Batman's Column

My Deer Parishionerz o St. Padre Pio Parish,

It iz me, Batman, da rectory doggo!   My daddo doez a lot 4 me. We go 4 walkies and he givez me snackoz and then we go 4 walkies and then he givez me MORE snackoz!!! Dere really isn't anyting dat my daddo won't do 4 me! It iz da same ting wit God! He luvz us A LOT and dere iz nothing dat He won't do 4 our sake! Sometimez wut He doez 4 us iz super simple, like giving us an opportunity 2 go outside 5 timez a day. Udder timez God comez thru BIG TIME lik giving a son 2 da Shunemite woman in da 1st Reading. But da BIGGEST ting dat God givez us iz de Resurrection and da opportunity 2 share in da newness o His life thru Baptism. 2 do dat, we must first believe dat we hav died with Christ so dat we can also liv wit Him. AND since death has no power over Christ, we too must think of ourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus (dat meanz being holy).  Da 2nd part iz 2 realize dat dere iz nothing in dis world dat iz more important in our livz dan God. Just as Jesus sacrificed His lif on da cross 4 our sake, we hav 2 offer our livz 2 Him in da same way! De only way dat we can put God first in everyting iz if we hav space in our heartz 4 Him 2 dwell. Datz wut Jesus iz talking about when He sayz dat we hav 2 receive Him. If our livz r focused and preoccupied on udder tingz less important dan our Lord, how will we hav any space in our livz 4 Him? So let us b tankful 4 everting dat God doez 4 us, and let us put first tingz first by making da Lord da center o our livz! Den we can receive Him, luv one anudder and come 2 share in da fullness o life!

God Bless (and I iz available 4 a walkie at ANYTIME)!