Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    You may be familiar with the song; “Every Rose Has its Thorn” In other words, every good has its counterpart in evil.  Such is the case in the spiritual life as well: every vice has its virtue.  The question is: Which will prevail?   Today’s Word of God puts it all in perspective: the contrast between pride and humility.

     Pride, of course, is the Original Sin.  Our first parents thought they knew better than God.  By the twisted logic presented to them they made a “good” excuse for eating the forbidden fruit.  How very much that perverted logic infects our culture today.  The rallying cry is “I know better than God what is good for me.”  Despite the constant revelation through the prophets and now through the teaching authority and wisdom of the Church which God uses as His mouthpiece to humanity, pride still raises its ugly head.

     But the Lord ever merciful shows us the better way, i.e. humility.  Everything in our society emphasizes anything but humility.  It is perceived as weakness, degenerate and down right absurd.  We are , after all, supposed to be promoting ourselves, reveling in our accomplishments and always self-asserting.  None of that was observable from the Cross  And yet, paradoxically, it is the humility of the Cross that saves.  This is what our Lord teaches us and sadly with many it does not register.  It’s not that weakness is a virtue but rather the unlimited dependence upon God and our gratefulness to Him which fosters the virtue of humility in our lives.  How powerful and necessary is that simple yet profound admonition we should daily pray: “Jesus meek and humble of heart make my heart like unto thine.”   Then we will know the virtue of humility.

   Beginning on September 9th in the library in the Parish office we initiate the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults in preparation to be received into the Church at Easter.  Anyone who is interested in becoming a Catholic should call the office a week prior to register. Instructions will be held every other Tuesday evening.

With Blessings,

Father Langan