Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We are always curious and interested in what awaits us. Some people resort to evil ways
of obtaining this knowledge (fortune tellers, horoscopes, etc.). We, Christians, have a different
method of looking into the future, not only on this earth, but into eternity. We have a
wonderful guide, which is the Holy Bible. The conclusions can be drawn practically after

listening to readings from scripture, not only on Sundays. And today's readings give an
exceptionally clear message of what the Lord tells us about our past, present, and future.
He explains to us how to listen, how to hear, how to discern the Word of the Lord, but
most importantly, also His Person. He explains how to draw the right conclusions from the
words coming from the readings and the Gospel, and finally how to be obedient and open to
His call. This is the cry of the One who knows how and when to call us, and who knows who or
what we were, are and will be. Too quick? Too many words that do not tell us much? Samuel
exemplified being called by the Lord, who "did not know the Lord yet, and the word of the Lord
has not yet been revealed to him …" (1 Sm 3,7). This example pictures us who hear the Lord's
call, but we are not ready for it. We first must understand and listen to the call, then open our
heartsbe ready to receive the Lord's Word, so that the Lord would be with us and "we don't let
His word fall to the ground" (1 Sm 3.19).
We must be ready to receive the Word, but also to fulfill what the Lord expects of us.
And the Lord expects us to know who we are, as He tells us, " Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your
own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body! "(1 Cor 6,
19-20). He tells us that our body is the temple of the Lord, the home in which God dwells. He
also makes us aware that His death on the cross made us His own; we are His home and His
Church. If we understand this, it will be easier for us to walk through our earthly life, aiming for
eternity.
To know how to act, we are to take as a model those who were first called to serve the
Lord, who, without hesitation, abandoned all worldliness, agreeing to everything, including the
change of their names, who remained faithful until the last moment of life. The best example of
this is Saint Peter, who heard from the Lord: "You are Simon, son of John, you will be called
Cephas – that is, Peter." (Jn 1:42). He understood, and took on his shoulders what Jesus had
commended him, that is, leading the whole sheepfold, as we all are. It is not easy to drop
everything for Him and follow His ways, but in today's time, how interesting is it that we have
the opportunity to follow the Lord in spite of our duties, despite various temporal matters that
bind us with invisible threads to earthly things. For those who allow themselves to hear the call,
to be the temple of the Lord, and finally to follow His path, surprise awaits not only in eternity,
but also here on earth: it is a bliss-filled life, wisdom and love that help us at every moment of
our existence.
God bless!