The Joy Of Jesus!

Dear Father Eric,

Father Adam gave all parish families a book for Christmas, The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis. I wanted to share a bit from his section on Kerygma (164):

“On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’ This first proclamation is called “first” not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things. It is first, in a qualitative sense, because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment.”

This passage made me think of something I heard you say at least a few times in jest with some seriousness. “I give the same sermon over and over.” I had to roll this over in my mind whenever I heard you say it. My first reaction was always, “no, of course not!” but there is some truth to it as well. Now I understand why your homilies were so impressionable. A few quotes from you, “Jesus is our Savior. I believe Jesus is the way. Our one priority. Stay close to Jesus.” “Reflect on all we do. Is it from the heart or somewhere else? What can we accomplish with Christ at our side?” “Jesus on the Cross – the most important thing in history.” “Jesus came to bring spiritual life. Ask for faith, to grow stronger in our faith. What is Jesus asking us to do today?” “Let Jesus take his place in my heart, to be my God, to give me the gift of the Holy Spirit.” “How do we stand up to our beliefs? Ask Jesus to help us be faithful always.”

And Pope Francis continues with this: “For this reason too, “the priest – like every other member of the Church – ought to grow in awareness that he himself is continually in need of being evangelized.”

You see! You haven’t really left us! What you gave us should last forever. God blessed us with you and has now blessed us so richly with Father Adam. How can we not but give our hearts to such a good God.

There are a few copies of this book left. I hope you grabbed one today when you came for the funeral if you do not have a copy of it.

Blessings to you and your parish.