St James Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,
Over the last two thousand years, Jesus has been given titles from Bread of Life to Our Savior. One of his first titles, going back to when he first stood and proclaimed God’s word in the synagogue, is Rabbi or Teacher. How appropriate to focus on that title on this first Sunday of September, a time of year when millions of young people are returning to school. Today we hear Jesus teach the crowds what it means to be a disciple. May he teach us as well as we gather together in his name.
Jesus’ words to the crowds are difficult to hear. The demands he makes of his disciples are too much. Hate your family? Carry your own cross? Renounce all your possessions? They range from unreasonable to unthinkable. Can he possibly mean to be harsh? First, consider that the use of the Greek word misei for hating one’s family could well be an example of semitic hyperbole-exaggeration for effect. It is intended to shock rather than reject. Second, renouncing all possessions doesn't necessarily mean leaving oneself destitute, but rather no longer regarding what you have as your own property. To follow Jesus means to choose Jesus, who gives us everything we need, even the promise of eternal life, over those things most dear to us: family, homes, wealth, and all our stuff. Let us look to his disciples, the twelve apostles who left their families, their homes, and their possessions, choosing to live a difficult lifestyle instead. Everyday, they calculate that following Jesus was worth everything they gave up. How about us?
Love, Peace, Joy,
Fr. Bob
This weekend is the last days of our rummage sale. We thank Donna Bricco, the committee chair, all the workers and volunteers, those that contributed items and of course all the people who purchased those items. May God bless them for their sacrifices, as well as our parish, with success, not only financially, but in working together we may grow in unity in his name.