Dear Parishioners,
The Church is a “non profit” organization, but it is a “prophet” making organization. In other words, the Church does not exist to make money but in order to evangelize through her prophets. By the way, it’s not just Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos who are called by God to bring his message into the world by word and example. It’s you and me—us. In the sacrament of baptism immediately after the water is imposed, we are anointed with Holy Chrism oil. The minister then prays, “As Jesus was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as members of his body sharing everlasting life.”
As prophets, we are not meant to travel far and wide preaching reform and repentance. We act as prophets by taking the faith we profess each week and bringing it into our life experience with others. As kings, we are meant to rule over our feelings and emotions, not letting them rule over us as we live out the Gospel message. And as priest, we are called to sacrifice our wants, desires, and comforts as we imitate and follow Jesus. Of course, like Amos (Am 7:12-15), Jesus and the disciples, we can from time to time expect rejection in this life. But when we die, the reward is out of this world!
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.
