Dear Friends in Christ,
We are now into our second week of the holy season of Lent. We have gotten through two major snowstorms (hopefully, that is it) and we continue to be called by the Holy Spirit to repent which is defined as “to feel sorrow for something one has done or has left undone. It can also be defined as recognizing and trying to right a wrong or to gain forgiveness from someone we have wronged.” Our Lent calls us to fulfill all this definition. I believe that the Lord is calling all of us to discover, rediscover or deepen our prayer life. Our relationship with God is the most important thing in our lives for it affects how we will dwell in eternity.Only a fool believes that at the last minute we will suddenly have a deep relationship with God. It is not that He is not merciful, for He is all mercy, but rather, if the Lord took us to Himself at this moment, how we know Him is how we know Him for eternity. Yes, our relationship will deepen should we be with Him in Heaven, but as Amy Grant sings, “We’re just here to learn to love Him.” The time is now! How often we speak to the Lord matters; how much time we give Him matters and living what we say we believe (at least giving our best) matters. Mother Teresa famously said, “In the silence, God speaks.” We need to try to limit the time we spend on our phones and on the media. We need to find a silent spot in our home to speak with the Lord without distraction and we should try to be quieter in church when in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament. I receive a lot of comments that we have a noisy church before Mass. I know that I am losing hearing, which many of us suffer, but too often, to the sadness of Our Lord and to the chagrin of those who do like to pray, we are chatting and chatting; it is the King who is ignored. He is forgotten in our churches, in our homes and in our souls.Once again, I mention Mother Teresa in saying that prayer was essential to Mother’s life. She once said, What blood is to the body, prayer is to the soul.” Despite her almost impossible schedule right to the end of her life, she spent at least four hours of prayer every day.Now that is an inspiration! Let us long for silence so that we can pray.We need not be antisocial but let us use our precious time in church before Mass to speak to the Lord rather than chat about the inconsequential. Our vestibule is for socializing, and we are blessed to have a large space.The cry room is for our babies and children, so one does not expect quiet in that space. So, let us pray in love to God, and let us pray for one another that by the end of this Lent we will have developed some good habits that help us to love Jesus, our Beloved Savior! Pray for me!
God bless you,
Father Szolack