We heard in today’s gospel that Jesus returned to his hometown where he did not receive a warm reception.  What did his hometown people see? They were only able to see a carpenter’s son; they were unable to perceive the God in Jesus, and so they questioned his wisdom, his authority and even “they took offense at him.”  

Apostle Paul also refers to 

the trials and hardships he encountered in his preaching.  

Despite the hardships, challenges, trials and rejection they experienced, neither Jesus nor Apostle Paul backed away from their mission.  But we also follow their glorious moments.

We celebrate July 4th, the independence of our great Nation, the USA. We see in all who fought for our independence and in all who have sustained our union as a Nation for 245 years the same hardships, challenges, trials and even rejection. But we never back away no matter what the challenges are; and we also know the glorious moments in our Nation’s history; and we count our blessings as a Nation through these past 245 years; and we offer our thanksgiving to God in whom we trust, WE THE PEOPLE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

How about us, you? As individuals, as families, as church, we may have faced our own hardships, challenges, trials and even rejection  as life is not always a bed of Roses. Even if life is a bed of Roses, we know Roses have thorns. The COVID-19 pandemic which has infected about 33.7 million Americans and claimed about 605 thousand American lives remains the face of evil in our time. The story will be told to generations of Americans not only about its devastation but also about the resilience of the soul of America that overcame it. On this post-pandemic July 4th, as we recover and rebuild, we thank God who didn’t allow us to be completely destroyed by this invisible enemy. Even in the midst of all this, we can still count our blessings as individuals, families and as Church. God tells us what he told Apostle Paul, “My graces will be sufficient for you.”

May the armor of resilience which we see in Jesus, Paul and in the story of the journey of our Nation the USA continue to inspire us all as individuals, families and Church to persevere and to succeed beyond any real or imagined obstacles. Amen!

Happy 4th to all of you!

Fr. JT.

Pastor