Batman's Column

My Deer Parishionerz o St. Padre Pio,

It iz me, Batman, da rectory doggo. Tingz haz finally gotten back 2 normal as we return 2 Ordinary Time. If u rememberz from my daddo's talkz about da Mass, Ordinary doesn't mean boring. It meanz "measured", a time 2 reflect on da life and public ministry o Jesus and everyting He haz done 4 us. Da readingz dis Sunday talk about da depthz of His luv. While it would b easy 2 call us His servantz, God speakz thru da prophet Isaiah, "It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." We r not just recipientz o God's luv and care, but also His instrumentz, called 2 bring salvation 2 da whole world! Do we accept da part o God's plan? R we open 2 His will 4 our livez? R we willing 2 receive not just a baptism o repentance (like John da Baptist) but 2 hav our livez transformed by da power o da Holy Spirit? And filled wit da faith o our baptism, do we proclaim dat Jesus iz da Son o God? So even dough da Christmas season iz over and Lent iz still a little bitz away, our livez are more dan just "ordinary". We r called 2 b open 2 da will o God, receive His Spirit and spread da Lord's plan o salvation 2 all!

God Bless (from an extraordinary 4-legged friend)!

Batman, da rectory doggo