Dear Parishioners of St. James:
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Jesus ascended into heaven to be our hope. We do not hope in people or this world. Our hope is in God alone. We have confidence that heaven is possible because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father as our Mediator. He pleads our cause to the Father, giving us the grace to be saved.
Our orientation is toward heaven. We still walk our pilgrimage of faith in this world, but our destination is life everlasting with the Most Blessed Trinity. Hope is a virtue that aids the pursuit of a future good that is difficult to attain. Therefore, trials, suffering, setbacks, and difficulties accepted with hope serve to strengthen the believer rather than disappoint him. Hope is our help in this life.
Where Jesus ascended, we hope to follow. Keep your eyes fixed on heaven, not on the passing things of this world. We are another day closer to our destination – joy without end!
God bless you,
Fr. Geary
Saint James Catholic Church 