No Greater Love...

 

No Greater Love...

Jesus spoke these words referring to his own love for his disciples - for us, whom he calls his friends - as he was about to lay down his own life for the salvation of the world. Yet I also think of this teaching whenever I think of those who serve in our military, those brave women and men who are willing to risk their life for love of their country and all those they strive to protect and defend. As the world mourns more deaths from terrorist attacks, and as our nation marks Memorial Day this weekend, may we pause to give thanks for those who in fact laid down their lives to protect and defend us in this uncertain world. May their ultimate acts of love strengthen our peace and our trust in the goodness of humanity as a whole.

There are many others who willingly choose to symbolically "lay down their life" as a gift to others in their life vocation. In the Sacrament of Matrimony, for example, a man and a woman entrust their most precious gift - the gift of themselves - to each other, trusting that they will mutually respect that gift and build each other up as they help one another to grow in holiness and prepare for heaven. In the day-to-day this may not be the conscious focus of married persons, but it is lived out in many ways, both great and small. Congratulations to those who celebrate major anniversaries this year!

We also are blessed to have in each of our parishes religious sisters and nuns who have given their lives to Christ through their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In Wrentham we have the Sisters of St. Chretienne, and the Trapistine monastery; in Plainville we have the Religious of Jesus and Mary, the Dominican sisters, and a Fransiscan, Sister Anne Marie Raftery, living in the parish residence. They strengthen all of us by their example, actions, and prayers to remember what is most important - our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. St. Martha Parish recently hosted a Jubilee Mass for the Religious of Jesus and Mary from the eastern U.S., and three of their Jubilarians are from the local community: Sister Diane Dube celebrates 50 years, Sister Alina Lavoie 60 years, and Sister Beatrice Bonin 70 years of religious life! Congratulations to them and any other sisters in our communities celebrating their jubilees!

I invite you to pray for all those who, following the example of Jesus, give the gift of themselves to others - in service to our country, in service of our faith, and in service to one another - as a sign of their sacrificial love!

 

No Greater Love...