A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
Matt Damon is one of my favorite action-movie stars, often playing a fugitive constantly on the run. Fear, too, seems to be an increasingly dominant force in our lives. Yet when God created our first parents, fear was never part of His design; it entered through their misuse of free will. Even today, humanity continues to struggle with fear at every level.
In the first reading, the prophet Elijah is also on the run, fearing for his life. God calms him with a gentle touch. With the grace of our Lord, we make great efforts to unlearn fear. Ultimately, fear can be overcome only by the gentle power of God’s unconditional love.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers the apostles that same gentle touch by calming the sea. Through His presence and companionship, He reveals His love for them and restores their hope and life.
In this competitive world, let us focus on the love of Jesus rather than on discouraging fear. Let us name some of the fears we encounter and bring them before the Lord. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament can help calm our hearts and renew our trust in Him.
This Saturday and Sunday evening, we will have a delightful musical revue in the Parish Life Center. Please join us and support the participants. I will be performing a small piece!
On Monday, August 17, our new shepherd, Bishop Emilio Biosca, will visit our parish to meet with our staff and members of our pastoral bodies, such as the Pastoral Advisory Council and the Finance Council. That evening, he will celebrate a special 5:30pm Mass in our church. All parishioners are invited to attend! If you are able, please celebrate Mass with our Bishop.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: 1 Kings 19: 4-8
- Reading 2: Ephesians 4: 30- 5:2
- Gospel: John 6: 41-51
