A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
In my 25 years as a priest, I have been fortunate to work for Catholic Charities in India for nearly 15 years. The good things I learned were witnessing the good heart of the simple people like in the gospel. I wish to share an excerpt from the book ‘A Call to Mercy – Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve’- Mother Teresa:
One day a very poor lady came to our house. She said: “Mother, I want to help but I am very poor. I am going from house to house to wash other people’s clothes every day. I need to feed my children, but I want to do something. Please, let me come every Saturday to wash your children’s clothes for a half an hour.” This woman gave me more than thousands of rupees because she has given me her heart completely.
Both widows in the first and gospel readings had their hearts totally on God. In the second reading we read how Jesus is a different priest compared to the high priest by giving himself totally as the sacrifice once for all. Surrendering or giving oneself to God has a great impact in our lives. We only realize it by doing it. Let us consider our lives as lives of giving for others in every respect.
This week we honor our Veterans who have dedicated themselves to our country and the values it stands for. Amongst the mounting challenges, they set examples of dedication to the cause that gives life to us all. May God bless them.
May the deceased veterans receive their honor in the kingdom of God. May their soul rest in peace.
I wish to inform you that this week, I will be on an annual retreat from Monday, Nov.11th – Friday, Nov. 15th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice. I promise special prayers for you all as I will have so much enriching spiritual nourishment and experience. Please keep me in your prayers as well.
I believe, as I type this message, that we might already have our newly elected President. Let the newly elected President consider the values of God and safeguard our country and people with special focus on the vulnerable.
God Bless America,
Fr. Jay Raju
Reading 1: 1 Kings 17:10-16
Reading 11: Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel: Mark 12: 38-44
