Beloved in Christ,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45-46). The one parable that drew my attention the most while reading the section on parables of the kingdom from this Sunday’s liturgy of the Word is the one about a merchant seeking treasure. Why, you may ask? During last week's Vacation Bible School and at the Snacking with the Saints event held in the Parish Hall last Sunday, a treasure box was used as a teaching tool to help the children understand the value, or ultimate worth, of the Kingdom of God in the life of Mary and the saints. Saints! That is the ultimate goal of a Christian: to become a saint. Studying and getting acquainted with the lives of saints will reveal men and women who treasure above all things the kingdom of heaven and gave up attachment to all earthly things in order to possess it.
The saints are treasure seekers. If you were to pay close attention to the saints like we did this past week at the Snacking with the Saints (America's) event last Sunday and at the memorials and feast of the saints, we celebrated at daily masses (Ss. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr, Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church, Mary Magdalene, Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Sharbel Makhluf, Priest, and James the Apostle), you would have seen clearly that the saints made their own the words of this Sunday’s responsorial psalm: “For I love your commands more than gold, however fine” (Ps. 119:127). The saints, human like all of us, sought above all other things the love of Christ and his Kingdom. In seeking the treasure, “a pearl of great price,” they made painful sacrifices. Loving and embracing the Kingdom of God comes at great cost; as one theologian calls it, it is a costly grace. We too must, in fact, we have only one reasonable choice, to sacrifice any other goods and comfort to gain the most valuable treasure, the reign of Christ in our lives.
The “Snacking with the Saints” OCIA initiative, which kicked off last Sunday, ranks up there as one of our parish events in recent times that's made me exceedingly happy. Not only was it fitting for the day, but it was well planned and attended. I am very grateful to all the parishioners and parish society behind it (Men's Club and the Council of Catholic Women ). I told the OCIA team that they have started on a high note, and they now have a hard task to never fall below the standard of what they established last week. They assured me they will give it their best shot. The only thing left is to have the same good -and even better- response to their invitation by our beloved saints in training of St. Peter parish this Sunday and forthcoming Sundays immediately after the 10:30 am mass. Please make it a priority for you, your family and friends to attend this Sunday's Snacking with the Saints (Europe). I must not forget to mention that the food is great!
Today is World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. Let's take some time to pray for them and appreciate their love and support.
Have a lovely Summer Week, dear Saints in the making.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45-46). The one parable that drew my attention the most while reading the section on parables of the kingdom from this Sunday’s liturgy of the Word is the one about a merchant seeking treasure. Why, you may ask? During last week's Vacation Bible School and at the Snacking with the Saints event held in the Parish Hall last Sunday, a treasure box was used as a teaching tool to help the children understand the value, or ultimate worth, of the Kingdom of God in the life of Mary and the saints. Saints! That is the ultimate goal of a Christian: to become a saint. Studying and getting acquainted with the lives of saints will reveal men and women who treasure above all things the kingdom of heaven and gave up attachment to all earthly things in order to possess it.
The saints are treasure seekers. If you were to pay close attention to the saints like we did this past week at the Snacking with the Saints (America's) event last Sunday and at the memorials and feast of the saints, we celebrated at daily masses (Ss. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr, Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church, Mary Magdalene, Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Sharbel Makhluf, Priest, and James the Apostle), you would have seen clearly that the saints made their own the words of this Sunday’s responsorial psalm: “For I love your commands more than gold, however fine” (Ps. 119:127). The saints, human like all of us, sought above all other things the love of Christ and his Kingdom. In seeking the treasure, “a pearl of great price,” they made painful sacrifices. Loving and embracing the Kingdom of God comes at great cost; as one theologian calls it, it is a costly grace. We too must, in fact, we have only one reasonable choice, to sacrifice any other goods and comfort to gain the most valuable treasure, the reign of Christ in our lives.
The “Snacking with the Saints” OCIA initiative, which kicked off last Sunday, ranks up there as one of our parish events in recent times that's made me exceedingly happy. Not only was it fitting for the day, but it was well planned and attended. I am very grateful to all the parishioners and parish society behind it (Men's Club and the Council of Catholic Women ). I told the OCIA team that they have started on a high note, and they now have a hard task to never fall below the standard of what they established last week. They assured me they will give it their best shot. The only thing left is to have the same good -and even better- response to their invitation by our beloved saints in training of St. Peter parish this Sunday and forthcoming Sundays immediately after the 10:30 am mass. Please make it a priority for you, your family and friends to attend this Sunday's Snacking with the Saints (Europe). I must not forget to mention that the food is great!
Today is World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. Let's take some time to pray for them and appreciate their love and support.
Have a lovely Summer Week, dear Saints in the making.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
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