Keep Learning

Some thirty years ago the author Tom Follett wrote a novel entitled "Pillars of the Earth."  This was a historical novel set in a fictional town in England called "Kingsbridge."  In this novel, the setting is a priory where a cathedral is being built.  If you have read the novel you realize that the story takes place over a fory year time span, give or take.  And in this time a cathedral is being constructed in Kingsbridge.  The primary person who is first in charge of building this cathedral is the character known as "Tom Builder."  It is Tom's lifelong dream to build a cathedral.  And through misfortune Tom finds himself in Kingsbridge where that dream actually becomes a reality.  There is one part in the story where Tom is sitting down with his sons (one his biological son and the other his step-son) well after the construction of the cathedral has begun.  In this conversation with his two sons he begins explaining to both of them that he will never see the completion of the cathedral.   He goes on to say that they (meaning the sons) will probably not see the completion of the cathedral either.  He stated that it will probably be his grandchildren who will be the ones to see the completion of the cathedral.  What he said to his sons is the point that I would like to focus on.  He said to his two sons that since the cathedral will take an entire lifetime to build, that they should never stop learning.  He said to never stop learning because it is through learning that we will be given the tools for what we need to do.  I found this to be profound because it is so true.  How many of us "learn" because we are told to do so while growing up.   When we are younger, we go to school because we are told we must go to school.  Learning, in that sense, is not done voluntarily.  We go to school.  We learn. Because we are told to go to school. 

"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."  (Proverbs 18:15)

How many of us make a point to never learn again.  We may not phrase it that way but we may say that we will never go to school again. Not if we can help it, anyway.  I know I was one of those people.  I never did well in school, quite frankly, growing up.  As a result, I swore I would never set foot in school again when I graduated high school.  Little did I know that God had the seminary set for my future.  And the young man who swore that he would never set foot in school again ended up being in the seminary for eight and a half years.   But the point is that when we are young most of us fight against it, quite frankly.  And why is this?  It is because we are being told to learn.  We are being forced to learn, so to speak.  Our parents tell us we have to go to school.  The state tells us we have to go to school.  The society says that we have to go to school. In other words, we go to school because we have to.  But I know in my own case, at least, I found when I actually did start attending classes in college everything had changed.  I discovered I was in that class because I chose to be there.  I chose to learn.  I chose to be a student.  No-one was telling me to take these classes.  Certainly, no-one was forcing me to attend these classes.  I was taking them because I wanted to take them.  I chose to take these classes.  And that made all the difference in the world.  I did not feel that I was being "forced" to learn.  I was choosing to learn.  How many people have a similar story to mine? 

What "Tom Builder" said to his sons in regards to never stop learning is sound advice for us in a Christian sense as well.  How many of us have stopped learning about God?  How many of us refuse to learn about God because no-one is compelling us to learn?  As children . . . .  well, at least when I was growing up . . . . most children took religious instruction.  Children were enrolled in catechism classes.  Children went to Sunday school.  Today, how many children do these things?  And even if they do, how many of these children continue to learn about God once they grow up and no-one "compels" them to attend Sunday school or catechism class?  Learning about God should be a life-long pursuit.  Learning about Scripture should be something we continue to do as long as we live. 

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." (Proverbs 1:5)

When we learn, we certainly do grow and increase.  As Christians, we need to follow God's command but we need to know what God desires for us in our life.  So often as we get older we think we know what is best.  The problem is that we soon discover that what we actually seek is what we want, what we desire, what we crave in life.  Increase in learning about God.  Increase in learning about the ways of God.  And, most importantly, increase in the knowledge of what God has in store for each one of us.  As I like to say that each and every one of us is a unique instrument that God uses for His will.  Each and everyone of us has a part to play in promoting the Kingdom of God.  But it is up to us to be willing and to be open so that we can become the "instrument of God" that we are meant to be.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."  (Proverbs 1:7)

