A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
Alec Guinness was a popular and famous British film actor in the 1950s. He was born in an Anglican family, but secretly claimed to be an Atheist. One day, while acting in a film as Father Brown, which was made in France, he was walking back to his hotel room, still in his priest’s costume, after a tiresome day of filming. Along the way, a little boy approached him, held his hand, said something in French, mistaking him for a real Catholic priest. They both strolled a bit, chattered much, and with a joy- filled heart, the boy trotted off. Later, he recalled the joyful voice of that boy, “Pere”. He felt the holiness of his words and later he, along with his wife, Merula, and son, Matthew, converted to Catholicism.
We read similar impressive stories in the first reading, ‘the Calling of Samuel’ and the story of ‘the calling of Andrew and Peter’ in the Gospel. We, as Catholics, have received the calling by the sacrament of Baptism. Yet, we can experience the revelation of God if we live our lives as temples of the Holy Spirit, as expressed in the second reading. Our lifetime is a gift to us and we need to realize and experience the calling of God and say ‘Yes’ like Mother Mary with utmost humility.
Let us keep all our senses open: to see, hear, touch, breathe and taste the calling of God. He speaks to us through our spouse, children, elders, friends, colleagues, priests, and sometimes even through the person who criticizes us. Nothing could stop us from becoming His disciples once we receive His calling.
Remember, YOU ARE CALLED!
God bless. Have a joy filled week ahead!
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: 1 Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19
- Reading 11: 1 Cor. 6: 13c-15a, 17-20
- Gospel: John 1:35-42
