St. John the Baptist of New Brighton

Connections&
May 26, 2002--Feast of the Holy Trinity

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16-18

Growing up with God
Remember losing your first baby tooth? It's a very traumatic moment for a child--that beautiful angelic smile reduced to a mouthful of uneven gaps. But before too long you understood that those teeth had to go in order for your stronger, more resilient adult teeth to come in.
In grammar school, we all believed that girls were yucky--boys were gross. But now, we've discovered that girls are pretty nice and boys aren't that bad to be around.
As a child you probably hated school--at least certain subjects in school. But as a n adult you've come to realize that that math you hated or the English essay you wrote under duress or the history you despised are critical to helping you make your way in your profession, to make sense out of the world.
As you grow up, even your dreams change--at some point we accept the fact that we will never become the starting shortstop for the Yankees and concentrate, instead, on becoming the best doctor or lawyer or teacher or building contractor we can; the dream of starring on Broadway or in the movies is forgotten once we realize the hard work demanded if we are to become the kind of parent, citizen, and human being we want to be.
Unless and until we grow beyond our childhood understandings and images, we will ever be able to live our lives to the fullest and most enriching.

CONNECTION: In today's Gospel, Jesus challenges Nicodemus to move beyond old incomplete and "childlike" images of God and grow toward an "adult faith that recognizes the God who operates out of an unfathomable love that finds no satisfaction in vengeance or retribution against his unfaithful creation; the God who constantly takes the initiative to be reconciled with us, despite ourselves; the God who is not removed from his creation but constantly present in every act of love and compassion and forgiveness. Today's Feast of the Trinity invites to rediscover the many ways in which the love of God is revealed in our lives: in the life God breathes into our souls, in every wonderful work of creation formed by the hand of God, in the love of God dwelling among us in the love of family and friends. May this more complete and "mature" sense of God become the beginning of a new more affirming and nurturing relationship with the God of all that is good.u


	Memorial Day Mass Monday, May 27, 2002 9:00 a.m. St. John the Baptist Church followed by service at St. John's Cemetery The Parish Office will be closed Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27 in observance.


	Reception for Mary Ann Zervas Sunday, June 2, 2002 Following the 11:30 Mass After 20 years of service to the community of St. John the Baptist, Mary Ann has chosen to retire. Please join us as we wish her well in her new endeavors.

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