FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
If you were to ask a random person on the street the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Christianity, what would they say? We’d probably get many typical answers: love, kindness, or other words along these lines. We would also likely get responses such as “rules” and “regulations”. For many people out in the world and in fact, many of us, can sometimes think Christianity is a religion of “no”. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. If you do this, you’re going to hell. Catholicism is always getting in the way of one’s freedom. Indeed, we can easily fall into this restrictive mentality. While “rules” and “regulations” are absolutely critical in our faith, we must first appreciate who God is. Otherwise, God will always be a meddlesome burden to us. If we first begin with the do’s and don’ts, we will miss the bigger, much more glorious destiny we are created for.
The Gospel reading this Sunday reveals the deeper truth of who we truly are. Jesus exclaims in prayer, “I give you praise to you, Father, Lord or heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.” (Cf. Matthew 11:25-27). These “little ones” of which he is speaking of are us! Jesus in this intimate window into his heart at prayer is interceding for us. He gives thanks to God for the lavish gift he wants to give us. This “gracious will” to give us “all things” is none other than the universal Kingdom of God. He is talking about Heaven itself for all eternity. This is what God has in store for us. He doesn’t want to limit our freedom or happiness here on earth. He is trying to raise our hearts to love the things that are true, beautiful, and forever.
The rules and regulations he sets forth for us is for our betterment. Just as like any loving mother and father who has rules for their children, God does the same for us. We are his sons and daughters. He wants nothing else but to join Him in heaven. But often what happens throughout all of Salvation history beginning with Adam and Eve, all the way through the Old Testament when he raises up the Jewish people, we always choose lesser things that hurt us. We choose sin. God hates or sins because they destroy us and our families. That is why St. Paul in the Second Reading reminds the first century Christians living in Rome that “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the Spirit…. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Cf. Romans 8: 11-13). He is calling them higher. We are meant for Heaven.
A Servant of Jesus Christ,
Fr. Brian J. Soliven
