Dear Friends,

Our OLMC Parish prayer before Sunday Masses and Holy days of obligation begins with the words, "My parish is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly if I am. It will be holy if I am .... "

Yes, this is true, and it is realizable if each and every one of us who are already members of the faith Community of Our Lady of Mount Carmel makes an effort to be more welcoming and more open to accepting other people, prays with them and for them, and seeks God's grace so that we may all go to heaven.

Let our prayer echo that of Elijah the Prophet, who prayed, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and I am your servant and have done all things at your command. Answer me, Lord! Answer me, that this people may know that you are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you."(1 Kings 18:36-37)

Let our prayers be generous and, above all, glorify God and edify His people. Let us not become adjudicators of who qualifies to be holy because not all of us are worthy, but God's mercy embraces every person who seeks and is open to conversion. Let us be channels of God's love to others and not be obstacles to those coming to church because we judge them. Jesus Himself said, "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." (Luke 7:1-2)

We tend to focus on a person's mistakes and failures. We label people by their worst moments. But Jesus looks deeper: He sees not only what a person has done, but also what that person can become through God's grace. If our mission statement "Our Lady of Mount Carmel exists to get everyone who walks through our doors to heaven" is to mean anything, we ought to See Other people with the Eyes of Christ. The difference between the eyes of Jesus and human eyes is simple: Human eyes often see a sinner; Jesus sees a child of God. May everyone who gets through our doors be seen as a child of God created in His image and likeness. Let us remember Christ's powerful statement to one of the criminals who said to Him, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom": He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:42-43). We are all sinners in need of God's mercy, and our prayers should enable all to go to heaven.

Remember: Jesus spoke the truth with love, corrected people's mistakes with compassion, and never gave up on those who had fallen.

We must be all that we want others to be, and, as Jesus welcomed everyone, we must work hard to become Christ-like and, together with Him, bring all people (back) to God.

While other people saw Zacchaeus as a corrupt tax collector, Jesus saw a future disciple. When others saw Peter as a failure who denied Him, Jesus saw the future leader of the Church. When others saw a criminal on the cross, Jesus saw a soul worthy of paradise.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, our human eyes focus on the past, but Jesus sees the future. Human eyes condemn, but Jesus heals and restores. Jesus personality is infectious because of His humility and non-judgmental approach. That is why sinners were attracted to Jesus. He never approved of sin, but He never gave up on sinners.

Let us pray through the intercession of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (the Lily of the Mohawks, the Virgin, and the first Native American Saint) whose love for Christ surpassed all persecutions and ridicule until she won the crown of faith. Let us see others with the eyes of Christ not merely for who they are today, but for who they can become with the grace of God.

This week's scripture readings collectively teach that fruitfulness is possible for every believer, but it is not automatic. It requires a heart continually purified, reordered, and oriented toward God's purposes. When the believer becomes receptive soil, God's word accomplishes in him/her what Isaiah promised: It does not return empty, but achieves its purpose of bearing fruit that endures.

Let our mission statement align with the founder: He, who alone is Holy, who alone is Lord, and who alone is the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father. Amen.

May Mother Mary, "Our Lady of Mount Carmel," whose feast we celebrate on July 16, connect us with her son. And confidently let us repeat the words of St. Paul the Apostle, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."(Philippians 4:3)

I wish you all a blessed, safe, healthy, and Happy Parish Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Jesus, I trust in you.

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