Word from the Pastor

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Brothers and sisters,​
We are created by God and in His own image and likeness. God does not create evil. At the beginning of creation, God looked upon all that He had made and declared it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Therefore, our weaknesses, failures, and mistakes do not define who we are. We remain God’s beloved creation, called to know Him, to grow in truth, and to become more fully the people He created us to be.

Yes, we are capable of making wrong decisions. Life is a school, and every day we enter its classroom with opportunities to learn. Sometimes we learn through joy and success; at other times, we learn through failure, disappointment, and mistakes. Our failures can reveal our strengths and weaknesses and teach us lessons we might not otherwise learn. A mistake is not necessarily the end of the journey. It can become an opportunity for conversion, growth, and a deeper relationship with God.

Peter gives us a beautiful example. Peter was not perfect. He stepped out of the boat to walk toward Jesus on the water, but when fear took over, he began to sink. Jesus asked him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Later, Peter denied Jesus three times, even after promising that he would remain faithful. On another occasion, Jesus strongly rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” because Peter did not understand God’s plan.

Yet Jesus did not abandon Peter.

Peter continued to follow Jesus. He continued to learn. He continued to grow. And when Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”, Peter was the one who boldly confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him that this truth had been revealed to him by the Father (Matthew 16:15–17).

Peter’s blind spots did not prevent God from working through him. His mistakes did not cancel his calling. His failures did not erase his faith.

This is also true for us.

We may have made wrong choices. We may have disappointed ourselves or others. We may carry memories of things we wish we could change. But God is not finished with us. The time has not expired. Life continues to give us opportunities to choose again, to repent, to grow, and to get things right.

St. Paul reminds us, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).

What a beautiful promise! Our hope in Christ has not been cancelled because of our failures. God’s love is greater than our mistakes. His grace continues to call us forward.

In Christ, hope has no tense. It belongs to the past, the present, and the future. God was with us yesterday, He walks with us today, and He will remain with us tomorrow.

So, brothers and sisters, do not allow your mistakes to become your identity. Do not allow your failures to convince you that God has abandoned you. Like Peter, continue walking with Christ. Continue learning in the school of life. Continue allowing God to reveal the truth to you.

There is still a chance. There is still grace. There is still a future.

God will never grow tired of calling us back to Himself.

Hope has not been cancelled. In Christ, our journey continues.

Rev. Fritzner J. Bellonce
Pastor