March 18, 2012
4th Sunday of Lent
Today we hear a classic verse from the Gospel according to John, chapter 3 verse 16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." The English "believe in" from the Greek can also be translated "believe into." Belief is more than an intellectual exercise accepting articles of faith but an entry "into" the mystery of God's love, "into" the person of Jesus Christ. I give two examples of popular saints who "believe into" Jesus Christ and have eternal life. Their feast dates 3/17 and 3/19 are close to the famous verse from the evangelist John 3:16. St. Patrick is kidnapped as a teen and taken to Ireland as a slave. After six years he escapes. Later as a priest he hears the voice of the Irish in a dream: "We beseech thee to come walk once more among us." Patrick returns as a missionary Bishop to Ireland not in revenge but in the ministry of reconciliation and evangelization. St. Joseph hears an angelic voice in a dream to take Mary, already with child in the womb, as his wife into his home and name her son Jesus. In doing so Joseph infers that the baby is his. Joseph raises the boy as his own. Enjoying the love and care of Joseph, his foster father, as a child, Jesus, in his adult public ministry, will call God "Father." These two saints are models for male spirituality. It is difficult for men to talk about their relationship with Christ with other men. The tenth annual Catholic Men's Conference will take place on Saturday 3/24 at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda. 1000 men (grandfathers, fathers, sons and grandsons) will assemble to listen to inspirational speakers, manly men, publicly talk about their Catholic faith and friendship in Christ. Bishop Kmiec will be there. Also present will be the new Bishop of Savannah, Georgia, a native son from WNY, Most Reverend Gregory Hartmayer OFM Conv. For more information call Deacon Jim Jaworski 683-5254 or register on line: www.SpiritIsCalling.org.
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3rd Sunday of Lent
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5th Sunday of Lent
