What must we do to gain eternal life?
It seems that as a person grows older, it becomes more and more difficult to find happiness. A little child can suddenly stop crying and start smiling when offered a piece of candy, but an adult has more complicated needs and desires. Some adults choose whatever they want to do in life in the name of freedom, which in certain situations lead to spiritually detached and immoral lives. Jesus said to Peter: “When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this He said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19) We must abandon our spiritual immaturity of wanting to do whatever we please and instead follow Christ no matter how uncomfortable that may be. The media has conditioned society to listen to what it wants to hear, but the Church must give an honest answer to the question: “What must we do to gain eternal life?”
Jesus said to Thomas: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) First and foremost is faith – to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. In addition, Christ forewarned us that the road to eternal salvation is not broad and comfortable, but narrow and difficult. We do not have the right to abandon that perspective, nor change it. Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8) Therefore, the Church is not intended to seek earthly glory, but to proclaim the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, by example of humility and self-sacrifice. It is our duty, as Christians, to respect and awaken in each man the love of the true and the good, to make known the worship of the one true God in the one true religion which subsists in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Today we will celebrate the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary during Holy Mass. We invite your children’s participation in the children’s procession which will start after the Homily.
| The Pastoral Council and Finance Council meetings for the month of May are today. Pastoral Council meets at 12:30 pm and Finance Council meets at 1:30 pm in the Conference Room. |
Next Saturday, May 11, 2019, we will celebrate Holy Mass in commemoration of Our Lady of China. Mass begins at 10:00 am, the rosary will be recited before Mass at 9:30 am. Come and celebrate this very special Feast Day of our Blessed Mother.
This year, Mothers Day is May 12. We wish to honor our mothers on their special day by asking for sons and daughters to prepare the fellowship lunch after the 10:30 am Chinese Mass. Please sign up with Susan Lee.
Thank you to everyone who donated to the Archbishops Annual Appeal! Our goal of $2,700.00 has now been reached. Please note that your year-end contribution statements for the Archbishops Annual Appeal will not come from the Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission. Rather, it will come from the Archdiocese.
Easter Lily Sale today! $2 for one lily, $3 for two lilies! Thank you for your support!