Beloved in Christ,
 
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11). This Sunday’s readings beautifully emphasize the themes of humility and hospitality. The scripture invites us to embrace humility as the essential virtue in overcoming pride and vainglory, which lead us astray. As the saying goes, pride goes before a fall; humility is the uplifting force that elevates us. Our spiritual journey and growth are rooted in the foundational principle of humility. The English word "humility" itself comes from the Latin "humilitas," meaning lowliness or lowness, and originally from the Latin "humus," meaning earth, soil, or dirt. The book of Genesis reminds us that we are created from this earth, into which God breathes life. To ascend to spiritual heights, we must return to our humble beginnings. The Blessed Mother Mary teaches us that God exalts the lowly (see her Magnificat- Lk 1:51-52). Remember, being humble does not mean devaluing oneself. As C.S. Lewis insightfully remarked, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
 
One of the most profound expressions of humility is the litany attributed to Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta, Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X. Though it may seem daunting, it serves as a powerful reminder in our practice of humility. Recite this prayer regularly and strive to embody its teachings in your life. Here it is:
     
 LITANY OF HUMILITY
 
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.            Amen.
                                                    
 
Tomorrow is Labor Day, which traditionally marks the end of summer vacation and the beginning of regular school and parish activities. Most of our students and teachers have already returned to their classrooms, and we wish them a blessed school year. This week also includes First Friday and Saturday. As we dedicate our devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us pray for students, teachers, and those seeking employment, that they may lead dignified lives.
 
Happy Labor Day!            
   
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Someone asked Jesus as he made his way to Jerusalem. Jesus responded with a complex and indirect answer: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough" (Lk 13: 23). If you were to see Jesus walking through Elizabethtown today on his way to the Capitol in Harrisburg, what question would you ask him? "Why is there evil in the world? "Will there be a medical cure for cancer?" Or perhaps you will ask him a mundane sports question like, "Will the Dallas Cowboys ever make it to the Super Bowl again in my lifetime?" These are inconsequential questions. The most pertinent question of all those mentioned is the very first one because it addresses the quest to know what will follow after our soul departs our body someday. The question is related to that asked Jesus by the rich young man in the Gospel reading for last Monday: "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" (Mat 19:16). The question can be distilled and rephrased this way: "What path must I follow to be saved or make it into heaven?"

Jesus gives us an answer that requires us to review how we perceive and live our Christian faith. Jesus takes our attention away from the trivial question of how many will be saved to how I will be saved. This question is a personal one: How will I make heaven? The immediate reality from Jesus' answer is that the path to salvation or heaven is not an easy one. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate." The teachings on true discipleship that we have received in the past weeks have now reached a crescendo: the way to salvation is arduous. It is narrow, which means it involves struggles and agony. There is no easy way. It is a path of grace, but not a cheap one, a costly one. Being a Christian, a nominal one, is not enough. God requires us to cooperate or complement his grace with our efforts and sacrifices. God expects a Christian life lived with passion and integrity- a life on fire!

What does this entail? Or what does it not entail? It is not enough that we are notional Christians who know a lot and study a lot about Jesus and the faith. Salvation is walking the way of the Cross. We must endure the crucible. To live for Christ and enter into eternal life entails total commitment to the way of the cross, a demanding life of discipleship. Making sure I attend mass on Sunday and days of obligation, praying the rosary daily, giving a tenth of my income to church and charity alone may not cut it. In addition, a deep love and commitment to Jesus and his teachings, a challenging path to follow, is needed. As Jesus said to us last week, he wants to set the world, including our hearts, on fire; he wants a radical expression of the faith, not a nominal or half-hearted approach. The way to salvation or eternal life with God is rugged and demands our willingness to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. We must turn to Jesus for grace. We must constantly examine our lives, repent and live a life united to Christ Crucified. It is the only proper way to salvation or eternal life.

Many Christians have preceded us in this narrow way. We call them saints, the cloud of witnesses the writer of the letter to the Hebrews 12 spoke about last week. We celebrate this week three of many such interesting and instructive saints to inspire us. Monica and Augustine are saints who remind us of the power of persistent prayers and hope for the most sinful or unworthy Christian. The passion of John the Baptist will also be celebrated this week, and it illustrates the narrow gate we must approach and struggle to pass through to attain salvation.

Our children go back to school this week. Please let us remember them in our prayers. I will be blessing all students and their teachers at all masses, sending them forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to Christ as they go about the task of learning and teaching, respectively.

