WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 5/20/16

May 20, 2016  /  Joe Parisi

God is a family. And we are welcomed into this Divine Family.

The first reading may strike us as unusual. In Proverbs, the Wisdom of God says, "I was playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth." For Christians, this is a reference to the Eternal Son, who becomes man in Jesus. The Son delights to be in the Father's presence; and the Father delights in His Son. The reading continues, "and I found delight in the human race." Jesus is happy to be with us. God loves to spend time with us, with you, and with me. 

We see this in the Gospels as Jesus welcomes children and embraces them. He calls disciples to Himself, dines in their homes, and celebrates at a wedding banquet. 

For many of us, our families are a sign of God's love. We are embraced, cared for, and supported. We feel God "delighting" in us. Other families are marked by many wounds and sufferings. In a special way, they cry out to Christ for His healing and mercy. Jesus never tires of offering us His healing. The greatest gift He offers us is Himself-- communion with Him and His Father. 

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. We celebrate the Divine Family. We also celebrate our own identity in that Family. Each of us is a son or daughter of the Father. Each of us is beloved by the Jesus the Son. In baptism, we share in the family of the Church-- wit Mary as our mother, with the saints in Heaven and with the pilgrim Church on earth. 

But wait, there's more! In our vocations, we even share in God's Fatherhood, pro-creating and co-creating. Fathers and mothers share in this gift through their sons and daughters. Priestly Fathers and religious share in God's life as spiritual fathers and mothers in the Church. God delights in us! The Father, Son and Spirit are pleased to work through us to create and redeem the human race. At times we back away from our calling because it seems too lofty, too powerful, too holy for us. It's true, the bar is high. Yet God reminds us that we are made in the divine image, baptized into His grace, and fed with Heavenly Bread. If God delights in us, who are we to resist?

Fr Joe Laramie, SJ  

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: 5/26, 8/4

Men: 6/9, 6/20, 6/23

CoEd: 9/2