We need to continue to learn.  We need to continue to grow in wisdom.  So many of us in today's society seek to grow in the ways of the world.  So many of us seek to grow in the world's wisdom.  From what I have seen, the "wisdom of the world" is very fickle.  What is considered "wise" in one generation is tossed out the next generation.  Or vice versa.  Seek to grow in the wisdom of God.  St James tells us:  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."  (St James 1:5)  Yes, let us ask God.  Let us seek God.  Let us search for God's wisdom.  Let us ask for God to teach us.  So many people in today's world stopped seeking wisdom.  So many of these people do not ask to be taught.  They either do not want to learn or, even worse, they do not believe they need instruction.  These people think they know everything.  They think they know it all already. I know as I continued taking classes and as I continued learning, I came to understand one thing:  the more I came to learn, the more I realized that I did not know.  In other words, the learned man realizes that there is always so much more to learn in order to grow in understanding.  And this comes from a desire to learn.  We have to be the ones to choose to learn, to want to learn.  Let us ask God to send the Holy Ghost to instruct us and to help us learn the things that God would have us learn.  And let us pray that we be open to this learning.  And Our Blessed Lord assured us that this will happen if we are open:  "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (St. John 14:26)

Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 5th, 2020

Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 5th, 2020

It is interesting to look back and reflect on your memories as a child.  One of things I remember growing up is thinking to myself how things were going to be when I became an adult.  For you see, in my juvenile way of thinking, I was sure that when I became an adult I could do anything I wanted to do . . . . buy anything I wanted to buy . . . . live anywhere I wanted to live  . . . . and nobody would ever tell me what to do ever again.  As I became an adult I discovered that "being an adult" came with a lot of responsibility.  I also discovered over time that a lot of this new-found "responsibility of being an adult" was not enjoyable in the least:  getting a job; working everyday; paying bills; doing chores around the house; etc.  Another thing I think I discovered was that I never truly was totally independent as I got older.  Yes, as I got older I took on more of my own responsibilities for various aspects of my life but I still maintained a relationship with my parents.  My parents would help with advice when I needed it.  My parents would help guide me in "uncharted waters of adulthood."  They might even help in times of need when I might need help repairing something around the house, etc.  But my parents never forced their support on me.  In other words, they waited for me to ask for help.  They allowed me to be independent but they were always very supportive of me in time of need.  Sometimes we need to experience failure or hardship in life, quite frankly.  I say that because over the course of my life I have learned the best lessons from failing and re-trying again.    

Certainly this is how it is with God, it would seem to me.  God loved us.  We are literally His creation.  But at the same time He did not make us some sort of "robotic creatures" who only do as we are told or programmed to do.  Our Blessed Creator did not fashion us as beings with no choice whatsoever.  Just the opposite: He gave us choice.  Human beings have free will to do what we choose to do.  And yet just as I discovered growing up, being an adult is never truly as "free" as we would like it to be.  There are responsibilities that go along with being an adult.  Likewise, even though we have been given the gift of free will by Our Creator we can not ever truly turn our back on Him Who created us.  Bishop Fulton Sheen writes:  "How can we continue to be free unless we keep the traditions, the grounds, and roots upon which freedom is founded?"  In other words, our freedom as human beings would never be possible without God granting us these freedoms in the first place.  We owe everything we have to Our Gracious Creator, Our Heavenly Father.  We owe our skills to Him Who created us.  We owe any health which we enjoy to the Creator.  The food on our tables and the roof over our head is made possible by Our Heavenly Father.  We may enjoy our freedoms, our independence, if you will, but we should never forget our dependence on God, Our Heavenly Father.  It is He Who gives us every good gift.  We can never be truly independent from Him.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, July 5th, 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!

indyanglican.blogger.com

Third Sunday after Trinity, June 28th, 2020

Third Sunday after Trinity, June 28th, 2020

In the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we hear Our Blessed Saviour speaking to a group of "publicans" and "sinners," as St. Luke reminds us.  Here, in this passage that we hear appointed for the Third Sunday after Trinity, Our Lord is relating what it is like to lose something and then find it again. We have all experienced that sense of relief and joy when we find something that we have been searching for. 

