"The Glory of God is the human person fully alive."
St. Irenaeus
At the end of the Last Supper, offering his farewell, as it were, to his closest disciples, Jesus assures them that no matter how difficult things will get, they should take heart, knowing that he has overcome it all. He assures them that his overcoming is their overcoming--and hence, it is our overcoming. Whatever it is that discourages us, causes anxiety or fear, or even keeps us from God altogether is already overcome. We can take heart that by trusting in Jesus, he will overcome all in our lives. So let's live this Lent as a parish together in the spirit of overcoming: lifting each other, seeking out those we do not know, inviting those whom Our Lord puts in our path--and we will no doubt be surprised at how he fulfills his promise in the new life of Easter!