​Beloved in Christ,
 
The liturgical year comes to an end with the solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. In this Sunday's gospel, the criminal crucified next to Jesus acknowledged Jesus as king when he said, "Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom" (Lk 23:42). A couple of verses earlier, the other crucified criminal said mockingly, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." Unknown to him, the unrepentant thief was unveiling the truth that Jesus is the saving king of all the universe. He reigns; he has dominion over a kingdom of the saved. What goes against the grain here is that Christ did not establish the kingdom of the saved by physical, brutal power but by accepting death on the cross. On the cross, in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, is inscribed "The king of the Jews." In an attempt to mock Jesus, like the unrepentant criminal did, Pilate inadvertently acknowledged that Jesus reigns over his kingdom by way of crucifixion.
 
Our first reading from Second Samuel 5:1-3, on the anointing of David as king, links Jesus, the Son of David, to David's kingship and, more broadly, to Adam's kingship over the garden of Eden. As king like Adam. Jesus has dominion over all things, and he leads broken humanity back to paradise, to the original state of grace and bliss. In the gospel account, the repentant thief is transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved son, Christ, the savior who redeems and forgives sin (Col 1:13), Christ who makes "peace by the blood of his cross" (Col 1:20), the suffering king with the cross as his throne.
 
In the same way, our thrones are crosses, like Christ. We must yield lordship to Christ by accepting to share in his suffering to be glorified with him. Is Christ the Lord of our lives? Is he the king we adore? I once heard Bishop Ronald Gainer preach at a forty-hour Eucharistic service that if we are not adoring the Lord, we are adoring something else, we are adoring ourselves. Such must not be the case with us. Instead, we must adore the King of Kings by surrendering to redemptive suffering in union with his on the cross. Our king reigns over his kingdom from his throne on the cross; let's be subject to his dominion from our own crosses. Let us adore him, the king of the universe, by lovingly entrusting our lives to him. 
 
As we get ready for the first Sunday of Advent, may Christ the King reign over us!
 
Happy Thanksgiving! All thanks to Christ, our King.
 
In His Love,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 
 

Beloved in Christ,
  
This Sunday's readings highlight endings. I want to reflect on these endings in terms of the three Ps: persecution, perseverance, and Parousia. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21:5-19, Jesus speaks of the events that will lead up to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. He says in apocalyptic language of the cosmic upheaval that will precede the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jewish audience perceived the city and its temple as the center of the universe. Telling them that all will fall apart, that there "will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down," must have been traumatic. But before these, there will be a heavenly and earthly cataclysm like earthquakes, famine, plagues, as well as wars and insurrection. And before these, there will be persecution of Christians. And then, on the day of judgment, the Parousia will follow. There will be a sequence of events before the Day of Judgement, the day of wrath (Dies irae).

All the events Jesus prophesied about Jerusalem came to pass. In 70 AD, the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans. Before the destruction, historians recorded that numerous fearful natural signs appeared in the sky and on earth. Then, the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, a microcosm of the Temple of the Universe, took place. We must recognize that Jesus was prophesying on two levels here —the destruction of Jerusalem and the Universe; the destruction of Jerusalem is a type and sign of what will happen to the whole universe. In other words, as Jesus spoke of Jerusalem, he was also pointing to the end of the world. The first thing to happen is persecution. Christians will be persecuted, and they are still being persecuted today in both overt and subtle ways all over the world. We will suffer persecution for standing for the name of Jesus and his teachings: "You will be hated because of my name," Jesus says.
 
What do we do while the persecution lasts? What should Christians do as they await the Parousia, the second coming of Jesus, and the Day of Judgement? We must continue to live as Christians. We must live a life of prayer, sacrifice, service, and charity. We must persevere in our Christian obligations. With fortitude, hope, and trust in God's love and providence, we must continue to live out the Christian values. As Malachi said to his Jewish people in preparation for the day of judgment, we must live in fear of God's name (see Malachi 3:20). We must live knowing that Jesus is enough for us, even as we face persecution. We must trust in the grace provided by Jesus through His Church and the Sacraments. There is no time for idleness, as St. Paul instructs the Christian community in Thessalonica to live an orderly life of work and service, "toil and drudgery, night and day " (2 Thessalonians 3:8). Christians are to continue loving God and their neighbor until the end.
 
