Third Sunday of Lent, March 3, 2024

Dear Friends,

Let me start by introducing you to Fr. Patrick Hannon, C.S.C. who is taking time from his very busy schedule to be with us. He is here to offer our three-day Lenten Mission on the theme: Searching, Discovering, Celebrating the God Who Loves Us: A Lenten Journey. Fr. Pat will anchor his presentations in the parable of the Prodigal Son. During his presentations, he will share with us His deep, personal experience of God in Christ Jesus.

Fr. Pat has been a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross for 35 years. During these many years, he has been a parish priest, middle school teacher, high school teacher, high school principal, and college writing professor. He also has authored six books. Please join me in extending a hearty welcome to Fr. Pat!

Allow me also to introduce to you our new part-time receptionist, Mary Poku, who began working here on 26 February 2024. Mary and her very dedicated husband, Alfred, have three lovely children who are active in our Children’s Liturgy. As I welcome her wholeheartedly, I want to thank our recently formed Reception Ministry, who have done a most wonderful job of covering the reception desk over the last four months. The ministry will continue to help us in the afternoon hours and also will fill in for Mary whenever needed. How blessed we are with such willing and dedicated people here at St. John’s!

I take this occasion to congratulate Brian, Jennifer, Julia, and Lily Nufer, and Jen’s mom Denise McNabb, on receiving the February Family of the Month award. I thank the family for their whole-hearted service to the Baptism Ministry. What a blessing they are to us!

We now step into the 3rd Week of Lent. Our readings for this Sunday invite us to keep our focus on the commandments of the Lord (Exodus 20: 1-17) and on the Cross of Christ. St. Paul vividly points to the power of the Cross when he says “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 22-25). In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus consumed with zeal for God’s house. His actions model for us what to do about those things that get in the way of keeping the first three Commandments. Jesus does something that would have been unthinkable in those days: he drives out of the Temple those people (the money changes and sellers) and things (animals for sacrifice) that were an obstacle to those who truly desired to worship God there.

As we enter into the core of Lent, let us pause, pray, and ask ourselves some serious questions. What are the obstacles that we place in the way of our being with our gracious God in spirit and in truth? that prevent us from remaining in and conscious of His presence? Is it our self-love? Our hard-heartedness? Our tendency to make a priority of things other than God? Our endless desire for being recognized, for being in control, to overly indulge in good things? Do we cling to one or more deadly vices, as such as pride, wrath, greed, envy, lust, gluttony, or sloth? It is not too late! Now is the time to begin driving such obstacles from our lives. Let us work diligently to give Our Lord first place!

Have a Blessed Week! With love,

Fr. John