Come to me all who
labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest…... (Mk 11:28)
In an ever-changing world, with all the
conflicts and a society marked increasingly by a culture of death, what we
really need is a place that provides an emotional anchoring for the young, for
adults, for families – essentially for all of us. Our Catholic Church is that
place -- a centre of spirituality and community.
We are like the lost sheep; we have a need
for meaning, for purpose, for forgiveness, for love. With the looming October
federal election, we need to know how to make the right decisions; how to
protect our family, our disabled or aging population, the unborn children, the
marginalized, the poor; we need to know how to handle suffering, and how to
have hope in our world. The Church is where our needs will be met, where we
will find a sense of family, of belonging. When we know one another and know
the joys and concerns we are each experiencing, we can pray for, support and
minister to one another. As St.
Augustine said, “One loving heart sets another on fire.” Now you and I may know that the Church is a
community, but emerging generations have never seen it that way. They’ve seen
it as a list of rules, of old-fashioned traditions, but not as a loving
community. Jesus drew enormous crowds without ever compromising His message. He
was clear, practical and loving in presenting His Divine Law. The Ten Commandments, for example, constitute
a ‘moral code’ for building an honest, ethical society. The lessons and values central to the Commandments
are as relevant today as they were in the time of Moses and the
Israelites. The values are found at the
heart of who we are as children of God, in our quest for human rights, the
right to life and the sustainability of the planet.
As servants rooted in the Word of God, we
have an opportunity this Fall to stand up for our values and beliefs, as God
says, “Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.”
We are called to become true witnesses of the Gospel. Together, we can
courageously defend a culture that values life from its beginning until its
natural end. Here in God’s House, we are
always welcomed, here our souls will be refreshed and our minds will find
peace. Let God’s Word fill your hearts
and make of you a light in the darkness.
ePeace, Fr. Marc-André Campbell
