My dear beloved brothers and sisters,
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!
This past Wednesday, we celebrated our annual outdoor Mass for Canada Day at Selby Park. It was a beautiful day filled with prayer, fellowship, and gratitude. Around one hundred parishioners and visitors gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, followed by refreshments and joyful conversations. Thank you to everyone who helped organize this wonderful celebration. It reminded us how blessed we are to live in this beautiful country, enjoying peace, freedom, and the opportunity to practice our Catholic faith.
As Catholics, Canada Day is more than a national celebration. It is also an invitation to thank God for His many blessings while renewing our commitment to build a society rooted in truth, justice, compassion, and reconciliation. We continue to pray for healing where there have been wounds, especially with Indigenous communities, and strive to uphold the dignity of every human person. Our love for our country is expressed best when we work together for the common good.
This Sunday’s readings beautifully point us toward the heart of Jesus Christ. In the first reading, the prophet Zechariah announces the coming of a King who arrives not with power and violence but with humility, riding on a donkey. Jesus fulfills this prophecy perfectly. He is the Prince of Peace who conquers not by force but through sacrificial love on the Cross. As His disciples, we are called to reject anger, division, and pride, becoming instruments of His peace in our families and communities.
St. Paul reminds us in Romans that through Baptism the Holy Spirit lives within us. We no longer belong to the ways of the flesh but are invited to live according to the Spirit. This requires daily cooperation with God’s grace through prayer, the sacraments, acts of charity, and turning away from sin. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to live with hope, knowing that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead also promises us eternal life.
Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus speaks these comforting words: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Whatever burdens we carry—worries, grief, illness, family struggles, or uncertainty—Jesus invites us to bring them to Him. Our yoke is easy because He walks beside us, carrying the heaviest part of our cross. May we approach Him with humble and trusting hearts, finding true peace in His Sacred Heart. Amen. God Loves You!
~ Fr. Neil