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Misa al
Aire Libre My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I am very pleased to welcome you to our annual outdoor Mass sponsored by the Hispanic community of our Archdiocese. I am happy to see so many people who have come here from various parishes and churches throughout the Archdiocese. I pray that this celebration will bring all of us a very special blessing from Almighty God. As you drive into this beautiful place, Red Rock Canyon, the beauty of God’s creation is very evident. The hills, the rocks, the red earth and the changing trees and shrubs all proclaim the truth: God is good. He is loving. We cannot help but feel God’s presence here. In faith and with confidence we are inspired to acknowledge that He is Lord of all creation. He is the Creator of everything that exists because He, the Triune God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - is the One and only true God. Today’s readings from the Sacred Scriptures speak to us about this creation by God. In fact, they speak to us about the most important and unique creature God made. The Sacred Scriptures speak to us about the human being, the only creature made in the Image and Likeness of God. And today’s readings focus on the fundamental vocation of human beings. The Scriptures speak to us today about marriage. God made us male and female and He calls most human beings to enter into marriage. In and through marriage, God invites men and women, creatures He made in His own Image and Likeness, to share in His creative actions. It is through this union of a man and a woman in marriage that God intended to continue to create human life. Thus the sacrament of marriage, as He reveals to us in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the plan of God. By its very nature, marriage is a sacred institution. Through marriage our families are formed and we are assisted on our pilgrimage of faith. This is a great gift of God for everyone of us. Whether we are young or old, parents or children, all of us are blessed by God Who created us. In addition, God has redeemed us through His Son Jesus. Thus all that we are, all that we hope for, all that we shall ever have are gracious gifts from God. Therefore, at this time I wish to share a special prayer and a humble request for God’s blessings. This is especially intended for those who are celebrating the twenty-fifth or fiftieth anniversaries of their marriage. Please stand. . . Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran |