Happy Sunday and the last day of August!

One of the many virtues valued here at St. Joan of Arc is humility. In our readings from Sirach and Luke we get inspiration in humility. Sirach counsels, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility… Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God” (Sir 3:17-18).

Happy Sunday!

As we gather here for our Sunday worship of Almighty God, we notice a challenging and beautiful vision. People are gathered from every nation, language and walk of life. This is our church family of faith called to center our lives around the Euchartistic altar. Our Catholic faith has reached people from all directions and assures us they “will recline at table in the kingdom of God.”

Happy Sunday!

What is the cost of discipleship? Is it possible to ponder the prophet Jeremiah being lowered into a muddy cistern? This doesn't seem fair because he did no wrong, but spoke the truth of God entrusted to him. He remained faithful and was not abandoned in the pit. In fact, God raised another voice in the court official Ebed-melech to rescue Jeremiah before he could die.

There was a young mother in my parish community who was depressed due to financial strain. She prayed for help. One morning before Mass, she placed on the counter a zip-lock bag filled with jewelry and old coins. Smiling, she explained she had been fixing an old cabinet and found the items hidden deep within the walls of her home.

Happy Sunday!

As we journey together in the faith with a new month to the calendar year, the Word of God inspires us to something higher, to fix our eyes not on what is passing but on what is eternal. We are reminded of this through Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:1-5, “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”