“All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.” Ps 98

Dear parishioners,

Let me begin by giving you the reasons why I’m feeling more upbeat this week than I have in a long time. Not all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God, relative to this pandemic, but his victory is in sight. This has been a great week, at least in British Columbia. The pace of vaccinations is accelerating with the increase in supply. As Dr. Bonnie Henry puts it, we are vaccinating at “warp speed”! The number of daily new cases is trending consistently downward. And there are still two more weeks to go of the restrictions that we are currently observing, and that are actually working. If this continues, just think of how much better our situation will be in two weeks than it is now.  It’s not unreasonable to hope that on May 25th, Dr. Bonnie Henry might be in a position to re-open our churches to in-person attendance for limited numbers. It’s a wonderful hope to cling to.

In the meantime, let us simply take heart in the power and beauty of this Sunday’s readings.

In the first reading, we are reminded of what has been called the Second Pentecost, the outpouring of the Spirit and the baptism of the first Gentiles, the first non-Jewish people, to join the Church. The beginning of the Church that we are – the Gentile Church. A momentous event. One that finally led the apostles to acknowledge that the Gospel of the Risen Jesus and all that follows from it is not reserved for the Jews. It is for the world. Indeed, “all the ends of the earth” are destined, in principle, to “see the victory of our God.”

In the second reading, we are reminded that we are called to mutual love, for the simple reason that God is love, we are created in God’s image and likeness, and that we are called to imitate him. How heartening it is to read that “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, even if they aren’t aware that they do. How heartening this is, with respect to those people who are dear to us, but who aren’t in our Church, and yet are people of love. It becomes possible to hope that in the words of the beatitudes, “they shall see God”. How touching it is to be reminded that God loves us prior to our loving or even knowing him, and that because he does, he sent his Son that we might live through him, and that he might be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Finally, in today’s gospel, the beautiful words of Jesus to the disciples on the night before he died. I love you the way the Father loves me. I want my joy to be in you and I want it to be complete. All I ask is that you love one another as I have loved you. I call you friends, because I have shared with you everything I have heard from my Father, everything you need to know to carry on. I chose you, and now I appoint you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, such that the Father will give whatever you ask him in my name.

More than enough gospel to go on for one week’s journey!

I want to say a word about PREP because they are winding down this year’s activities at the end of the month. PREP, in this pandemic year, has meant hundreds of children, parents, teachers and assistant teachers sitting down for a 45-minute Zoom PREP session week after week, from September until May. This, after a full day or work or school. The thought of it takes my breath away. Parents, teachers, and assistant teachers, thank you and God bless you for the depth of your commitment to the faith-education of our children.

In other news, Ave Maria Garden, together with our CWL council, have concluded their second sale of floral arrangements. They sold close to 100 arrangements! All after-expense proceeds are going to The Door is Open. Again, thank you!

On a different note, today is Mothers’ Day. On this day, since I have space, I would like to share with you a mother’s testimony about motherhood that I will never forget. This is a friend who married rather late, in her thirties, and had two boys. She was convinced, prior to having her two boys, that her life was happy, full, good. “But now,” she said to me, “when I think back on my life before my boys were born, it’s like I’m watching a video in black and white. And when I think back on my life since my boys were born, it’s like the video has switched from black and white to colour”. Isn’t that beautiful? Let us all, today, lift up to God a prayer of profound thanks for the wonder of motherhood, and for all those women whose privilege it has been to experience it.

That’s it for this week. By the grace of God, may we all stay the course of compliance with public health restrictions, and because we do, exit this pandemic safe and sound, sooner rather than later. May God bless us and keep us all safe.

Fr. Guy