5/17/2024 George Francis Ford
5/3/2024 Remaining With JesusDear Friends, Several decades ago, when I was a student at UCLA trying to figure out what God wanted me to do with my life, I struggled with the concept of altruism. It seemed like a conundrum. God wanted me to act unselfishly to do the right thing, yet if I looked after the welfare of others, I would feel good about my own actions. I reasoned my actions couldn’t be considered altruistic because they were in my own best interests. I foolishly wondered if there really is such a thing as altruism. I no longer worry about such dilemmas. Life has a way of throwing situations at us, and many times our choices are tough. Whether we make our decisions instantly or after careful consideration, they reflect who we are. As God’s children — chosen and befriended by him — we bask in his love. This love is reciprocal. God loves us, and we are called to be love to others in God’s image. Of course, there will be confusing forks in the road where we make unfortunate choices. Love may get lost as we wander in the shadows alone for a bit, but our Lord finds us, heals us, and lures us back to the path of true altruism so we can walk with the others who have been gifted to us by our loving God. Some encounters are brief — a smile and perhaps only a short greeting for a passing stranger. Other opportunities can involve a lifetime partner or friend who knows and forgives our faults. Love goes both ways. God shows us that, whether we label it altruism or not. Jesus tells us to remain in his love, and he commands us to love one another. It really is all about responding to God’s love! Siempre Adelante! Linda Lowe Parishioner 4/27/2024 God Loves UsMy mom loves her garden. For as long as I can remember and to this day you can find her in her garden clearing away weeds, removing withering or dying branches or pruning back flowers that have long since dried out. When she cannot be tending to her garden because of weather, wind, or illness she will be visibly sad. My mother has been known to water her flowers, while it is raining, in a thunderstorm. That’s my mom, always loving her garden. In this week’s gospel, I am reminded of the love that God has for us and how He gently tends to the garden of our lives. As God cleans and prunes the branches to produce more fruit, we too must consider those items in our lives that may require a good cleaning or pruning? Are there things in your life that prevent you from spending quality time loving your family? Do you spend more time on devices than in conversation with others. Maybe, we do so much that we are not producing as well as we could. Speaking from personal experience, we can sometimes resist the need for change. We want to hold tight to those things that we believe have some value or that satisfy a need we have. Our thoughts, beliefs, and human needs are not God’s and when we put our faith in Jesus, He will provide the nourishment we need to look at those areas of our lives that require change and make those hard decisions. Change can be painful, but God meets us where we are. A good place to start is in prayer. How much time do you spend in the silent presence of God? My mom sends me pictures of her flowers that have pushed through the winter’s snow marking the beginning of spring. She sends me pictures of those flowers that have grown in abundance due to her tender care or those that have returned after a long absence. My mom loves her garden and I know God feels the same way about each of us. Siempre Adelante, Dave Gutierrez Parishioner |
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