Pastor’s Letter: October 20, 2024

Pastor’s Letter: October 20, 2024

18 Oct 2024 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Blessings and know of my prayers this day! I am writing you this week from some downtime at my continuing education program up at Mundelein Seminary. This week has been fantastic! Today’s meditation was focused on the call of the apostles. I’m sure most of us are familiar with some of those moments in the Gospels: Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and he saw Peter and Andrew fishing; He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Likewise, he called James and John who left their boat and their father and followed Jesus (Mt 4:18-22). Matthew was called while he was at work at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed (Mt 9:9). When Jesus called Nathanael, Jesus said he saw Nathanael under a fig tree, which Nathanael found really impressive. Jesus then promised he would see greater things, including seeing the angels of God (Jn 1:43-51).

When I reflect on the apostles, I always am so amazed at how quickly they follow Jesus when He calls. Of course, they are great models for us in being good disciples and following Jesus. But if we think just a bit more deeply, could we ask the question if these were good picks for the foundation of the Church? After all, several of the apostles were fishermen who probably wouldn’t have had strong reading and writing skills…let alone public speaking. Matthew, as a tax collector, had a bad reputation among the local people. James and John apparently had tempers, given the nickname “Boanerges” which Jesus gave them (meaning sons of thunder; Mk 3:17). We could go on, but perhaps it is enough to say that from a practical standpoint many of the apostles could be considered weak choices. Yet, they were chosen … and followed Jesus … and strengthened by the Resurrection would go forth to carry the Gospel out to the world.

As we continue our Five Foundations reflection on cultivating vocations, I believe we are invited to notice first-of-all that Jesus calls who He calls. If we understand discipleship as following Jesus, then we can understand vocation as following the pathway Jesus calls us to. He isn’t calling us to think it through first and pre-determine whether or not we have what it takes to live a certain vocation…He is simply asking us to follow. Truth be told, many priests have often shared the wisdom that the more skilled we are, there is a tendency to rely on ourselves instead of on God. I always enjoy thinking about the scene in the Gospel when Jesus sends out the apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He specifically tells them not to take extra clothes, supplies, or money (Lk 9:1-6). Wouldn’t it be practical to have them take a jacket and a snack? Yet Jesus sends them without those backup supplies. I firmly believe it is so that they learn to rely on Him. The whole passage really is an invitation to trust in the Lord—if we are striving to follow Him faithfully, then we can know in confidence that He will care for us and provide for what we need.

With this backdrop in mind, one of the best ways for us to promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life is to encourage our young people to follow Jesus and trust in the pathway He is calling them to live. We can pray that they will have open minds and hearts to hear Him when He calls. We can model trusting in God through our everyday life. We can join in the prayer that the author of the Book of Hebrews prayed: “May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb 13:20-21).

Know of my prayers for you all this week!

In Christ,

Father Luke