What a Story: We are participants in the greatest drama imaginable! How easily we forget this, though, when wearied and worn by the anxieties and perplexities of life. Here’s a reminder for you. God is all-good, all-knowing and all-loving. He created everything that is visible or invisible from an intention of pure love. The human person is God’s greatest creation. You and I are the apple of God’s eye. Sadly, sin ruptured our relationship with God. Sin – Adam’s sin, Eve’s sin, my sin, your sin – has brought suffering and death into the human experience. God would not let this stand, though, because he loves us. Jesus, the very word made flesh, took on our human existence and paid the price for our sins. By his death on the cross, life was restored. Still, living in time, you and I must make a decision for or against Christ. Our destiny is eternal life in the paradise we call heaven, or eternal death in the place of despair we call hell. God wants all to be saved. The evil one – Satan – wants all to be damned. Christ is our Victor, our Savior, and our Defender. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).” Christ, we thank you! Lord Jesus, we praise you!
To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony: Invite to Ignite: I heard a great “Glory Story” recently about a skeptic who came to one of our events with a friend and left thinking more deeply about God. That’s exactly what it means to “Invite to Ignite!” Remember that “Invite to Ignite” is one of our strategic anchors. We want to be continually providing opportunities (like the one I just mentioned) for people to authentically encounter and fall in love with Christ. That is how a tiny spark is turned into a roaring fire. God provides the grace - he’s the one who actually changes hearts – but he expects us to do our part. When you or I “Invite to Ignite” we open a door to Christ and his saving power. Such an invitation can reap eternal fruits. How awesome it will be some day if you arrive in heaven to find that countless souls are thanking you for helping them to obtain their salvation! “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us (2 Cor 5:20).” Allow God to “appeal through you!” Invite to Ignite!
To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony: Thank you Fr. McElrath: We welcome Fr. Ian McElrath back to Holy Redeemer for a return engagement this Saturday, January 13. I have to offer a Mass for members of the American Legion in Pittsburgh, so I am most appreciative of Fr. McElrath and his willingness to fill in. Plus, he is a great preacher! Thanks, Father, we appreciate you!
A New Year: Are you a New Year’s resolutions maker? When it comes to our growth in holiness, both individually and as a Christian community, may I suggest that we all focus on living out our parish “Core Values” this year? Recall that our first Core Value is Authentic Witness. As the snarky but penetrating question asks – If you or I were put on trial for being a follower of Christ, would there be sufficient evidence to convict us? That is at the heart of giving witness: living in such a way that our love for Jesus is clearly evident to all. Let’s commit to really living such a life in 2024. Our second Core Value is Pour Yourself Out. Jesus doesn’t desire that we simply go through the motions of discipleship, he desires and expects that we give ourselves totally to him without reservation. This can frighten us, because we wrongly think that pouring ourselves out for Christ somehow leads to an impoverished and unhappy life. Yet nothing could be further from the truth! The more we give to the Lord, the more he satisfies our desire for a fulfilled and purpose-driven human existence. Our third Core Value is No Surrender. Saints don’t easily give up or begin to doubt the truths of our Faith when things get sticky and hard. They persevere. They carry on. They fight the good fight. May you and I do the same in the Year of the Lord 2024.