Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Pope
Francis begins his recently published Apostolic Exhortation entitled “The Joy
of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium)
with these words: “The joy of the gospel filled the hearts and lives of all who
encounter Jesus” (1).
All
of our activity to bring people closer to Jesus is an activity to bring people
joy. With Jesus all men and women can experience true joy. The Pope reminds us
that “with a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of
restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to
start anew” (3). Do we not all need to start anew every once in awhile? This is
particularly true for those who may have strayed from the Church and are
looking for a way back to Christ and His Body – the Church.
In
our conversations, through the power of our pray, with the shining example we
give, others will inevitably ask, “Where does this joy come from?” We can
answer, “From my faith in Jesus Christ!” As our Holy Father writes, Christians
should appear “as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of
beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet…” and help the Church to grow
“by attraction” (15).
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker
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