Dear Friends,
Of all the readings this weekend, it seems to me that the opening line from the letter to the Romans is the most comforting. “Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness … (and) intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.” The Spirit, who knows and searches the depths of our hearts, presents our needs to God who listens and answers our prayers with love beyond all understanding. Our responsibility according to St. Benedict is to “listen with the ear of our heart” and act accordingly to the will of God. A stable prayer life is the key to living our lives in the world we inhabit. Prayer, the relationship or conversation we have with God or to whomever we are praying, will give us the strength to recognize that which is from God in the world and attach ourselves to it.
In parish life, especially in the era of COVID, it is important to unite ourselves with the common mission of proclaiming the good news so that others of our family of faith, perhaps, will be motivated to join us in prayer. As we move forward through the hazy days of summer, take the time to imagine, create, and plan the life we would like to see at Immaculate Conception. In September we’ll have a parish meeting to listen to one another and, as every parish needs to do, address the concerns and work ahead of us. In the meantime, enjoy the fruits of the land and sea (which includes copious amounts of ice cream!) with family and friends.
Peace,
Fr. Michael