Photograph of original watercolor by parishioner Ray Sixsmith  
69 Valley Street
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-664-3131
 
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   FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
St. John The Baptist

September 28, 2014
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

“ Which of the two did his father’s will?”

 Sometimes talking to people is like talking to a wall. When they have their minds made up, nothing you say or do can change them. How sad a commentary on the human condition this is.

We can sense the frustration of Jesus in today’s Gospel. No matter how God has tried to get people to listen, they found a reason not to listen or believe. The stubbornness of the individuals is so often the cause of their failure, yet it seems so hard for people to overcome their preconceived ideas.

During the ministry of Christ, he constantly challenged people to see the ways in which God was acting in the world.   Preconceived ideas of what God would do, kept getting in the way. Even though the Scriptures reminded people that “God’s ways are not your ways”, they never took that statement to heart. Without an open mind and a sense of the movement of the Spirit, people cannot discern the path they must travel or embrace the Spirit.

Jesus came to show people that God was now acting in a new way. He was speaking through Him and advocating a better way of treating one another. He called for forgiveness and mutual concern. He called for love regardless of the nature of the relationships. People are called to love not only their family and friends, but all people who are our brothers and sisters. This movement out of a “clan” mentality was radical for many. It was a move many were not prepared to make.

In the Church established by Jesus, openness and mutual concern was to be the glue that held everyone together.  The willingness to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit was to be formative in their lives. Through the centuries these directives serve to unify and strengthen the Christian community and are a visible testimony to our beliefs.