Pastoral Reflection for the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
This Holy Year is the Holy Year of Hope! The first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah reminds us that those who hope in the Lord are like trees planted by running waters. The heat of the day and the challenges that come do not disturb its life because it is constantly nourished by the living waters. The gospel reading from St. Luke is sometimes referred to as the “Sermon on the Plain” for its connection to St. Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount.” Here the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated will find solace and blessing (hope). Hope is one of the three Theological Virtues, the others being Faith and Charity. Christian Hope is not wishful thinking about the future but confidence in the grace and love of God for His people. This grace and love are like the running waters of the first reading. God’s gift of grace and sustaining love keeps the faithful going, even during rough times.
Call to Action
As the ancient Greeks noted, the one constant in the world seems to be change! Whether they be technological changes, changes in family life, work, climate, or education, everyone seems to be trying to cope with change. Even more constant than change, however, is God’s love and mercy. It is this love and mercy that can engender hope within the hearts of our people. Invite your people to come to church, to be engaged, and to participate in supporting the life of the parish. This can have a tremendous stabilizing effect on people and quiet their anxious souls. Use your GiveCentral Communications Portal to engage your people and send weekly messages of hope to them! Want to learn more about the Communications Portal? Join a training session and we will walk you through this tool available on your dashboard. Sign up for Training Session ## Communications – GiveCentral Training.
Pastoral Action Points
- Does your staff need training in the use of the GiveCentral Platform? Check out our training sessions and sign up by going here GiveCentral Training.
- Join us on Feb. 19 at 3PM MT for an important Webinar on Enhancing Your Lent Engagement and Giving with Teresa Meyer. You can register here Lenten Webinar Registration.
Lenten Webinar Registration Pastoral Webinar Registration.
Last modified: February 17, 2025
