Greetings from Fr. Dave

July 11, 2020

Sammy (my cat) and I are hoping the last of the 2020 fireworks have been shot off! Most of us with pets do not look forward to the week around the 4 ^th of July, and this year was especially noisy.

Sammy spent several nights under my bed instead of curled up with me. On one of the noisy nights he jumped back on the bed about 1:00am and settled in, and then about 30 minutes later kaBLAMMMMMM. Another huge explosion, and he bolted off the bed. Ahhhhh, gee………

The following is a Litany of Hope based on our readings and my homily from this weekend. Use this response after each line: Lord Jesus, restore your hope in me.

Live with “enduring patience and steadfast expectation” — not a weary defeated waiting, but a throbbing vivid expectation.
We join with all of God’s creation groaning in travail that we might be set free and enter into the full freedom of the children of God.
Human life requires living with many unresolved tensions because we are made for happiness and justice. As a result we need to make peace with “the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable” (Karl Rahner S.J.).
God’s redeeming power is greater than sin! He is rich in love and mercy — non calculating, non-discriminating, bighearted beyond our imaginations.
Even when we don’t see it, God’s grace is at work in our world. His word will not return to him void but accomplishes his work—in his perfect timing (not ours!).
From our perspective God works more like a crock pot than a microwave (or Insta-pot). The history of salvation has been taking root in humankind for literally millennia and will continue without fail.
If we focus only on the seeds that seem to be wasted or unfruitful, we miss the abundance of those that produce 30 or 60 or 100-fold (Gospel this weekend about the seeds and sower).
God works for good in everything for those who love him.
We preach Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead! Christians should not be surprised when encountering suffering or the cross — and need to remember our crosses are always intrinsically connected to Resurrection.
Do not give in to discouragement. We are needed as instruments of HOPE.

Blessings to Peregrine Arguelles Kale and Brock Remmers, who were baptized this weekend!

Last week, funeral services were held for Raul Varela. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.