This past week I had the opportunity to meet with all of the employees of the parish to learn what each person does and how they serve our parishes.  Additionally I held a meeting with both Finance Councils.  Next week I will hold a combined meeting of the Pastoral Councils.  These councils are my advisors and give me the heartbeat of the parish.  Very soon, we will be outlining what we have to do to merge our two parishes into one.  This process was begun last fall, but was interrupted by the merger of St. Thomas More School. 
 
Each week, and sometimes each day, we hear of new guidelines and directives as a result of the pandemic.  As of this writing, churches are allowed to remain open.  However, each person is required to wear a mask and to sit socially distant from each other (families are an exception).  Our church building have been sanitized and we log the names and phone numbers of the congregation just in case we have to get in touch with you.  Although walk-ins are welcome, it is faster if you log in online.  As always, thank you for your patience!
 
Today’s Gospel reminds me of Brad who was a teenage boy who was “different”. The principal was always calling him in for fighting or some problem. Brad’s parents helped him get through this rough time because he was a generous boy with a good heart. One day, the principal angrily called Brad’s dad into the office. “Brad’s a troublemaker—he’s just bad for the whole class.” Then he dropped his bomb: “We just don’t want a boy like yours at our school.”
 
Mr. Connor stood up to leave and locked eyes with the principal.  “All right. But if this school were on fire, Brad is the one boy you could count on to run back into a burning building—and save you.”
 
Mr. Connor knew his son’s hidden value, but the principal was young and a bit bossy—with no creativity, love, or time to “waste” on a troublemaker—when love and patient endurance was all that Brad really needed. 
 
Patient forbearance on the journey is exactly what Jesus describes about God in the gospel today.  God is not like an angry principal.  God is more like Mr. Connor—willing to allow as much time as it takes for us to grow up spiritually—patient while we go through phases of immaturity and confusion.
 
God constantly steers us to the best choices, but if we don’t listen, we end up sowing weeds, planting evil along with good in our lives.  We must resist judging others, too, because we simply do not know what is wheat, and what is a weed.
 
What about Jesus’ sobering words on eternal damnation?  Our future will be the outgrowth of our present desire to know and do God’s will. If we give only charity and peace to others, we need never fear the principal’s office!