A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
This weekend, we observe the seventh ‘World Day of the Poor’ with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The theme is “Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor” (Tob 4:7). Pope Francis introduced World Day of the Poor to be observed every year since 2017. The gospel today, brings out the Jesus’ mind of the poor. Our simple understanding about the poor is one who is deprived of money and wealth. But it’s not about deprivation of money or wealth, but of opportunities. The Gospel talks about opportunities. The master of the house in the parable must be a quality Human Resource (HR) person who could assess the levels of his servants and give opportunities to mutually grow. But what brings the person who received one Talent is the curse (of being poor) because of his attitudes towards opportunities. Our country is the land of opportunities. God has blessed this country with richness and resources. Every person who lands in ‘the land of freedom’ can achieve the American Dream.
Our Forefathers have worked hard for this, and you work hard and earn all the privileges and titles you deserve. But when I see someone homeless on the street begging for money, my heart aches. Life should never be taken for granted. Life must be earned with blood and sweat. We hear so much outcry about being poor with the ‘Oliver Twist Attitude’ of I Want Some More and promoting freebees with political interests. Poverty is cruel and sinful but that can be eliminated with our commitment and hard work. We cannot turn our face away from anyone who is poor. Reading 1 says ‘she reaches out her hands to the poor and extends her arms to the needy’. Our help and support to them should bring dignity which can create opportunities.
Happy Thanksgiving Day! Enjoy your time with your families and appreciate their love. We are grateful to God for blessing us with so much quality life and Faith. I am grateful to all of you for considering me as part of your family. I pray to the Lord that we show our gratitude to the Lord in the real sense when we say ‘God bless America’.
With a grateful heart,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Proverb 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
- Reading 11: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
- Gospel: Mathew 25:14-30
