R is for Repentance
In this season of Ordinary Time, we have the time to monitor our growth in truly having a repentant heart and recognizing the need to change. 
The second verse of “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” ST. THOMAS (Williams) states:
O Bless the Lord, my soul! His mercies bear in mind! Forget not all his benefits! The Lord to thee is kind. 
A part of being contrite, is to recognize all of the blessings God has provided for us.  The contrite heart when in touch with the resurrected Lord is able to confront sin and error and conform more fully to the will of the Father, as Christ did. 
The Second Reading this weekend from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:18-19, St. Paul understands this very fact as he writes:
Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.  For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. 
It is with this hope that we seek reconciliation, not only with ourselves but the whole Church.  The Church is broken whenever one of its members has been overcome with error, no matter how slight the offense.  
The Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, no. 8 states, as quoted in paragraph 3 of the praenotanda of the Order of Penance,  “…while Christ, ‘holy, innocent, and undefiled’ (Hebrews 7:26), knew nothing of sin (2 Cor 5:21) but came to expiate only the sins of the people (cf. Heb 2:17), the Church, at the same time holy and always in need of being purified, embracing in her bosom sinners, always follows the way of penance and renewal.”
It goes on to say in paragraph 4, “In many and various ways the People of God performs and perfects this continual repentance.  For the Church, sharing in the sufferings of Christ through her own patient endurance, performing works of mercy and charity, conforming herself daily more and more to the Gospel of Christ, becomes a sign in the world of conversion to God.  “
Luke 8:8 “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest”
It is through these days of Ordinary Time when we can work with diligence in rooting our very lives in Christ, sowing that seed of good will and spreading that good will over to our community and in so doing,  bearing much fruit.  This weekend, we welcome Suzanne and Mike Dailey as new cantors.  They will minister at 10 a.m. this Sunday as cantors for their first time in the Cathedral.  We are blessed to have them.  Suzanne and Mike come to us from Nebraska where they highly involved at their Catholic parish.  In addition, they are retired music teachers.