Saint Aidan Catholic Church - Livonia, MI
  • Discover
    • Schedule >
      • Holy Week
    • Livestream Masses
    • Lent Fish Dinners
    • Contact
    • Register
    • About >
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
      • PRES Plan
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Young(ish) Adults
    • Links
  • Grow
    • March Enrichment
    • Lent '23
    • Families
    • Blog
    • Bible Studies >
      • Exodus
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Young(ish) Adults
    • Youth Ministry
    • Ongoing Enrichment >
      • Online Studies
      • Sacraments
      • Faith Basics
      • Library Database
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Become Catholic
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Assistance
    • Pray
    • Vocations
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
    • Endowment
  • Discover
    • Schedule >
      • Holy Week
    • Livestream Masses
    • Lent Fish Dinners
    • Contact
    • Register
    • About >
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
      • PRES Plan
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Young(ish) Adults
    • Links
  • Grow
    • March Enrichment
    • Lent '23
    • Families
    • Blog
    • Bible Studies >
      • Exodus
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Young(ish) Adults
    • Youth Ministry
    • Ongoing Enrichment >
      • Online Studies
      • Sacraments
      • Faith Basics
      • Library Database
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Become Catholic
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Assistance
    • Pray
    • Vocations
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
    • Endowment

Death, Where Is Your Sting

4/3/2021

 
We see fear all around us. Legitimate fears: fear of illness in the midst of this pandemic; political and partisan and social division that make us afraid and unsure; the fear of financial insecurity stalks many people just trying to live decent lives. The list of things of which to be afraid is long.

​Life demands courage—not an unthinking or blissful denial of reality—but feeling afraid and still acting for good. Courage is the conviction that we will see the goodness of the Lord in this land of the living. No matter what life brings on, we can rise above fear and trust God to be our light and our salvation, our sure stronghold in diversity.

This trust in God sets us free to be and act courageously, to live authentically, to forgive readily. All very scary prospects for us—it is difficult to live vulnerably. But trust gives us: the power to persevere (in the face of awful); the power to repent (admission of fault); the power to obey (loss of control); the power of compassion (when we want to “I told you so”). Trust gives us the inner strength and spirit to treat others with respect and tolerance (instead of in fear). Trust will give us hope and joy in our daily lives, honesty in our interactions, patience in waiting. Trust lies in our ability to “let go and let God.”

We know that our faith is the basis of our hope and trust—it is not dependent upon circumstance or luck, but on the very character of God. When we focus on the character of God all circumstances fall into their proper perspective. God has given us the “Blessed Assurance” that our lives (past, present and future) are in more capable hands than our own. This is faith in God from which springs hope and trust. Faith and hope and trust are a Trinity of their own; dependent, inter-dependent and relational.

The message of the Resurrection is one of hope in the face of all our fears—because we trust in God’s salvation for us and hope and believe in God’s goodness and mercy—we have faith. And we have good reason to be optimistic! Hope and trust give us understanding of the scripture and hymn text: “Death where is your sting?” So how do we go about changing our distress into moments of faith, hope and trust? I think the Rev. writer John O’Donohue says it best in this blessing:

For Courage
When the light around you lessens and Your thoughts darken until your body feels fear turn
Cold as a stone inside,
When you find yourself bereft of any belief in yourself, And all unknowingly leaned on has fallen,
When one voice commands your whole heart, And it is raven dark.

​Steady yourself and see that it is your own thinking that darkens the world,
Search and you will find a diamond-thought of light,
Know that your are not alone and that this darkness has purpose;
Gradually it will school your eyes to find the one gift your life requires Hidden within this night-corner.

Invoke the learning of every suffering you have suffered.
Close your eyes.
Gather all the kindling about your heart to create one spark.
That is all you need to nourish the flame That will cleanse the dark of its weight of festered fear.

A new confidence will come alive to urge you to higher ground 
Where your imagination will learn to engage difficulty As its most rewarding threshold!

Have a wonderful Easter season—May your life be a Psalm of Hope to all around you.
Keep singing in your hearts!

Just a Note:  Here are two lovely pieces of music corresponding to the Easter message of the Resurrection.

Elizabeth Dyc

Comments are closed.

    Authors

    David J. Conrad, M.A. Theology. Our Director of Faith Formation.

    Paul Pyrkosz. Our Youth Minister & Bookkeeper.

    ​Elizabeth Dyc. Our Director of Music Ministry.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

St. Aidan Catholic Church
17500 Farmington Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: 734-425-5950
office@saintaidanlivonia.org

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 a.m.

Picture