Pope Francis, in his apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera, designated the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary time as "World Day of the Poor". Pope Leo has followed in the footsteps of Francis in his apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te, where he instructs us "On Love for the Poor". So we must remember our Christian obligations to the poor, a people whose condition and care are at the heart of the Gospel. As we prepare for the Parousia and the coming day of judgment, heartfelt love and care for people experiencing poverty is a non-negotiable Christian duty.

In Christ's love,

Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,

As the Church celebrates this Sunday, the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, that is, the Pope, I could not resist the "temptation" of recalling my visit with thirty-two other pilgrims to this sacred space on September 18, 2025. As the picture of the basilica suggests, it is outstanding in its beauty and grandeur. The architectural grandeur highlights the glory and majesty of God. This basilica is a symbol of the unity of the Catholic Church under the leadership of the pope.
 
As this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word reveals, the temple of God is more than a physical building. It is a physical building in a direct sense, but more importantly, it is a sacred place that demands reverence because it is the place where we encounter God. In this chosen and consecrated place, God's name is honored forever (see 2 Chronicles 7:16). On a deeper level, it serves as a metaphor for the Body of Christ. The physical building, the basilica, reflects the true nature of the Church, which is constituted as the body of Christ, the central place of worship. As Jesus says in the gospel, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (Jn 2:19). As it was later clarified, "Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body" (Jn 2:21). Jesus identifies his body as the New Temple, succeeding the old covenant temple we read about in our first reading from Ezekiel 47. And from this New Temple, the Body of Christ, flows all the graces for redemption, especially the Sacraments of baptism and the Holy Eucharist. The body of Jesus is the church, the focus of worship and fount of grace. The Lateran Basilica is symbolic of Christ; it represents and reminds us of the true nature of the Catholic Church.
 
We, too, are in a sense a body of Christ. We are the temple of the living God; we are part of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles with Christ as the cornerstone (cf. Ephesians 2:19-22). Hence, we should respect our bodies because the Spirit of God dwells in us. As St. Paul would also say, we should offer our bodies as a spiritual sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (cf. Rm 12:1). Do we now have a deeper understanding of the nature of the Church? Do we understand how it is a sacred place and the dwelling of God? Do we also know that we are, in a sense, the body of Christ, we who are made in the image and likeness of God, chosen and consecrated for the glory of God? We should consider these realities more often and what they demand of us.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,
  
What's God's plan for us after death? Eternal life in His presence. God sent us his Son, Jesus, to save us for everlasting life with him in heaven. However, he also gives us the freedom to choose otherwise. An eternity of separation from God is what we call hell. We were not called or chosen for hell. When God chose or called us in Christ Jesus, He intended for us to see him face to face after death. We find this claim in the verses from this Sunday's gospel, John 6:37-39. Jesus says to us the following words of comfort: "I will not reject anyone who comes to me" and "I should not lose anything of what he (God) gave me." Jesus never dismisses anyone or sends them to hell. Those who choose eternal life can have it, but they cannot choose to live against God's will at the same time.
 
As I said earlier, verses from this Sunday's pericope are encouraging and consoling to us who remember and mourn loved ones. We pray for our departed brothers and sisters because we know God will not abandon those who lived for Christ while alive after death. God will not reject those who follow Jesus. If they followed the path of salvation, we have in God's promise "hope that does not disappoint (Rom 5:5). How does this work? Jesus describes the path to eternal life when he says: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life."
 
As it turns out, the popular aphorism, "Seeing is believing," is false. Some see and do not believe. To have everlasting life after death, we must see and believe in Jesus. What does this mean and entail? What does it mean biblically to "see" and "believe"? Let us turn to that. In biblical spirituality, seeing Jesus is recognizing him as God and developing a desire for a relationship with him. It is a desire for communion and friendship with him. To believe in Jesus is to have absolute faith and trust in his power to save us. In other words, believing in Jesus is to entrust oneself totally to Him who died and rose to save us. A life of trusting in Jesus, with whom we have a relationship, is the guaranteed pathway to eternal life with God after death.
 
