How can I repay the Lord, for all his goodness?
Psalm 116:12
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:28-29). As our summertime wanes and the school year begins, our vocation to holiness does not lessen but intensifies. We need to make even more room for the Lord as we are pressed into the busyness of life. Every moment is an opportunity to be grateful for the gift of Jesus, truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. Together we need to reclaim our Sunday Celebration of the Day of the Lord.
We are all called to be saints and to prepare for eternal life. This also involves sacrifice and recognizing that we can only embrace the suffering of life when we recognize the gift of the Paschal Mystery: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is Jesus who gives us joy and the hope of eternal life. At the Offertory Rites of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we offer our own suffering, whatever that might be, in union with the offering of Jesus. We accept our suffering and unite it with the Passion of Jesus, who offers it to the Father. When we recognize that our suffering can also be a participation with his, for his Body, the Church (Col 1:24) our sorrow can be turned to joy (John 16:24).
May this time of our parish year of participation in the National Eucharistic Revival bring us to greater healing and hope on our own path to holiness. With Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., we thank God ahead of time for the many gifts we will receive through our greater participation in the Eucharistic Revival.
In Christ,
Sr. Esther Mary Nickel, RSM
Director of the Office of Sacred Worship, Archdiocese of Detroit
