Welcome to

St. Anne Parish

Welcome to

St. Anne Parish

Message from Fr. Larry Brito, 

     Why are so many in our time turning away from God and even denying his very existence? The reason so many turn away from God is that they prefer to sin. God is an inconvenient truth. When we approach the question of God and his Word that became flesh we have to turn away from sin and repent before the pure light of love can penetrate our hearts. 

     In the first reading we encounter God’s call to the prophet Jonah. He is commissioned to go forth and warn the people of Nineveh. These people were sinning horribly against God and each other. God has given the people of Nineveh a chance to repent by sending a prophet to them with a warning. “Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed”.  

“When the people of Nineveh believed God: they repent and God repents also and gives them a second chance.” 

     At the preaching of Jonah the people of Nineveh repented, Jonah preached without love in his heart and yet the people, who heard him, believed. Now we have a greater than Jonah here!!! Jesus who is sent by God, as St. John puts it: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”.  St. John also says that God is love. So the one who is sent comes in love and in fact is love incarnate.  So lets listen to him as the heavenly Father instructed us: 

“This is my beloved Son, listen to him!!” 

In todays Gospel the Son of God makes his first public proclamation. This proclamation is not only for the people of his day, but is also directed to us in our day. And this is the proclamation he makes: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel” 

     Although this message was proclaimed two thousand years ago it comes to us this day with urgency: The people of Nineveh were given forty days, for some of us it may be today for we do not know the time or the day when we will have to give an account of our lives. St. Paul, in the second reading, emphasizes the urgency to repent and believe. “I tell you brothers and sisters, the time is running out”.  We shouldn’t get scared. We should get prepared, by turning away from sin and believe in the Gospel. 

      The good news is that the Kingdom of God is at hand. This means we human beings have access to heaven. Before Christ life death and resurrection, no human being could enter the dwelling place of God. But now Christ Jesus proclaims, “the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe. Remember what St. John said: If we say Lord, Lord, but do not keep his commandments we are liars. 

Today the one who truly loves you is calling you: “Come after me” Come follow me 

What is your response? Time is running out!!!