Dear Fellow Parishioners, The deadline for our bulletin to the printer is Wednesdays at 12:00 P.M. so many times there are events that unfold after that time before we gather on the weekend. This week is a cliffhanger of a week as we witness a very different transfer of power in the United States; some say since the Great Depression. I am praying that when we gather on the weekend, we will be able to feel a sense of hope and move to restore unity in our nation. It will not happen in the next 100 days nor even the next four years. We have many issues we need to address as a nation; issues that are deeply rooted.
I realize that when situations are as stressful as they are now, I pray with a more focused and fervent heart and attitude. The Opening prayer for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time seemed to be written for these times, even though they are written for the Church universal. Listen again: “Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace in our time.” The prayer speaks to the heart of where we are currently as a nation.
I realized as we pray, the words “deliver us from evil, grant us peace in our days” have so much more meaning. Isn’t that what we are looking for? And we then pray “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!
May we recognize the power of prayer. The promise of Jesus is more important currently than ever, “Whenever two or more of you gather in my name, I am in the midst of them.” May we trust that as we journey into the new year with so many challenges that Emmanuel, “God is with us!