Dear Parishioners,
The Catholic Church has always been a mix of saints and sinners. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. Some who appear to be saints have hidden vices, while others who seem to be sinners have hidden virtues. So it is good to follow our Lord’s advice elsewhere in the gospel, “Judge not lest you be judged.”
Furthermore, the gospel is a reminder of God’s patience in allowing the weeds to remain in the wheat field. What may appear to be weeds may turn out to be wheat and vice versa.
If we examine our lives, we will see that there were times when we seemed to be wheat in God’s field and times when we were wicked weeds. All the while, God is patient with us. However, unlike weeds and wheat, we have free will and can choose how we want to turn out. We can root the weeds out of our hearts only through prayer, penance, and the sacraments. If we do, we need have no fear when the master of the harvest comes.
- Fr. Carl
Rev. Stephen Hook is Pastor of the Pastorate of the Visitation which includes the Catholic Churches of Pasadena, Maryland: St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Riviera Beach) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake (Lakeshore). He is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. John Belinki, Deacon Howard Klohr, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
