Beginnings and Endings
It might seem odd to be pondering beginnings and endings when we are in the middle of Lent, but I am trusting the Holy Spirit’s nudge in this direction. The circle of life has been on my mind lately. Birth and death. Sunrise and sunset. Joy and sorrow. Peace and war. Fruitful and unproductive. Opportunities and setbacks. One door opens as another closes.
This thought stream really hit my heart last Sunday as our new parish decree was posted: Single parish to merged parish. This was not a surprise at all. We were excited to learn our new parish name. But still...
Our parish, Saint Patrick Dwight, received the official Decree from Bishop Tylka outlining our parish merger with Saint Paul Odell and decreeing our new parish name as Blessed Trinity. While the names on our church buildings will remain the same, the people of our two parishes will work together on becoming this new entity of Blessed Trinity Parish. More accurately, we will continue to work together since our Parish Transition Team has been meeting on a regular basis since September 2024 to complete items on our merger checklist. Fittingly, this decree will take effect on the vigil of the solemnity of the Holy Trinity, June 14, 2025.
Sunday’s reading from Exodus Chapter 3 includes the statement, “The place where you stand is holy ground.” This verse reminds me that yes, of course, our churches represent holy ground. But do we also recognize the holy ground we stand on wherever and whenever we acknowledge His Presence in our lives and others? As we begin and end each day in prayer we stand in the presence of our God on holy ground. Our relationship with Him, our fellow parishioners, and all others should become a place where we create and build up holy ground.
What do my numerous beginnings and endings look like? Do I start and end each day recognizing I am in a sacred place when I call on the Lord for help and guidance? Does my approach or attitude look different at the beginning of a task than at its ending? Should it be the same whether it is a beginning, ending or middle? Is my attitude one of gratitude when I say both morning and nighttime prayers?
How could I go wrong by starting and ending a task, or the very essence of my life’s work, with an attitude of joy, hope, gratitude, and love? My mid-Lenten prayer will be for the grace to acknowledge and honor the holy ground of relationship with my God throughout the day.
Christ, our Holy Ground, may we strive to become a new entity in you throughout the beginnings and endings of all our days.
