Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Bishop’s Letter: Imitators of God

Aug 8, 2024

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

How are you these summer days? Are you strengthened by God’s heavenly sustenance, the Eucharist? St. Paul tells us about the gift of the Eucharist as he speaks to the Ephesians. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are called to be imitators of God. We do not need to live in despair or feel unworthy, for each person is created by God for God. We are called to live in His love, which Christ so graciously bestowed upon us. We are to fragrance our daily living with this Divine love; as we seek to become holy, we offer ourselves as Christ is—the bond between heaven and earth.

St. Paul tells us that we cannot imbue the earth with holiness if we have anger or malice; rather, kindness, compassion, mutual forgiveness, and willingness to make sacrifices for others out of God’s great love mark a Eucharistic life.

The moments of our daily living should be filled with prayer. Prayer stitches the threads of the cloth of holiness. The Gospels speak about Jesus praying alone, with His apostles, and with the people. Pope Francis says that the Psalms are the Church’s great symphony of prayer. There are 150 of them! He says the Psalms are worthy of our attention because they were the prayer of Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and all Christian generations before us. Jesus leaves the earth with Psalm 31:6 on His lips: “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.” We pray the Psalms during the Liturgy of the Hours and every celebration of Mass.

Pope Francis says: “But we cannot only live on the legacy of the past: it is necessary to make the Psalms our prayer." Psalms are prayers "for all seasons ... They are inspired by God and 'breathe' God every time they are read with faith.” Praying the Psalms helps us open ourselves to a prayer that is less focused on ourselves—a prayer of praise, blessing, thanksgiving—and they help us give voice to all creation by involving it in our praise. Psalms offer God's heart of hope.

The Psalms accompany all God's people throughout salvation history. Their words are stories of faith and beauty; in them shines forth God's grace. Jesus helps us understand this loving beauty as He raises His hands in prayer—sometimes with intimacy with the Father; sometimes with a heart full of compassion for His brothers and sisters; sometimes denouncing injustices and abuse; sometimes wearied from long journeys reaching even those most poor and marginalized.

You are called beloved as you participate in salvation history through your thoughts, words, deeds of charity and courage; prophetic witness; caring for weak individuals—the sick and elderly—and teaching God's people across all ages to know, love, and serve Him. As you bring Jesus' Presence to each one you meet today you spread Christ's loving beauty throughout today's world.

Let us not delay in being God’s fragrant aroma throughout Earth.