Beloved in Christ,
"Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting "(Ps 107:1). Like last week, my reflection is inspired by the responsorial psalm for this Sunday's mass and it makes a lot of sense why it is so. I centered my message last Sunday on the importance of giving thanks to God for all his goodness to us- it is what we are created for, I emphasized. As I write these words this morning from my aunt's place in Akure, Western Nigeria, with her Alsatian dog (German Shepherd) circling around me with excitement and joy, the prominent subject on my mind is the fifth anniversary of my appointment as pastor of our lovely family of St. Peter. It was on June 17th, the same day my NBA team, Boston Celtics won the 18th championship of the franchise. Hurray!
I'm thrilled and filled with thanks to God for my five and a half (my first six months here before my appointment as pastor was as a parish administrator) journey of faith with you all, my beloved family. It has been a journey similar to that of God's chosen people that Ps. 107, a hymn of praise to God for his love and mercy, chronicled and celebrated for God's amazing intervention. We see Jesus doing same incredible deeds of intervention in the life of the apostles in the gospel that made them wonder "who then is this" (Mk 4:41). It is the Lord of everlasting love and mercy. I have experienced his continuous love and mercy through you all in all my years here so far. All I can do, and will continue to do, is "give thanks to the Lord for his mercy, " for wondrous deeds he has done for the children of Adam (see Ps. 107:22).
As I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving to God, I also extend thanks to you for your mercy and love. I'm still on this journey with you. From my flaws, I'm learning to be a better pastor at your service. Keep praying for me. We have unfinished business and I plan to stay the course until I accomplish that which the Lord has sent me to do here in St. Peter's, Elizabethtown. I'm thankful, and I love you. That dog won't stop barking for my attention, so I guess I need to stop here. I'm writing this on Juneteenth holiday, I hope you had a great celebration.
See you for July 4th celebration.
With thanks,
Fr. Alayode Bernard, OP
"Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting "(Ps 107:1). Like last week, my reflection is inspired by the responsorial psalm for this Sunday's mass and it makes a lot of sense why it is so. I centered my message last Sunday on the importance of giving thanks to God for all his goodness to us- it is what we are created for, I emphasized. As I write these words this morning from my aunt's place in Akure, Western Nigeria, with her Alsatian dog (German Shepherd) circling around me with excitement and joy, the prominent subject on my mind is the fifth anniversary of my appointment as pastor of our lovely family of St. Peter. It was on June 17th, the same day my NBA team, Boston Celtics won the 18th championship of the franchise. Hurray!
I'm thrilled and filled with thanks to God for my five and a half (my first six months here before my appointment as pastor was as a parish administrator) journey of faith with you all, my beloved family. It has been a journey similar to that of God's chosen people that Ps. 107, a hymn of praise to God for his love and mercy, chronicled and celebrated for God's amazing intervention. We see Jesus doing same incredible deeds of intervention in the life of the apostles in the gospel that made them wonder "who then is this" (Mk 4:41). It is the Lord of everlasting love and mercy. I have experienced his continuous love and mercy through you all in all my years here so far. All I can do, and will continue to do, is "give thanks to the Lord for his mercy, " for wondrous deeds he has done for the children of Adam (see Ps. 107:22).
As I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving to God, I also extend thanks to you for your mercy and love. I'm still on this journey with you. From my flaws, I'm learning to be a better pastor at your service. Keep praying for me. We have unfinished business and I plan to stay the course until I accomplish that which the Lord has sent me to do here in St. Peter's, Elizabethtown. I'm thankful, and I love you. That dog won't stop barking for my attention, so I guess I need to stop here. I'm writing this on Juneteenth holiday, I hope you had a great celebration.
See you for July 4th celebration.
With thanks,
Fr. Alayode Bernard, OP
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