“You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church."

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Today’s solemnity is transferred from Friday 28th so that more people can participate in the actual celebration of these two pillars of the Church, Peter and Paul. What I find interesting and challenging is that both of these men were far from ideal disciples of Jesus. However, it is on these two that Jesus chose to build his Church. In the Gospel today, we see how Jesus sees the positive in Peter and builds on by naming him a Rock and telling him that he is destined to be the means through which others will come to know the Lord and experience his love.

In the Second Reading, Paul tells us that God stood by him and “… gave him power so that the whole message might be proclaimed…” Here was a man who persecuted the early followers of the Way of Jesus and who even consented to the death of the first martyr, St. Stephen. Yet on his way to do more damage, Jesus tells him he has chosen him to spread the Good News as well. So, these two men, in spite of their weakness, were chosen by God to bear witness to the faith. God chooses us too and calls us through our Baptism to build his Church.

Today we are being invited to hear Jesus saying to those of us who like Peter say, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God,”

“You are… and on you… too, I will build my Church.”

Clement Paul
Parish Priest

“His Name is John.”
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Birthday of John the Baptist, let us do so by focusing on the naming of John as told by Luke. We are told that when Elizabeth, an old woman, gave birth to John, her neighbors and her relatives “shared her joy.” Then at his circumcision, his mother confidently stated that he is to be called John. This was not accepted by those present, so they asked his father what the name should be. Zechariah wrote, “His name is John.” This solidarity with his wife frees Zechariah from his dumbness and moves Zachariah and everyone to praise God.

Message for us? When family members confidently agree with one another and support each other great things happen. Here we have it, Elizabeth goes out of tradition and gives their son a name that does not have any reference to his Father's lineage. Her husband, recognizing that their son is their offspring, sides with his wife. As a result, the family is strengthened. We too, need to take this message seriously and recognize that after God, family comes first. The family that support each other, stays together.

Let us take the opportunity as well, to note that that family experience led Zachariah and all who heard of it to praise God. In other words, family togetherness, family support, family loyalty, family love can have far reaching positive effects on many.

“HIS NAME IS JOHN."
What is your name?

Clement Paul
Parish Priest

“…As far as they were capable of understanding.”

In the Gospel for today, the eleventh Sunday in ordinary time, St. Mark tells us that Jesus, using many parables spoke to his hearers, “…as far as they were capable of understanding.” Notice that he spoke to them in parables. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Jesus used this form of communication so that those who heard him will be familiar with what they were hearing and so gather challenging and useful messages for their daily lives.

Mark tells us farther that the parables were pitched to the peoples’ level of understanding. In other words Jesus was teaching them and is teaching us to gather messages from their and our own story. We all have our story which tells us who we are. The real challenge is that we hardly listen to Jesus as he uses our story our every day experiences to tell us parables of our lives in so far as we are prepared to listen and understand. As a result we miss out on many messages coming from the parables in our own lives.

Today I invite us to take some time and ask Jesus to speak to us about ourselves and pray that we will be willing to pay attention because he will speak to us “… as far as we are capable of understanding.” What is your story?

Fr. Clement Paul
Parish Priest

‘TAKE IT, THIS IS MY BODY…THIS IS MY BLOOD.’

Today, Corpus Christi Sunday, we celebrate and worship the Corpus Christi given to us by God himself in the person of Jesus. We celebrate the fact that in the Mass Jesus makes himself present and available as food. He gives us his Body (Corpus Christi) and Blood to feed and nurture our relationship with his and our God.

As we rejoice and are grateful to God for this most precious gift, please show that gratitude by thanking our God and the Church for providing us with the privilege of being able to literally eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ.

Today, many children will be receding the Corpus Christi for the first time. Pray for them not only now but always. Commit to look out for them and help them to grow to appreciate and love their best friend and savior Jesus. Teach them and help them to grow to love the Mass and receive Jesus as often as they attend Mass.

Do have a blessed and holy Corpus Christi.

Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.