FROM THE PASTOR Dear Friends of Saint Kevin, The reading from the first Letter of Peter todays tells us to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts, but what does that mean? In our relationship with God, how do we accomplish this? Keep my commandments, He says. This is how he will know that we love him. So simple, yet Jesus knows it is not easy for us. He knows that we will be overwhelmed and at times plagued by doubts or guilt. I will not leave you orphans, Jesus promises. What he asks of us is not easy, but, he also promises to send the Holy Spirit to help us. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, when the people of Samaria accepted the Gospel message, the author reports that there was great joy in that city. When we love Jesus, when we keep his commandments, then we, too, can be a people of joy. From this joy, we can offer a defense of our faith when it is needed, remembering the instruction from the First Letter of Peter to do so gently. Pope Francis, many times, has urged us both to share the love of God in our heart through lives of prayer and service and to be mindful not to do so to change people’s opinions. The reading concludes with an emphasis that our conscience should be clear, that we should live upright lives. That keeping God’s commandments and loving him is not only the greatest defense of our faith, but is, in fact, our sacred obligation. In Samaria, two thousand years ago, Philip preached and healed people. The city received the Gospel. Then, Acts tells us, Peter and John were sent to Samaria to pray for them and lay hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Samaria had heard the Gospel, but the people there were not left to strive alone to keep God’s commandments and neither are we. The Holy Spirit comes to bind us to our good intentions, to advocate for us before God for the grace to live holy lives, and to teach us, how to love Jesus. In a message for young people that applies to us all, Benedict XVI has this to say, I want to invite you to dare to love. Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and this is capable of making the whole of your existence of joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters, in imitation of the One who vanquished hatred and death for ever through love. t us leave here today with renewed intention to love God. And may the Holy Spirit give us strength and fill our hearts with joy. Sincerely in Christ, Father John C. Moloney PLEASE REMEMBER THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL FOR 2014.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 18:04:15 +0000