October 13, 2024

Dear Family of St. Polycarp,

Greetings and blessings in the Lord Jesus. This weekend’s Gospel presents us a beautiful, yet challenging message. A man approached Jesus and asked Him this question: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Of course, as a law abiding Jew, Jesus told him to observe all the commandments. The man, who was also a Jew, replied that he had kept all these since his youth. Upon hearing him, Jesus challenged and invited him to make a right choice/decision. Let us capture this conversation of Jesus and the man, and see how the man reacted to Jesus’ invitation:
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

The response of Jesus to this man serves as both a challenge and an invitation to make the “right choice” in life. Father Miller, who was my homiletic professor and spiritual director in the seminary, articulated some thoughts on this Gospel. He wrote, “Some men and women throughout the history of the Church have responded to the invitation of Jesus in a literal way. They have actually given up all their material possessions in order to lead the life of hermits or monks or nuns. Most of us are not very eager to follow their example, and the truth is that the Church and society could not exist if we all did. Not everyone in the Church has the same vocation or calling, and yet we cannot simply dismiss the invitation of Jesus as irrelevant or impossible” (Sunday Preaching, p. 248).

I totally agree with Father Miller’s articulations that not everyone has the same vocation, but we cannot dismiss Jesus’ invitation, or perceive it as irrelevant or impossible. Jesus constantly calls and invites us to follow Him.

Last weekend, our parish organized a Marian celebration, with 48 hours of Adoration; and many of you came to celebrate the procession and the Holy Mass, and attended the adoration. The response from each one of you illustrates our activeness in the faith. It shows that we are different from the man in the Gospel, who “went away sad.” He was sad because of his possessions, which hindered him from responding fully to Jesus. Looking at the man’s reaction, we also need at times to look at ourselves or to search our consciences: What obstacles must we overcome in life to be a disciple of Jesus? Thus, for me to see your presence and active participation in this annual celebration to honor Our Blessed Mother is a testament that together we make relevant the invitation of Jesus by choosing to be with Him through His Mother Mary.

On behalf of my brother priests and religious Sisters from the Faith Formation Programs, I want to thank you— in particular the English, Filipino, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities; the various choirs; the youth ministry; the matachines; the liturgical dancers; the sound system groups; and many others—for your support and generous response to help with the Marian celebration.

May God, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, and Saint Polycarp, reward you richly for your love and support to this special family of Saint Polycarp.

Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor

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