Posted on October 25, 2024 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear Parishioners:
On this last weekend of October, today’s liturgy presents us with Bartimaeus, the blind man who finds true happiness in his misfortune. His story is not just a historical event, but a reflection of our own lives. A true encounter with Jesus always brings joy. He is a man with two shortcomings: his lack of physical sight and inability to work for a living, forcing him to beg. Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus; he had been told that he performed miracles, and when he passed by, he began to cry out: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” (Mk 10:47). Jesus’ companions were annoyed by the blind man’s cries; they did not think of the sad situation of that man, they were selfish. Jesus did hear him, and he had them call him. When the blind man was in front of Jesus, the dialogue began with a question and an answer: “Jesus said to him: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him: ‘Master, I want to see!’” (Mk 10:51). And Jesus grants him double vision: physical vision and the most important, faith, which is the interior vision of God. This story is a reminder that even in our shortcomings, a true encounter with Jesus can bring us joy and fulfillment.
We often complain and say: —I don’t know how to pray. Let us take the example of the blind man in the Gospel: He insists on calling Jesus, and he tells him what he needs with three words. Do we lack faith? Let us say to him: —Lord, increase my faith. Do we have relatives or friends who have stopped practicing? Let us pray like this: —Lord Jesus, make them see. Is faith so important? If we compare it with physical vision, what shall we say? The situation of the blind man is sad, but much more so is that of the non-believer. Let us tell them: The Master calls you, so present your need to Him, and Jesus will respond generously.
This coming Friday, November 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, an important feast as well as a day of obligation. This is a special day where we honor all the saints, known and unknown, who have lived their lives in faith and are now in the presence of God. I invite you to celebrate this feast with joy, to participate in the Eucharist, and to meditate on our own holiness. The Masses are at 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. in English and 7:30 p.m. in Spanish. Let us come together as a community to celebrate the lives of these holy men and women.
On Saturday, November 2nd, we celebrate in the church the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed; it is also an opportune day to pray for the souls of our relatives and friends who have already departed but who have left a void in our families. Let us ask God to have mercy on their souls. I invite you to offer the Holy Rosary for the souls of the faithful departed, a powerful act of compassion and connection with our loved ones who have passed on.
As you all know, next Tuesday, November 5th, is Election Day. It is an important day for our state; I encourage you to go and exercise your right to vote; it is our duty as citizens; logically, those who are American citizens will do so; those who are not, I ask you to join in prayer. The bishops of the state of Virginia always guide us from faith to make better decisions when casting our votes. I encourage you to visit the website of the Virginia Catholic Conference, www.vacatholic.org/election2024, where you can find more resources on this duty and if you have any questions about it.
I hope you have a blessed weekend.
Fr. Alex
