Welcome to the first day of Summer and Happy Father’s Day to all of our Dads today!

Welcome to the first day of Summer and Happy Father’s Day to all of our Dads today!  Thank you for all your prayers and presents celebrating my “Father’s” Day, 30th Anniversary as a Priest, last weekend!  Next Sunday afternoon, we will celebrate Father Carlos’ “Father’s” Day, his 15th Anniversary as a Priest.

My Dad died 17 years ago, but I will never forget the last words he said to me:  “Stay strong!”  That’s what Dads want for their children.  They want to be the strong ones in the family and they want their children to stay strong, too.

Today’s Bible readings tell us the same.  In the span of eight verses, Jesus addresses the topic of fear four times in the Gospel:

— “Fear no one.”

— “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

— “Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body.”

— “… do not be afraid.”

God is truly “Abba,” our Father, who knows us inside and out. In fact, this intimate knowledge and tender care are precisely why Jesus reassures us over and over again not to fear, but to trust in Him.

With that, let us all breathe a huge sigh of relief. All is well. Our Father knows us through and through, sent His Son to save us, and will always take care of us. Stop wasting any more time with fear. Instead put all your energy, all your time, your talents and your treasure into trusting our great God, and using all that you are and all that He has given you to bring Him glory.

Fr. Mark Zacker

Pastor