Opening our Eyes

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Each of us is engaged in a unique, highly personal journey of faith. Personal yes, but we also come together frequently to worship and celebrate our belief in the Lord. In addition to attending Mass, most of us also actively participate in parish ministries, community work, and personal service to others. It's good to remember that our families and our professional responsibilities are also essential to how we live our faith, to knowing what God desires us to be. Our individual pathways to deeper faith may differ, but each path leads to the same place; a closer relationship with the Lord.

Just as we may be anxious about the passing of time with ever increasing speed, we should be equally aware of an ever increasing presence of God in our lives. We know how easy it is to get caught up by the demands on our time and attention. You've heard me speak of my own struggle to stay prayerful in the midst of activity and the tussle I have with the clock to carve out time to pray and listen to the Lord. Sometimes I feel like the holy version of me is competing with the scheduled version of me. Time is my enemy when it eludes me. My hope is that Lent is a time for us to re-commit ourselves to our personal journey of faith and commit ourselves to support one another in that journey. Time should not be an adversary; rather every moment is an opportunity for a grace-filled encounter with Jesus. Let’s open our eyes this Lent and see Jesus on this journey of life. Jesus in the sacraments, Jesus in the scriptures, Jesus in my family, Jesus in my work, Jesus in my enemy, Jesus in my frustrations, and Jesus in my joys.

Your brother,
Fr. Kevin Carlin Kennedy