June 4, 2023 - From the Desk of Fr. Stephen

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Can you believe it is already June!? The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This beautiful devotion reminds us of the love of God.

Scripture tells us that God is all just and all loving. How does his love and justice go together? God opposes sin and evil with his just wrath (his righteous anger) and right judgment - and he approaches sinful people and evil doers with mercy ("slow to anger" and "ready to forgive") and discipline ("fatherly correction" and "training in righteousness"). John the Evangelist tells us that the Father sent his Son into the world - not to condemn but to redeem - not to destroy but to heal and restore.

God does not desire the death of anyone. Instead he gives us the freedom to choose between life and death; good and evil. When we choose to sin and to go our own way apart from God, we bring condemnation upon ourselves.

Jesus took upon himself all of our sins and nailed them to the cross (Colossians 2:14). His death was an atoning sacrifice for our sins and a perfect offering to the Father on our behalf. We can find no greater proof of God's love for fallen sinful humanity than the cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus willingly laid down his life for us. Jesus told his disciples that there is no greater love than for a person to willingly lay down his or her life for a friend (John 15:13).

Do you believe that Jesus personally died for you, for you alone, simply because he loved you? Scripture tells us that God knew each one of us even before we were knit in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5). We were created for a purpose; to be united with God and to share in his love and glory now and forever.

May the Lord Jesus put his hands on our eyes also, for then we too shall begin to look not at what is seen but at what is not seen. May he open the eyes that are concerned not with the present but with what is yet to come, may he unseal the heart's vision, that we may gaze on God in the Spirit, through the same Lord, Jesus Christ, whose glory and power will endure throughout the unending succession of ages. (prayer of Origin, 185-254 AD)

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Fr. Stephen