Why do we pray for our dead friends and relatives if they belonged to Jesus; if they believed in Jesus while they lived? We pray for them because, though they might have died in a state of grace and in friendship with God, it is possible that their will and heart were still attached to the sins they had repented of and forgiven. There is a likely scenario in which our righteous loved ones in Christ are not fully purged and purified of attachment to sin. While they may be on their path to God's presence, the beatific vision, there may still be a need for purification from temporal punishment due to sin. Our prayers, penances, and almsgiving hasten their purification. Purgatory is the word that describes this process of purification that advances them into heaven. If we must express our charity to our faithful departed, our belief in the communion of saints gives us reason to pray for the repose of their souls. 
 
Pray for the souls of your dead loved ones that they may attain God's plan for them post-mortem. God chose them for eternity with him. Help them achieve this purpose. We remember them at our 10:30 am mass and at Eucharistic adoration at 3:00 pm.
  
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
"O God, be merciful to me a sinner," prays the tax collector in today's Gospel passage from Luke 18. This humble plea by the tax collector in the temple, as he beats his chest, shows how we should approach God in prayer. In the last couple of weeks, we have reflected on Christian prayer, what it is, and its necessity. The gesture and prayer of the tax collector in our Gospel pericope this Sunday show us the importance of putting on the spirit of humility if we are to approach God appropriately and effectively. Be humble if you want your prayers to reach God. Be humble enough to acknowledge that you are a sinner and lack any merit before God, mainly on account of your good works.
 
Humility is a virtue that reminds us that our works lack merit; it is the grace and mercy of God that justifies us and makes our prayers avail before God. We all must come to acknowledge that without God's mercy and grace, we have no chance of making any spiritual progress, even if we check all the boxes for spiritual exercises: we pray the rosary daily, attend mass frequently, feed the poor, support pro-life efforts, fast, give a lot of money to the church, etc. While all these spiritual acts are essential and demanded by God, ultimately, it is God's grace, his mercy, and love that make us right and accepted before him. We must avoid pride and embrace humility. It is not praying to oneself by listing one's merit that appeals to God; it is being humble that exalts us before God.
 
When the tax collector, a hated public sinner in the Jewish community of Jesus' time, went to pray in the temple by distancing himself from the temple's sacred space, by daring not to raise his face to heaven, and by beating his breast as he cried to God in humility, he opened the heavens and received God's prompt response. He is redeemed, saved, and justified because his prayer is infused and borne in acknowledgment of his unworthiness to any claim to merit but his total trust and dependence on God's generous gift of mercy. In like manner, we must be quick to recognize our need for God's mercy and grace, no matter how good or holy we think we are. Even if we are Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul of our time, living an observable Christian life of charity, we must always be aware that our best efforts are likely to be tainted in some way. We must approach God and life with humility. God loves us and wants us saved. We need his mercy to start with. So, this Sunday and days ahead, when you approach God in prayer, use that self-identification: I am a sinner. Lord, please have mercy on me. Ask for mercy and act in mercy towards all.
 
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
 
The Church dedicates November to remembering and praying for the souls of all the faithful departed. I beg of you to offer Mass, rosary, penances, and other spiritual offerings, especially during this month, for the repose of the souls of your departed loved ones.  Check the bulletin for the All Souls' Day mass schedule.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,

Faith and gratitude are the underlying themes in this Sunday's reading. The lepers in both the first and Gospel reading show us how to express our living faith in God in acts of thanks, praise and worship. The only leper out of the ten healed who returned to Jesus illustrates for us the simple but profound act of faith. The lepers asked Jesus for mercy, meaning they sought to be healed of their leprosy. Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest. They responded in faith. In the Old Testament (See Leviticus 13 and 14), a leper returns to the priest only after he has been healed to be examined and certified clean. These lepers trusted the healing words of Jesus, his command that they show themselves to the priest. "As they were going they were cleansed." As they went to do as Jesus instructed them, they were cleansed by the words of Jesus. The lepers act in living faith, a faith that saves. They recognize the person and power of Jesus to do what he says. That explains why they addressed Jesus as Master- the Lord of life.

