Each day we are faced with a choice: to live for ourselves or to live for Jesus and for others

Thanks so much to everyone who made our annual parish picnic another great success last Sunday!  We had over 500 people RSVP.  Father Carlos led us in a beautiful Mass.  A quick shower blew through to cool us off and everyone left well fed and happy!

Living our Christian way of life is not easy. Dying to self and living for Christ and others requires sacrifice. It is the work of a lifetime. Yet it is also the only work that truly matters and the only life that ultimately satisfies. Today's Bible readings remind us that faithful discipleship is demanding, but always worthwhile.

Many of us have experienced similar moments like the prophet Jeremiah. We may become discouraged, weary of doing the right thing, or hesitant to live our Catholic faith openly. Yet God's goodness and faithfulness continue to draw us back to Him. Like Jeremiah, we discover that we cannot turn away from the One who has given us everything.

St. Paul shows us how to persevere in today's Second Reading. He urges us to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God," and reminds us, "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." For us, today, this means intentionally shaping our lives through prayer, the sacraments, ongoing formation in our Catholic faith, and the daily effort to set aside anything that draws us away from God. Left to ourselves, this would be impossible. But God's grace is always available to strengthen us whenever we ask for it.

In today's Gospel, Jesus continues this same theme of sacrificial discipleship. Everything comes down to love. Jesus loved us completely, giving Himself for us on the Cross. He continues to give Himself to us through His Word and, most especially, in the Eucharist.

Each day we are faced with a choice: to live for ourselves or to live for Jesus and for others. The second path is more demanding, but it leads to lasting joy and the promise of eternal life. May we choose each day to lose our lives for Christ's sake, offering them back to Him in grateful response to His immeasurable love for us.

Fr. Mark Zacker

Pastor