A word from our Pastor

“Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

 Last Sunday I visited with my family. We were sitting around the table when my brother-in-law Mike laughed as he looked at me. The family had just finished a conversation, and Mike said that the reason he had laughed was because my facial reaction to something someone said was exactly like my father’s. All my relatives sitting at the table agreed with Mike. We all had a good laugh as one by one we all shared how every one of us at times looks just like our parents, and we don’t even realize it. If that is true, and I believe it is, then St. John’s word in today’s 2nd reading makes great sense. He writes that one day we will realize how much we take after God, our Father, when we look a certain way: “We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” And what does that look express? It is the look of love. Isn’t it true that when we reminisce about our parents or grandparents, the look we remember them by is their smile. We think of their love for us, their children and grandchildren. St. John goes on further by saying “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” This is hard for us to imagine. But it means that every time we really love God and our neighbor by showing charity and good works, we look like God to others. Doesn’t it make sense? I am sure there are people who think this sounds ridiculous. How can we say that we look like God? For there are so many faces in the world that are not loving, but angry; so many faces that show hopelessness and despair, not hope. Here is where we are called in to assist God. We are to witness His Fatherhood for everybody, even those whose faces would seemingly reject it. Just recall the father of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel, who was taken advantage of by his wayward child. God would be waiting for us by the gate, patiently hoping that we would come to our senses. Hoping that we would see the smile of love on His face for our return.      ~ Fr. John

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