“Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God”

Dear Parishioners,

Winter is to nature, what spirituality is to the Christian. In winter all life in nature goes dormant, so that during this period of rest nature can renew itself in preparation for spring. Without winter there cannot be any spring. If my fig trees were not allowed to go dormant and rest, they could never produce their delicious figs in the summer.

In order for us to believe that every human person living on the earth is a gift from God, we must center ourselves in the holy presence of God. This can be done by quietly resting in prayer. Our souls need to rest apart from all the problems that surround us. Like nature, we too must go dormant and allow our spirits to be renewed.

We need to surrender our anger, our pain, our frustration, and all our fears to God who is all love and mercy. By setting aside some time each day to be in silence, we can renew the presence of God that dwells within us. Start with a few minutes, and then add a few minutes each day. You will begin to feel peace, love, and joy, as you allow God’s spirit to come into your life.

Once you establish this pattern, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. You will seek out these special quiet moments each day. Simply sit still and breathe in slowly, and say, “let us remember we are in the holy presence of God, and then slowly exhale all that burdens you. Do this a few times, and then simply sit quietly and say nothing, and do nothing, until you can hear your heart beating. After a while the minutes will go by fast, as your soul desires more time to renew itself.

I invite you to spend the next several weeks of winter to join nature in its rest before spring. May God bless your efforts. May you always live in the awareness of God’s holy presence in your life and in the life of others.

If you are willing to center yourself each for a few minutes I promise you it will change your life. Let us pray for each other during this time or dormancy and rest.

Father Gagne