Over the course of the next three Sundays we enter into a period of preparation for the coming Lenten season. It is for this reason that the Gloria and alleluia have been suppressed and I wear violet vestments. These all serve as subtle reminders of our need to be prepared for what is to come.
We so often live in the current moment and thus we fail to allow ourself to look ahead at what is to come. Maybe it for this reason that people must storm to the store at a minute’s notice of snow because we are so often found to be unprepared what the unknown which lies in wait. Let us not be fooled into being found unprepared for the Lenten season for through this most sacred season we draw close to Christ who dies upon the cross and on the third day rises again in fulfillment of the scriptures.
Through our Gospel we are given an invitation to be sent out into the abundant Harvest of the Lord and not to be found idle in our practice of faith. It is easy to grow idle and to lose concern, but we cannot allow this temptation to take ahold of us. The idle will not be found prepared because they have lost sight of that which is important. This season calls us to wake up from our slumber and thus to begin to concern ourself for that which lies ahead.
Next Sunday we will have our annual Bishop’s Appeal which has been entitled: “Make me an instrument of your peace.” This title is a quotation which comes to us from the Prayer of Saint Francis. It serves as a reminder that we are to be formed into an instrument of our Lord’s peace. The landowner sent his workers into the harvest to continue to give growth to his work. Another quotation from that same prayer reminds us: “It is in giving that we receive.”
Therefore I hope that each of you may understand the importance of our bishop’s appeal. We are a parish community and yet to be Church commands us to be concerned not only with those around us here, but with all those whom we encounter. It is for this reason that we cannot simply sustain this community, but we must also be concerned to head out into the Lord’s harvest and thus call others to partake within this community.
Support of the bishop’s appeal ensures that this diocese will be able to take care of its needs. We must have concern for priests, religious, and the providing of an education to our seminarians. Hopefully in our midst, maybe even a few of our servers, are men who are called to serve the Lord as a priest. We must have concern for the poor and vulnerable and we do this through our support for Catholic Charities. This past Friday our country remembered the horror which was the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade, but support of this appeal advocates for a contrary message which supports the Gospel of Life through efforts of justice and peace. As a parish you should know the value of a Catholic education because of your support of Saint Joseph’s School. Support of this appeal assists Catholic schools such as yours and ensures the spread of the Gospel message to our youth.
As we prepare for the coming of the Lenten season through this three week period may we also be willing to be generous in our support of the annual bishop’s appeal for through this appeal we are able to prepare the diocese for the upcoming your to ensure that the message of the Gospel may continue to be spread.
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