Hello Holy Trinity Family!

This weekend we welcome seminarian Erick who is studying at the Queen of Angels Center for Priestly Formation in Torrance as a seminarian for the Diocese of Fresno. Erick will be joining us for one weekend a month during this academic year as a part of his pastoral formation. Just as you welcomed me into your family, I know you all will welcome Erick in the same way.

Our readings this weekend invite us to really take to heart the reasons why we do what we do as disciples of Christ. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians reminds us that we “do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory, rather humbly…” because that is exactly the reason why God became like us in all things but sin. God doesn’t need our glory or our praise, but He humbled himself to be take on human flesh, to walk this earth and to suffer for our sins. This wasn’t done so that we can say how good God is, but to remind us that all aspects of our lives are blessed. Yes, even the bad times in our lives, the sufferings in our lives, they are blessed! That is why the Prophet Ezekiel encourages us not to say, “The Lords way is not fair!” The Lord’s way is always fair, just, and more importantly full of grace and mercy. Sometimes when God calls us to do something in the world as His disciples, we may do it begrudgingly, thinking it’s not fair that we must carry a certain burden or do a task we were not wanting. When we put aside our own wants and desires, we know how beautiful life can be. This week we take to heart this humility to put aside our own wants and desires, we put aside the accolades and recognitions, knowing that all we do is for the greater glory of God, and even when we are called to carry a burden, it is a grace filled moment.

- Fr. Jonathan