Dear St. Luke friends,
On this 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Christ is calling each one of us to be His disciples. The call to discipleship entails a denial of our own sinful desires, our pleasures, our worldly attachments, so that we can focus more on doing what God wills for our lives. Christ is calling us to follow Him on the way of the cross. Our sacrifices, sufferings and hardships are the crosses which lead us to life in the Spirit with Christ. God grants us all the graces we need, and it is Christ Himself who shoulders the weight of our burdens as we surrender all to His sovereign hands.
What are those things which Christ is asking you to give up so you can follow Him and His plans for you? What are the crosses which Christ is asking you to bear for His sake?
As we gather again around the Altar of the Lord at St. Luke's or virtually at home, let us unite our crosses and sacrifices to the perfect sacrifice of Christ which we celebrate in the Eucharist. Let us bring our offering to Christ who accepts whatever we can offer from our hearts, no matter how small or simple it might be. His love, blessing and thanksgiving will transform these offerings into eternal graces for all, and ultimately, the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life with Him.
Much gratitude and prayers joined with yours...
God of all blessings be with you and your loved ones, as He fills you with faith, hope and love in the service of God and neighbor.
In Christ,
Rev. Jonathan Paala
Pastor
Reminders:
1) WEEKEND MASSES will be CELEBRATED OUTDOORS on SATURDAYS at 5:00pm and SUNDAYS at 8:00am and 10:00am. No signing up required. Chairs will be provided.
2) You are required to submit your CONSENT FORM (click here to download and print) each time you attend Sunday Mass. This is in compliance with the San Mateo Health Officer's guideline and will serve as a waiver to limit St. Luke's liability and will be used for contact tracing purposes. Forms will be kept confidential and will be discarded after 45 days.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.” (Matthew 16:24-27)