2nd Sun Easter - B’18
“Yes, You Can Start Again”
(Tenth Anniversary of Saint Bernadette Parish)
Did anyone catch last Sunday’s live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar? It inspired me to get out my old soundtrack. Listen to this snippet from track 14, I think it captures what we are about today…
Divine Mercy Sunday’s message is this: Yes! You can start again!
The Risen Jesus Christ entrusts His Light to us, his followers. Jesus trusts us; our discipleship task is to trust him in return.
You see, the path of a disciple is not really a matter of how far will you go for Jesus, but how deep. Faith is something that deepens, and the goal of deep faith is trust in Jesus. Do you trust Jesus? I mean REALLY trust Jesus?
God’s best tools for helping us get to a place of deep trust are the two staples of any disciple’s life: Blessings and Crosses. Blessings deepen trust as our gratitude to God grows. Crosses deepen trust as our reliance on God grows. Blessings and Crosses are the narrow road of the disciple.
Yet, it is incredibly easy to step off the path, to lose our way. Blessings, if received in the wrong way, can all too readily be twisted into a sense of entitlement in our hearts; even a belief that we don’t need God. Crosses, if received in the wrong way, can take us to a place of despair, even a doubt that God loves us or even exists.
Perhaps you find yourself in such a place today. If so, then hear our Divine Mercy Gospel… You can start again!
This weekend our St. Bernadette parish celebrates its tenth anniversary. Our parish is a collective testament to starting over. Ten years ago, two struggling parishes facing multiple challenges, both closed so as to create a new beginning; to have a fresh start. And boy, have we done well!
We began with only 827 households, and now we have 2047 (the largest in the Archdiocese)! In ten years we have grown from 2509 souls to 6432 souls (and we are still growing)!
30% of all the funds we gather as a parish are given away to worthy causes and missions.
Yet, we have vibrant ministries, powerful liturgies, and intentional formation all done on our new campus - the debt for which we are responsibly and aggressively tackling.
Collectively we of St. Bernadette are bearing Christ’s entrusted Light well, and what we have done together you can do individually. You can deepen your trust in the Lord.
This Wednesday for 24 hours the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration right here on our altar. Nine hours of confessions will be offered. Come experience Jesus’ mercy and start again.
On Monday, April 16th (the Feast of St. Bernadette) we will enjoy a parish mission where we will explore God’s hope for each of us… a new beginning of partnership with Jesus.
On Monday, April 30th (summoned by Archbishop Kurtz) we will gather to explore the future to which the Holy Spirit inspires us.
All are designed to move us to a deeper place of trust in Jesus, for God wants us to trust Him…
TRUST that Jesus has risen from the dead…
TRUST that Jesus forgives us our betrayals and doubts…
TRUST that Jesus remains at our side providing, nourishing, nudging, guiding, saving.
Yes, you can start again and with deep faith (the mountain-moving kind) get to a place where with your whole heart, mind, strength, and soul declare: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free