These are the Paschal realities that through death, resurrection give us new life

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

“I do not at all understand the Mystery of Grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” — Anne Lamott.

Anne Lamott has a beautiful quote: “I do not at all understand the Mystery of Grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”

The word of God today sings out that quote in many different ways.

The reading from Revelation is a vision of angels and of a great multitude of peoples from every nation, race, people, and tongues; all those people in robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb (baptism garb?); and all proclaiming the glory of God.

And the first letter of John announces with absolute clarity that we are children of God now, and the future will reveal that we shall be him, because we will see him as he is.

Then the Gospel echoes all of the above, stating how and why we go and come to God and become like him.

The Gospel reveals the Way and the Process.

The great Beatitudes reveal the grace that comes out of being poor in spirit, mourning, living in meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful — clean of heart peacemakers, suffering persecution.

Amazingly, these are pathways into grace, and transformation, newness of heart and of life.

These are Paschal realities that through death and resurrection give us new life.

As Anne says about this Mystery of Grace: “… It meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at perry.leiker@gmail.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.