Find Jesus

My dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s Gospel is about discipleship as Jesus uses hyperbole to grab our attention on something central to discipleship. “If anyone comes to me without hating his Father and Mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” That sounds pretty harsh. I believe that what Jesus is telling us is that if our lives are moving in the wrong direction, there is still plenty of time to turn it around. The opportunity to repent and believe is always before us. We hear about those who suddenly “find Jesus.” That is a good thing. And although we may view this with skepticism, we are given the chance to reach down and take a good look at ourselves without viewing others in order to find Jesus and follow him when necessary. To follow Jesus means that he has to be the most important thing in our lives. Nothing can distract us from our role as followers of Jesus. The problem is that we do get distracted and we make mistakes. Jesus knows this and loves us even more when we turn back to him. The Lord provides for us in our lives, through the Church and the Sacraments. Here we are blessed with his real presence among us and we receive the grace needed to seek him, to find him, and follow him in discipleship.

Have you made your pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal? It’s not too late. Pledge cards are on the tables at the entrances to the Church.

May God bless you all,

Father John