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May 23, 2024This week we begin Ordinary time, after finishing the Easter season on Sunday with the feast of Pentecost. It was amazing to see how many people came forward to give witness to their faith that Jesus had touched them or that they had encountered the Holy Spirit in some way.
One of the great modern catechists of our time was Pope Benedict XVI. Throughout his pontificate, he wrote extensively explaining the Catholic faith. At one public meeting, with a group of leaders from many faith denominations around the world, he said that at the heart of the Catholic faith is first the recognition that it is primarily a relationship with Jesus Christ. This great theologian, teacher, and leader gives witness to what is the essential truth of our faith. God desires a relationship with us that is based on love. My favorite icon is Rublev’s “The Trinity”. I try to explain it every year. (If you want to see a great example of it, the Levesque Funeral Home on Lafayette Street in Salem has a beautiful reproduction.) It depicts three figures around a table, and they are all looking at one another. On the base of the table, at about eye level, there is a small rectangle. According to art experts, it contained a bit of glue which held a small mirror. The message is clear. We are to see ourselves amid the trinity, in relationship with the One who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God with three distinct persons expressed in a unity of love. We are invited to be part of the sharing with the three, and in fact, by our faith, we do. It is not a bad place to be and is also our ultimate destination. It is the relationship into which we are baptized and then receive our own trinitarian reality. We are priests, prophets, and kings. It is worth repeating that we are priestly when we lovingly sacrifice. We are prophets when we share God’s word and we are “kingly” when we lead others, specifically to know of God and his love for us through Jesus Christ.
The trinity is about a loving relationship, and we are recipients of it who are called to share it with others. Because of the nature of that relationship, and that God sees us as participants in His love, today’s Gospel gives us our personal and Church mission. We are to make disciples everywhere we go. That is the job description for the whole church, and it begins by introducing Jesus to everyone. And so the task is to make sure that we remember, like Pope Benedict said. First, we have a relationship with Jesus, then we can share him and his teachings with others. So, this will be our project in ordinary time, to make Jesus known around the world, starting in Salem.
The latest numbers of the Catholic appeal reveal that we are within sight of the goal.
Thanks again for your generosity. At present, we are at 93% of the goal with $46,962.00 towards our $50,200.00 goal. There will be another mailing this month for those who have not yet donated and are looking to make a pledge.
Peace,
Father Murray
Building news: This week we can see some real progress with the front of the building. I walked up the scaffolding and could see how the workers were repairing the arches and other damage on the building. The cracks are repaired, and the arches are being finalized. The company was also asked to repair the lintels on the windows of the downstairs church on the school side. Both long sides of the buildings need work, but that will be for a later date.