The act of faith is required to experience God's mercy. God always wants to heal us spiritually and physically, but the prerequisite is a total trust in God. It is a disposition of surrender to God's loyalty and dependency. God is always faithful. It is that simple and should not be complicated. We must assent to his living words, and in our belief in his majesty and mercy, we do receive healing on our journey.

As we continue to contemplate the themes of faith and gratitude to God, I leave you with the following questions for reflection: Are we learning how to thank the Lord? Do we recognize in praise, thanksgiving and worship the gift of mercy God constantly bestows upon us? What are the conditions in our lives today that require God's mercy? What kind of faith do we have in Jesus and his power to bestow the graces of healing upon us? When we receive God's mercy —and we do receive it every day —what do we do next? Are we filled with thanks and praise? Do we show our gratitude in worship? The Holy Eucharist is the most excellent form of thanks, praise, and worship of God because it is Christ himself who is offered and offers thanks to God. Do we attend mass as frequently as possible as an opportunity to return gratitude to God for his mercy?

With gratitude to God for the gift of a long and blessed life of faith, we celebrate Joseph Fliss' centenary today after the 10:30 am Mass.

Behold! A conference for the family of God is scheduled for October 18th. Have you registered? Please register today.

The priests of our diocese of Harrisburg begin their annual workshop today and return on Friday. Please keep us in your prayers.

​Fr. Alayode, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
As I set out to write my reflection on this Sunday's scripture readings, which explored the theme of living faith in God as a remedy for struggles with temptation and unforgiveness, I was caught up in visions of the events that had taken place in the parish over the last few days. The most outstanding one that comes to mind and view is the parish picnic held last Sunday on our church's sacred grounds. The occasion also turned out to be a surprise celebration of the Silver Jubilee of my ordination to the priesthood. I was pleasantly surprised and still in the spirit of jubilation at the number of people present, including my younger brother, Paul, from New Jersey and my cousin, Agnes, from Maryland, as well as the gifts and cards, the food, drink, and the beautiful anniversary cake. The entire atmosphere was one of joy. Not only was it a lovely and happy celebration, but I also felt the love and support of my parishioners.
 
On that note, in view of the beautiful and pleasant way you celebrated my milestone in the priesthood, I offer gratitude and praise to the entire parish. I know many of you worked behind the scenes to plan and execute all that took place, and although I couldn't identify each one of you in person, I would still like to mention a few people and groups. I am thankful to my entire office staff, who worked seamlessly with members of the parish pastoral council planning committee and were supported by the CCW, Men's Club, the Forgiven band, and others. All in all, we had a successful picnic, and everyone looked happy, with the children in particular seeming to truly enjoy the thrills of playing in the bouncer.
 
We returned from a parish pilgrimage to Italy only a few days before the picnic and silver jubilee anniversary celebration, and we had a lifetime experience because we had the privilege of walking through all the Holy Doors in Rome and the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence. We will soon be able to share the spiritual and beautiful moments with the entire parish through picture and video displays in the parish social hall. I am equally thankful to all the pilgrims who traveled with me. I pray it turns out to be a life-changing experience for you all.
 
On a final celebratory note, on behalf of the parish, I would like to wish Joseph Fliss on a happy hundredth birthday. His hundredth (100) birthday is on Tuesday, October 7. Reaching a century is a remarkable phenomenon and milestone! I promised Joseph at his ninety-ninth birthday last year that if he reaches his hundredth birthday, the parish will celebrate with him. I hope to fulfill my promise by inviting us to come together in the parish hall next Sunday, October 12, after the 10:30 a.m. Mass to wish Joseph a happy birthday.
 
