This week has a been a big week for the Catholics of Bridgeport. Our new Bishop has been officially sworn in giving the community a renewed sense of completion. The last Bishop of Bridgeport became the Arch Bishop of Baltimore back in March of 2012. A year and a half we’ve waited patiently for his replacement. One of the things about our churches is that we get to know a lot of different clergy. It’s a great thing for parishioners but it can also be a sad thing. Some churches can have a priest for ten years or a few months. It makes it hard to start relationships with people you know will be leaving shortly. However, we do it. We embrace each person the same amount of love.
Pope Francis chose Rev. Frank J. Caggiano to be the fifth Bishop of Bridgeport. We welcome him as we do the Pope’s reminder to love all of our brothers and sister’s the same. The Pope’s latest interview about the Church’s obsession with abortion, birth control and the LGBTQ Community has left me and many other Catholics smiling. For the first time in my life, I feel like the direction the Church is going in, is one that truly reflects Jesus’ teachings.
In today’s homily Jesus tells us that we cannot serve God and man. “…No servant can serve two masters…” (Luke 16) Father Elio explained that we must remind ourselves that material possessions does not equal happiness. Although we may use material items to serve God. He wants us to love Him with all of our hearts. This is the reason why He allows us multiple opportunities to get into His Kingdom. Everyday we are given chances to prove if we love ourselves or God.
With each decision we make we are brought to a fork in the road. One path leads us closer to God, while the other path leads us …away. If we live for our desires and only our desires we’re choosing a path that leads away from God. This fork in the road does not appear in front of us only once but many times. We must remember that we are all sinners and effected by sin; and ultimately whichever path we decide to go down, we all have to answer for our actions in the end. If we strengthen our faith and pray that we may serve Him better, we’ll keep choosing the right path that leads us closer to Him and to Heaven.
I ask you now to take a moment to pray for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ that we may be guided to choose wisely.
Do you have a support system in place to help keep you on a path that leads you where you want to go?
Until then,
