Pastor’s Note 1/25/26

Dear Parishioners:

What’s on the other side of a decision, the decision made each day, to follow Jesus Christ? That’s what the Gospel of today describes. After the initial proclamation by Jesus that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and therefore the people are called to repent, Jesus begins calling his individual disciples, those to follow him. We can assume that these fishermen from the Gospel passage today have heard something of Jesus. They have either heard his riveting message firsthand or they have caught wind of it as the popularity of Jesus spreads throughout that land. And now, as Jesus encounters them on the shoreline at their livelihood, they are called to follow. With very little to go on, without any contractual assurances or even a vague roadmap for the journey proposed, these disciples drop everything, leave it behind, and follow Jesus. And they do so immediately, we are told. What did they expect to be on the other side of that decision? Honestly, they didn’t know absolutely and concretely— and so is the same for us. Each day, we have the opportunity to recommit to following Jesus, to shedding our distractions and self-constructed projects, and following Jesus unreservedly. Now we can’t say what exactly is on the other side…but we can rest assured who is with us, leading us in that journey of true life, service, and fulfillment.

Finally, I thank you, for prayerfully considering in this week ahead your gift to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries, the annual way that we support ministries, services, and programs of faith-in-action across our Archdiocese. This coming weekend we’ll have the opportunity as a community to offer our generous support. Contributions can also be made at: www.archbalt.org/aacm  Thank you!

God’s Peace,

Fr. John