A Note From Father Rob

I like a message that speaks of love. I like a message that speaks of love, grace, peace, hope and the joys of being a disciple of my Lord, Jesus Christ. I love a message that builds up my heart and gives me a sense of peace to live out the days of my week. Unfortunately, that’s not always the message I am directed to pass on to all of you.

As I read this week’s Gospel, I was pleased to see so many powerful messages in the stories from Mark. The passage begins with Jesus, who asks his disciples who they believe him to be, and Peter, speaking out to be the first to proclaim him, the Messiah! Next, Jesus tells them all of the things that must come to pass; how he must be arrested, beaten, crucified and killed. He next calls Peter Satan and chides his followers for setting their minds on earthly things rather than the things of heaven. And finally, in our last Gospel passage, Jesus tells his disciples and all the crowd that, if they want to follow him, they must deny themselves, pick up their own crosses; and then, follow him.

Any of those passages would make a fine sermon, but which one? As I read the rest of our readings for this Sunday, it all became clear to me … none of them! That’s right, despite all of those great passages in the Gospel, the spirit has placed it on my heart to write a sermon on our other readings: the Old Testament, the Psalm and the New Testament. There is a thread running through them, an important message for our day that runs through all three.

It’s not a message of joy, peace and happiness. It’s not a message of the love of Jesus, but it’s an important message of faith and discipleship from some of the most faithful followers who have come and gone before us – Isaiah, David and James. They speak truths from the past that are relevant in the present, and I look forward to bringing them to you this Sunday.

See you all then, Rob+