Jesus’ Calls Us to Repent
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes,
Happy Sunday! This weekend our Scripture readings focus on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and the call that we receive as Christians. The first word that Jesus preaches is “repent!” Repentance allows us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the already-present reality of the unlimited transformative power of goodness. Jesus and the saints live in Heaven even during their lives here on earth. For those in the Kingdom, Heaven begins now. Heaven is the ever-expanding, dynamic upward spiral of vitality. Vitality comes from embracing difficulty and change, which is epitomized by repentance. The people with the most vitality are those who repent the most, and are always learning, always growing, always changing and thriving. The Cross, that the second reading emphasizes, is the limit point at which suffering and repentance crosses the threshold from pain to transformation. As my coach used to say, “no pain, no gain.” Likewise, no Cross, no Heaven. No suffering, no joy.
The Apostles that Jesus called were not merely random men on the beach fishing. Rather, they were prepared to receive this call from Jesus by years of discipleship with John the Baptist. Being disciples of John would have made them very devout and religious. We also can prepare ourselves to become disciples and to receive Jesus’ call. It is also significant that Jesus doesn’t just give His disciples food. Nor does he merely give them a method of producing food. He makes them fishers of men, which means that He establishes a self-duplicating organizational structure of people who provide food to others. This is the Church, by which we are always fed, and people everywhere have the opportunity to eat not just physical food, but the Bread of Life. If we eat this Bread of Life, we live forever. We have the food of eternal life!
The idea of repentance—the opening theme of Jesus’ preaching—relates very closely to the reception of the Living Bread. Before we receive Communion, we confess our unworthiness. It is precisely this repentance which prepares us to receive. If we receive Communion without repentance, our sense of God’s mercy becomes dulled, and we become complacent.
As we prepare for the change in our Mass times, I want to acknowledge that the Cross will be present in our lives. We will feel the pain of loss, and the challenge of discovering new ways of doing things. But this pain and this challenge will bear fruit. The Cross produces life. One sign of this life is the new choir that will form as the two Masses at St. Clare and the Sunday morning Mass at Assumption come together. Both are talented and passionate groups of people, and they will be much stronger together as their talents complement each other. Their collaboration will produce an even more robust and vigorous sacred music experience. I am excited to hear what they will produce.
On a practical note, regardless of where you attend Mass, you can continue to contribute to your parish (please do!). Just drop your Sunday offering envelope in the collection, and it will end up at the proper parish. I would also encourage you to make use of online giving, which is an excellent way to increase the efficiency and quantity of church finances without actually giving more dollars.
Through hardship, difficulties, challenges, and pain, we become stronger, more vigorous, and more alive. Ease and comfort has never saved anyone. Let us accept and embrace the Cross. Open your hearts to rejoice in the Kingdom of Heaven that is at hand!
Yours in Christ, with Mary,
Fr. Henry
