Greater Purpose
My Dear Spiritual Family,
Preparing couples for marriage is a hoot, full of challenges and joys. Exploring the meaning of marriage life together can be at the same time so deep and yet very concrete. Watching how two lives meld into one shared life and vision is deeply satisfying. (If you are recently engaged, please reach out! Contact us before you set a date. A year of preparation is typical.)
One of the aspects we stress is that marriage is a vocation, a specific calling from God, which is also the path to holiness for you. Marriage is also a Sacrament - a specific channel of God’s grace in the world. This truth informs one of our “secrets” of every happy family, which is that families are called to a greater purpose, beyond themselves. Families are made for mission.
In fact, marriage as a vocation parallels holy orders (deacons, priests, bishops). Both Sacraments are created for the upbuilding of the Church, for greater communion, for advancing the kingdom! If for you perhaps that noble sense of married life does not spring to mind, hopefully this can serve as an invitation to rekindle that greater sense of purpose; it could be the key ingredient lacking to deepen your sense of happiness and fulfillment in married life.
Each family needs to be on the lookout for how they participate in the greater good! We are made for mission. This is true too of our parish family. We exist here in Maple Shade to be on mission, or in mission - to be part of something greater. Our mission is to build up the Body of Christ right here in Maple Shade, and beyond! (Thanks, Buzz!)
Our second reading (1 Cor 12:12-30) calls forth that reality. Paul describes the Church as the Body of Christ, one body - knit together from different parts, but each with an essential role to play. What is your role in the life of your family? And in the life of your parish family?
Last week, we celebrated Community Sunday, and we extended an invitation to serve in one of our weekend ministries. Our goal in parish life is for every member of our church to participate in some form of ministry and serve in a meaningful way. We are committed to encouraging everyone to step beyond the pews, living out our faith together on this beautiful journey of parish life. We encourage you to join us in this shared mission. A special thank you to the many members who are actively serving both on weekends and throughout the week - seeing your faith alive and growing warms my heart.
Our first reading from Nehemiah depicts the beautiful moment of reading and breaking open the Word of God by the priest Ezra. The people are gathered to hear the book of the Law (Torah - first five books of the Bible) proclaimed. And they are encouraged on this day, not to be sad but to rejoice for the Lord is their strength. They are to celebrate for today is holy to the Lord!
This uplifting scene fills me with joy and longing. It is a foreshadowing of the church called to worship and a reminder for all parish families of the importance of weekly worship. Weekly worship is a God-given command because the Word and the Eucharist are meant to be our strength to live out the Gospel for the week! Hearing this proclaimed on the final Sunday of our “Secrets of Every Happy Family” may just be God inviting you to renew your commitment to gather for worship each and every week.
May God bless your efforts!
Fr. Joel
