Quinquagesima, Sunday Next before Lent, February 14th, 2021

 Quinquagesima, Sunday Next before Lent, February 14th, 2021

In the Thirteenth Chapter of St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul speaks a lot about love.  Now, bear in mind if you are reading this chapter in the King James Version, you will see the word "charity" instead.  If that is the case, just remember that when you see the word "charity," St Paul is speaking about  . . . .  Love.   And St. Paul is correct in pointing out we can do many things but if we do not do these things based in love, they mean nothing.  "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing" (I Corinthians 1:2-3)  In other words, St. Paul is pointing out that love needs to be the basis for why we do anything we do as a Christian.  If we preach, we should do it with love.  If we donate our money to a school, or an orphanage, or a homeless shelter, we should do it with love, if we pray for our enemies, we should do it with love, if we forgive our enemies, we should do it with love.  The cold reality is that so much of what we do in life is done without love.  We may do something such as donate to a good cause . . .  such as building an orphanage or giving to a homeless shelter . . . .  but we may not necessarily donate out of love.  Perhaps we donate because we do not want to look "cheap" in front of our friends.  Maybe we donate because it will make us feel better about ourselves if we give.  Maybe we are trying to "keep up with the Jones" and we see everyone else donating so we go ahead and donate too so that we won't feel "left out."  Perhaps we feel "pressured" to give because our friends or relatives keep asking us about donating.  How many times have we left a store around Christmas time and there is that red kettle and someone is ringing the bell, have there been times when you dug into your pocket and gave something because you felt guilty about "not giving anything?"  Have you given a donation because you wanted to impress someone because they saw you giving to charity?  St. Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand and wants us to understand that there are many motivations for doing something but for the Christian our motivation for doing something first and foremost should be "love."  And this is because Our Blessed Saviour did everything for us for no other reason than LOVE.  He was born as a small innocent baby because of His love for us.  He grew as a man and lived among us because of His love for us.  He went around preaching and teaching and performing miracles because of His love for us.  He was mocked, spit upon, beaten, made to carry His Cross and Crucified on that same Cross because of His love for us.  He laid in the Tomb and was raised to new life on that very first Easter morning because of His love for us.  He did everything He did out of love for us because He loves us.  So next time we do some action.  Next time we treat someone one way or another.  Let us ask ourselves if we are doing it because of love or for some other reason.  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, February 14th, 2021.

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!