Remember, October is dedicated to praying the Holy Rosary. I encourage you to pray the rosary with the parish daily before Mass.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,
  
What's God's plan for us after death? Eternal life in His presence. God sent us his Son, Jesus, to save us for everlasting life with him in heaven. However, he also gives us the freedom to choose otherwise. An eternity of separation from God is what we call hell. We were not called or chosen for hell. When God chose or called us in Christ Jesus, He intended for us to see him face to face after death. We find this claim in the verses from this Sunday's gospel, John 6:37-39. Jesus says to us the following words of comfort: "I will not reject anyone who comes to me" and "I should not lose anything of what he (God) gave me." Jesus never dismisses anyone or sends them to hell. Those who choose eternal life can have it, but they cannot choose to live against God's will at the same time.
 
As I said earlier, verses from this Sunday's pericope are encouraging and consoling to us who remember and mourn loved ones. We pray for our departed brothers and sisters because we know God will not abandon those who lived for Christ while alive after death. God will not reject those who follow Jesus. If they followed the path of salvation, we have in God's promise "hope that does not disappoint (Rom 5:5). How does this work? Jesus describes the path to eternal life when he says: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life."
 
As it turns out, the popular aphorism, "Seeing is believing," is false. Some see and do not believe. To have everlasting life after death, we must see and believe in Jesus. What does this mean and entail? What does it mean biblically to "see" and "believe"? Let us turn to that. In biblical spirituality, seeing Jesus is recognizing him as God and developing a desire for a relationship with him. It is a desire for communion and friendship with him. To believe in Jesus is to have absolute faith and trust in his power to save us. In other words, believing in Jesus is to entrust oneself totally to Him who died and rose to save us. A life of trusting in Jesus, with whom we have a relationship, is the guaranteed pathway to eternal life with God after death.
 
Why do we pray for our dead friends and relatives if they belonged to Jesus; if they believed in Jesus while they lived? We pray for them because, though they might have died in a state of grace and in friendship with God, it is possible that their will and heart were still attached to the sins they had repented of and forgiven. There is a likely scenario in which our righteous loved ones in Christ are not fully purged and purified of attachment to sin. While they may be on their path to God's presence, the beatific vision, there may still be a need for purification from temporal punishment due to sin. Our prayers, penances, and almsgiving hasten their purification. Purgatory is the word that describes this process of purification that advances them into heaven. If we must express our charity to our faithful departed, our belief in the communion of saints gives us reason to pray for the repose of their souls. 
 
Pray for the souls of your dead loved ones that they may attain God's plan for them post-mortem. God chose them for eternity with him. Help them achieve this purpose. We remember them at our 10:30 am mass and at Eucharistic adoration at 3:00 pm.
  
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

Beloved in Christ, 
 
"Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, my soul; I will praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live." These words of praise from Psalm 146, from which our responsorial Psalm for this Sunday's Mass is derived, clearly express the ongoing emotions in my heart since the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of my priestly ordination on September 23rd.
 
 Praise is the apt word for the feelings I felt when I celebrated Mass at the grotto of St. Michael the Archangel last Tuesday. I praise God for the privilege of the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, which He bestowed on me, his unworthy son. My soul praises God for the pilgrims of praise and many others who gathered in the pews of the sacred space at Monte Sant'Angelo to celebrate with me. I am particularly grateful for the choice gift of a grape-engraved chalice from the Pilgrims of Praise in honor of my priestly ordination anniversary.
 
I praise God for demonstrations of sincere affection from all of you, my beloved ones of St. Peter Catholic Church in Elizabethtown. I'm eternally grateful to God for bestowing the awesome grace of ministerial priesthood on me, "To him be honor and eternal power. Amen" (1 Timothy 6:16).
 
In Christ, the Eternal High Priest,   
Fr. Alayode, OP 
 
The collage of pictures from San Giovanni Rotondo on my anniversary gives you a picture of why my soul praises the Lord.
 

