Change

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness, he is waiting for you... It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, and making the world more human and more fraternal. " -Blessed John Paul II - World Youth Day 2000


Today my parish hosted a Senior Mass & Brunch in honor of those of us who are taking the next step in our lives. We were given the above quote, in a frame. I was greatly inspired by this quote. Our Parish Pastor, Fr. Michael Mary Dosch, celebrated the mass and gave a beautiful homily. He always reminds us why we were created...for happiness. I thank God often for sending Fr. Michael to our parish because he does so many great things, and I've learned much from him in the short time he has been present at St. Patrick's. During his homily, what stood out most to me was when he quoted St. Augustine - "Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O God". Our happiness, our joy, our peace, all rest in God, and we are restless until we rest in our Lord. Our Lord is restless, until we rest in Him, for he desires us. He desires us to be with him. He desires for us to remain in Him. He desires for us to have an intimate relationship with him. 


This is the time of year for change. Many graduate, either high school or college. There is change. We are moving out of our current place of residence and moving back home. We are moving into a new apartment. We are preparing to say good-bye to long friends as they follow their path in life. However, this change is good. We are being sent off into the world to change. We are to be Christ to others. We are to love, and to love with the love Christ. We are to rest in Christ, and remain in Him always.


May we allow the changes in our lives to come willingly. May we embrace the change. May we continually follow our Lord, Jesus Christ, wherever His path may take us. Lastly, may God bless us abundantly as we are sent off into the world to serve and to be Christ to those we meet - at work, on campus, in school, through ministry, and through our daily lives. 


God bless!
many prayers. 


Amber