Gloria Dei vivens homo!
“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
St Irenaeus of Lyon (c. 140-203) stated this truth. God created us in His glorious image so that we could reflect that image gloriously into all the world, into all eternity! Irenaeus was writing to defend the innate goodness of the created order – in particular the material nature of us humans – against the Gnostic heresy of his day. A heresy that saw the material as “bad” or “evil” and the Spiritual as “good” and “holy”. Spiritual is indeed holy, but God created and ‘saw that it was good’ (Genesis 1). God creates us humans as enfleshed-souls. We are both-and. We are intertwined material-souls. We are our bodies as much as we are our souls. Separated, the human person makes no sense. Sadly, there is a need for this reminder today when there is so much confusion around the human person, especially our bodies gifted to us – not assigned – us at conception (not just birth). Bodies we are meant to cherish and steward until death, until God gloriously raises us from the dead when we too share fully and forever in the Resurrection of Body. We are called to be fully alive and this means fully living out our spiritual and material existence for God’s Glory and our own good.
I also raise this quote from St Irenaeus because it ties in nicely to the Theme for the 2023 NCYC: Fully Alive. Jesus wans us fully alive. Fully alert to His presence, His power, His place in our lives. Jesus wants us fully alive as we were created to be for God’s glory and our good. The NCYC conference is drawing particular power and attention to two Scriptures:
God created mankind in His image; in the image of God, he created them. ~ Genesis 1:23-27
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. ~ John 10:10
This week, Mrs. Abbi Harbeson, myself, 4 chaperons and 17 teens will be heading up to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference. NCYC is a powerfully unique three-day experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers (of high school age) and their adult chaperones. This has been a truly powerful encounter with Jesus Christ and an equally powerful experience of the Universal Catholic Church for many teens in past years. I trust it will be so again this time. While I’ve attended 1 other time to assist with Confessions, this will be the first time I’m going to conference with a group of teens and adults. So, I’m looking forward to all the Faith and Fun. Please pray for us this week, as we will be praying for you. While you might not be attending this conference, it would be well worth your while to pray for a greater experience of Life Fully Alive for Christ. Young or old, this is calling for all of God’s Chosen People, for all of His Beloved Sons and Daughters. It is the call to be what you were created to be – a saint!
United Catholic Appeal – United in the Eucharist Archdiocesan Campaign
“It is with deep gratitude and a joyful heart that I thank you for your unselfish generosity. Your financial support for the pastoral, charitable, and diocesan ministries of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a bold example of how we are United in the Eucharist. Through the stewarding and sharing of your treasure, you are magnifying the impact we can have in central and southern Indiana, and beyond”.
+ Most Rev. Charles C. Thompson, Archbishop
Thank you to all those who submitted a donation or pledge card from Holy Family. As we have been richly blessed, we are challenged to richly give. If you have not yet participated, I would invite you to do so. Participation is a sign of our shared responsibility and communal accountability. Even if you cannot contribute financially at present, a returned pledge card demonstrates your commitment to the greater Church. You may drop your pledge card in the Mass offertory basket or at the parish office.
+ Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God. +
Holy Family, Fully Alive in God’s Love, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries