PASTOR'S MUSINGS 101922

Since we celebrated the feast day of St. Luke on Tuesday, October 18, patron saint of those in medical profession and artists, it's fitting to highlight his significance. Although the historical mark outside the church doesn't indicate the exact day of the church's dedication only October 1971, while it's a work in progress, for the time being, let's presume it was on the 18th. One of the most moving and incredible testimonies about Luke is the first reading today from the second letter of Paul to Timothy. After being abandoned by all, Paul writes to Timothy, Only Luke was with me (2 Tim. 4: 11). Luke is the only one with me. When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Luke remained at his side. This is so touching because he mentioned nothing about Paul's words in his voluminous writings. It's one thing to write about yourself in the case of, while everyone else left Paul behind, I was the only one who stayed and gave him company. It's music to the ears when someone like Paul appreciated him for accompanying him during his last difficult days. Luke's companionship should continue to inspire us parishioners of our leaning/inclination/passion/outreach for the abandoned, troubled, and deserted.

One of the many things I learned in America is to check the forecast. I haven't missed a day since my arrival. I am certain we share the same common human experience and habit of checking the weather before going to bed, after getting up and before leaving the house. I won’t go out of the rectory without knowing the forecast even on summer. Today, you will see lots of sunshine with clear skies with a high of 80 and a low of 51. In the fall, I'm only worried about the low. As the weather cools down and will only get colder with occasional shifting temperature and weather conditions, many of us have always parted ways with t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops and pulled our sweaters and jackets possibly, head gear and gloves from storage. I did and I'm ready. Our dress may not always be church appropriate but always follows the season and temperature, of course. Although I don’t think much about my clothing/what to wear as I have the same uniform and loving it, there’s a slight decision to be made whether this or that. Is that chronos or kairos as mentioned in the gospel on Friday, October 21?

I looked forward to the memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, nicknamed Theophorus or God-bearer on Monday, October 17. He received the faith fresh from the Apostles’ mouth and life. His preserved writings/exhortations to the seven churches exude the freshness of the faith. His testimony is as pure and undiluted as ever. Since he was a friend of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of St. John, he also became a disciple of the beloved disciple. No wonder his theology is closely associated with the Johannine tradition. He was a bishop of Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11: 26). He admonished his followers on the way to Rome, “Hold fast to the tradition of the apostles”. The gospel proclaimed reflects his faith, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12: 24-26). He was God’s wheat that fell to the ground (ushered by the Roman Soldiers). He was the first to attribute the adjective “catholic” or universal to the church whereby he claimed, Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.