In today's passage, Our Blessed Saviour gives an example of finding the lost sheep:  "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."  How many of us share our feelings with those around us?  With social media such as FB or Twitter or countless others, it is certainly easy enough to do.  How about those of us with cellular phones?  Texting out our feelings in just a few "clicks" is the way to go.    But have you ever noticed how quick we are to describe when we are mad about something?  When we have a bad experience, we are quick to tell everyone about it.  For example, if we had a bad experience at a restaurant, we might tell the manager; we might fill out a survey card.  If we are mad enough, we might make a point to look up the corporate offices and let them know of our experience.  We will write scathing reviews and post it on FB and Twitter and anything else.  We will tell our friends.  We will let the whole wide world know  . . . . . via every avenue we can find handy at the time . . . . how truly "horrible" the experience was.  But how many times do we have a wonderful experience and we let it go at that.  Sure, we may feel satisfied, after a good meal, for example, and we thank the server but then we leave it at that.  "Thanks . . . the food was good . . .  and your service was great.  Thanks."  And we leave it at that.  But if the same food and the same server was just the opposite:  LOUSY!  How much time and effort would we have made letting the whole world know.  I mean, let's face it, human beings spend more time concerned with "negative things" than we do "positive things."  Look at the nightly news, for example, the first twenty minutes of the local broadcasts tell us about:  murders.  . . . deaths . . . . accidents . . .  . shootings . . .  crime . . . the price of gas going up .  . . . . You get the picture.  And then after all of this, they throw in one "feel good" story.  Isn't it the same way with us?  It would seem that many of us . . .  most of us? . . . .  are more interested in "negative" stories than we are "positive" ones.   "She did what?"  "He did what to you????"  "Oh, that's horrible."  "I can't believe my ears"  "Tell me more . . . . ."    Perhaps this is because as human beings we just love the things that we shouldn't love.  This is why we want to look at the car accident as we pass by.  Or why when we are switching the channels and we see people arguing and/or fighting on "Jerry Springer."  We pause and watch because we just can not believe our eyes that two grown folks would carry on like that.  And we shake our head in disbelief but we keep watching.

Our Blessed Saviour gives us important advice today.  He reminds each of us to "rejoice" when we are happy.  And to share our joy with others.  "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."  As Christians, we should share this joy with those around us.  As Christians, we should share the "Good News" that we are saved.  As Christians, we need to take our faith seriously enough to let others know how good God is and what He has done for us.  And speaking of telling folks what God has done for us, how many of us are guilty of only talking to the Good Lord when things are bad?  When something is wrong, do you go running to God to ask Him to help you?  When you are nervous or anxious about something, do you go to God in prayer?  How about when things are going smoothly?  Do you still run to God and let Him know?  How often do we turn to prayer in times of trouble compared to how often we go to God when we simply want to thank Him?  Now, I am sure that would make a good comparison.   This day, make an effort to rejoice for the blessings God has given you in life.  Make it a point to dwell on the good things in life as opposed to dwelling on the negative.  As human beings, we have a tendency to dwell on the negative.  But as Christians we should dwell on the goodness of God. We should dwell on the good things He has done for us during our lifetime.  And we should spend more time in prayer thanking Him instead of simply asking for something.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, June 28th, 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!



indyanglican.blogger.com

Second Sunday after Trinity, June 21st, 2020

Second Sunday after Trinity, June 21st, 2020

As I like to say, there is nothing necessarily wrong with anger or being angry.  We all get angry at times.  Sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly, though.  But anger in and of itself is simply an emotion and we all have emotions.  But it is typically what we do with the anger that gets us into trouble.  St. John writes in the Third Chapter of his First Epistle:  "MARVEL not, my brethren, if the world hate you"  (I St. John 3:13)  All we have to do is turn on the nightly news to see proof of this: people fighting; people marching; people looting and burning businesses.  Go ahead and log on to Social Media.  It won't be long until you will see some hateful post against somebody or some group or some idea that another person doesn't agree with.  

And God forbid if two people have differing opinions on something.   Pretty soon the insults begin and the "virtual World War Three" breaks out online.  Hatred  . . .  anger . . . . bitterness . . .  All of these seem to abound everywhere we look.   But St. John shows us the answer.  He writes:  "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (I St. John 3:16)   In other words, St. John is pointing out that the love of God was ultimately shown on the Cross when Our Blessed Saviour laid down His life for us.  He died for us to save us from our sins.  As St. John puts it, Our Blessed Lord laid down His life for us and we ought to do the same.  But how do we do this?   First and foremost, we should remember the words of St. John and place them in our hearts and in our minds.  We should remember always that God never asks us to do anything that He Himself was not willing to do.  Our Blessed Lord laid down His life so that you and I could have eternal life.  Our Blessed Lord allowed Himself to be lifted up on the Cross so that you and I could be lifted up to Heaven.  The least we could do is to show love to those whom we come into contact with.  It is so easy to "dehumanize" someone by only focusing on one aspect of that person.  For example, we look at a person and only see the color of that person's skin.  Or we look at a person and we focus solely on where that person comes from.  We may see someone and focus solely on what family that person is from.  When we are online so we focus solely on the difference of opinion we have with someone else and focus on that difference alone?  The list goes on and on.  Our Blessed Saviour, as St. John reminds us, laid down His Precious Life for all men women through all ages.  And when we look at other people we should do our best to look at them through the "eyes of Christ."  In other words, try to see people as Our Blessed Saviour would have seen them.  "That we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment."  (I St. John 3:23)

