June 22, 2018 - Fri. of the 11th Week in Ord. Time
May you continue to treasure all that GOD has given you and realize the GOoDness of the Lord Jesus, especially as you share GOD’s gifts with others.
Every June, I assist on the Amazing Encounter Retreat. This retreat was held two weekends ago. This is the thirteenth year that we have had it in our parish. About 50 youths were on the retreat. We had a staff of other youth and adults that numbered more than the retreatants. Although the retreatants received many “gifts” such as hearing the personal witness talks, creating crafts, and sharing in other special favors bestowed on them; the greatest treasure was deepening their relationship with the Lord Jesus and also with other people, especially their “families.” I use the term “families” in two senses, since not only is this their blood relatives praying for them, but they also shared in and with their “retreat families.” The experience of knowing what it means to be surrounded by people who really care for them will help them realize that physical items are much less valuable than the relations which they had strengthened during the retreat. There were occasions when the retreat gave them time to reflect in silence on how much they are loved by the Lord Jesus and by other people. They will hopefully continue to realize that where their heart is, there is their treasure.
