My dear parishioners, regardless of age or circumstance, what you define you will defend. As a social being, you join like-minded others to support positive outcomes that maximize the greatest good for the most people. What makes for a thriving community? How should it act to safeguard prosperity, enjoyment and continuity for its members?
 
Before anything can be put in right order, members of a community are tasked with discovering and ratifying what is true and what is false. They face the difficult task of codifying laws to govern their community in fair and equitable ways. Does this sound familiar with respect to your civic community and our universal Catholic Church? It should. Each prospers from the labors and dreams of industrious, purposeful and peaceful citizens. 
 
The Church exists within and across nations, less concerned about earthly prosperity and enjoyment than with her members’ spiritual fulfillment. Here’s what we know as followers of Christ. Woven throughout history is the hard truth that human beings are overpowered by sin. The Church, opposing evil and human exploitation, professes Jesus Christ as the royal road leading to God, the origin of all goodness. Sadly however, human beings continue to rebel against their Creator.
 
Rebellion against God is fundamentally a rebellion against one’s own humanity. It is, at heart, a rejection of meaning and coherence. Goodness, life, relationship and purpose, even charitable love itself, are bartered and battered. As a consequence, common bonds between human beings disintegrate. Coercion and agitprop appear ever more attractive. Eventually entire at-risk communities and nations wither and die.
 
Fortunately God meets us precisely at the choice-point where human charity and selfishness compete. If we only knew, in the depths of our fragile hearts, how wonderfully simple it is to approach our loving God for help! God will always embrace the humble person who bows his head to confess, You are God, I am not.
 
At an opportune time, when human beings “were lost and could not find their way” [ SACRAMENTARY EP IV], Jesus of Nazareth appeared among them to reveal the splendor of grace, love and communion as the very glory of God’s own divinity. Therefore, we “(look) to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  [Heb 12:2]   
 
Might human beings, so very often narcissistic and ridiculously self-assured, be compared to an unfinished gemstone, a diamond in the rough as it were? Consider how God divinely willed to create man his own image and likeness. How he drew man from earth’s clay, crafting his human personhood and all his mysterious aspects. Then situated him in Eden’s garden as a reflection of his own splendor, like a beautiful gemstone set in purest gold.
 
A jewel’s breathtaking beauty is enhanced by a worthy setting. In like manner, souls are perfected in the communion of God's Church, the gold crown “refined by fire”  [Rev 3:18]  and worn by the one who purchased it by his own blood, Jesus Christ. Created to reflect a heavenly light in all aspects of life, you were rescued from darkness and “changed into (God’s) likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”.  [2Cor 3:18]  Therefore, do not be afraid to “fall into the hands of the living God”.  [Heb 10:31]  Humbly implore God to scour your sins away, to polish your rough edges and refine your virtues. Beg the Master Jeweler to perfect your immortal soul, the true form of your priceless humanity.
 
May you always reflect God’s light from above in every facet of your life. Lead and guide strongly in service to the elect of God’s holy community. Illumine the city of man, so often fearful and turbulent, with the brightness of the gospel. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” [Jn 1:14]  Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Your pastor, Reverend Richard Barker.
 
 
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