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, June 21st, 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!

indyanglican.blogger.com

Feast of Corpus Christi (Transferred), June 14th, 2020

Feast of Corpus Christi (Transferred), Sunday, June 14th, 2020

If you could choose only one meal, what would that meal consist of?  Like in those old Jimmy Cagney movies where the prisoner gets to choose one last meal.  To me, it is an interesting question to ponder because, let's face it:  I love food.  If I could choose one meal, which one would I choose?  It is a hard decision for me because I would choose so many.  Fried Chicken would probably shoot to the top of the list.  But then again, how about a nice dinner of corned beef and cabbage?  Or how about a dinner consisting of German food?  We all have our own favorites: whether it be Chinese food or Southern cooking or a big fat steak . . . . . . .  the list goes on and on.  The reason I bring up this topic of food and dinners and meals is because in the Sixth Chapter of St. John's Gospel, we hear:  "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."  (St. John 6:56)  When talking about food, I don't think very many of us would think of Jesus.  And yet Our Saviour describes Himself in this manner:  "For My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." (St. John 6:55)  You see, when we think of food, we base it on how well it tastes and how much we enjoy the food item in that regard.  But, honestly, the real reason for eating is not based solely on enjoyment value.  No, the real reason for eating is so that what we eat can nourish us, sustain us, fortify us, strengthen us.  And in this regard, all of these attributes I just described can be said of Our Blessed Lord as well:  He nourishes us . . . He sustains us . . .  He fortifies us . . . . He strengthens us.  And each and every time we go to church and every single time we receive His Precious Body and Blood at Communion time, Our Blessed Saviour is strengthening us for the journey ahead.  He is nourishing us so that we can move forward.  He is sustaining us because He is the only one that can truly sustain us.  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, June 14th, 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!

indyanglican.blogger.com

A Reminder of Who We Are

I remember going into a flea market a while back.  I do not even remember which one it was.   But I do remember coming across an old painting in a booth.  Although I am certainly not an expert on either art or antiques, I do know that this particular painting grabbed my attention from out of nowhere for whatever reason.  In the painting it was a scene featuring beautiful hills with some sort of mansion or very large house off in the distance.   And in the hills you could see various types of animals whether they were cows, goats or something along those lines.  The painting was interesting and beautiful as I stated.  It was a painting where you could just look at it and imagine being there at that place.  But as beautiful as the actual painting was, it was the frame around the painting that grabbed your attention as much as the painting, if not more.  I can't really describe the frame for you in detail but I remember noticing that the imperfections of the frame.  In other words, there were chips and cuts throughout the frame which made you realize it was old.  But as I remember looking at the frame these imperfections did not take away from the beauty of the painting or the frame itself for that matter.  Rather, it was these cuts and marks which actually, if anything, gave character to the frame.  It was these scrapes, and cuts, and marks that actually made the painting stand out.  If the frame had been perfectly polished and no cracks or no marks whatsoever, it would not have stood out like it did.   In other words, it was the marks and scars which helped it to be unique, different.  In that sense the imperfections in the frame helped remind me that this picture had a history of its' own.

In the month of June, we make a special observation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Certainly, when you look at portrayals of Our Blessed Lord, whether it be in a painting or a statue or even a holy card so often you can see the wounds of Christ portrayed.  It reminds us when Our Lord appeared to the Disciples.   "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side."  (St. John 20:19-20)  Our Lord was showing the disciples that it was really Him.  After Our Lord had greeted the disciples He immediately showed them His hands and His side.  In this sense He was showing them the one thing that would prove it was really Him.  But remember that St. Thomas was not there.  He was absent for whatever reason.  "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."  (St. John 20:24-25)   This, of course, is why St. Thomas came to be known as "Doubting Thomas."  He did not believe the words of those around him.  He would only believe it with his own eyes.  Continuing on, St. John tells us:  "And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then He said to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing."  It was at this point that St. Thomas answered, "My Lord and My God."  (St. John 20:26-28)   It was not seeing the actual Lord Himself that made St. Thomas believe.  He stated that He would not believe until he not only saw the wounds for himself but thrust his hand into the side.  Seeing the wounds are what gave St. Thomas confirmation to the identity of the Lord.  St. Thomas found the proof he needed by seeing these Precious Wounds for himself.

