Following Jesus with Open Hearts

My dear friends,

This weekend’s gospel plainly says that the cost of being a disciple of Christ is renouncing everything we possess. These are the words of Jesus Christ—whose words gave us the Eucharist, our hope of everlasting life. How, then, can we not take this injunction seriously? Don’t worry. We have no plans to begin using moving vans to take up Sunday collections! Scriptures say that Jesus went into Peter’s “house” after saying that Peter had given up everything to be a disciple. (Matthew 4:18-20; 8:14). So, the necessary renunciation of all we have is clearly a matter of the heart, not of money, wood, metal, or stone. Our hearts count—and set forth—the cost of following Jesus by a spiritual discernment that moves them away from being earthbound and opens them fully to Christ and the work of his Church.

As summer ends and we begin to think about another season of reignited ministry here at St. Joseph, I hope you will make room in your heart for the idea of sharing your gifts through one of our parish ministries. Spend time looking through our website; speak with any ministry leader; and find your place in the Body of Christ. This is how we build. This is how we gain peace as believers. This is how we gain confidence that Christ will be ours forever.
May God bless you,
Fr. Allan