News - January 2026 RSS Feed

In his 2019 Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illis, Pope Francis declares the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the Sunday of the Word of God. This letter calls attention to the centrality of the Word of God in the life of the Church and of Christians. It reflects on the action of Jesus in opening the hearts of his disciples to understand the mystery of his resurrection. The purpose of this Sunday of the Word of God is to encourage deeper appreciation for the inspired, revealed and received word of God. Here at our parish, we give pride of place to the sacred scripture, whether in our liturgy or in our weekly bible studies. We grow in our knowledge of God who constantly communicates to us through the written text of sacred scripture. We urge every parishioner to join one or more of our opportunities for growing deeper in our knowledge of scripture.

Last week I began reflecting on surrendering to God’s will as necessary for true and lasting peace. Very often we pursue happiness by following the dictates of our hearts and after our whims, without stopping to ask what the Lord wants of us. When seen from the human perspective, God’s will might not be in our immediate favor, but it is always in our best interest. Another instance where God’s will might not align with our wills could be seen in suffering. Where in your life do you see the will of God in conflict with what you want?

The idea of a new year suggests the end of an old and the beginning of another. The new year also comes with challenges. It calls us to adopt new ways of thinking and being. At the start of the year, some of us make resolutions. To succeed, your goal-setting must be done with God. How? First, surrender to God’s will. Second, be courageous and trust God to guide your planning process. Third, stay humble and always give the glory back to God.