Beloved in Christ,

Jesus asked his disciples a simple but fundamental question when they got into the region of Caesarea Philippi: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). They offered answers from outsiders: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Next, Jesus posed the same question to the insiders, his close friends: "But who do you say that I am"? Addressing the question personally to them in Caesarea Philippi speaks volumes. Against the background of the temple dedicated to Caesar, the Roman emperor whom people generally considered Lord, a divine one, Jesus was asking a subversive question at that time. Jesus asked his disciples, and all who will become his followers: Who am I to you?

"You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," Peter answered on behalf of others. Jesus is the Lord! He is the anointed one expected to lead all humankind from bondage to sin to freedom. Jesus is not just one of the prophets. He is not an idea or a wise philosopher. Jesus is the anointed one, the expected Messiah. He, and only he, deserves worship. Believers in Jesus can encounter and be in communion with him only when they identify who he is.

Peter came to know who Jesus is because the Holy Spirit moved him to this awareness. Knowing who Jesus is leads to a life lived for him. All other things must flow from a relationship with Christ. Jesus is the one to whom we must ascribe the ultimate worth, not any other person or thing. To whom do I direct the entirety of my heart, mind, thought, energy, interest, time, talents, and emotions? Money, social media, sports, family, politics, or people?  If I want to be a faithful Christian, Jesus must be the center of my life. Money, social media, sports, family, and politics must flow from a relationship with Jesus. When we recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, we 
must necessarily develop a living relationship with this living person, and we will eventually prioritize him over other things. How do we make this desire a reality?

The lead question is: "But who do you say I am?" Consistently spending quality time and hours of meditation before the Eucharistic Lord would lead to similar, personal Petrine confessions: You are the Christ! You are my savior and the Son of God. Jesus Christ is my Lord! With you all, my beloved in Christ, we are the church called to profess Jesus as our Lord in deeds, words, and worship. As members of one body of Christ, the mystical body of Christ, we are called and sent to proclaim Christ as the Lord to the people we meet. But we cannot give what we don’t possess through ongoing periods of contemplation. We must seek to discover more of Jesus daily through study of Scripture and spiritual reading. We must continue to nourish and strengthen our relationship with Jesus if we want to endure in our call to make Christ known. May I suggest that you attend at least one daily Mass with adoration offered in our parish, Monday to Friday? One hour a week devoted to loving Jesus in prayer is not too much to ask of anyone seeking to encounter Jesus more intimately. To know Him is to love Him and share Him with others.

I wish all our students and teachers a blessed new school year. We bless you as we bless your backpacks this Sunday. The Elizabethtown Fair begins tomorrow, August 24. The Men’s Club and the Council of Catholic Women are flying our parish’s flag again this year. I plead with you to support them by assisting at their stands, patronizing their highly rated food, or both. This is a parish activity, not only for the devoted members of these parish societies. Thank you. Have a blessed week!

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

The faith of the Canaanite woman in this Sunday’s gospel illustrates an unshakeable trust in God: “Woman, great is your faith!”(Matthew 15: 28). Last Sunday, if you recall, we reflected on Peter’s weak faith; faith mixed with doubt and fear. We encounter in the Canaanite woman a more profound faith, made more 
striking by her Gentile origin. Her persistence and trust in Jesus, despite his seemingly harsh response to her request, make this foreign woman an example for all to imitate. Jesus is saddened 
by the lack of faith of his own neighbors and the little faith of his own disciples as he is struck with admiration at the great faith of the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman (CCC 2610).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes further to say that “The prayer of faith consists not only in saying, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father. Jesus calls his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating with the divine plan” (2611). We must not only develop the bold faith of the Canaanite woman but also be submissive and at 
peace with God’s will.

The second dimension to today’s liturgy of the word throws light on God’s inclusiveness. The 
two readings before the Gospel, from Isaiah and Paul, tell of God’s bigger plan than the limited imagination of the Jewish people. God wants to expand our vision of who is deserving of his love and care.  Isaiah reminds us that God loves foreigners- indeed anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. God’s temple is a house of prayer for all peoples, not just native-born Israelites. Everyone is deserving of dignity and care because all are from God. This is why our prayers are directed to all- family and strangers; local and international; all are included in our prayers. Let’s remember this in how we pray, as we do in our Universal Prayer (prayers of the faithful).

Drawing on the lessons from today’s readings, I want to express profound gratitude for your prayers for me on my birthday last Wednesday. Thanks for joining me in the highest prayer of thanksgiving at Mass on Wednesday morning. I am grateful for the prayers, gifts, and cards. 
May God hear our prayers said in deep, trusting faith.

In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP

Beloved in Christ,

"Lord, save me!" Peter cried out as he became frightened and began to sink 
as he walked on the troubled sea (Mt 14: 30). Jesus walked on troubled water, stirred by the wind. The wind was blowing against the boat the apostles were riding. The disciples of Christ were filled with fear because they could not contend with the fearsome power of the wild wind rocking their craft to the point of capsizing. The wind against the boat symbolizes the trials and tribulations dealt to the Church and Christians, and the need to direct our cries for help to Jesus, who is always quietly, yet powerfully present in our midst.

God never fails to help his friends when they call upon him. In the first reading from 1 Kings 19, Elijah fled for his life from a raging and vengeful Jezebel to the cave of Mt Horeb to draw strength from God, who made himself present to him in "a tiny whispering sound." God is always present with his troubled and endangered children, sometimes in simple and gentle ways. In their fright due to the threatening winds, Jesus reveals himself to his disciples and reaches out to save them. He responds to their cry for help because he is true to his identity as Iesus Hominum Salvator, a Latin abbreviation we find on our sacred linens, vestments, and vessels, meaning "Jesus, Savior of Humankind."

What are the winds blowing against our Church and us at the moment? There are several forms of treacherous winds blowing against our progress to heaven, enemies of the faith: from lack of absolute faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to the corruption of the will and morals of Christians due to the secularism and materialism sweeping across the world like a raging wildfire. The tsunami of stress, worries, and anxiety threatening to capsize our spiritual boats can be arrested and tamed when we look up to Jesus, who is always present and reaching out to save us. If we turn to Jesus in faith and confess him humbly and honestly as "the Son of God," he will step into our boat and calm down the wind of life-endangering problems. Jesus, our Savior, is bigger and greater than all the winds of evil that scare and trouble us. And his promise to come to our rescue is ever dependable because he is the Son of God.

Are you in the midst of any trial at the moment? Jesus is here to the rescue. Recognize him as the Son of God, a friend and lover of your soul. In faith, look up to him. Pray constantly without wavering in faith. One of the most efficient ways of coming into the presence of Jesus is a turn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pray the Rosary of Our Blessed Mother Mary, assumed into heaven. She always appeals to her Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, on behalf of all her sons and daughters who seek her intercession.

Do not forget to attend the Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Please plan to participate in the Mass of the Assumption, not because it is a day of obligation (it is not obligatory this year) but because you love the Blessed Mother, and our Lord Jesus would be honored when you honor his mother. She is our best intercessor before Jesus- to Jesus through Mary.

O Mary, Assumed into Heaven, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP