Dear Family,
The parish family of St. John the Baptist recently celebrated the Rites of Christian Burial for Arlene Erdman, the wife of Dr. Leonard Erdman, good people known to many. At the funeral, at her request the following reflection was read by Msgr. Vincent Kelly, also its author. It pleases me now to pass it on to you, particularly at the beginning of our new year.
The issues that confront us today can establish an atmosphere of doom and gloom where many are on the verge of frustration and even despair. Consider the Economy, inflation, prices of materials such as food, gasoline, house mortgages, election promises, etc. We can and we will emerge from these challenges as our nation has before. But for a moment reflect on guide posts which can offer you inner peace.
† Be glad of life, because it gives you a chance to love, to work, to play and to look up at the stars;
† Be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best use of them;
† Despise nothing in the world except what is false and mean;
† Fear nothing except what is cowardly;
† Be guided by what you admire and love, rather than by what you hate;
† Envy nothing that is your neighbors, except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manner;
† Think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends and every day of Christ; and
† Spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit, in God’s presence.
These are the signposts on the footpath of peace. The person who seeks God has already found Him.
-Msgr. Vincent T. Kelly
With my prayers for Christ’s peace in your 2017, I’m yours in Jesus
