LIFE-CHANGING WORD!
 
Are you looking for a Christian experience that will change your life?
 
Whenever we go to attend Mass, we can be transformed not only by receiving Jesus Himself in the Eucharist, but also by hearing the Word of God.  I have spoken much to you about the central role of the Eucharist in our Christian lives.  Today, I want to focus on the amazing Power of the Word of God.
 
Every time we hear the Gospel proclaimed at Mass, we hear Jesus speak to us.  Jesus Himself is the Word of God: " In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God ...and the WORD became flesh, and lived among us, and we have seen His Glory " (Prologue of St John's Gospel).  Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God, the Word made flesh.  HE is both man and God.  Jesus' words never change.  His words as alive today as 2,000 years ago.  Jesus says: "H eaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not change."
 
St Anthony of Egypt is one of the most famous examples of having his life totally changed through hearing the Word of God at Mass.  Anthony was a very young man (about 20) when both his parents died, and he inherited a large estate.  He knew that his life was going to be totally different.  He did not expect what God had in plan for him.
 
As he was at Mass, Anthony heard the Gospel of the rich young man, who asked Jesus what good deed he needed do to have eternal life.  After he told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments listed by Jesus, he asked Jesus: " What do I still lack?" Jesus responded, " If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."  When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:16-22).
 
Anthony could associate with the rich young man encountering Jesus and desiring to know what to do to have eternal life.  He was young and suddenly had become very rich. Jesus' words pierced his heart. He decided right away that he would sell everything he had just inherited from his father and give the proceeds to the poor.  This was the beginning of a total new life.  Anthony became one of the greatest saints.  He went to live in the desert consecrating all his time to prayer.  He became one of the founders of monastic life.
 
Next time you go to Mass, pay special attention to the Gospel.  Open your ears.  Open your heart.  Be ready to obey Jesus.  One key word from Jesus may change your life.  You may not become one of the greatest Saints like Anthony of Egypt.  But you may take an important decision that would be a major step toward following Jesus' commandments and beginning to put Jesus truly at the center of your life.  You may decide to reconcile with one of your own brothers who had offended you many years ago and whom you had never forgiven.  You may decide with God's help to totally stop a habitual sin or get some counseling for an addiction that is destroying your family.  You know your own reality and the challenges you face right now.  The Word of God you are waiting for can help you face those challenges.
 
Open your bible today.  First, read the amazing parable of the sower you heard last Sunday (Matthew 13:1-23).  Remember the sower is Jesus, the seed is the Word of God, the soil is our own heart.  The Word of God is for everyone.  It is for you today!  Let the Word enter your heart and guide your daily decisions.  Then go to the next parables that will be proclaimed this coming Sunday (Matthew 13:24-43). Pay special attention to the parable of the weeds.  The sower of the good seeds is Jesus.  The sower of the weeds is the devil.  The good seeds are the children of the Kingdom.  The weeds are the children of the evil one.  The harvest is the end of time, the final judgement by Jesus at his second coming.  Reflect on where you want to end up at that final judgment:  "in the fiery furnace where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth", or " with the righteous shining like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father?"  While we all want to be with the Father in Heaven, the key question remains the same as for the rich young man: " God, what do you want me to do to have eternal life with you? "
 
In this context, we invite you to consistently read the Gospel of the coming Sunday in advance so that your ears and your heart are well prepared to hear the Word of God when proclaimed at church and when explained by the priest or deacon in his homily.  Let the Holy Spirit open your minds and hearts! We also invite you to consider joining one of our two Scripture Prayer Groups, either on Tuesdays right after the 9 am Mass or on Wednesdays at 7 pm on zoom (let the office know your interested so that you can be added to the list of the participants on zoom).  In both groups, you will meditate on the readings of the coming Sunday, and search for the life-changing word God has for you personally.
 
Come Holy Spirit! Come!
Give me the desire to search for Jesus' life-changing Word! 
Come Holy Spirit! Come!
Help me open my heart to Jesus' life-changing Word!
Come Holy Spirit! Come!
Help me to obey Jesus' Word!  
Help me to change my life on my pilgrim journey on earth while preparing for my encounter with Jesus in Heaven!
 
One in Christ,

Fr. Alain