A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
Last week, we lit the first Advent candle of “Hope”. This week, we initiate the candle of “Peace”. The meaning of ‘Peace’ is not limited to the absence of violence but transcending a person towards progress and prosperity for achieving ‘hope’. Peace is the outcome of “Metanoia”- a complete change of attitude that renews and reverses a person’s life totally.
The first reading reflects the ideal world of peace when God created the Garden of Eden, all animals and our first parents in it …. the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion shall browse together with a little child to guide them… In real world, we live in a swamp of sin and therefore, John the Baptist calls for repentance with his strong words that call to metanoia. He says, produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance’.
In the second reading, St. Paul explains how one could create the harmony of the ideal world by citing an example of Jesus Himself. Humility by endurance and encouragement will lead us to real metanoia and to live in harmony with others.
Let the dream of Prophet Isaiah be realized in today’s context regarding hatred, enmity and violence. Let us produce good fruit as evidence of our repentance, starting with our family. Remember one thing that could promote peace in your family and work around it with humility. Let us be prepared for the Kingdom of the Lord! God bless.
A kind request: Please consider prayerfully becoming a disciple to help as an Usher or Sacristan. We are in desperate need of more disciples as we move into the new year. Beginning Saturday, January 31, we will offer 3:30pm and 5:50pm Masses. Please contact Bethany Myers in the parish office for more details.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Isaiah 11:1-10
- Reading 2: Romans 15:4-9
- Gospel: Mathew 3:1-12
