Pastor’s Corner — April 17th, 2022
Happy Easter!
The goodness of God is difficult to exaggerate. As we celebrate Easter this year in the midst of so much suffering in the world we see once more the stark contrast between God and the devil, between God’s incredible and saving love and the destructive evil of the enemy. The Devil has always wanted us not to trust God and to think that God is the one who is the source of our suffering and misery in this life. Our enemy has always wanted us to turn against each other, marring the image of love in this world so that we’d blame God for our problems.
But as we take seriously the revelation of God for who he is, it is clear that the devil is the one who is the “murderer from the beginning” (cf. John 8:44) and the one who “steals, kills and destroys” (cf. John 10:10). We see with fresh eyes once more the splendid truth that it is God who draws near to us in Jesus so he can unite himself to us in our suffering and death precisely in order to conquer them. Jesus, the Son of God, is truly the “way the truth and the life” (cf. John 14:6), he is the “resurrection and the life” (cf. Jn 11:25), he is the one who comes to “destroy the works of the devil” (cf. 1 Jn 3:8). Our God is for us, not against us (cf Rom 8:31), he is love itself (cf. 1 Jn 4:16).
In the Resurrection that we celebrate today, God proves that he is who he says he is and we are who he says we are: his beloved redeemed sons and daughters who live in hope. Since God’s love is victorious, we can live in confidence that God’s love is stronger than anything that can come against us. Let’s run with great joy and announce this gospel of mercy and love to the whole world, especially those held fast by error and hopelessness!
Don’t Sign: Unlimited Abortion Petition Drive in MI
Speaking of hopelessness and error, please don’t sign the so-called “Right to Reproductive Freedom” petition that is going around. This deceptive petition seeks to rid the current Michigan law against abortion off of the books and enshrine a right of abortion in our constitution. Our calling from God is to share with the victims of abortion God’s love and mercy. Therefore we really need to persevere in loving those who promote abortion and sadly attempt to justify the practice by casting it as a woman’s “choice.” All Christians need to approach this entire topic with tremendous love, gentleness and conviction.
Because of our call to love others, Christians have an obligation to resist this new petition and spread the word not to sign it. So strong is our responsibility here that Bishop Boyea stated in last month’s Faith Magazine that signing this petition “is to place oneself in danger of grave or mortal sin because of this active and direct cooperation with evil.” Bishop has also has also has taken quite a strong position on the new lawsuit our Governor just filed regarding abortion.
Welcome to New Catholics at St. Patrick’s!
I am very pleased to announce that at the Easter Vigil on Saturday we’re welcoming nineteen people into the Church here at St. Pat’s! I’m so proud of all of them who persevered in their journey of conversion to be received into the Church. Some of them are new Christians as well. Praise God for his infinite goodness! Special thanks to our strong RCIA team and sponsors who made all of this possible. More good news: we’re going to be receiving another four into the Church on Pentecost on June 5th! Come, Holy Spirit!
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias