We are, first of all, St. Andrew’s Abbey. Secondly, we are the Benedictine’s here. One of the first things we do and probably don’t reflect on is that we worship the one true God in spirit and in truth and we do it every day. That’s a significant thing to do. Especially when you think of certain areas in the world where God is deliberately ignored on a rather powerful level, for instance the European Union. They had their 50^th anniversary celebration and it was blah. Because even Angela Merkel the Chancellor of Germany says, "that the multi cultural value system is falling apart." In other words they don’t base their life on the values of the Gospel but on the values of the culture. And she herself noticed that it’s all falling apart. And it’s got to fall apart. We could take other places, for instance, the thugs that are running the Sudan is another area. So this is one of the first things we do that’s very significant. God is honored here.

Secondly, we honor his laws. We respect his laws and we keep them. We keep them, not perfectly, I understand but the fact is that we honor him by respecting his laws and upholding them.

Thirdly, this is a place where people pray. I see you pray in church. I see you walking around but talking to you in Lent I know that this community prays, individually, over and above the time we gather together. It’s a significant thing because that means there’s a channel going between heaven and this place.

Fourthly, this place is a place of hope. We really do trust in the resurrection that this is a gift to us and that this is the foundation of our hope. It’s an interesting thing if you read the history during the Roman times and you pick up the cultural aspect. The historians say that the Mediterranean basin was in depression. The whole place. Well that’s understandable. What could they base their hope on in life? We know where we came from and we know where we’re going. But I don’t think we reflect enough on it. Thousands of people die every day so there’s a whole transition of people going into eternity. Hopefully they’re going to heaven otherwise not. And we pray in the most significant moment in the Mass, that is, the high Doxology, through Him, with Him, and in Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor are yours Almighty Father forever and ever. It’s to acknowledge that God is working his plan and his glory in souls today. Thousands of people are dying and some of those people are going into eternal life in the glory of God. And our prayers not only accompany them but also win graces for some people to make it. So it’s another important thing we do.

Although we are aware that we are not perfect but we do serve each other. People are faithful to their responsibilities as they see them as a service and they do it. Which makes for a half way decent living.

So where does the tire hit the road more strongly for us? Because we have all these things in place basically, we hear the call of Lord if he’s resurrected he’s alive he’s proactive in each of us, what’s he doing? The first thing Jesus does always is awaken us because we have to always grow in faith. To grow in faith means more than just being aware that God exists today, it means that God’s plan is being operative in my life and in the life around us and how’s God calling me to know him more deeply. Therefore, we always live in this call to deepen our faith especially to believe in the God who loves. Which means we should show it by turning to the Lord especially when things don’t seem to be going right or God seems to be distant from us, we have to make a choice. Because we believe that Jesus is alive and therefore, he’s active toward us.

Secondly, he activates us. The Eucharist is not magic, it’s a reality. We receive the resurrected Jesus and, therefore, he activates us. Not only that he gives us the grace and he gives us the promise at the same time that we would conquer all evil. We have the victory. That’s what we celebrate. This is the feast of the victory of Christ. So we participate in that and this is what the Lord gives us grace for and also promises us it’s completion. Since we’re on the way some things we have to take more time to learn, but we learn them, I hope, so that we become victorious. We should at times experience victories over this or that difficulty. So you decide for instance you are going to be more thoughtful and you find that you’re not thoughtful in certain places and you ask for grace and you find yourself more thoughtful. Grace comes and you are victorious.

And the other place where the tire hits the road is how committed are we to live the Christian life of charity? That is, to make sure we don’t abandon charity. Again I don’t mean some kind of great heroic work. Just a willingness and the consciousness to always keep avenues open to each other and promote each other’s good. That’s so simple sometimes. Of saying the right thing because it’s the truth and saying it lovingly. Or if you didn’t understand something to go and ask and get things straightened out. It’s in the rule that we should not let the sun go down on our anger, that applies to everything. It implies that we not only believe in the God of love but we are committed to be imitators of him and therefore to be a people that stands in life committed to resolve to live a life of charity. We don’t have to be perfect because we’re on the way so the Lord will show us things because, as I said, he awakens us, empowers us and gives us victory.

So as we are coming to retreat I encourage you to do the good works you’re doing and to listen to how the Lord is trying to share his victory with you so that you too can celebrate the Easter season with greater joy.