The entire Christian Life hinges on this reality, stated plainly—“They paid him thirty pieces of silver.” As we embark on this next Pentecost Novena, it is my privilege to introduce the trajectory of the Great Novena for the Archdiocese of Louisville. 

These reflections will strengthen FRP’s 54-Day Rosary Novenas while also giving all those who participate in Louisville’s Great Novena fuel for the fire of the Holy Spirit which is stirring on the hearts of all of us in these sacred days. However, before we can encounter that Holy Fire of Pentecost Sunday, we must endure the crucifixion love of Christ, starting with the betrayal of Judas. 

On this Wednesday of Holy Week, let us also reflect on the theme for this “Year of Invitation” in the Great Novena as we invite and inspire all those to pray with us in preparation for the 2,000th Anniversary of the Birth of Catholicism in 2033. This year’s theme is “Like a Treasure Buried in a Field.” Christ is inviting us to consider the ultimate treasure we are worshipping. The Kingdom of Heaven is not one purchased with money, power, or political / military strength. It is not obtained through conspiracy, manipulation, or domination. Christ began his public ministry at age 30, and just 3 years later, for 30 pieces of silver, Judas showed us the violent fruit of greed when he handed over the Savior of the World to torture and death. 

Ironically, Judas was handing over the very treasure he should have been most seeking—union with God in the Kingdom of Heaven forever.

“Behold, I have graven thee in my hands; thy walls are always before my eyes. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death.”

As love is in focus in the month of February, we must remember daily that the love God has for his people is unfailing. That we are so beloved by God that he has literally written our names in his hands. Praise the Lord for this gift!

The love that God has for each of us is something we should unfailingly remember to thank him for every day.

As we go about our lives, we fall continually in and out of love for things of this world. We love our friends and our family, but they may disappoint us or confuse us with their words or their deeds. 

We may love our home, but grimace at the furniture that needs replacing or mending. Mothers and fathers should love their children unconditionally, but occasionally conflict between parents and children divides them and makes for challenging relationships.

This is not God’s way with us.

The living and knowing God continuously looks at us with loving and longing, calling us back always to him. Our challenges never cause the Lord to look away from us. 

On Valentine’s Day, and every day, let us never forget that the one who loves us the most is our Father in heaven. Let us do our utmost to love him back always, to thank him for his goodness, to acknowledge the gift of his unceasing love.

God is inviting us on a great journey of redemption, healing, and joy. The Great Novena in the Archdiocese of Louisville has the potential to become a great treasure for those who discover it. Jesus is referring to our mystical encounter with Him in our daily lives in this passage from Matthew’s Gospel. The theme of this first year of Louisville’s Great Novena is focused on the Kingdom of Heaven and all that God is inviting us to sacrifice to enter this place of eternal joy. What are you willing to sacrifice to find true union with Jesus in one another?

When we invite someone to pray with us, we must be gentle, intentional, and reverent. There is a sacred space between our hearts and theirs, whether it’s through a friendly text message, phone call, or conversation after Mass. That space is meant to be filled with the words of the Holy Spirit, where the truth is only spoken with love. If we wish to inspire others to walk this journey to Calvary with us, if we wish to compel them to commit to this long journey of prayer and transformation, then we must allow them to discover it in their own time.

One huge trait of the Great Novena is the longevity of it. This is a 10-year process of prayer, formation, community, and transformation. Whether one discovers this movement now or in 2033, Jesus is still working in their lives right now to open their hearts to His love. All we are called to do is reveal His Kingdom to those He sends us, while allowing those very same people to reveal the Kingdom of God to us as well. After all, this is an infinite Kingdom with souls all over the earth made for this eternal life and love. When we come to understand that profound reality, I think it can settle us in for the long haul. Catholics learn to play “the long game” when we accept that we are not the savior of humanity.

However, when we have encountered Jesus, who IS the Savior, He draws us into His great adventure of evangelization in the Great Commission. We just don’t have to have all the answers or please every person we meet. Jesus knows their hearts, and He most definitely knows their wounds. Only He can reveal to them the treasure of their truest selves, contained most perfectly in the Eucharist. As we delve more deeply into this Year of Mission in the Eucharistic Revival in the United States, let the beginning of Louisville’s Great Novena be a part of that mission of inviting and inspiring everyone we meet into the bigger story of salvation.

Right now, for most people in the Archdiocese of Louisville, this treasure of their Catholic Faith and true humanity is still buried in the field. There is still much work to do in order to build greater union in the Church, and without putting these efforts at the center of the universe, we must still remain committed to showing people the importance of true union, not just objective obligation to others. The structure of the Church is given to us by Christ certainly, but our receptivity to this structure and our subjective experience of this union needs great revival and restoration. Let this first reflection of the Great Novena be an opportunity for us to pray more deeply for this union so we can inspire solidarity in the world when the Good Lord shows us how.

We invite you to consider starting a small group of 5-8 people in your parish or community to reflect on this theme each week during Advent and Lent of this year.

Please pray for the Great Novena Leadership Team and all those discerning their commitment to this great movement. Now, as we conclude, let us pray our Official Prayer of Union and Solidarity of Louisville’s Great Novena.