Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (4/08/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

Last Sunday during our day of reflection on the Paschal Mystery, I tried to show how we experience the life, death and resurrection in our lives every day. Like in moments of helplessness, as we faced another’s pain with them and later they thanked us for simply being there, or when we learn to laugh at our own humanity and the stupid things we do can be healing. These are moments of life through death. It is ok not to be perfect and it is not a sign of moral our spiritual weakness.

I believe if we look for the resurrection in our lives, we will find it in big ways and small, like seeing a lot of Saturns on the road if we’ve just bought one. When something is on our mind we see things because of it. So if we have the resurrection on our mind and the goodness of a God, who loves us and died for us, we begin to see the blessings that are ours.

As I write this I think of our staff, MaryAnn, Paul, and Steve. They are each wonderful persons with a genuine spirit of Christ in their hearts. I think of how blessed I am to be with them every day. Add to that Jon and his crew, and the list expands and expands. For me that is the experience of the Risen Christ among us.

Today on Easter, we gather with friends and family, a time to count our blessings. I would suggest taking some quiet moments today, at the table or when sitting in the family room, to note the wonderful uniqueness and beauty of each person in the room. It is a way of celebrating the Lord’s presence risen among us in the people who are our lives.

Today I am also grateful to all of you who make up our loving family here at Holy Name. I brag often of our community to others. Thank you for risking being a part of the community and other people’s lives, as you participate in the life of the parish on Sundays in the Evangelization program, the GIFT program, and ministering here in a myriad of ways from education to liturgy.

We are a happy lot because we journey together, which doesn’t mean we are perfect and don’t know pain. The Passion will always be a part of our lives, but when we travel together like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our hearts burn within us and we can reclaim a buoyant joyful spirit because of the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ.

How blessed we are that the Lord came to earth to live and die with us that we might share fully in his resurrection, in eternal life and in the many little ways as we journey on this road to the promised land.

May the Lord continue to bless you and fill your hearts with every consolation that comes from his grace poured out into your hearts. May you know the fullness of joy in your hearts today that the disciples felt when they beheld Jesus risen from the dead and fully alive before them. May you be fully alive in Christ in mind, body and soul!

God bless you with his Easter blessings!

In Christ’s love, Fr. Leo