RCIA SESSIONS IN THE PRESENTATION ROOM OF THE PARISH OFFICE FROM 7:00-8:30
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“May I never boast except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” declares St. Paul. This Sunday falls on July 3rd, a notable date in our country’s history in its own right, and in particular the struggle with division. The immeasurable goal of being “one nation, under God” and recognizing all are created equal has been a gift and a struggle for our nation. We will look in coming weeks at St. Thomas Aquinas’ take on the struggle for peace in this world, which precedes his take on charity, and the obstacles to it. The perfection of charity will not be accomplished in this world, but we are to strive for it, and we are grateful for that striving through the history of our own nation and the struggle to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit as we do. We celebrated a couple weeks ago the procession with the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration, and Benediction in spirit with Bishop Malloy, who did the same at the Cathedral to kick off a period of deeper meditation on this gift of unity and peace. This is the source of our strength and service to our nation and to humanity.
One obstacle is “Discord, which is Contrary to Peace” (Aquinas Pt. II-II, Q37): “Dissensions, that is, discords, are reckoned among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20), of which it is said afterwards that ‘they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God’”. Aquinas contrasts “accidental” discord with the more serious sin when a person “directly disaccords with his neighbor, when he knowingly and intentionally dissents from the Divine good and his neighbor’s good… because it is contrary to charity.” With St. Paul, may God grant us the grace in word and deed, to communicate “peace and mercy be to all who follow” the lead of Jesus, the Word of God; and may it be toward a new birth of freedom and reconciliation to our fellow citizens as well.
In Christ, son of Mary,
Fr. Russell