October 20, 2024

Dear People of St. Patrick Parish,

As we hear the Gospel of Mark, today, we hear the Apostles James and John who are cousins to Jesus asking Jesus to give them top positions in whatever the Twelve Apostles will be doing. They say to Jesus, let us be the top dogs and have the highest places of honor.

Jesus had now told His Apostles for the third time that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. How disappointed Jesus must have been in these two. Let us also think about how the other Ten Apostles must have felt.

Jesus asks them, can you accept and suffer what lies ahead for you, Judas committed suicide, John the youngest of the Twelve will die a natural death, but the others including Peter will all be killed for their Catholic Faith.

Sometimes, we as Catholics, members of a Diocese, or a Parish, want to have all the top spots, to be the top dog and control everyone and everybody else. Not what Jesus has in mind for all His baptized and hopeful people He wants with Him in heaven.

Everyone of us has some gift or talent that we can use to lead others to Christ as followers of the Lord.

Today, we renew our love and support to God the Father and Jesus the Son and thank them for the love and death of Jesus on the cross, so we can have eternal life.

Yes, we are all one in Christ and we should be proud to live it and admit it.

God Bless all of us who are
the children of God,
Fr. Larry Young
Your Pastor