The readings this Sunday remind us that God is not just concerned with what we say, but most concerned with how we live. In the first reading, the Lord challenges the people who think they can judge another person’s relationship with God. Ezekiel reminds us that the person who has wandered can turn back, and the person who has done what is right can still turn away. God looks at the direction of our hearts. This is an important reminder because none of us is defined only by our past. The Lord continually gives us the grace and opportunity to begin again.
Jesus makes the same point in the Gospel through the story of the two sons. One says “no” to his father but later changes his mind and goes to work; the other says “yes” but does not follow through. The lesson is simple but challenging: our faith is not merely about saying the right things. It is about allowing our “yes” to God to become visible in the way we live. Perhaps there are times when we have said “no” through our actions, our selfishness, or our neglect of others. The good news is that it is never too late to turn around. Conversion begins when we recognize where we have gone astray and, with God’s grace, take the next step toward Him. May we have the humility to change our hearts, the courage to act on our faith, and the trust to believe that God always welcomes us home.
On behalf of myself and Father Ken, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support, whether through prayer, meals, or understanding! Never underestimate how much your priests love and rely on you to sustain us. One of the best parts about being Catholic is that we can attend Mass in any language, at any place, and at any time with the confidence that the priest is acting in persona Christi (that is, in the person of Christ). This means that even if you don’t understand the language or accent – or even if you don’t care for the priest personally – Jesus Christ is still present on the altar in the Eucharist. Jesus is the reason we go to Mass!
I am especially grateful for priests like Father Ken! These priests come as missionaries to the United States. They leave their families, culture, and lives behind to serve in our dioceses, where our own numbers of those following the call to the priesthood are not keeping up. Many of them train to speak multiple languages to do so! I know when I say Mass for a Spanish-speaking community, my Spanish is probably close to unintelligible, but they are immensely grateful I am there and doing my best. Without these missionaries, we would have not only fewer Masses available at parishes, but even fewer parishes themselves! We need to be grateful for these missionaries! Thank you, Father Ken Ahanonu, for being here!
I thank you again for your continued prayer and support. And I ask that you work on encouraging and fostering vocations in our young people. Encourage your children and the children around you to be priests and religious. Pray for your children to be open to the vocation the Lord is calling them to. Who knows, maybe the child sitting next to you in the pew will one day become a priest, a religious brother or sister, or missionary in a far-off country!
Father Arisman