Lent – 2017
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Among other things, the Season of Lent reminds us of the relative insignificance of our individual human experience. More specifically, Lent reminds us that the “things” that seem important to us in our mortal existence, are trivial when compared to the glories that we may realize in the life to come. In the quote above from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Our Lord emphasizes this point; that we should not focus upon worldly achievements; but rather we should work towards those goals that will be essential to our Eternal existence: our Eternal Life.
Below you will find a link to the schedule of Services that will be offered at St. James during this Lenten Season. You will notice that this year there is one significant addition; the performance of Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem” on March 10. This will be an excellent opportunity to invite others to witness the majesty and solemnity that we all know as members of St. James. This will be an opportunity to invite others to our Church. This will be an opportunity for us to lay up treasures in heaven; “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also“.
I implore you to include your presence at every service on this schedule as part of your Lenten discipline; to avail yourselves of every opportunity to grow and witness your Faith through your participation at the Friday devotions of the Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; by your attendance at the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, and the regularly scheduled Requiem Masses; and through your presence at all of the Holy Week Services.
During this Lenten Season I implore you to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal“. I pray that you will have a Holy Lent in anticipation of Our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection; and that during this time you will be inspired to invite others to our Church because; “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also“.