Pastor’s Notes

The weather in Arizona’s central desert has finally changed. As we crawl to the end of the Church’s liturgical year, the tone becomes more “eschatological” – a great big word meaning having to do with the end times.  At the end of the day, what matters?  The Sacred Liturgy takes us to the reality of life after death and of the relationship between our lives on earth and the life of glory or punishment that will follow. The Scriptures invite us to consider the fullest meaning of the Resurrection in our lives.

Luke’s Gospel story presents us with the question: “Whose wife shall she be?” Silly question. The Sadducees, temple priests, did not believe in the resurrection and hoped to discredit Jesus with their “seven-edged question.” The woman in their story dies after having been married to all seven brothers who each died before her. When she gets to heaven, which of the seven will be her true husband? Well. Complicated stuff.

Actually, no matter who marries whom, or how many times, it doesn’t make any difference in heaven. Marriage is a relationship, a human covenant with lots of cultural rules and requirements. It “sacraments” for us the Love of Christ and his church. A good marriage, even in its sunset hints of heaven, is an icon of a passionate God. “At the end of the day”…. there is only God’s love for every individual. Love trumps customs, rules and institutions. It is God’s legacy for human beings. God will be all in all … someday. It is what we are at our roots, wrapped in our DNA and what we most passionately long for “at the end of the day.”

Our thanks to all who have been about our celebration of the “Dia De Los Muertos” festival. Our gratitude to the planning committee with Luci Perez and Jerome Doris, our parish manager, to Xico our partner in this great celebration day and to the community of central Phoenix – old and new. We are in the beginning stages of a new ministerial alliance of central Phoenix churches. A special nod to Pastor Sarah Stadler of Grace Lutheran for her leadership and presence in last Sunday’s lovely ecumenical celebration of the Reformation’s 500^th anniversary. Our fall has already seen much grace. We will continue to honor the dead with a shrine at the Easter Candle near the font at the front door. Envelopes are available at the door for remembrances. The communion of saints lingers at the end of the day with rumors of what God has in store for the earth’s inhabitants.

A gentle week,
Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM