We hear in today’s Gospel about “render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. I have no intention of wading into the politics of taxation…that has an interesting history for a Brit! But what is Jesus meaning when he says, “what belongs to God”, what is it? The truth is it is our lives. On one level this is also a remote hint that he is giving to his disciples of his own impending death. We are called to give our lives to God in this life so “that we can be happy with him in the next” as it used to say in the “Penny Catechism”. Another way of looking at it is to understand that we need to live our lives fully for love of him. We mustn’t waste our lives. If we are married then be the best wife or husband and be true to your vows, if you are parents be the best parent you can be, if you’re a kid be the best kid. We must live our lives utilizing all the opportunities and blessings we receive so that in the end we can stand before St Peter and render a good account of the gift of life we have been given by God.
As Josephites, Frs Mark, John, Alfred and I try to be the best Josephites we can be in service of you here in Santa Maria and beyond. We are called to be “instruments of mercy in the hand of God” and to be men of douceur and politesse, hospitality and Fatherly care. We should have a zeal for the Gospel and a real concern for the lives of the young and their families bringing them closer to God and his Church.
Please also help our African Confreres to do the same with your generosity in our Annual Josephite Mission Appeal.
This Friday we start a series of events celebrating 200 years of the Josephites and the DMJs.
At 7pm in the Church I will be giving a presentation entitled “Why I am a Josephite: Our Spirituality”.
Please come along and share my journey.
May God Bless You and Your Families,
Fr. Aidan Peter, CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter