Happy Sunday!
A word of gratitude to our visitors to www.reclaimsunday.net who numbered over 10,000 since our launch earlier this year! There is a movement of interest in people seeking to reclaim the Lord's centrality to their lives. While still in the
rhythm of ordinary time we can give thought to how may our Advent and Christmas seasons, soon to be here, be lived in a more true fullness this year?
Blessed John Paul
II's (soon to be Saint) Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini (On Keeping the Lord's Day Holy) (5 July 1998) (teaches us further on Sunday's meaning: "The Sabbath precept, which in the first Covenant prepares for the Sunday of the new and eternal Covenant,
is therefore rooted in the depths of God's plan." (13) He goes on alluding to, "Therefore, if God 'sanctifies' the seventh day with a special blessing and makes it 'his day' par excellance, this must be understood within the deep dynamic of the dialogue
of the Covenant, indeed the dialogue of 'marriage.' This is the dialogue of love which know no interruption, yet is never monotonous." (14) IMAGINE, time with No interruption! How does our life on Sunday give rise to a new life as found in the married state, whether or not you may be actually married? Sunday, or the eighth day he assists readers to raise awareness to: "In Effect, Sunday is the day
above all other days which summons Christians to remember the salvation which was given to them in Baptism and which has made them new in Christ." (25)
NEWNESS in CHRIST & JOY!
Who does not long for newness in maturing in the faith? A deepening relationship with our savior? Lending a hand to someone as our life takes on a renewed form? As one recently widowed faithful attests, they
were blessed with eight children. He spoke with great faith of his involvement to help the poor and move forward after prior parish closings. Without hesitation the talk was on a forward direction looking toward Thanksgiving & Christmas
with loved ones. JPII in Dies Domini opens us to the door to a risen life, a life of joy, "Therefore, if we wish to rediscover the full meaning of Sunday, we must rediscover this aspect of the life of faith. Certainly, joy must mark the whole
of life, and not just one day of the week." (57)
So forward with joy, our Lord goes before us and invites us to join him!
Peace!