4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2023

Divine Dialogue of God with the Soul

Dear Friends,

As we prepare our hearts for Mass today (or reflect on what we have heard yesterday evening) we are reminded once again that, even in difficult times, there is hope.

However, before He even shows us that there is a light beyond the darkness of any situation we find ourselves in, He reminds us that we are not alone.

Save us, O Lord our God!

And gather us from the nations,

to give thanks to your holy name,

and make it our glory to praise you.

(Entrance antiphon, 4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2023)

You see, we call out to Him, we ask Him to “gather us from the nations”, and He hears our prayers because He is a Father who loves His children and hears our cries.   He does “gather us,” not only into the families we were born into or the neighborhoods we grew up in, but throughout our lives with all the people we meet, that together we can give thanks and praise to God.

Our lives intersect for a reason.  Each person plays a role in our lives and we in theirs, even if we do not know what it is.  Maybe we need to learn something from them, maybe they need someone to love them, or maybe God just doesn’t want us to feel alone in those moments when we may not be able to feel Him.  Maybe they are there to simply help us remember that we are never truly alone on this journey.  He walks with us each day and humbly waits for us, truly Present in the tabernacles of every Catholic Church…

• present in the person who smiled at you this morning,

• present in the person who cut you off while driving to Mass, and

• present in the person standing on the corner asking for food.

Let us be present for one another this day.  Rather, I challenge you to extend that even further… be present each day

• seek His Presence in Church through Holy Hours of prayer and

• seek His presence within every person you meet by being truly present to them.

Together we can support one another and help share hope ~ a hope that God gives through His promises…

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

          for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

          for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

          for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

          for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

          for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

          for they will see God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

          for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter

          every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

          for your reward will be great in heaven.

–  Matthew 5:3-12a

We may not see the answers we are searching for now, but whatever the situation may be, there is hope.  God is Present with us and He calls us to be present to/for one another.  For, He will “gather us from the nations, to give thanks to [His] holy name.” So, let us “make it our glory to praise [Him].”

May the Presence of Christ fill your hearts and homes this day.

God bless you!