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A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
Every week, when I prepare my homilies, I usually feel very comfortable reflecting on the readings and easily apply them to practical life. But this week, I really got stuck, as they are directly questioning and challenging me as a priest.
The first reading and the Gospel are not for the Jewish Rabbi and prophets alone. The words of Jesus are very true and relevant even to the priests and clergy of today. Jesus calls the priests to be servants with humility, without ego, power, status or self-glory. Jesus called his twelve Apostles, not because they were the cream of the crop, but because they were very simple and humble men willing to receive Jesus in their lives. Jesus, being the Son of God, never exercised his ego with any of them. He called them ‘Friends’ (John 15:15) out of humility. Pope St. Gregory the Great signed all his official documents as ‘Servus Servorum Dei’ (Servant of Servants of God).
Servant leadership is the only way to nurture the kingdom of God on earth. Me, being a priest for 24 years, I would say that I have learned much later in life that holiness is not in mere ordination to priesthood, but it is in realizing humility through service on a daily basis. If you have ever been offended in the past by any Church authority, please know that I ask forgiveness for them. I keep asking God for His forgiveness and mercy for my failures too.
If you realize that God has called you to be a disciple, or if you are trying to discern your vocation to become a disciple in any of our ministries, please approach us and we will gladly guide you. We are always in need of Sacristans, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Catechism Teachers, Mentor Couples for marriages, Disciples for Funeral arrangements, Ushers etc. Serving the Lord in humility brings holiness to our lives!
I ask that you to continue to pray for the Priests, Bishops, and the Pope, as they are very much vulnerable to the pressures of current world. In addition, please pray for the Clergy of our parish: Fr. Simon, Fr. Michael, Deacon Richard, Deacon John, and myself. We all need your prayers to do everything for the greater glory of God (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam)!
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1:Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10
- Reading 11: 1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13
- Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
