FINDING GOD AT WORK IN THE UNEXPECTED

There are many stories in scripture where God works through unexpected people, and in unexpected circumstances. I read this recently in a book on mission and planning in a parish, something at the core of Beacons of Light. Times when there is a constant surprise in the outcomes of life. The Apostles often faced the unexpected in their ministry after the resurrection. I do not know about you, but I am still getting used to the new Mass schedule and my assignments at “NE 4” (our official Beacons of Light designation for the Parish family Incarnation and St. Francis of Assisi). My fear of being at the wrong place at the wrong time causes anxiety, fear that goes away as the Holy Spirit comes into that moment and reminds me all will be well.

Thinking about how the Holy Spirit does God’s work in our lives, I see that in the past, unexpected people came into my life and changed things for me in ways I couldn’t have planned on my own. You see, God is at work in times of discontinuity, times when unexpected interruptions in life initially frustrate us, but bring benefits beyond what we expect.

In the first month of being a deacon at two locations, my anxiety of being late or even worse, missing an assigned time I was to be somewhere to do something was unfounded. Instead, I received kind greetings and a warm welcome from St. Francis of Assisi parishioners and familiar faces at Incarnation. In the time after my wife’s death, I look back at the support our family received with outreach and genuine concern in unexpected ways. God has been present during these times through thoughtful people who did what I could not do on my own.

The Gospel today cautions us that where our treasure is, there also will your heart be. May we place our trust in God in the unexpected people and events to come as we experience Beacons of Light as things unfold. May we turn the anxiety of life over to the Holy Spirit and trust that God is present in the unexpected moments of life.

Deacon Roger Duffy

FRIDAY MORNING MASSES
Beginning Friday, August 19, Mass will move to 9:00 am to accommodate the school students. This new time will be in affect every Friday during the entire school year even if school is not in session.

INSTRUMENTS OF GOD’S LOVE
Thanks to your generosity and the help of Incarnation’s
St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, we were able to help
local families battle the rising tide of inflation, particularly for groceries and utilities.  Here’s a snapshot of how we assisted needy neighbors in the second quarter of this year:

DONATE TO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
Your donations make a difference. You can give online now at our secure WeShare site:   https://incarnation-parish.WeShare online.org/ or you can mail your donation envelope or drop it in the mailbox at the parish office.
And if you’d like to join Vincentians in this ministry, contact Candy Huttinger via email at  csnhutt@yahoo.com about volunteer opportunities.