Dear Parish Family,
"God became man so that man might become God." St. Athanasius and the Church Fathers taught this theological concept in the early years of the Church, and we still teach it today. Yet thousands of years of Church history haven't softened the impact this teaching makes on our lives and it's difficulty to accept.

When we actually understand what's at stake in these words, we get an insight into the Heart of God's love for us and His plan of salvation. Another way of saying this is that God chose to share our human nature that we might share His divine nature. God teaches us through Christ's humanity that He doesn't disdain our human nature, and that our humanity has a divine capacity.

Our human nature is good. We don't have to escape from it to be like God, but rather we need to let God transfigure our human nature to take on the image and likeness of His divine nature. In heaven, we will still be human persons, but our humanity will be infused with God's eternal, incorruptible divine life. The Transfiguration of Christ in today's Gospel shows us this divine capacity inherent in our human nature. In fact, our human nature is lacking in its best quality (sharing God's divine nature) when we don't allow God's grace to transform and transfigure our humanity in Christ.

I find it fascinating that there are saints whose human bodies are incorruptible. Even centuries after their death, they are preserved from bodily decay and look like they are sleeping. While this kind of incorruptibility is very rare, it does happen without scientific explanation to those whose lives were transfigured into the divine life of Christ in a very tangible way. Check out https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/incorruptible-saints.html to learn more about the incorruptible saints. I'm sure you will find their lives fascinating too!

Remember that our Lenten journey is concerned with this divine transformation in Christ. We aren't merely trying to become "better people" through our Lenten disciplines. Rather, we are letting God fill our humanity with His divinity, becoming one in mind, heart, and will with Him. That's what the life of heaven is like, and the transformation can happen even here in this life and in purgatory as our lives are transfigured into the image and likeness of God.

Lenten Mission
Remember to come to our Lenten Mission this Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 pm at St. Mary's in the church. We are presenting The Doug & Dave Show's "Mass Confusion", a creative evangelization that will provide lighthearted entertainment for all ages and a deepened appreciation for our Catholic Mass. It's not something you want to miss!

Evening of Confessions
We also have our Evening of Confessions this Wednesday from 5-8 pm. Fr. Fabian and I will hear confessions during this timeframe in the Hospitality Room and Community Room off of the gathering space at St. Mary's. I know this overlaps with the Lenten Mission, but we are going to make it work!

Pro Life Ministry Leaders Needed
We are looking for a few people to assist with our Pro Life ministry here at St. Patrick's. I am immensely grateful for the many years of service offered to this ministry by Vicki Fink. She would like to step down from heading the ministry, and she has ample resources available to help a new person, or team of people, get started. Please reach out to me ([email protected]) if you would be interested in helping to head up our Pro Life efforts here at St. Patrick's, and in conjunction with the St. Mary's Pro Life Ministry and Geauga Pro Life Coalition.

I am yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott Goodfellow