Pastor's Letter

Theophilus…All of Us?

In today’s gospel, Luke tells us that “many” people compiled a report about Jesus Christ—from eyewitnesses who experienced him alive and resurrected, to ministers of the word.  He tells us he also was up to the task.
 

ALTAR SERVER APPRECIATION MASS With Bishop Alberto Rojas   Sunday, February 10th at 3 PM Here at St. Hubert Church!   Bishop Rojas invites Altar Servers and their families to a special Mass to say Thank You and to appreciate all you do.  Join over a hundred Altar Servers from parishes in northwest suburban Cook and Lake Counties.  Then, afterward, join the Bishop for a Pizza Party in the lower level of the church!   Thank you, Altar Servers! We appreciate all you do!!

He goes on to say he prepared his gospel for a person named Theophilus, who Luke described as “most excellent.”  The scholars tell us that the name Theophilus (say that 10 times fast!), translated literally from Greek to English, means “loved by God” or “friend of God.”  And that’s an interesting thing to reflect on.
 
Biblical scholars debate who exactly this person was, but the spiritual masters will tell us that maybe the whole point is that it doesn’t matter.  The gospel is directed to each one of us—friends of God, loved by God.  The gospel was compiled for a man hungry to know the facts about Jesus, just like we are.
 
The gospel is for you and me.
 
We’re hungry and eager to know more and more about Jesus and the way he moves in our lives.
 
In the letter from Paul today, we’ll hear that very familiar passage about the body of Christ.  Paul uses the human body as a metaphor to describe how we aren’t meant to journey through life alone.  Rather, there is greater wholeness and fullness when we work together. (Even the Lone Ranger had a side-kick!)  The body functions as a whole, not as separate parts.

2020 Vision Update   We Keep Climbing Toward the Goal!    Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge and gift! For those considering it, there’s still time to help us reach the goal.  Pledge cards are in the narthex or at the Parish Office.   Current Pledge Total: $2,332,800   Amount Remaining to Reach the $2.4M Goal: $67,200   2020 is Almost Here!

Christ doesn’t work alone, either.  He invites all of us to work through Him, with Him, and in Him, together.  Together, we share the work of being Christ’s hands, eyes, ears, feet, and heart.  We’re not good at everything, but each one of us is good at something.  When we work together, we can accomplish the “everything” Christ wants us to be. 
 
As Theophilus-es, friends of God and loved by God, we are the ones eager to embrace the gospel and proclaim it by how we live.  That’s what makes St. Hubert a special parish.  It’s filled with people, like you, wanting to belong to a community that empowers us to live the gospel together.   
 
Peace and good things,