Hello! I am Michael Scanga. I’m a seminarian and a “local boy.” It’s a pleasure to be home this summer for a simple reason: my roots are here, especially my spiritual roots. I found God not only through the witness of my family, but in friends, teachers, and priests who challenged me to aspire to become someone great.

How? I noticed that they were people of joy, hope, authentic happiness, and love! Somehow I knew it was because they prayed—and not only that— they had a living relationship with Jesus Christ. I knew that they knew He was real. I knew they spoke to Him, and they believed He actually spoke back. So, I began to pray and frequent the sacraments (the Eucharist and Confession). Sure enough, I found Him along with the same joy, hope, happiness, and love. I want to be a priest because I want to introduce souls to the Savior, and believe that if this were my life’s work, I would be fulfilled.

I will be giving a brief bulletin reflection in the coming weeks! This week, we heard these words uttered by Jesus: “The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head…” If you are a normal human being, then you know the reality of feeling spiritually “out-of-it” or even interiorly “homeless” ! Sometimes we experience a deep thirst for an inner peace which we know does not come from the emptiness of sin or the fleeting comforts of the world. At times, our thirst (which is for God) is so extreme that it hurts.

The good news is this: as much as we ache for God, He actually aches for you and me (not just generally, but individually) more. He loves you and thirsts for your love; and we have Him on record expressing this from the cross: “I thirst!” In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that he has no where to “rest his head.” This can be interpreted in several ways, but I like to imagine that Jesus is asking you and me for refuge, specifically, in our hearts. Love always seeks union. The way we become united to Him is in prayer and in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist. This week: sit quietly for 5 minutes and pray this: “Jesus, I give you refuge in my heart.” And, while you’re at it, check out Psalm 63. I’m praying for you! Peace! :)