WHAT WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

                Every year in September, the Parish Council begins its year with a night of reflection or retreat to focus on what direction they will take in their deliberations throughout the year. Once again, Msgr. Madsen led the night of reflection. He spoke about what is on the minds of us all, the controversy that the Church in Buffalo is presently confronting. He began by reminding us that prayer is important at this time and to remain focused on our faith in spite of the challenges facing the Church today.

                In the midst of this and with the encouragement of Msgr. Madsen I was reminded of the 8th chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39.)

                St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans it is the love of Christ that defines who we are as believers, not the controversies that swirl around us. As Msgr. Madsen reminded us Monday night, we need to remain focused on our faith and what that means to us. Overwhelmingly, the members of the Parish Council agreed. It is the love of Christ that gives us our identity as members of St. Louis Parish. It is the love of Christ within us that makes us who we are. It is important not to be distracted from that as this disheartening controversy continues to try to divide us.

                St. Louis is our place to come and to pray and to find peace. “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him.” (Colossians 2:6).