Yesterday at Mass, Fr. Campbell spoke to us about the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. He called us to not only avoid sin in our own life, as Mary suffered deeply so that her Son Jesus could die on the cross for our sins, but to pray for those who sin as well. Today at Mass, Fr. Bob Weighner used the analogy of wasps-those that live in communities and those that live alone in the ground, to teach us the importance of being an active participant in the communities we live in and to rid our hearts of selfishness so that the love of Christ will shine through. Both images set a challenge before us to live a holy life. The children at ASCS have truly been Christ like these past few weeks. Numerous teachers have made comments about the joy they are experiencing this year as educators. Looking out on the children playing at recess, I see joy in them as well. In my own parish, Fr. Dan wrote a similar message in his bulletin post. He quoted a book written by Ron Rolheiser called Sacred Fire: a Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity. Rolheiser notes that we must do better than avoid temptation and instead work toward positive spiritual growth to truly become a mature Catholic. They are as follows:
1. Live in gratitude and thank your Creator by enjoying your life.
2. Be willing to carry more and more of life’s complexities with empathy.
3. Transform jealousy, anger, bitterness, and hatred rather than give them back in kind.
4. Let your suffering soften your heart rather than harden your soul.
5. Forgive those who hurt you, your own sins, the unfairness of life and God for not rescuing you.
6. Bless more and curse less.
7. Live in more radical sobriety.
8. Pray-affectively and liturgically.
9. Be wide in your embrace.
10.Stand where you are supposed to be standing, and let God do the rest.
“ I invite you to become Saints!”
Blessings,
Dr. Jackie Lichter
