From the Pastor’s Desk: June 26, 2022

The context for this Sunday’s Gospel sets the tone for the upcoming months of Ordinary Time for us as it reaches a crucial turning point today. From now on, Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem for the last time. As the Gospel relates, the road Jesus takes is signposted with encounters and events that provides a deep and profound lesson of discipleship. So along the way, He meets three men who have heard His call in their hearts. These encounters teach us three tough lessons about what it means to follow Christ.

Let’s focus on one. To follow Christ, we have to transfer our sense of security.  We have to relocate it from ourselves to God.  We have to unlearn the lesson we have been taught our whole life long, to rely only on ourselves for success and happiness. We have to learn to rely wholly upon God, plugging all our efforts in life into His grace. This is what Jesus means when He says, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest his head." When we follow Him, we have to agree to go one step and one day at a time - He refuses to give us a full-life outline in advance.

When we follow Him, we have to stop pretending that we can keep our lives under control by our own efforts. By accepting Christ's friendship, we agree to follow Him, to put our lives under His leadership. Even foxes and birds have the security of their instincts and natural habitats, but Christians are on an unpredictable adventure. We simply don't know where God will lead us or what He may ask us to do. And yet, this is what the discipleship is all about – to trust the Lord who loves and cares for each one of us with total commitment and dedication. “I will follow You wherever you go!” There is no softening the hard edge of today's liturgy. In a world engulfed by war, terrorism and selfishness, when we are easily seduced by the image of the "good life" promised in countless commercials, the Gospel's sharp message is a shocking—yet also refreshing—splash of cold water in the midst of the hot summer days. 

Beginning June 22^nd, the Feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, until June 29^th, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom. This annual campaign that supports religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. This freedom includes the right to serve the common good, as our faith compels us, through various religious charities and ministries. All Americans, regardless of faith, enjoy countless blessings made possible by this freedom. This year theme is, “Life and Dignity for All.”

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who was involved in our Corpus Christi procession. In a very special way I want to thank the First Communion children – how wonderful it was to see you as a part of the procession, but also Altar Servers, Choir, Knights of Columbus, Ushers, Legion of Mary, St. Luke Child Care Center and Annunciation Catholic School, and our phenomenal Music Ministry for making the Feast so special. May the blessings of the Eucharistic Christ remain with you and all His graces and love!
 
It is with great joy that I extend words of welcome to April Kirk as the new Director of Communication. April is a long time parishioner, graduate from University of South Florida and I am very glad to have her join our parish team.

“Unless we put God between ourselves and previous life, we cannot hope to make a real progress.” -The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen

I wish you a blessed and relaxing week of summer vacation!

With prayers,

Fr. Andy