Do you want to live in the Kingdom of God? I have a simple rule of thumb for assuring our lives in the kingdom of God. There are three steps:
First: Don’t miss Mass.
Second: Receive Holy Eucharist every Sunday and as often as you can.
Third: Go to frequent Confession.
It is that simple.
There are, of course, many more things we can and should do. However, if you can do these three things, then you will be living in the Kingdom of Heaven. If you make it your life habit, you will grow in the Kingdom of God and you will see God. Gradually, you will grow in spiritual maturity to resist the temptations of the world.
Don’t miss Mass. Receive Holy Eucharist every Sunday and Holy Day. Go to frequent Confession. If you do these things will grow in prayer. You will grow in charity. You will grow in Faith and Hope.
No one is more unhappy than a person with a divided heart. If our heart is seeking one thing, and, then, another thing, that very division will make us unhappy and stressed. Jesus has told us,
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
During the month of February we spoke about the deeper understanding of being a parishioner. It requires a deep trust in God. We must mature in our hope that He will never forget us, like a mother who can never forget her children. As parishioners we respond to that love, saying in return to God and His Church, “Here I am, you can count on me.”
We spoke about generosity and tithing. However, generosity and tithing are little understood by people who do not trust in the Lord, but only in themselves.
Meanwhile, through the Church, Jesus tells us,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.”
Jesus tells us,
“Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.”
He tells us not be anxious about anything.
“Do not worry about tomorrow.”
We have had a good month speaking about stewardship and generosity. In the bulletin we have published the preliminary data on our stewardship campaign. I want to thank all of you for your generosity and for examining closely your tithing practices and responsibilities. We have begun serious deliberations with contractors and the Diocese to begin looking at renovations needed to move administration offices to the school building, and to prepare the rectory for a third minister to work for the parish, hopefully next Fall.
This week we have Ash Wednesday and we will begin the season of Lent. Remember to plan you Lent. Pray about it.
And remember:
Don’t miss Mass. Receive Holy Eucharist every Sunday and Holy Day. Go to frequent Confession. The Kingdom of God is at hand.