Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: March 25, 2018
I want to thank all who helped make our patronal feast last Monday, March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, such a special celebration. Mrs. Mary Furlow again spearheaded efforts in setting up our St. Joseph Altar in the Parish Hall. Mrs. Nan Nowak and many, many other Ladies of the Cathedral, did the cooking and serving of our free Lenten meal to everyone. (Mr. Michael Jumonville and various husbands did great work as honorary “Ladies of the Cathedral” in helping out, too: thank you). Gratitude goes out to all who contributed food, decorations, ideas, “elbow grease,” help at the liturgy, donations and prayers throughout: it’s always a most enjoyable feast!
Now the tone changes. This weekend the Church observes Passion Sunday (more popularly known as Palm Sunday, although palms are in short supply this year!). Our thoughts turn to the sufferings of Christ Jesus. Contemplating His Passion, we remember His pain endured long ago.
Sure, sadly, lots of human beings suffer. Illness and accidents, war and crime, many things bring pain into our lives. Some pain is easy to understand: if we cut ourselves shaving or chopping vegetables it hurts, and we know why. Worse is when one is struck by inexplicable pain, such as in cancer, or by willfully-inflicted pain, such as in assault and abuse. Our brains then shout out a more anguished “Why?” Random and senseless hurt just adds to suffering, truly like salt in a wound.
But think of Jesus. As God, He knew precisely why He was suffering. His divine nature and intellect could understand the source of His pain completely: the full dreadfulness and impact of evil, especially sin, that is, the evil that men – and once upon a time, the angels – freely choose. He sympathized with humanity, whose ignorance and weakness had put us into a hopeless situation, an eternal future without joy or peace. So out of love for us He was willing to do whatever it took to rescue us from our hurts, and ultimately from that dark abyss of hopelessness after death.
It’s a sad thing that it took the free sacrifice of Jesus’ own innocent life to redeem us. Yet it is also a most wonderful thing that there indeed was someone not only who loved us so much but who really could do something about it. And did.
If at all possible, keep immersing yourself in His love for us. After sharing in Palm Sunday worship this weekend, join your Cathedral family at the great liturgies of Holy Week. The three most important are the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at 6 pm, the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday at 3 pm, and the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday at 8 pm. This will put you more “in touch” with the great mysteries of salvation, and ultimately their source, Jesus Christ.
Yours in the suffering Christ,
Fr. Paul
