As I was writing Sunday, I got a text from Joe who was mid-travel. What a story he had to share…
JOE’S TEXT Jim – Missed and earlier flight out of LAX – so in lieu of waiting at the airport I found the Church of the Visitation just to the north, went to confession and awaiting mass – they let me put my briefcase in the sacristy and want to take me to the airport after mass.
Such service, such attention, such care…isn’t this what the Family of the Church should be? It is awesome and incredible when you experience it in such simple yet beautiful gestures. Ah…this is the measure with which we should measure!
But it gets better!
JOE’S TEXT One of the ushers stopped me from getting an Uber and took me to the airport. Many blessings today!
Grace upon grace. Our Catholic theology and spirituality teaches that the Grace of God builds upon nature…even our flawed human nature. St. Paul reminds us, “But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” Romans 5: 20. We have a choice…choose to accept sin and stay stuck…or choose grace and grow. Hello Grace!
Hey Church of the Visitation – great job Sunday team! You brought your game. You put the Hyatt to shame. WHOO WHOO. Seriously, with eyes wide open, with ears attentive, with hearts disposed do we serve God by serving the one directly in front of us.
Here is Joe’s final share for that Sunday.
Joe’s TEXT Fr. Tim McGowan gave me the following prayer, which I loaded into my Notes with my prayer list.
Lenten Prayer of St. Gregory The Great:
Now let us all with one accord,
In fellowship with ages past,
Keep vigil with our heav’nly Lord,
In His temptation and His fast.
The covenant so long revealed
To faithful men in former time,
Christ by His own example sealed;
The Lord of love, in love sublime.
Remember, Lord, though frail we be,
By Your own kind hand we were made;
And help us, lest our frailty
Cause Your great name to be betrayed.
Hear us, O Trinity sublime,
And undivided unity;
So let this consecrated time
Bring forth it’s fruit abundantly. +AMEN
