From the Pastor’s Desk: May 5, 2019
-
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter. The Gospel of John tells us that it is for the third time after His resurrection that Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples. The Gospel is divided into two very significant parts. First, it relates the attitude of Jesus’s disciples after His death– discouraged, confused and overwhelmed with all their hopes dashed, Peter with the others has gone back to his old fisherman job. After all night of fishing they caught nothing! And when the day breaks, Jesus appears, although they do not recognize Him – until He invited them to share a meal with Him. Once again He provided for them in a miraculous fashion – they caught 153 large fish and recognized Him at the breakfast meal. What allowed them to see Him was their obedience, trust and faith.
The second part focuses on love. Together with the disciples, we, too, remember the event from the Last Supper. The very act of love Jesus left His disciples to follow. Now, once again after a meal that satisfied their physical strength, He asks for love – the very essence of our relationship with God. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loves Him. Three times Jesus received a satisfactory reply. And only then Jesus extends to Peter the most beautiful invitation one can receive– “Follow me!”
Through the gift of the Risen Lord, we are all invited to “follow” the Lord. Regardless of our vocation- either single, married, ordained or religious – we are invited to follow Jesus in His footsteps of love. We follow in love by responding to the everyday needs of others. We love by comforting and protecting those who have experienced loss and by serving others in every way- no matter how small. We love by forgiving and not condemning and by protecting the sacred. We love by responding to the call of God in our lives and by walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We love by making sacrifices. We do not need to be miracle workers to love. We are called to embrace all of this in our ordinary lives to become disciples of Christ, and in doing so, we are called to conversion, to change our inner life, to no longer be closed in considering my self-realization as the principal purpose of my life, but rather a decision that we no longer consider utility or gain, career or success as the ultimate goal of my life, but to recognize truth and love instead, as the authentic criteria.
On Saturday in our diocese four men were ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In this joyous moment, please congratulate the newly ordained as well as keep them in your prayers so they can faithfully fulfill their vocation in loving service to the holy people of God and His church.
The Annual Convocation for Priests will be held from Monday, May 6th, through Wednesday, May 8th. All priests from throughout the Diocese of St. Augustine- the young and the old, the newly ordained and the retired, the diocesan and the religious, of all backgrounds and cultures- will meet in unity of brotherhood and priestly fraternity to pray together, to offer support and healing for one another, and to reflect on our priestly vocation. We will continue with our regular Mass schedule during these days. Thank you for your support and please keep the Priests of the diocese in your prayers.
It is with great joy to share with you that the General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family has elected Sr. Ewa Korbut as the Mother General of their congregation. Please join me to congratulate the new Mother Superior that God may strengthen her every moment to lead her Congregation in its life and mission. I want to assure the sisters of our constant support through prayer and intercessions of Bl. Boleslawa Lament– the foundress of the congregation.
With last Sunday’s message of mercy still fresh in our hearts, let us embrace the works of mercy and by living them out, let us to show our love for Christ and each other so with the greatest obedience reflect the gift of being authentic disciples of the Risen Lord.
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
