Pastor's Message - May 4/5, 2024
My dear friends in Christ,
The days are getting warmer everyday and I know that many of us are looking forward to a beautiful summer!
Our world is in trouble! There is still a lot of violence and conflicts! Every day people die because of these realities. What are the reasons for these things to happen? Why is it that there are so much hatred and anger in the world? Questions that we need to ask? What can we do about it?
We are part of this world and are reminded once again of the enormous task awaiting us of proclaiming peace to the world! There is no question that we all long for peace in the world---- when everyone can live in harmony and serenity! Many communities and people in the world have been denied with this opportunity to live in peace and freedom. I always asked this question: why it is that there is so much inhumanity in the world we live in! People hurting each other! There is so much despair and darkness! Is there hope for us? And I believe there is! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
In last week’s gospel Jesus reminded us that he is the “vine and we are the branches!” There is no question that our very existence is with Christ, the one who connects us to God. As I said last Sunday in my homily that the world has totally changed. More people are busier building a house and not home!
In the gospel today, Jesus commands us to “love one another and to remain in his love!” At one point after his resurrection Jesus asked Peter about the meaning of love: “do you love me? The most powerful way of doing this is by following me and feeding my sheep!” In giving this responsibility to Peter, Jesus expressed his mission---the mission to continue in proclaiming the gift of peace through LOVE!
Are we not tired of so much violence and ignorance in the world?
I believe that the essence of what a Christian should be is to be able to love and to live in that spirit every day and every moment of our lives! Love begets love! Amor con amor se paga! Love can transform, not violence or hatred! Love can do wonders in the world! The world needs love so that we can have peace and live in harmony with each other! The world needs to hear the word of God for the conversion of the hearts for those who have lost the sense of responsibility in the world in which social injustice and other forms of social destruction have become a sad part of our experience!
To love is the greatest privilege in the world but it brings also the greatest responsibility! Somehow this is something that we have not done very well as Christians! In a sense we have been part of the problems! We have not been very good in living our Christian identity. That’s why when Mahatma Gandhi was asked by a Christian reporter about Christianity, he said that Christianity is a wonderful religion but the problem is “you Christians!”
My friends ---peace will come when we can live in love! Do not lose sight of who we are! We are capable of loving because by nature we were created in God’s love! Let us be an instrument of peace in the world by loving one another starting here in our community!
In Christ’s peace,
Fr. Geoffrey
