Thanks Be To God !

I have sat here at my computer for twenty minutes trying to find out what to technically call Salem St. Joseph's community and how many years they have been in existence. I know it has something to do with the 'historial society' or 'heritage foundation' and that the number 160 keeps popping up in my mind. Then, laughing at myself (which I frequently do...often with others....) I realized that I am 'allowed' to refer to Salem St. Joseph's and people will know exactly who I am talking about and that the number of years isn't really as important as the fact that they will continue to have celebrations for a long time.


So, I will write that the good people from St. Joseph's celebrated their heritage with a mass and a pork chop dinner today. I did not attend the mass but was able to partake in the dinner. I could not help smiling at the wonderful feeling of fellowship that greeted me as I walked up to the dining hall. I can only actually recite the names of a very small percentage of those parishioners present. Yet, I recognized them. I recognized the people who took the battle for their church to the courtroom and came back with not only their building, but their community as well. I recognized those who never gave up the notion that God did not forsake them because they had not blindly followed those whose only wish was that they fall in line. They heard their Master's voice and followed the Good Shepherd. I recognized a caring and dedication that I will never, never forget.

I recognized the Spirit. Thanks be to God.

The Lord is Kind and Merciful

The refrain, "The Lord is Kind and Merciful" made me wince today. At first I smiled when I heard the first few notes and thought, "Yes, He is." But then to mind came the friends and families, especially the mothers (two of them were a grade ahead of me in highschool), of the three young men all under 20 years of age who died this week. I thought, "Yeh, try to convince them that the Lord is Kind and merciful." (I'm glad the Lord can handle a little sarcasm.) When three young men and one 41 year old man die within days of each other via car and gun accidents, one has to pause.

But then Father Bob spoke enthusiastically in his homily of St. Paul's words "Thy grace is sufficient." Yes, there is suffering associated with those who follow Christ. But isn't suffering almost a necessary rite of passage to attain what most cannot readily see?

I remember a small verse from a hymn that I memorized once:

"When through fiery trials our pathways shall lie. Thy grace all sufficient will buy thy supply. The flame will not hurt thee, I only design, thy dross to consume, thy gold to refine."

Pray that those families and friends will grasp the Lord's hand and steadily walk through the flames. Pray that their faith will only become stronger when they come through this. Pray that they will be able to one day sincerely say, "Yes, the Lord is Kind and Merciful."