A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
I enjoyed a joke I heard some time ago: A Pastor was trying to teach first graders about heaven. After a half hour of explaining, he wanted to test their knowledge and asked the following questions…..
“If I sell my house and car and give it to the poor…will I go to heaven?” Their response proclaimed in one voice …”NO!” The pastor then attempted another question in order to invoke a “YES” response and asked, ‘If I do my priestly duties and practices promptly, would that guide me into heaven? Again, the reply was a resounding “NO!” Feeling nervous, he asked a third question, “If I was kind to your favorite pet or shared some of my candy, would I reach heaven then?” To the Pastor’s shock, all of the students shouted, “NO!” This time, while losing his patience, he asked, “What would it take to get me into heaven? Little Johny raised his hand and said, “You only go to heaven when you die first!” Kids are logical in their own way!
With the gospel reading of sermon on the mount, Jesus gives a different logic on how one could build heaven on earth and become a blessed chosen one. Jesus wanted the will of the Father to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The first and second readings talk about the remnant, the lowly, the powerless, the despised and the weak. Such are the chosen ones by God, to create heaven on earth. Therefore, let us keep Christ amid our lives and reach out to the people mentioned in the readings. Let us consider ourselves as Remnants.
Later this month, we will begin our Lenten journey. I encourage you to cherish all the possible spiritual nourishment programs that are offered at our parish.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13
- Reading 2: I Corinthians 1:26-31
- Gospel: Mathew 5:1-12
