With the shrill report of a whistle or the nearly religious chant of “Play ball!,” a season of athletic competition or a specific game in the schedule begins. To get to this point, there have been equipment checks and last minute attention to the playing field. And this moment, while memorable in itself, is the starting point, drawing our attention and energy to the full measure of play for this day and for this whole season.
This weekend St. Peter’s Parish opens and celebrates a new season of faith among our parishioners and parish families. It is a time to honor the great measure of effort that has gone into preparing for this year and the years of our experiences together that have brought us, with God’s grace, to this time. And if we pray and celebrate well in this moment, it is an inspired beginning to this day and this season of hearing our God, of coming to know God, ourselves, and each other more fully.
It is our shared hope and prayer that Faith is the outcome of all of this...that Faith might draw us more deeply into the relationship for which we were created, the relationship we have with God. It is our hope that this ultimate relationship might give shape and substance to all the other relationships that help us shape and live our lives to the fullest. It is our hope that such faith never fails us in motivating, guiding, and fulfilling the plan of action, the game plan if you will, that gives meaning to our actions great and small, in generosity, compassion, sacrifice, joyful blessing, and healing tears and smiles.
Frantic activity without faith, though well-intentioned, will be of limited value, Faith without works of live, of generosity, sacrifice, or genuine compassion remains an idea without feet or hands to truly live. As we begin, we pray we all will grow in the faith we teach and learn, lips, ears, feet, hands and all!
Fr. Tom