Last week I posed the question, “how did I end up the week before?”. It was to begin again with the idea “how do we best work together?”. Firstly, to have the sense that anytime we gather, we strengthen our bonds and our commitment to be a parish community. We have a sense of what it is to be a good parish, but this must be very much updated and a return to the foundations as Jesus laid them out. “You are my witness” and this is above all to the forgiveness of sin, and restoring a life of grace “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, your love for one another”.
At this time one of the strongest affirmations of faith that I have received has been the celebration of funerals. It brings home to my heart the central focus of our lives which is to be at home with God. Thanks be to God that I have experienced some special moments, because over all we have been through a very difficult time. I am most grateful for all the help and support that I have received. It is as I listen to the concern and indeed echoes of distress that many are still experiencing; so it is most important that we are ready to resume our lives for the good of others to the best of our ability.
I acknowledge that this is helped most by having a good parish priest. I always recognised that I have lacked some important characteristics to be a “good shepherd”, and sometimes I feel I am more cut out for a monastic type of life. But key elements for all of us “is live and learn” and so with this foremost in our minds, let us look forward and be ready for the opportunities that will come our way. We will have celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation and we will be getting prepared for the mass celebrated by the bereavement team.
The parish community mass celebrations will be in July, with other various occasions when we will meet in different groups to catch up and to look forward together. Please God, let us look forward to our future with hope and confidence.