Dear Fellow Disciples, peace!

We as the Church of Jesus Christ in the United States are about to enter a special time of grace. It is the Eucharistic Revival. A time to deepen our understanding and reverence towards the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It seems, in certain areas, that Catholics have grown cold or indifferent towards this reality. In other areas it is the exigencies of political correctness which forces on our throat a diluted religion to accommodate everyone. The risk with this is that slowly but surely we are departing from the Truth about our faith and Church.

Dear fellow disciples, peace.

Today’s Gospel parable in a way teaches the disciples to be dishonest. Jesus uses the fact of character or behavior deviation to show how it is necessary to be clever with matters of the Kingdom.

To crossing of arms or letting the ship run with the flow is the naive attitude of those who do not care about salvation. The disciple works his salvation [every day] with fear and trembling (cf. Phil 2:12).

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace!

In chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells three parables about losing, finding, and rejoicing. The outcasts of society, the taxpayers, and the sinners approach Jesus eager to hear what he has to say. In Luke's Gospel, hearing is a sign of conversion. The Pharisees and scribes, still suspicious of Jesus, complain about him associating with sinners. So he tells them these three parables.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace!

A decision to embrace discipleship for the Kingdom of God must be well thought through. We don’t decide to become disciples of Jesus under pressure. It is naive of us to decide without considering the consequences and implications. If we do so, disappointment will come for sure!

Dear Fellow Disciples,

In Jesus’ day, a banquet was a way to show off wealth. Having a bounty of food for the guests showed that you were a person of means. They also displayed one’s social standing, especially since they were too large to hold indoors. Everyone could see who was in attendance. Important guests indicated that the host was also important. And these guests were given a good seat, so they could see and be seen.

Dear fellow disciples

“The last will be first…”

This Sunday's parable calls attention to the danger of thinking that external practice of religion alone will save a place in heaven.

The situation of those asking the Lord to open the door to them, claiming intimacy with him is dramatic. Even more dramatic is the Lord’s answer “I do not know you or where you are from.”

Jesus’ question “Do you think that I have come come to establish peace to earth? No, I tell you, but rather division”, can generate a lot of misunderstandings. How can we reconcile this with “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”? What about when Jesus considers Himself as humble and meek of heart?

Here Jesus establishes a clear division between those who chose justice and those who chose oppression. Those who look for their own interests and those who promote the dignity of every human person as God’s children and their brothers and sisters. Those who are moved by love and compassion and those who let themselves be moved by selfishness and greed. Those who strive to put the faith in action in a life of discipleship and those who live a superficial faith based only in the minimal practices, just as part of a check list.

Jesus calls the attention of his disciples to their need to be always alert. Especially against the suggestions of the world. It could be so strong as to convince them to renounce their commitment with the Kingdom of God.

The exigences and difficulties of discipleship can be heavy and discouraging on them and also on us. The fewer number of members in the primitive community can put in danger the success of such a great and demanding mission. Hence the importance and need to stay alert.

Dear fellow disciples,

The parable in today’s Gospel is a warning against the uselessness of greed. Jesus condemns the accumulation of wealth as an end to itself when life is so fragile and death being always around the corner.

Our journey as disciples of His kingdom leads in the opposite direction. Jesus teaches us the beauty of using our wealth to benefit those less fortunate than us.

Dear Fellow Disciples,

This Sunday Jesus' prayer inspires us to address the Father as our Abba (daddy). It also teaches us, as His disciples, to transform our prayer into a continuous dialogue with the Father. God is before all, in Jesus's teaching, Our Father and we are brothers and sisters. So He cares and will care for us.

Dear Fellow disciples, peace and blessings.

The story Martha and Mary in today's Gospel sheds light on our idea of discipleship. Many people have never heard the D word (Discipleship) and others who heard it sometimes think that it refers only to religious persons and priests. Neither Martha nor Mary were religious sisters or priests. So, the first fallacy to expel is that discipleship is just for those especially chosen.

My Dear Fellow Disciples, peace,

“If only we would learn how great it is, to possess divine grace and how many riches it has within itself.” -St. Rose of Lima

With this beautiful quote from our Patron St. Rose of Lima, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your warm welcome to Fr. Javier, Fr. Cyriac, and myself. We feel so blessed to be here with you all already.

Dear people of God in the Parish and School of Saint Rose of Lima, 

Peace and all of God’s blessings. 

It is with a sense of wonder that I, along with Frs. Cyriac and Javier, start the new chapter of my ministry as a priest and pastor, and also this new chapel of my discipleship following Jesus in His Church. Our hope and prayer is that we may assist and accompany Saint Rose of Lima’s community (Church and School) as we continue to grow, strive and prosper in faithfulness, holiness, and unity as true disciples of Jesus in His Church.