God forever.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Servite Blessed James Philip Bertoni. Throughout his life and ministry, Bl. James was known for his spirit of prayer and penance as well as his love for the Scriptures and the works of the Fathers of the Church. Ordained a priest, his celebration of the sacraments demonstrated his deep spirituality and love for the liturgy. He died in 1483.

In today’s Gospel, part of the Jesus’ farewell to his disciples, he commands them and us to “remain in my love.” Remaining in his love is to keep his commandments. This is no small order, especially when we are asked to love, forgive and have compassion for all people. Yet, because never asks us to do anything without giving us the assistance to complete the task, we are given the gift of the Sacred Scriptures to help learn, understand and live the commandments of God.

From Chapter 1, verse 1 of the Book of Genesis, to Chapter 22, verse 21 of the Book of Revelation, the Sacred Scriptures unfold for us the wonderful mystery of God’s love. This most holy mystery was fully revealed in the life, suffering, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Throughout the seasons of our lives, and in all events of life, the Scriptures reveal that we are God’s precious gift, loved beyond all telling, and blessed by the provident hand of our God. As we turn each page of the Scriptures we are reminded of this important lesson. Yet, the lesson comes with a task, that we share God’s love with others. In so doing we remain united to God and we fulfill his commandments for love is the commandment of God.

Studying the sacred scriptures and praying these sacred texts helps us to know the mind of Christ and to more fully live the commandments of Christ. I pray that every faithful Catholic and Christian embraces Pope Benedict’s advice to read, meditate on and study the Sacred Scriptures each. For in so doing we fulfill the commandment of Christ and remain in Christ always. And, this is the best place to live and be.