​The dishonest steward in Jesus’ parable is no hero. He does not use the talents he is given to earn more or to forgive the debts of a person in dire straits. No, he discounts the debts of his masters debtors because soon he will be out of a job looking for help from them. He is a wily self-centered manipulator who cannot be trusted with his master’s wealth, cannot be trusted with his own wealth, and cannot be trusted with what Jesus calls true wealth. True wealth, as Jesus hints in the final verse, is found in the kingdom of heaven. It is not money, or assets, or the accumulation  of material possessions. In fact, it is neither material nor a possession. True wealth is spiritual; it is a share in what is God’s. Jesus himself gives us a model to follow when he places all his “wealth” in the service of others, whether feeding the thousands, healing the sick, or suffering for us all. This is how we serve God, not mammon.
 
How can you find a prudent steward of your material possessions, aware that true wealth is found in God? (Lect.135)
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
Our parish, St. Peter, will embark on a spiritual pilgrimage to Italy this Sunday as part of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. We hope it will be a springtime of new and living hope in our Catholic faith. I am humbled to lead a group of pilgrims, thirty-one in total, parishioners and non-parishioners. Pilgrimage, especially during the Jubilee year, is a grace-filled time and action to seek after the things above, even as we walk on and about this earth. Please pray for us to have a safe, spiritually renewing, and transforming pilgrimage.
 
Let me briefly describe what our pilgrimage entails. As part of our pilgrimage itinerary to Italy, we walk through four holy doors, celebrate Masses in basilicas, grottos, shrines, and chapels, visit sites of Eucharistic miracles, and in the process grow in our knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Christian faith. Our pilgrimage will offer us opportunities to encounter the Lord in all His grandeur and majesty in the eternal city.
 
As we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross this Sunday, and as I write this reflection with a frequent gaze on the Crucifix in the sanctuary of the Historic Church of St. Peter, I would like you to know that our itinerary is also marked by contacts with the cross of Christ. For example, on September 17, the group of pilgrims will walk to bring the Cross from Piazza Pia to St. Peter Basilica, the biggest, grandest and most beautiful of all world's churches; on September 16 we shall proceed to the Church of San Marcello al Corso to see the miraculous Crucifix, which in 1522 was carried in procession through the city's districts to end the "Great Plague of Rome; and On September 21, in Assisi, we shall see the cross that spoke to  St. Francis, "Rebuild my Church." The Christian must walk the way of the Cross; it is the path of love.
 
May we embrace the Cross of Christ on which hung the Savior of the world. On the cross is our victory achieved, and on it we ascend to heaven.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:27).
 
The high cost of discipleship. Do we truly understand what we are getting into when we choose to follow Jesus? Following Jesus will cost us everything that we own. Is there any demand of Jesus that we will say no to? If there is, then we are not yet ready to carry our cross and follow Jesus. It means we have not contemplated and counted the cost of followership. Following Christ sincerely demands prioritizing him above everything, including people and things that are most dear to us. 
 
To be a true disciple of Jesus is to give absolute, infinite, unlimited, unflinching loyalty to Him. There is no room for compromise here; Jesus demands the totality of our commitment to him and over others. We must love him above all persons or things. We must love him alone with all of ourselves: with all our heart, mind, soul, and body. Nothing, not even dearest and nearest family members or things, must compete with our total surrender to the demands of Jesus. Following Jesus is either everything or nothing; He does not accept choosing between them.
 
It is essential to take time out to consider the cost and renew our commitment to Jesus if we wish to continue the process of discipleship. Ask questions and ponder over statements of faith. Am I willing to make Jesus the absolute leader of my soul? When my family and friends that I love stand in the way of my total surrender in conscience and action to the demands of Jesus, would I idolize them and say no to Jesus? What in the world would make me say "no" to Jesus? These are questions we should engage in recollection and retreat. 
 
As I prepare to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of my priestly ordination during our parish pilgrimage to Italy, which begins next Sunday, I intend to engage with these and similar questions. Are there things or people I have loved or preferred over Jesus? These are questions that need to be answered during spiritual retreats (which I don't get to do as often as necessary because of pastoral needs). I encourage you to take time out to be alone to address these questions: Do I love Jesus above my family, friends, and things, or am I addicted and possessed by them? I conclude with words borrowed from Keith Nester: "What would make you say 'No' to Jesus? This could hurt." With Mary, whose nativity and holy name we honor this week, let us dare to say and mean "God, thy will be done."
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

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