St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish at 24040 Armada Ridge Rd., Armada, MI 48005-4683 US - Home

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God. ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel’ (Mark 1: 12-15).

     We have begun one of the most important seasons of our liturgical calendar, the season of Lent. Today we are celebrating its first Sunday. It is a great time for the renewal of our faith! It is the time of focusing on the purpose of our Christian identity as the people of God. It is the glorious time that unfolds the event of God’s love to us, people of His own. Therefore, it is the time of fulfillment of all things accomplished through the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and offers salvation so that you and I should attain eternal life.

    We have heard scientists, especially in this year 2012, state that it might be the end of the world. The lunar eclipse will align with the sun as its first sign. Then, the earth will start to crumble as it reveals by the earth’s rocks and the tree leafs. If this really does happen, then the world will be in turmoil and human lives will be in great peril. Whether these predictions just speculation or truth, we are Christians who trust in the Lord. We believe and trust that only the Lord knows the day and time. Let us uphold and sustain the love of God in our lives. Whatever comes to us we should not fear, for just as the Lord was with Noah and his family during the flood, the same Lord will be with us in all of the circumstances of our lives.

    In the first reading from the book of Genesis, Noah and his family built the ark together to prepare for the flood. Besides building the ark, God established a covenant with Noah that He would be with him forever. The story of the flood was God’s response to human sin. It reminds us of our own human shortcomings and failings, and moves us to conform our attitudes and our lives to live uprightly according to His nature. In addition, the water of the flood is a prototype of our baptism. Our baptism reminds us as well that we are baptized in the Holy Name of the Trinity. As we hear God’s words filled with hope and assurances to Noah, we too, should feel assured during this period of Lent, that despite our sins and shortcomings, the Lord’s promise of His covenantal love still stands. It is a special time for us to re-sparkle and renew our lives in the Lord. For we know that Jesus’ our Savior is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenantal love with us.

     As we come together as the people of God, we should attune to His mercy and to His heart, why He is faithful to us and still loves us. Let us clear our conscience from evil thoughts and focus our lives to live uprightly and without blemish in the sight of the Lord. The Lord knows our heart and owns the world that we live in. Whether the world ends or the floods come, everyone must be in the ark, that is, the Church. Hence, let us row our ark together to the new Jerusalem prepared for us. Yes, brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is here in our midst, it’s in you and me, turn our lives completely into His life, and believe in His Gospel, the life and the purpose of Jesus’ ministry, is for us to live as children of God! Amen.

LENTEN SEASON
I am calling upon you my faithful family, to pray and do works of penance during this time of Lent. Renew your faith in the Lord Jesus and invite your families and friends back to Church. Let them know about our mass schedules and activities. My prayer is for all parents to bring our children to the Lord at Sunday mass and be active in your faith life as well as the life of your child or children. We need assistance as Catechists and helpers. Join the leadership roles of our parish: Pastoral Council, Commissions, Committees, organizations, give the office a call. Thank you and have a prayerful Lenten Season!

We will keep you up-to-date as we are working on the process of Together in Faith (TIF) with our parish committee leaders. Pray for God’s will and pray for one another. My prayers are for us to have peace, be strong with our faith, and rely on the divine providence of the Lord! God bless you!