Dear Parishioners,
Thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the Tetiarchy of Philip, lies the area called Caesarea Philippi. It was a town with an amazing history. It had once been a great center of worship to pagan god Baal. It had also been said to be the birthplace of the Greek god Pan and the source of the Jordan River. Furthermore, Philip had built a gleaming temple to the godhead of Caesar, the Roman emperor, who was regarded as a god. It was amazing with all these claimants to divinity that the Son of God should ask who his disciples thought him to be. And it was even more amazing that Peter got it right – “You are the Messiah.” But then Peter got it wrong when Jesus revealed what lay in store for him. We, like Peter, get it right when we look upon the promises of God with great joy and enthusiasm. But then we get it wrong when we try to avoid the hardships along the way. Later on, Peter would accept his cross. May we do the same as we remember Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:27-35)
- Father 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.
