Lenten Call to Love One Another
"I have called you friends" ~ John 15:1-17
Blessings and Peace!
Our 2012 Lenten theme, "I have called you friends" is found in the passage about the vine and the branches (John 15:1-17). Jesus describes the life-giving love He offers to us, as a vine gives life to branches, and then makes a groundbreaking statement: "You are my friends." The One through whom the universe was created is inviting us into a real, intimate relationship with Him. How amazing that Christ's explanation of love and life is followed by the
assurance of His friendship! Jesus concludes His invitation by asking us to extend this love we have found to one another.
This Lent, we invite you to join us in reflection about what this means in our own lives by asking ourselves:
- How is my friendship with Jesus? Is He part of my daily life?
- How can I walk more closely with Him this Lent? What obstacles could I remove to help grow closer?
- Am I loving His Church? Where could I support the Body of Christ and build up His kingdom more? Do I have gifts or talents that my brothers and sisters need? Am I carrying this love outside the church walls into our community?
We invite you to walk with us together as we begin our search. Join us after a Soup Supper for Stations of the Cross, Vespers, or Taize prayer where we can contemplate Christ's love together. Spend time being His hands through serving side-by-side with other parishioners at the P.O.R.T. shelters for the homeless. Adopt a "random acts of kindness" atitude this Lent by stopping to hold the door on the way into or out of church. Remember, Christfs invitation to love as we gather around the water cooler at work, when we bump into each other in the aisles of the grocery store, talk with friends in the hallways of school or on the golf course. As we grow in our understanding of love, let Saint Bede Catholic Church truly answer Christ's command to love one another as He has loved us.
We are praying for you. Let us each pray for one another!
Monsignor Michael, Father John David and the Saint Bede staff