From the Pastor

Through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, God invites us into a closer communion with God and others, but it is not always easy. The afflictions and troubles of life have the potential to turn us bitter, hardhearted, and vindictive, but it does not have to be that way because the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:1-5).

“God reaches through the Son in the Spirit to reconcile, transform, and lead the Church and the world in the Spirit through the Son back to the Father” (Killian McDonnell, The Other Hand of God, 207). Divine love poured into our hearts not only transforms us, it also flows from us to others. If they respond to that love, they too will be caught up in a deepening communion with God and others through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ: Our access points to God. Listen to the Holy Spirit; listen to Jesus Christ and learn of God’s great love for us and the world: Dwell in the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Our love and concern for one another in Christian community is grounded in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35). We demonstrate this love by the way we treat one another; the way we treat immigrants; the way we treat our enemies. We demonstrate love by the way we treat everyone. Furthermore, we demonstrate love by the structuring of our society that is fair and just, especially for the most vulnerable.  What do others know from the actions and attitudes we demonstrate toward them? Do we reflect the same prejudices, hatred, and malice of the world around us?

How do they know we are Christians? Although we are finite, limited creatures, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we demonstrate love, even if to a limited number of persons. They will know we are Christians when we interject divine love into the life of the world. Furthermore, we offer others the opportunity to participate in this life of divine love, and the beauty and grace of it is that God loves us even when we do not respond to divine love.