This is Black History Month. Be sure to look at our Parish Calendar for some interesting facts on Black History. Did you know that the first African slaves arrived in Jamestown in 1619? That makes this the 400th anniversary of their arrival.
February ends this week. March 5, Mardi Gras and March 6, Ash Wednesday are less than a week and a half away. Have you bought your tickets for our annual Mardi Gras Dinner? They are available from any Tolton Society member. Just remember I do have the ashes ready for Ash Wednesday. We will have our Ash Wednesday Mass on March 6 at 6 PM.
In our second reading today, Saint Paul draws a stark contrast between Adam and Jesus. Adam is of the earth. Jesus is of heaven. We are caught in between. “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.”
In today’s Gospel, Luke tells us how to be like Jesus in Jesus’ own words. He tells us to love our enemies. “But, rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
In our first reading from the first Book of Samuel we have a strong example of this. Saul, the first king of Israel, has 3,000 of his soldiers with him chasing David, trying to kill him. In our reading David has a chase to kill Saul as Saul slept, but he doesn’t. David let’s Saul live because Saul, like David, was anointed to be king. Violence begets violence! We need to be more like Jesus, than like Adam.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and mass shootings.