From the Pastor – May 2, 2021

“THOSE WHO GAIN THE VICTORY,I WILL FEED FROM THE TREE OF LIFEWHICH GROWS IN THE GARDEN OF GOD.” (An Easter Sourcebook, p. 98). If you have a grapevine in your yard, or you know someone who does, then you know that it has to be trimmed every year before the grapes appear. If this is not done properly, chances are that it will die, or go blind, as the Italians say. Jesus is the vine, and as the branches, we draw life from him. This means that our lives are different because of this relationship. However, all the violence against Blacks, People of Color, Asians and other innocent people makes one wonder how seriously we take this relationship and message of Jesus. Some of the attitudes and actions that we have can easily make one wonder how serious we are about following the example that Jesus has given us. As we continue through this Easter Season, we should focus on the new life Jesus has gained for us, and how he calls us to be a vibrant sign of what that life means. Our attitudes, words, and actions must reflect what our relationship with Jesus means; otherwise, we have missed the point of who he is and what he did for us. He has given us a new perspective in which to live, and we have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to be a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus. If our behavior is consistent with what we believe, then the Gospel message will radiate through our lives and we can help others experience the love of Jesus in their lives. We can be agents of change if we allow the presence of Jesus to permeate our lives. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can change the world in which we live, as small as it might be, with new perspectives that reflect our faith in the Lord.
HAPPY EASTER SEASON!!FR. JOE