Ordinary Time

As Catholics, we know that we cannot “earn” our way to heaven, since salvation is a free gift, nor is salvation absolutely guaranteed, for we have free will and can always reject this free gift from God. Instead, we are to have faith. What we do with our lives may help or harm our faith journey. We are all sinners. We struggle with shame, addictions, or any number of sins or disorders. But one thing is certain, and it is this: God knows you and wants you to be with him for eternity.

How do we live lives of passion for our Lord while bringing others to him as well? We need to recognize that our attitudes and the tools we use to share the Good News matter - and some are better than others. To be effective in sharing the love of God and his Gospel, we need to get off our steamrollers and jump on our backhoes.

With Fr. Bill on vacation, we had Fr. Jim Rigert, C.S.C., from the University of Portland preside at our 9:30am Mass this past weekend. He spoke of how we are meant to participate in the life of the Risen Christ through our faith, our hope, and our love when we love one another in the Lord.

Life on our beautiful but broken planet has always been threatened by dangerous natural forces, by chance, by sin, and by those mysterious dark powers at war with God and with life. Our mission as children of God is to "sparkle with self-forgetfulness": to stand in the breach, to intercede, and even sometimes to risk our lives out of love for our neighbor. So this week, as you’re offering your day to God each morning, insert this little petition - “Lord Jesus, give me an opportunity today to sparkle with self-forgetfulness.” - and see how He answers you.

Make an extra effort this week to be more attentive and hospitable to others - to welcome your neighbor and show them the love and care that recognizes their inherent dignity as a child of God.

We are called to love our neighbor regardless of our differences, which means we do not avoid, reject, or cancel others. Is this easy? No - but the most important things rarely are.

It's sometimes necessary to say 'goodbye' in order to say 'hello'. Last week, we said 'goodbye' to Fr. Dave and Fr. Tony; this week, we say 'hello' to our new Pastor, Fr. Bill Holtzinger!

For his final homily at Holy Trinity, Fr. Dave reviews the three major themes that developed and drove his ministry these past 15 years:
Invite God into everything in your life. When we put Him first, all else falls into place.
This is not heaven. Expect and accept difficulties, questions, and the cross.
Learn to carry a dynamic tension, knowing that in real life with real people most issues are not simply black and white. Jesus calls us to meet people where they are and walk with them.