Dear Parishioners,
Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, our second reading this week, has a little phrase that really struck me when I prayed over it. He says “sing and play to the Lord in your hearts.” Here’s the whole verse: “And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
Dear Parishioners,
It’s surprising, even scandalous, how many prophets in the Old Testament pray for death. Elijah does in this week’s first reading. Moses did in last week’s reading. Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, and others…all struggle with their burdens and ask to be relieved. Recall Saint Thomas’ words: “Let us go to die with him.”
Dear Parishioners,
I’ve been reading several books about the American Civil War, one of my old pastimes. When it comes to military history, we often learn about the battles and the tactics that led to the victory or defeat in the battle itself: this general acted decisively and took the high ground; that commander positioned his artillery in such and such a way; the army counterattacked in the evening when the fighting was supposed to be finished; and so forth. While all these moves are important to the victory of the battle, there is something more significant outside of the battle itself that will lead to victory of a campaign and even the entire war. That is the supply train for the army. Does the army have enough food, clothing, munitions to fight and advance?
Father James Wallace grew up in Winnetka, Illinois and attended Sts. Faith Hope and Charity grammar school, New Trier High School, and then The George Washington University in Washington DC, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science in 2007. He attended seminary at The Pontifical North American College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 2012 for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to being the pastor of Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, he serves as a canon lawyer for the Archdiocese, a dean in Vicariate II, and a professor of canon law and spiritual director at Mundelein Seminary. He is also one of the featured Mercy Home Sunday Mass celebrants, airing Sundays at 9:30am on WGN.
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