Word from the Pastor

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,​
Men and women, the inhabitants of this world, face the heat of each day. As we battle human-made tragedies and natural disasters of every kind, many wonder whether the world has a Master, a Creator, a Controller, a Designer, and a Founder who can stop these devastating events.

We search for the Creator of the world, crying out for help as we endure the noise of fierce winds, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and heavy rains. Yet these are not the only disasters we face. Many of the greatest tragedies are the ones we create ourselves.

We set ourselves on fire, and then we call the firefighters to rescue us. We flood our own lives through poor choices, and then we cry out for someone to save us. Like children playing with fire, we often create the very disasters from which we seek deliverance. We create problems and then search for solutions. How much better would it be if we did not create those problems in the first place?

Have you ever considered how wisely God designed His creation? God created humanity to live on the land, and He gave us feet to walk upon it. He created the fish to live in the water and gave them flexible bodies, powerful fins, and streamlined shapes to move through the sea with ease. He created birds to live on the earth and soar through the sky, giving them both feet and wings. God designed every living creature according to its purpose. Likewise, He has prepared a place for us and calls us to live according to His will. The earth, with all its blessings, is a gift from His hand.

When the prophet Elijah fled for his life, he came to Mount Horeb to meet God. There he experienced a mighty wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in those dramatic displays. After them came a gentle whisper, and in that quietness Elijah heard God's voice. God demonstrated that He is sovereign over creation and over every force of nature. The noise around us does not mean the absence of God. Neither do the troubles we create place us beyond His reach.

Jesus also often withdrew to the mountain to pray and commune with His Father. Those moments of fellowship prepared Him for every trial that lay ahead. Soon afterward, His disciples found themselves caught in a violent storm. The sea raged, the wind battered their boat, and the waves threatened to overwhelm them. Yet Jesus, the Lord of the sea, the wind, and the waves, came to them and spoke these comforting words: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

The storms of life are real. Some come from nature, while others arise from our own decisions. Yet we do not have to fight these battles alone. We must allow the Lord to fight for us. Even when we have created the conflict ourselves, God is able to bring forgiveness, restoration, and victory to those who turn to Him.

As the storms rage around us and it seems that the waves will capsize our boat, God passes by to reassure us that He is with us. His presence gives us peace in the middle of the storm, His power calms our fears, and His voice reminds us to trust Him.

Therefore, let us place our confidence in the Lord. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, the Master over every storm, and the Savior who never abandons His people. No matter how fierce the winds may blow or how high the waves may rise, His promise remains true: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Rev. Fritzner J. Bellonce
Pastor