There are moments in life when following God does not feel easy. The prophet Jeremiah knows this very well. He has faithfully proclaimed God’s Word, yet instead of receiving gratitude, he experiences rejection, ridicule, and discouragement. Jeremiah even reaches the point of saying that he will no longer speak in God’s name. Yet he discovers that he cannot remain silent because the Word of God is like “a fire burning in my heart.” There is something about God’s call that continues to draw us forward, even when the path is difficult.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells Peter and the disciples something they do not want to hear: the Messiah must suffer, be killed, and rise again. Peter wants a Messiah without the cross, but Jesus reminds him that God’s ways are not always our ways. Then Jesus gives us the heart of Christian discipleship: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The Christian life is not a promise that we will never suffer; it is the promise that our suffering can be united to Christ and transformed by His love. Each of us has crosses to carry-some large, some small, some known only to God. May we never run from them, but carry them with faith, trusting that the cross is not the end of the story. As with Jesus, the way of the cross ultimately leads to the glory of the Resurrection.
We have a new initiative called Communio funded by the Tracey Family Foundation. The Relationship Culture Team of St. Francis Solanus is heading it up. They will have wonderful relationship building events. Learning to relate well with others, with spouses, with children, with family, with friends, with coworkers, etc. I highly encourage everyone in the parish no matter their state in life to attend these events. One of the big upcoming events I highly encourage you all to join us for is November 6 and 7 for a Relate Well relationship workshop. Keep those dates open and look for more details in the bulletin.
Lastly, thank you to all who made the parish picnic a success! We profited $29,621.91 for our parish school. This took many hands but thank you specifically to our committee. I normally like to mention names, but I feel like I will miss someone and I don’t want anyone left out. It was a great success! We have a team forming for next year’s event! If you would like to be a part of it contact the parish office or talk to Amanda Genenbacher directly. With many hands comes light work. Many who have worked the committee will tell you it is very rewarding and can be quite fun! This has a major impact on our school! Come sign up today.
Pax et bonum,
Father Arisman