Search
From the Pastor's Desk: September 4, 2022
-
From the Pastor’s Desk: September 4, 2022
The message for this Sunday reminds us about the significance of the Cross – the central image in the life of Jesus and in the life of those who follow in His name. Today, Jesus- in no small way- presents a challenge, or rather a reminder, to each one of us, whom He created and consecrated in baptism to be united with Him in love and service. Jesus tells us that there are three conditions for us to be His disciple: 1. “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” 2. “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” 3. “None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”
To be Jesus’ disciple, to enter into His Kingdom, requires a critical choice. One has got to be willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him. We have got to be willing even to lose our life, because it is only the one who loses his life that will find it again in God. Let us be honest - many of us today do not recognize the seriousness of the call of Jesus. We are just not prepared, or we are unwilling to accept the message of the Cross, for suffering, for struggle. Therefore, I invite you to reflect upon our seriousness, an examination of conscience of the relationship with Jesus or with the Cross. Do I love Jesus more than everyone else? Do I prefer Him to parents, to spouses, to children, to my own live? Do I love Him with “all my mind, heart, soul and strength,” or does something else preoccupy my mind, heart, soul, and strength? Jesus cannot be merely a part of our lives. He cannot be just an important “ingredient” in our lives, occupying an important “niche” in our personal portfolio or matter of preference. He must be God.
Do we need also to sell everything to be called His disciple? Not at all. Jesus does not mean that we necessarily must liquidate our bank accounts tomorrow, but He offers a reminder that all that we have is the most generous gift from God. We are stewards- not owners- and everything we own is to be used for His service. Feeding our families obviously constitutes a part of that stewardship to God, as is providing proper shelter, clothing, education, etc., - but it constitutes only a part. Do my things own me or does God own them? Am I attached to them, or detached from them? How generous am I? If I am attached to my things, Jesus tells us today, you cannot be His disciple. These are tough words, and we, who want to be true disciples of Jesus, will have to act on them with God’s help. The word “disciple” comes from the Greek word for “student” or “learner”. I wonder…how much will you learn from this Sunday lesson to be His true disciple?
On Monday, September 5th, we will celebrate Labor Day. This special time offers us with an invitation to examine how we view our own labor in the light of what the Church proclaims about the meaning of human work, precisely because it is done by human persons who are created in the image and likeness of God. Our work is a vehicle through which we are sanctified. We are called to perceive work in this manner, we are called to be transformed and made holy by working. On the celebration of Labor Day, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to our parishioners who, through their labor, help our parish community. I want to thank the Maintenance Department team under the leadership of George Cox for their hard, every-day work, and to each and every one who, through their labor of love, make our parish such a beautiful community of worship and fellowship!!!
The month of September is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows with the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows celebrated in the middle of the month on September 15th. Through prayers and intercessions, we can unite ourselves to Mary in her sorrow, in the hope that we will one day also share her joy in the triumph of her Son.
Mary, Sorrowful Mother of Jesus, pray for us!
I wish you a blessed week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
