In our search for faith, we often enough look for God in grand and large things. We look for signs “of biblical proportions,” like earthquakes or great winds. However, we can learn from the Prophet Elijah that God is more often found in the still, small things. The quiet voice in the heart. The soul that has stilled its anxieties and listens in peace. It was in the quiet that Elijah “hid his face,” because he knew he was in the presence of the Almighty. Life has its storms and other upsetting experiences. Jesus never said we would not have these problems. But as with Peter, Jesus bids us to trust Him to bring us peace and to still the storms. Church should be a place where, in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, we may find peace. Yes, it’s also a place of community and encounter! However, in our Catholic faith we also have a long tradition of respecting people’s sense of quiet within the sanctuary. It is from the quiet of the heart that our fears and anxieties can be released to the Lord, and from Him that we may find our peace.
Call to action: As we welcome new parishioners, visitors, and even skeptics to come into our parish and to join our community, let us also invite them into a deeper spiritual life. We don’t need to be slavish in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, but we can convey the traditions of quiet respect, both for the Holy Eucharist itself, and for those who engage in quiet prayer in Our Lord’s presence. As we spend these next months educating our people about the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, let us also teach our people to commune with Christ, heart to heart, in peaceful contemplation.
Pastoral Action Points
- The celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated this Tuesday. You can use your GC Smart Tools to inform your parishioners about mass times and any special events you may be having. GiveCentral also offers free templates you can adapt and use in your emails, texts, and direct mail. You can find them under global templates.
- School is starting! Use your GC Smart Tools to connect with your school aged families. This is a great time to reach out and help them to reconnect with the parish! GC Smart Tools make it a snap to reach hundreds of people in seconds!
- Last call to get into GiveCentral’s 20 for 20 Campaign! We are using the last 20 weeks of the year to help you increase your parish members’ levels of participation and giving by at least 20%. Find more information about 20 for 20 here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaign
Last modified: August 9, 2024
