From the Hermitage**
A recent sunrise at the Hermitage
Dear Friends,
Several verses from the First Reading (Book of Proverbs)
A careful read and a few moments of serious, reflective listening are more significant than a simple hearing of these same words. "To each his (or her) own" in selecting what might be the best avenue of direction leading to a personal conversation with Jesus.
In the Mode of Pope Francis
Verse 13: He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor, will himself also call and not be heard.
A Challenge to Contemporary Society
Verse 2: All the ways of a man (or woman) may be right in his (her) own eyes, but it is the Lord who proves hearts.
For the Holier than Thou
Verse 3: Haughty eyes and a proud heart --- the tillage of the wicked is sin.
So often we may read a line or two from the Book of Proverbs but pass on quickly to something else.
Today the Spirit moved me to read and reread this first reading rather than move on to the gospel writing.
Now to a practical matter.
With priests no longer living in what had been the "rectory," sharing living space with office space, the residence which has been my home for about three years after many years of being a convent for teaching and student religious women, will become the residence for priests working at the parish or assisting at the parish. It will be only a residence. No longer will there be offices in the residence for meetings or appointments. The residence will be mainly a home for the priests, free of office work.
Likewise, it seems appropriate to change the name of the residence at this time. Henceforth, the priests' residence will be name Ignatius House. No surprise some have said: a former Jesuit living in the residence, serving as the Administrator of the Parish, prefers Ignatius House!
Oremus pro invicem!
Fr. Milt
