Viva La Fiesta!
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
First of all, I would be very remiss not to begin this bulletin message without gladly proclaiming “Viva la Fiesta” and wishing you all the most joyful salutations and greetings as we look forward to enjoying Fiesta and our Old Spanish Days ongoing celebrations. Yes, this is truly a glorious time for Santa Barbarians, and one that sparks the spirits and uplifts the joyfulness of our unity, and all that we share together in this very blest community. I believe that in these days and gatherings together we truly taste the flavor and beauty of our common life that is accentuated by the pageantry of culture, beauty, people, and customs that make us all one in spirit and in heart. This is who we are at our best, as people of this community and oneness of spirit. We are people of joy! We are people of beauty! We are people who dance with great passion, a passion for living and loving, in all that we are, and all that we do! So, in that spirit, again I wish you, “VIVA LA FIESTA!”
Our scripture readings this Sunday, I believe, touch on our Fiesta theme that has been chosen for this year by La Presidenta Stephenia Petlow of “Honoring Our Generations.” Our Responsorial Psalm begins with “What we have heard and know, and what our ancestors have declared to us, we will declare to the generations to come, the glorious deeds of the Lord and his strength and the wonders God has wrought.” We are all given the privilege and passion of making the declaration of the goodness of the Lord and of how we stand on the pinnacle of declaration in making known the abundant graciousness that fills our hearts and history with wonder for all that has been given to us, as we make that known to others in generations to come.
In our first reading we see the people of Israel receiving needed food to sustain and nourish their physical needs, in their traversing across the desert following Moses’ leadership. The people are fed with the providential food that Yahweh provides for them in their needs that fills their “flesh pots” and “manna” as bread sent down from heaven. In our Gospel reading we see Jesus challenging the people, not to just look for physical bread to eat, but seek the real “Bread of Life” that comes from God alone. And Jesus reassures the people that the bread that they seek, is indeed found in Him, and it is in Him as the “Bread of Life.” So, in the Gospel, Jesus invites the crowd to shift their expectation from outward signs to inner transformation. This is the work of God; this is what eating of “the true bread of life” brings to us and within us.
So, my dearest sisters and brothers, let us open our hearts and spirits to receive this gift of Jesus who comes to us as bread and nourishes our souls as “The Bread of Life.” May we enter this joyful time of Fiesta with hearts and spirits made open to pass on the goodness that we have received and share that with others, those here in our presence, and those that are still yet to enjoy all that is given to us. May we truly “Honor our Generations” both past, present, and those yet to come.
VIVA LA FIESTA!
Fr. Larry Gosselin, O.F.M.