Dear Parishioners and Friends;
Imagine yourself as one of Jesus disciples. You have already witnessed Jesus restoring those suffering from hopelessly incurable illnesses; able to raise those who have already died; able to provide an astounding abundance of food for the hungry from what started out as only a couple fish and loaves of bread.
Jesus could do anything, and everything, for other people. He could accomplish things that no other human person could do! And yet he kept talking about those who rejected him, about those who would, one day, kill him... how could this be? How did this make any sense?
In last week's Gospel passage, Peter tried to rationalize with Jesus... surely the path to success could avoid this talk of suffering and death! Jesus reply to Peter's rebuke was clear... "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
And so now, we come to this Gospel passage from Mark, chapter 9. The disciples are still thinking about themselves and who would be the "greatest" in this new Kingdom of Jesus. Imagine their astonishment when Jesus brings a little child near, a child they considered to be "the least" among them, and says to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Jesus teaches them to think from a different perspective, and to work and sacrifice in service to the "least."
As we begin our new mass schedule this weekend, I am most appreciative to parishioners in making the sacrifice of changes and adjustments for the benefit of a stronger faith formation program.
This fall we are reaching out to our young people by helping them make connections to their faith and the Liturgy of the Holy Word and Eucharist.
We commonly share an important obligation, and responsibility, as a parish community, to help our young people grow in God's grace. We are lending our prayers, support, and commitment to them as they begin the paths of life's adventures and challenges.
May God bless you this week!
Fr. Gonyo
