“’I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.’ So they worshiped the Lord there.” - 1 Samuel 1:28
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Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,

In America today, we are blessed to have many opportunities and paths to follow in our lives, be they extra-curricular activities, choices for college, career, whom we choose to marry, and many more. Indeed, we have so many options available to us, and often these choices lead to thriving lifestyles and great success. Amidst these great successes, oftentimes do we attribute the success to ourselves, or to the blessing of the opportunities before us?

Some of the greatest advice I ever heard in my life was “we have to bloom in the pot we are planted in.” As Christians we believe that our Creator governs all things within the universe and has ordained for each of us a path to follow- not simply because it is best for us when we follow this path, but also good for those who are around us.  The holy men and women in the Bible are often recorded asking God where He wants them to go. Before his birth, the Prophet Samuel was promised by his mother Hannah to serve the Lord and belong to Him alone. The fulfillment of this promise ultimately led to Samuel walking with God his whole life and ordaining the first two kings of ancient Israel. It was the path laid before him, and what he obediently chose to follow.

Mother Theresa once said “Wherever God has put you, that is your vocation. It is not what we do, but how much love we put into it.” If we do all things with love and prayer, knowing that God has laid a path for our lives and given us our opportunities, our lives will also be fulfilled and beautiful.

Let us remember to trust God, and always follow the path which He has for us. Amen!

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Niko Bekris
Parish Priest

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