Dear Friend,

Love lived well. Let that sink in for a moment. Love lived well. Sure does sound like something Jesus would ask of us. Love lived well!! In fact, He did. 1 John 4:16 tells us, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Let this sink in, God is love. Love lived well means we are living for God. We can call upon Him every moment of every day, rejoicing in His love, the love He has for us, and the love we have for Him. More than this, John tells us to love God means He is more than being with us, more than protecting us and sheltering us, more than healing us, He is living in us. Again, John tells us in 14:23:  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” In these terrible times of this dreaded pandemic, I find comfort in knowing as long as I keep my eye on the Lord and my mind focused on His Word, it’s going to be alright.

Just look at all the Lord has done for us over the years. His gifts and His blessing showered down upon us; we are all His children, His followers, His beloved. Look at all the goodness in the lives of the people around us, their blessings, their prosperity, their hope in the future. Is it any wonder that Luke tells us in 13:17, “and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by Him.”

No matter what uncertainty faces us today, know that the congregation, priest, deacon, and staff at St. Jude Catholic Church are praying for you, and at this moment with you. All the people living with the anxiety of loneliness and separation are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Turn to the Lord in prayer, breathe in the power of His presence, and be thankful and grateful, for He is our Lord. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Amen