Pastor's Letter

Mountain Climbing
 
Today we celebrate the great feast of the Transfiguration—the moment the fully human Jesus also reveals himself as fully divine.
 
And he took Peter, James and John up the mountain to experience it.  Of course, they had no idea what was in store for them when they set out or even where they were headed.  As disciples they were simply accompanying Jesus on the way.
 
So Peter, James and John’s experience actually becomes a good metaphor for the spiritual life.  As followers of Christ, we’re in the midst of a journey we call our everyday lives.  We’re meant to discover that it’s Jesus who accompanies us each day, and if we let him, he can even lead us to see something we’re meant to see.
 
Sometimes we’ll have Transfiguration moments—moments of experiencing the divine at work and present to us.  Other times, we find we have to pick up our cross and head into the depths of a passion—experiencing the humanness of suffering, whatever form it takes. Life is full of ups and downs.
 
But we don’t travel the mountain path alone.  Every mountain climber has something to hold onto so they don’t fall.  In the spiritual journey, it’s our faith in Jesus Christ.  We have some one to hold onto, and like a skilled expedition leader, he will keep us on sturdy ground.  But to do that, like Jesus often says, we need to keep our eyes and ears open.
 
Nothing can replace prayer, or the openness to discovering where God is leading us.  We all have the ability to experience it.  We are moments away from a discovery. 
 
Some Good Discoveries:
 
One of the great things I discovered last week is the goodness and kindness of the St. Hubert community.  Thank you for the warm welcome. I enjoyed meeting many of you last Sunday, and look forward to meeting more and more of you as time goes on.
 
One of the other things I am discovering is that the parish loves a good party and a good picnic!  And this month, there are a couple opportunities.
 
Please come out for the Sharing Parish Picnic next Saturday, August 12 from 11:30am-4pm right here at St. Hubert.  It will be great to meet our friends from St. Aloysius and to have this time to socialize and get to know each other. 
 
Then, the following Saturday, join us for the School Family Picnic on August 19 beginning with Mass at 4:30pm.  You’ll have the opportunity to meet Ms. Kelly Bourrell, our new principal, as we welcome in a new school year. 
 
There’s nothing better than a picnic in summertime—baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and St. Hubert.   (Sorry...I still have a little bit of the advertising business in me!)  I hope to see you there!
 
Fr. Mike