Dear Parishioners,
“Do as I say and not as I do.”
Sometimes we hear people in leadership roles say this to those they are leading. It might be said by a parent to a child when the young person points out the inconsistency between the parent’s lifestyle and correction of the child’s behavior.
We know that kind of leadership and teaching doesn’t work. The best kind of leadership and teaching is by example. Jesus makes this point in this week’s Gospel when he says, “No disciple is superior to the teacher, but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” (Lk 6:39-45)
We have had the good fortune to have Jesus as our teacher. He has shown us the way—leading a life of humility, obedience, and prayer along with detachment from power, pleasure, money, and material possessions. May God give us the grace to be good disciples so that we can lead others to Jesus.
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.
