From our Pastor's Desk

The main theme of today’s gospel reading is the cost of discipleship. As Jesus reminds his disciples, there is a price to be paid by all who wish to be his disciples – by those willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk: ‘whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me’ (Mt 10:38). Any commitment that is real rather than notional is costly, involving sacrifices and self-less service of others.

The Fourth Commandment tells us to “honor our father and mother” but today Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” Are these two in conflict? Absolutely not. Jesus does not tell us that we should not love our mother or father. He says we should not love them “more than” him. Remember, elsewhere Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor. We are to love all, but God should be first.

Jesus goes on say, “Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” What does it mean to lose our life? We have busy lives. Work or school can be a full-time effort. Even retirees can have a lot of commitments with grandchildren or with their generous volunteering. There can also be sports, music, and plays, or whatever your children’s (or grandchildren’s) favorite activities are. Just caring for little children or elderly parents can take a lot of time. These things can be important; at least some of them should be important. Some of them help us to have happy lives but are these activities what we are created for? They are part of life, but are they our whole life?

Saints Peter and Paul

Peter knew both great courage and human weakness. He walked on water toward Jesus but became afraid. He promised never to abandon the Lord but denied Him three times during His Passion. Yet after the Resurrection, Jesus did not reject Peter. Instead, He forgave him and entrusted him with the mission to “feed my sheep.”

Saint Paul, originally known as Saul, was a zealous persecutor of Christians. But on the road to Damascus, he encountered the risen Christ, and his life was completely transformed. From that moment on, Paul became one of the Church’s greatest missionaries, preaching the Gospel throughout the Roman world and writing letters that continue to shape Christian faith today.

Both Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome for their witness to Christ. Peter reminds us of the mercy of Jesus, who can strengthen us even after failure. Paul reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Together, they show us that the Church is built on faith, conversion, courage, and love.