Pastor's Message - July 5/July 6, 2025

My Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope you had a joyful and peaceful 4th of July celebration!

As we reflect on the gift of our national freedom, we are also reminded of a deeper call—a spiritual urgency in the words of our Lord:

“Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.” (Luke 10:3-4)

What does this mean for us, modern-day disciples of Christ? How do we respond to the challenges in our world today, especially when the very idea of freedom—spiritual, moral, even civil—is increasingly compromised? We may have just celebrated Independence Day, but the deeper question remains: Are we truly free?

In another powerful moment from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says:

 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follows me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)

These words can seem harsh—at odds with the message of love we so often associate with Christ. But Jesus was using a common Semitic expression, where “hate” meant to “love less.” He was emphasizing the cost of discipleship. Nothing and no one, not even our closest relationships or our own desires—should come before our commitment to him.

Discipleship is not casual. It is deliberate, transformative, and deeply personal. It begins with belief—accepting the truth of who Jesus is and all that He reveals: the love of God, the reality of sin, and the true meaning of life. But it does not stop there. As Fr. Raymond Brown, one of the greatest Scripture scholars of our time, once said:

“The Christian is the one who listens to the voice of Jesus all his or her life and does not make a decision without first hearing what Jesus has to say.” Discipleship involves listening, yes—but also acting. That is where the challenge lies. When Jesus revealed to his disciples that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem, Peter protested: “God forbid!” He feared what that path would mean. But Jesus had to fulfill his mission.

 So, what is true discipleship?

I believe it is, at its heart, sacrificial. It is about denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Christ wherever He leads. It is about dying with Christ—dying to fear, pride, selfishness, and sin—so that we may rise with Him into a new life of love, mercy, and grace.

As the great theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

 “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

A priest friend once told me, “We are in the dying business.” That is true. We die daily to our old selves so that we may become more fully alive in Christ. Look at St. Augustine— his entire life changed when he truly embraced Christ. He died to his past and became one of the most influential voices in the history of the Church.

True Christianity is not just about showing up on Sundays.

It is not comfortable or convenient. It is demanding. It stretches us. It calls us to step out of our comfort zones, to carry the cross of love, service, compassion, and forgiveness— even when it hurts. Even when it costs us. That is discipleship. That is freedom. That is the way of Christ. May God give us the courage to walk this path—boldly, faithfully, and joyfully. In Christ, Fr. Geoffrey