Dear Parishioners,
Listen to the words of St. Paul who asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Well, the truth of
the matter is that God is for us! Thus, if God is for us, then there is absolutely nothing that can defeat us
except ourselves. Jesus died for us so that God "might see and love in us what" He "sees and loves
in Christ." The manifestation of the Lord on the "high mountain" at the transfiguration shows us ahead
of time the result of those who place their trust and faith in God. The Psalmist relays this sentiment well
when he said, "I believed, even when I said, I am greatly afflicted." Despite affliction, "O Lord, I am
your servant."
My friends, like Abraham of old, God is calling each of us to be faithful even in the midst of difficult tasks
and difficult times. While not understanding the circumstances, Abraham responded to God with the
simple words,
"Here I am."
You may be going through a difficult period in your life, TRUST God. You may be on the verge of losing
everything, TRUST God. You may not know where to turn, TRUST God. You may feel as though you are
losing your faith and have no more hope, TRUST God. With God, all things are possible. With God, doors
open. With God, "sinners find the way." With God, "Our help is in the name of the Lord."
Remember, God IS for you and knows what you need. In fact, God knows what you need better than you
know yourself. I invite you to pray with me for the ears to listen to what God has to say about everything in
your life. The answers that each one of us needs to hear are surely wrapped up in the mystery of God's
willingness to speak to us, guide us and lead us on a path that is not dark and not deadly. I strongly
encourage you to stay focused on the Holy Presence of God in your life. All the help you need to move
forward is to be found in the Holy Presence of God who is always at your side.
While the disciples were on the mountain witnessing the transfiguration, the Gospel writer Mark tells us "a
cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son.
Listen to him."
From the clouds that surround our own lives, God also is telling us to "listen" to the voice of Jesus who is
"the way, the truth and the life." There is no other voice more important then the voice of the Lord.
There is no other way than the way of the Lord. There is no other truth than the truth of the Lord. There is
no other answer in our lives than the answer of the Lord. St. Paul tells us that in Jesus we have everything
that we need in this world. "He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how
will he not also give us everything else along with him?" God will do for us as He has spoken.
Listen and trust in the Lord in all things and in all circumstances.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. James T. Tarantino, Pastor