In Christ,          Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
What would happen if we decided to take the teachings of Jesus seriously and not just learn or know about them? Jesus has been teaching his followers different aspects of discipleship. Last Sunday, we heard about the necessity of preparedness for his coming. He could return for us anytime. We must be prepared. To be prepared is to be found witnessing to the truth of his teaching. What if we take the truth of the Gospel seriously? If we choose to practice true love, what would happen? If Jesus's wish were to come to realization, if we are filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and purified by the passion of Christ, what would discipleship look like? Are we ready to pay the price of discipleship? Are we prepared to deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus? These are pertinent and fundamental questions we must respond to if we want to take discipleship to its logical conclusion. If we make that choice, if we decide to follow through with bearing witness to the Gospel of Christ, there is a guarantee that divisions will arise between us and the world, including our family and friends. Are we prepared to pay the cost?
 
"Do you think I have come to give peace on earth?" (Lk 12:51). Apparently, the prince of peace did not come to bring about the peace as the world understands it. A peace brought about by power and might, a peace regulated through a compromise. No, Jesus came to confront the status quo and turn things on their head. He comes to heal through fire and salvific suffering. Any Christian worth the name must be willing to face opposition and suffering like Jeremiah, the most Christlike figure among the Old Testament prophets. Jeremiah was cast in the mud of trial because he spoke against the grain, against the false compromise that offers peace (Jer 38:5-6). He was not deterred by the hostility and divisions his proclamation of divine oracle caused. He was willing to pay the cost.
 
When we take discipleship seriously, not just a thought or idea we talk about, we enter into a costly lifestyle, a relationship with Jesus that may lead to rift and division with the people we care for, family and friends. But we can't be sentimental about it. When commitment to Christ comes into collision with the demands of family or friends, we must always be willing to pay the cost. Grace is not cheap; it is expensive. But it is worth it when we are on the side of Christ and the truth. May we be trusting in God as Jeremiah was. We must also remember that "a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us" (Heb 12:1); we are not alone in this holy task. When you are facing conflicts and hostility from the world or family, call on your guardian angel or patron saints. We should do this more often. Who is your patron saint or favorite saint? Can you begin a spiritual friendship with them? My patron saint is St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast is on August 20. You should consider attending mass to celebrate my feast day with me, and I promise to seek the intercession of St. Bernard to come to your aid in your effort to live seriously your commitment to discipleship.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Lk 12:40). Jesus continues to teach lessons on discipleship and the Kingdom as he continues to head towards Jerusalem. Last week, He taught them to avoid attachment to material things, which St. Paul calls "the greed of that is idolatry" (Col 3:5). A couple of weeks before that, He instructed them on the one thing necessary and how to pray. This Sunday, He speaks on a subject that we are often uncomfortable about, the end of our life, and how to prepare for death.
 
A call to be watchful, alert, and ready for the coming of Christ is usually associated with Advent. Still, we get to hear about it during the liturgical season of the Ordinary Time. We hear about it from Christ himself: "You must be prepared" for his coming. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we celebrate on August 20th, wrote of the third coming of Christ, the middle coming between the other two, when he comes as our rest and consolation. Christ's coming in this instance is associated with the end of life. Then we meet Jesus instantly. We must be prepared for this inevitable moment. This unavoidable coming must not put fear in us but bring about a re-awakening, a metanoia. It must awaken us to see things in the proper perspective.
 
This awakening and new consciousness that the reality of the end triggers desire for the good. We as people of faith, instead of living in morbid fear of this end, must seek to live a Christ-like life at the present moment- do not procrastinate. We can trust in Christ; He wants all of His flock prepared. He is a compassionate and merciful shepherd. He only asks us to act right and fast, no delay or postponement. It is NOW that we start living for that inevitable encounter with the coming of Christ. Let us gird our loins, let us stay alert, let us seek to reflect all that Christ is NOW, not later or tomorrow. Tomorrow may never happen. What do you need to do NOW to prepare for the unavoidable coming of Christ for you?
 
I want to express my appreciation for those who attended our parish Eucharistic adoration last Monday. We prayed together as one parish family, and I do not doubt that Jesus heard all our prayers. We must continue to pray and be prepared. We have a good companion and intercessor in Mary, the Mother of God. Let us be reminded that we celebrate the Solemnity of her glorious Assumption this week (Thursday/Friday), a Holy Day of Obligation.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP