A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
You are specially chosen! The feeling of being chosen is a strong one. We are chosen as Catholics, for example, which makes us feel gratified, admonish others, and feel well insured for the after- life. But that alone is not alone what we are chosen for.
As a priest of 27 years, while growing up and starting from the seminary life, I realized that I am a special. I feel elated when the congregation sings ‘You are a priest forever’. I believe there is some kind of joy in feeling so, but my life as a priest has made me realize that I am not special unless I do what Jesus commanded. ‘Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give’. Basically, it’s a command primarily to oneself and then to try to apply to others. Jesus says ‘Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’.
Have I ever cured the sick? Have I ever cleaned lepers? Have I ever driven out demons?
When I examine myself spiritually, I find much sickness within—leprosy that leaves me unclean before the Lord and others, and many kinds of demons that sometimes seem to rule over me. If I do not struggle against them with enough resolve, how can I consider myself special? During the week, I ask you to spend some time reflecting on how you are specially chosen. Yet remember – You are specially chosen!
Next week, we return to our renovated church with renovated minds and hearts. We have been through a lot…not only difficulties and challenges but through many blessings of the Lord. We have ‘enjoyed to some extent/or adjusted’ shoulder to shoulder seating in foldable chairs, sharing smiles in our nearness. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, charity, and generosity.
We are proud to be chosen for the episcopal ordination of Bishop Elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, being held at our church in July. All is good and Praise the Lord!
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Exodes 19:2-6a
- Reading 2: Romans 5: 6-11
- Gospel: Matthew 9: 36- 10:8
