Even now, says the Lord,
return to me with your whole heart;
for I am gracious and merciful.
Joel 2:12-13
The saints are models of encouragement for following Jesus,
the Way to God’s Kingdom. In the
Catholic tradition, there is an understanding that those who have died, not seriously
alienated from God, but also not having actualized their potential for
perfection, are in a state of being perfected.
As in the case of the saints’ prayers for us, it is good to know and
believe that our prayers for our deceased loved ones have power.
In the love of Jesus,
Father
Lenny Zamborsky
October 27, 1996
For Reflection:
In his letter
proclaiming 2016 the “Year of Mercy,” Pope Francis wrote:
“We need constantly to contemplate the
mystery of mercy. Mercy: the ultimate
and supreme act by which God comes to meet us. Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the
heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and
sisters on the path of life. Mercy: the
bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved
forever despite our sinfulness.”
Spend some time connecting this quote with today’s
reading and Fr. Lenny’s words.
So interesting that, before I had even read Fr. Lenny's quote today, I got into a conversation about the saints with 2 Hospice nurses and a Hospice social worker, who were visiting my mom. We were talking about St. Patrick, and the social worker began asking questions about who saints are and about patron saints. We talked about the saints as ordinary people who reflect Christ's light by their good deeds and acts of mercy, and as friends who pray for us. Certainly, Fr. Lenny was a man who reflected Christ's light and love. I believe God's mercy has welcomed and embraced him in eternal love. I pray for Fr. Lenny after daily Communion, and I ask him to pray for all of us with whom he shared God's love.
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