The Pastor's Pen

April 20, 2025



There is a wonderful collection of poems written by mystics of both eastern and western

traditions called: Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West.

In the section of poems written by St. Teresa of Avila, appears this little gem.

He desired me, so I came close.

A thousand souls hear His call every second,

but most everyone then

looks into their life’s mirror and says:

“I am not worthy to leave this sadness.”

When I first heard His courting song, I too

looked at all I had done in my life

and said:

“How can I gaze into His omnipresent eyes?”

I spoke these words with all

my heart.

But then He sang again, a song even sweeter

and when I tried to shame myself

once more from his presence

God showed me his compassion

and spoke a divine truth.

“I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect.

Please come close, for I

desire you...”

I have been haunted (in a good way) by her line: “I am not worthy to leave this

sadness.” How often have I chosen to avoid the joy of the resurrection and the power of

the life purchased at such a great cost by our Savior because I became comfortable in

my own small world, trapped behind the bars of a prison of my own construction? We

tell the Lord of life that we don’t want His offer, that we’re not good enough to ever

deserve such a love.

But if there is a truth to the cross and the resurrection, isn’t it this? No one deserves

such a love. But everyone can receive it. That is the desire of God for us this Easter –

to leave behind the sadness and darkness and hopelessness in the face of the

complexities of life – and trust that God wants life for us. God desires to come close to

us. And if that is not cause for resurrection gladness, then I don’t know what is.

These fifty days of Easter invite us to live with that simple truth like the wallet in our

pocket or the purse at our side – “Leave the sadness behind, and come close, for I

desire you…”

Have a blessed Easter Season…

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Part of our joy this Easter is welcoming into the Catholic Faith our Catechumens and

Candidate;

Zane Balona, Katey Kaseberg, Ziyad Hodzic, Chris Robin and Peyton Kopp were all

fully initiated into the Catholic church, receiving Baptism, Confirmation and Holy

Eucharist.

Andrea Williams and Laura Wilson, both baptized in different denominations, made their

profession of Faith in the Catholic church, received Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

Addison Cambron and Colin McDevitt completed their sacraments of initiation by being

Confirmed.

Welcome home! And welcome to our family of faith. We are glad that you are here

among us. And THANK YOU. Your witness in your courageous choices to enter the

faith encourage us who sometimes can take our faith for granted, to renew our own zeal

and love for the Lord in his Sacraments. As they say in rite of Ordination: “May God

who has begun this good work in you, see it through to completion.”