Dear Fellow Parishioners, Everyday when I celebrate Mass some words and phrases stand out more than others. Lately I have been focusing on the sign of peace that we have refrained from since the pandemic. It is a powerful prayer and currently has so much meaning for us all. It reads “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant us peace and unity in accordance with your will…” For some reason over the years, I just didn’t hear the word UNITY in that prayer and realize how important it is today. There are so many issues that divide us: Pro-life/Pro-choice; Roe v Wade; gun ownership/gun safety; masks/no masks; social distancing; Black lives Matter/All lives Matter; Marriage between a man and a woman/gay marriage; build walls/build bridges; welcome the stranger/keep “them” out; and that is just the tip of the iceberg of divisive issues in our country, church, and world. How do we reach unity and peace in such a divided state? I think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:25 “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” All of us have positions and opinions on all these issues and watching protesters with megaphones screaming at each other doesn’t seem to help us reach any sense of peace and unity. In my thinking, it only makes the divisions worse. Everyone has a story, and for me it is important to listen to their story in a non-judgmental way. I can walk with someone as they make the tough decision, but I am not going to judge what is in their best interest. I love the words of Pope Francis, “Who am I to judge?” I just pray that we stop beating up on each other. The words of Jesus in John 8:11 “Has no one condemned you?” “No one sir.” Neither do I, go and sin no more!” So, it continues, every day I celebrate Mass I pray for peace and unity, and hope that we will be able to bring that about, not by judging, but by listening with the heart of Christ.