“For all of you are children of the light and children of the day…” 1 THES 5:1-6
This Sunday’s second reading, it saddens me we do not get to hear the full passage because it is what we really need at this time. It finishes like this...
For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
Jesus is famous for saying that our faith is like a child, and to get to Heaven you need to have faith like a child. Pure, innocent, full of curiosity, and so forth. Have you talked to a child lately about their faith? How do they see God and or Jesus? Each morning we start with a prayer and our shared gratitude for things, people, places, and so forth, and hearing their responses every morning, it gives me pause to continue thinking about their prayers throughout the day.
We reached out to our St. Austin families last week to ask how they are doing. How is school going? How are you feeling? Do you have a routine? We really wanted to hear how your children (and you!) are doing. We care for all of our parishioners and families, and we want you to know that. The most common thing we heard back was families are struggling to get a Faith Formation lesson done at home, and that is okay! We want to avoid putting one more thing on your plate. Our response to them was as long as you and your family are talking about one, or all three, people of the Trinity, and as long as your child knows that the Trinity loves them, that is all that matters.
Sharing how our family starts our day is important because that may be the only time we get to a ‘religious’ lesson. That may be the only time we share what we are grateful for. It may be the only time as a family we pray together. I want you to know that even I am struggling with our prayer life in our home. We know it may sound like a broken record, but you are not alone, and it is okay if you are taking each day hour by hour because we all are doing the best we can.
It has been a different year by far, but if we look at the part that is not included in our readings, God calls us to not be wrathful, and to gain salvation through Jesus. Please know that even I have struggled big time with not being wrathful during COVID-19, and have been trying really hard to lean in to Jesus’ teachings. The last sentence "therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do", is one that I need to lean more into.
I do not know about you, but living that last line every day and supporting everyone, no matter what is the first step to leaning in I will be taking. We at St. Austin's are sending our love and support to each one of you, and we pray that you can feel the love that is being sent forth each week.
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Have you ever wondered about our Prayer Blanket Ministry? Have you received a Prayer Blanket and want to know about the love and care that goes into it? Then click here for a video with our ladies that put their hearts and love into our blankets!
Prayer for a Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart … I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Prayer Blanket video:
Meeting Recording:
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https://zoom.us/rec/share/RbOkhzwoN6LnC-4L4-SpENBjr-K9kx49jmZnCuDnw1v3zgrR3poibI28mSQC4blm.Sv5vrAIUgcHCpg3e
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