There Is More…

True physical hunger is something most of us, thankfully, have never had to experience. We are blessed to live in a time and place where food is abundant and accessible. And yet even well-fed people can suffer from hidden malnutrition — lacking essential nutrients without realising it. A person can feel full and still be missing something vital. If we feel full, how would we know we are hungry?

The same can be true of our life of faith. It is possible to fill our spiritual lives with many good things — prayers, devotions, Mass attendance, service, ministry involvement — and yet, in the busyness and comfort of daily life, miss a deeper invitation. We can participate faithfully and still sense that something is unfinished, that growth has stalled, or that our relationship with God has settled into routine.

Over the past months, I’ve sensed a genuine stirring across our parish. There is an expectancy in conversations, a quiet but growing hunger. I hear people speak about wanting to go deeper, to understand their faith more fully, to encounter Jesus not only through habit but with renewed intentionality. There is a recognition that discipleship is not static. The Christian life is not about maintaining a minimum; it is about continual transformation.

This should not surprise us. Because God is infinite, our journey with Him can never be exhausted. The mystery of the Triune God is not something we master; it is Someone who continually draws us further in. Even in eternal life, the wonder and discovery of God will not end. His mercy is inexhaustible. His love is unfathomable. His life is not something we simply possess — it is something we grow into.

Through the sacraments, through Scripture, through prayer, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Father is always inviting us forward. Many parishioners have shared with me a simple but profound question: What is my next step? They want to expand their knowledge of God not only in the mind, but in the heart. They sense that the Lord is gently prompting them toward something deeper. That awareness itself is grace.

Lent is the Church’s gift in precisely this space. It is a season that creates room — room to listen, to examine, to respond. It is a time to turn deliberately toward God and ask:

What are You inviting me into?

What do You want me to lay down?

What do You want me to take up?

These questions require honesty and courage. Growth always involves both surrender and reception. This Lent, one concrete way to respond is by joining a Lenten Connect Group. These small groups provide space to pray, reflect on Scripture, share faith, and encourage one another in a real and practical way. Groups begin this week. If you sense that it may be time to step forward, we would love to help you find one that suits you.

Identifying the hunger within is an important beginning. But recognising it is not the same as responding to it. When we come forward for Holy Communion, we are invited not merely to receive passively, but to take hold of the gift of Jesus Himself. He gives Himself completely. The question is whether we are prepared to receive Him with openness, humility, and trust. In every Eucharist, Christ offers His life anew. In every season of the Church, He draws His people onward. In every stirring of desire within us, He is already at work. As Lent begins, take time to ask the Lord honestly:

What is the next step in my faith journey?

What are You asking of me now?

Where are You calling me to trust You more deeply?

The Christian life is not meant to plateau. God is always inviting us further — into greater freedom, deeper communion, and fuller life in Him. Let’s have the courage to respond. Let’s take the next step together.

Peace and Love, Fr Josh.