Blessed Are They Who Hope In The Lord
Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor
Letter from the Pastor
February 16, 2025
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Blessed Are They Who Hope In The Lord
This weekend, we will sing Psalm 1, the first of the 150 Psalms in the Bible. It is fitting that the Psalms would begin with a blessing for those who hope in the Lord and not in the ways of the world or their own strength, determinations, or will. For those of us who have tried, we know that although we can do many things, and we can do them well, ultimately, our hope is in the name of the Lord.
A long time ago, a friend of mine gave me some wise advice, “Don’t make any major decisions in February or March.” They can be difficult months in the northeast. This week had been a great example: Snow on Wednesday, rain on Thursday, and another storm predicted for the weekend. Be it snow or rain, the clouds darken our skies, and the cold, damp weather tends to keep us inside. February and March can be tough months, so not making any major decisions may be sound advice.
The psalmist reminds us today to hope in the Lord, to follow the counsel of the Lord, and to meditate on the law of the Lord. Also good advice during these “tunnel months” to spring. It is not the weather we rely on; we just have to work around it. It is the Lord that gives us true comfort, direction, and purpose. The weather will change. What is of God will last. But what does it mean to hope in the Lord, follow the counsel of the Lord, or meditate on the law of the Lord day and night? We can all agree that it is not as easy as it sounds.
I have found Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, to be a great help to me on my spiritual journey. I think he offers some wonderful insights about God and us and how we can meet each other in our world as it is today. The Holy Longing and The Passion of the Cross are two of my favorites of his books, but he has many more. Amazon has them all. However, for those who might like to watch a video, below is a link to a podcast I found online. It is an interview on Christopher Cook’s podcast, Win Today, with Fr. Rolheiser. I don’t know anything about Mr. Cook, but Fr. Rolheiser does offer some good advice about growing in knowledge and love of the Lord.
The podcast begins with the importance of our Christian formation after our formal religious instructions or catechism classes. Those instructions typically end when we are Confirmed! How long ago was that? Fr. Rolheiser claims that after we finish our formal religious instructions, our professional and social lives continue to develop, but our religious formation tends to stay at a certain level.
During the hour-long interview, they discuss breaking the hold of self-sufficiency, becoming aware of God, the key to the purity of heart, and the “dark night of the soul.” If you are wondering how you can hope in the Lord or meditate on the law of the Lord night and day, you may find this podcast helpful.
If you read this letter on our parish webpage or other social media platforms, you can simply click the link below, and it will take you directly to the podcast.
Our Parish Spiritual Directors can also help you grow in an awareness of the presence of God in your life. You can find brochures at the doors of the church. The Secular Franciscans or The Friends of Francis and Clare are two groups that regularly meet in the parish. They, too, can help awaken the Spirit in our midst. Brochures for these groups are also at the doors of the church.
The Men’s Cornerstone Retreat will be held on March 7th and 8th at Maris Stella in Harvey Cedars, yet another opportunity to explore your faith experiences. The Women’s Cornerstone Retreat will be held in the fall. The Men’s Spirituality Group meets at 10 AM in the St. Francis Center every 3rd Saturday of the month. You missed it this weekend, but there’s always next month.
Maybe deciding to participate in one of these is a decision that can be made in February or March.
Peace and All Good!
Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM
Pastor
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