Our destiny is glory!
The descent of Jesus in the incarnation is set to be the rising to the throne of Grace. Jesus rises to Glory as the triumphant Son of God, and we too are promised through our baptism a share in this glory when our time is done.
But we have to do something, not to merit a place in heaven but as a response to the promise given to us and the new life we live in Christ. What is it we must do? The simple answer is, service. When we are told that the greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbor, then this is not just pious or poetic. It must above all be real and practical. We serve the Lord by serving our brothers and sisters, not just in our families but in the community and beyond.
I would like to honor our deacons this week. We are blessed with eight men who give of themselves unstintingly for the glory of God in service to our parish. Last weekend at St Anthony’s we celebrated Deacon Richard’s silver jubilee. I had the great joy of presenting him with a papal blessing and Diane his wife with flowers. Very little for so much given. But true to form, and also that of Deacon Doug and his wife Natalie whose silver jubilee we will celebrate this Sunday at the Park, neither wanted to be singled out. But, hey guys, it is our joy to celebrate you and all your brother deacons. We thank you for all your dedication and purpose, for your prayer and inspiration, for your self-effacing work on behalf of the Gospel and our community.
God bless you, your families, and the week ahead.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter