Scriptures insist that we keep our priorities straight, to root our values in God’s wisdom and not to be deceived by the ways of our materialistic world. In today’s gospel, Jesus warns us to guard against the vice of greed, for “one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

​He then tells a parable about a man preoccupied with his wealth. Despite all he owns, all his comforts, this man is anxious and intent on piling up far more riches. While his storehouses were full and he mistakenly thought he needed bigger ones, Jesus makes it clear that at the core of his being was an emptiness. Jesus concludes by saying that what matters is not our earthly treasures, but to be “rich in what matters to God.” Qoheleth in the first reading shares the same wisdom in speaking of the ultimate vanity of earthly possessions. And St. Paul tells the Colossians, and tells us: “…seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” 

What do we make of these unsettling challenges? Not all of us in the Church are called to evangelical poverty for the 
sake of the Kingdom of God. There are those among us in the Body of Christ who do take the vow of poverty – precisely as an expression of faith in God’s providence. Those who live this vow witness to us all of the values that matter most and of the passing nature of earthly possessions. We as individuals, as well as the world as a whole, need that witness. But while the vast majority of us are not called to renounce possessions for the sake of Christ, we are called to an evangelical simplicity of life. We are called to make sure that our possessions never begin to possess us. 

Christianity has always needed to be countercultural. It was so in the Roman Empire in the first generations of our 
Church and has been again and again down through history in different times and cultures. Yet, it is also true that all too often members of the Church, including leaders of the Church, have betrayed that mission. The ways of the world can so easily subvert our thinking and action. It is not that the things of the world are evil. Far from it, God created our world and wants us to be blessed by its bounty. But when the things of this world push God aside, when our values are rooted more in our culture than in the gospel, we have lost our way. 

The greed against which Jesus warned certainly includes greed for material possessions, but there are other kinds of 
greed. We can be greedy for control and so begin to manipulate and use others, greedy for attention and adulation and fall into jealousy, we can be greedy for comfort and be unwilling to make sacrifices or make excuses for our indifference. 

The refrain from today’s Responsorial Psalm reminds us, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” This 
week let’s pause and open our hearts, let’s engage in profound reflection on our values and priorities. Do we seek first
the Kingdom of God? Do our lived priorities reflect the values of our Catholic faith? Are our attitudes and behavior 
pretty much the same as those of our contemporaries around us, or does our discipleship of Jesus inspire us to think and act differently? Jesus calls us to conversion of heart, mind and action. Jesus calls us to love God above all else and to love one another as he loved us. Let’s each ask ourselves: “Have the ways of our world diverted me from this path?”

If so, let’s take the challenge of Jesus to heart and begin the process of repentance and renewal. 
Jesus, may we treasure you and your ways and grow to be rich in the things of God. Holy Mary, who always sought and followed God’s will in your life, help us to do the same. 

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He went on to graduate from California State University Dominguez Hills and then moved to the major seminary of St. John’s in Camarillo. He completed four years of theological studies and year of pastoral internship at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Rowland Heights. He was ordained a priest on June 3, 2023, and assigned to Resurrection Parish in east Los Angeles.

Father Emmanuel is fully bilingual and has a particular love of the liturgy. He reflected that “Life as a parish priest has been a blast!” At Resurrection Church, under the guidance of Msgr. John Moretta, he strove to bring people closer to the love of Christ and experienced a wide scope of what priesthood means, noting that “each day is an adventure full of excitement, challenges, and blessings.”

​He is looking forward to serving here in Santa Clarita at OLPH!

     This weekend we have a rare treat because the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul falls on a Sunday. In some parts of the world this feast is a holy day of obligation. This feast has ancient roots. As noted in an article by the Catholic News Agency, “As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day.” 

     These two Apostles had a profound impact in their time and continue to inspire us to this day. The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles reveal Peter as a man of great heart but also with many flaws. Simon, bar Jonah, along with his brother, Andrew, were among the first whom Jesus called to follow him (Matthew 4:18-20). Peter was the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21). In consequence, Jesus gave him the name of Cephas, Peter, (John 1:42; Matthew 16:18-20) signifying that he would be “the rock upon which I will build my church.” Yet not long after this affirmation Jesus had to rebuke Peter for trying to deter him from his mission with the words: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:21-23).

    When many disciples left Jesus after his teaching that he himself was the Bread of Life, Peter chose to remain with the ringing proclamation, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:67-69). Peter experienced the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11) and saw Jesus walking on the water, at which point he dared to get out of the boat but panicked and began flailing. His cry then is one at times we all have on our own lips: “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:22-33). Initially, Peter re fused to let Jesus wash his feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1-11). Of course, we all know Peter’s foolish boast that he would always be there for the Lord and the prediction of Jesus that Peter would three times deny him (Matthew 26:31 35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22: 31-34). Ultimately, Peter repented in tears, was one of the first to see the Risen Lord, ex pressed his love three times, and proclaimed Jesus boldly at Pentecost. Even though for the most part Peter no longer allowed his fears to rule him, there was an occasion where he acted out of fear and Paul had to confront him (Galatians 2:11-21).

     Saul of Tarsus (Roman name, Paul) was a zealous Jew who persecuted the early Church and was complicit in the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 8:1-3). He then encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and his life was forever trans formed (Acts 9:1-30). He became the great missionary, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Both were martyred in Rome (Peter in approximately 64 AD and Paul approximately 67 AD) for their commitment to Jesus.

      On this feast day, you might consider reading the First Letter of Peter (only five chapters long) or some passages from the Acts of the Apostles centering on St. Paul (particularly Acts 7:54 – 8:3 and the story of his conversion, 9:1-30).

      On Tuesday of this week we welcome our new Associate Pastor, Father Emmanuel Sanchez. You will find a brief bio of him in this bulletin.

     Jesus, who chose to build your Church on the rock of Peter and his successors, shower us with your love and strength. Dearest Mary, our beloved Mother, help us to live with the faith, hope and love we see in Saints Peter and Paul.