Fifth Sunday after Trinity, July 12th, 2020

Fifth Sunday after Trinity, July 12th, 2020

Whether we want to admit it out loud or just say it to ourselves:  human beings get scared of the unknown.  The unknown is a big, scary place for most folks.  This is because it is just that .   . . . .. the unknown.  Whether we are beginning a new job, or moving to a new state, or beginning a new relationship, all of these things represent the "unknown" because we don't know what will happen.  Something "new" represents new, uncharted territory for us, so to speak.  This is probably why people very often stay where they're at.  This could describe physically staying put . . . . emotionally staying put . . . . staying put in beliefs or ways of doing things, etc.  But to reach out to the unknown is actually very brave when you think about it.  In this Fifth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Peter took a leap of faith.  When Our Lord told St. Peter to throw his nets back in, St. Peter didn't want to do it.  He knew better.  He had just spent the entire night out in these very same waters and had caught nothing for his effort.  And yet something compelled St. Peter to do what Our Lord asked.  This was faith on St. Peter's part even if he didn't realize it at the time.

Faith is not so much about "understanding" or "knowing" as much as it is about "trusting."  In today's Gospel, St. Peter acknowledges by his words that he thinks letting out the nets one more time will be a waste of time, but nonetheless he does it anyway at the Lord's request.  Faith is trusting even if we do not have understanding.  Faith is having confidence to move forward even if we are scared.  Faith is knowing Who to trust no matter  what lays ahead of us.  This is the lesson that St. Peter teaches today to all of us: to trust Our Blessed Saviour even if we do not understand.   Let us place our trust in God and allow Him to work in our life.  So often we want to tell God what we need, when we need it, and how we want it delivered.  And we want God to tell us exactly how everything will take place.  We are the proverbial "back seat driver."  Let us place our faith in the Almighty.  Let us put away our self-will and our need to be in charge.  Let us put away our need to know what will happen and how it will happen and when it will happen.  Let us have faith in God and trust Him with our very lives.  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, July 12th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.    

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

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