Message from Pastor

Dear brothers and sisters:

 

Few things have hurt me more than hearing the phrase "That’s what I pay for" when I was trying to engage a student and secure their cooperation. When the focus shifts entirely to demands and perceived rights, there is little room left for those of us who view education as a vocation.

 

In interpersonal relationships, if we fixate on making demands of the other person, we can deal a fatal blow to a friendship. We give, we care, and we show thoughtfulness, yet we often quantify our efforts; we expect the other person to reciprocate in equal measure— according to our own demands and expectations. When this does not happen, we feel annoyed and hurt, and the relationship loses its freshness and deteriorates because of our demands.

 

Jesus reveals a God who has no use for transactions, comparisons, or bartering with love. He is a magnanimous and generous God who rewards the last just as He does the first. He is a God who may unsettle those who consider themselves righteous and deserving of what they receive, yet who is deeply cherished by those who have known weakness and the gift of unmerited forgiveness.

 

He is a generous God who spurs us toward generosity and invites us to take the first step toward others, without hiding behind comparisons that serve only to fuel fruitless grievances or feed our excuses and self-justifications. He is a good God who is not swayed by what others might say; instead, He sees each person exactly as they are and respects their individual pace. Such a God calls for disciples who will imitate Him.

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

20260918