So often when we are hurting we focus on what is hurting us.  We focus on the wound.  This can be true either in a physical sense or in an emotional sense as well.  And so often we want to get rid of the wound because it is ugly or it reminds us of some bad memory.  And yet each and everyone of us possess wounds.  Each and everyone of us has marks.  Each one of us has scars.  Whether these marks be physical or emotional every single person possesses them.  But these marks do not have to simply be negative reminders of something bad in our lives.  No, they can actually be reminders of who we actually are.  In other words, scars and marks can indeed be a reminder that something bad happened to us but on the other hand they can be a good reminder that we are survivors.  They remind us, yes, where we have been but they also remind us what we endured and what we did to endure.

In the case of Our Blessed Saviour the holes where the nails fastened Our Lord to the Cross show what He endured to save us from our sins.  He did all He did on our behalf because He loved us.  The mark on His side where the spear was thrust forth also shows that Christ died for our sins.  It is this mark that shows where the Precious Blood poured forth to cleanse us from our sins.  These marks are not seen as imperfections.  Rather, they are seen as proof of the Saviour's love.  The wounds themselves are proof of Christ's resolve.  Our Blessed Saviour was determined to save us from our sins.  Something that we could never dare dream of doing.

Prayer to the Holy Wounds of Christ

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy LEFT FOOT, from which flowed the Precious Blood that washes away our sins.In It I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed.

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy RIGHT FOOT, from which the Fountain of Peace flowed to us. In Its depths I sink and bury all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain.

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy LEFT HAND, from which the Well of Grace flowed to us. In It I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with Thy sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience become a fragrant odor before God.

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy RIGHT HAND, from which the Medicine of the Soul was poured forth. In It I hide all my negligences and omissions which I have committed in my virtuous exercises, that they may be atoned for by Thy zealous works.

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the healing Wound of Thy SWEETEST HEART, from which Living Water and Blood and the riches of all good flowed to us. I place myself in this Wound, and there unite all my imperfect love to Thy Divine Love, that thus it may be perfected.


(Our Lord Jesus Christ dictated this prayer to Saint Mechtilde as she went to kiss the Holy Cross on Good Friday)

Trinity Sunday, June 7th, 2020

Trinity Sunday, June 7th, 2020

Who do you look up to? (or is it "Whom do you look up to?")   Whether it is "who" or "whom," the world looks up to a whole host of individuals and personalities.  When I was younger, I remember looking up to my favorite cowboy heroes of the Silver Screen.   Today isn't much different, people still look up to movie stars and Hollywood celebrities.  Many people look up to sports stars or the players on their favorite teams.  Some people look up to their older brother or sister.   St. John records the conversation between Our Blessed Lord and Nicodemus concerning "being born again."  If you recall the passage, Nicodemus is surprised by Our Lord's words that a man must be born again.  Our Lord said to Nicodemus:  "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  (St. John 3:5)  These words spoken by Our Lord apparently confused poor Nicodemus because he could not fathom how a person could be born a second time.  This particular discourse ended with Our Blessed Saviour saying the following:  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (St. John 3:14-15)  When Our Lord makes this statement He is referring to the event recorded in the Old Testament Book of Numbers:  "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."  (Numbers 21:9)   Our Lord was recalling when Moses lifted up the brass serpent and stating that He must be lifted up as well.  Without a doubt Our Lords words ring true when He states that "the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."  (v.15)  As stated earlier, we look up to a whole host of people but the only person that truly matters is Our Blessed Saviour.  It is Jesus Who came to die for us.  It is Jesus Who came to save us from our sins.  It is Jesus Who defeated death so that you and I could have everlasting life with Him.  It is Our Blessed Saviour Who points us to Our Heavenly Father.  And if we look up to Jesus we know that we will be saved.  Look up to Jesus.  Always stay close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for it is there that you will find the love of God for the world, for you and for me.  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, June 7th, 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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