Last week's Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20) proclaimed the Good News that SIMON PETER IS THE ROCK (Petros in Greek) UPON WHICH JESUS WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH and nothing shall prevail against it. After the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost, Peter, transformed by the Holy Spirit, will become the human leader of Jesus' Church on earth (the first Pope) while Jesus in heaven will remain the Head of the Church. The people believing in Jesus Christ and in His Church are the body of the Church, the Body of Christ. While we consider PENTECOST the formal birth of Jesus' Church, we can say the conception of Jesus' church took place before Jesus' Passion and Death on the Cross, as narrated so powerfully in the amazing dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter in Matthew's chapter 16: Jesus had been asking his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter is the one who responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:16) Jesus recognizes that Simon Peter's profession of faith in Jesus being both the Messiah and God himself has been inspired not by men but by God, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Heavenly Father. And so, I say to you, you are Peter (Petros, rock in Greek) and upon this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:17-18) Every Sunday Mass following the homily, we reaffirm Peter's Profession of Faith, "I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, light from light, true God from true God.” This is our Faith 2,000 years after Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. It is the same Faith professed by Simon Peter, CHRIST (Christos in Greek) means Jesus is the ANOINTED of GOD, or MESSIAH in Hebrew. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. We believe that Jesus is the only Son of God born before all ages and is true God. Our Faith, like Simon Peter’s is a true Gift from God. Today, the Catholic Church (Catholic means Universal in Greek) remains the only church that Jesus established. Today, we can still proclaim, "WE ARE JESUS' CHURCH" and we can reaffirm Sunday after Sunday at the end of the CREED our Faith in the Church, “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." Despite continuous persecutions and attacks against the Catholic Church over the last 2,000 years, the Church established by Jesus remains as strong as a rock. It remains indestructible as proclaimed by Jesus himself. This does not mean that the Church does not face challenges. The indestructibility of the Church proclaimed by Jesus himself means that "with the continuous help and protection of Jesus, the Church will overcome all attacks and challenges.” Pope John Paul II commented that the church established by Jesus is the community of believers in Jesus and in His Church. We cannot be alone as a follower of Christ. We need the church as a community of people sharing with Peter the same Faith in Christ. We need the Church to be saved. We need the Church's sacraments to be saved (remember the importance to go to Confession and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist in a state of grace). I invite you to reflect on how strong your Faith is not only in Jesus Christ, but also in His Church. We need two legs to walk in the footsteps of Jesus: 1. one leg strengthened by our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and 2. another leg strengthened by an active participation in the Church and its sacraments. We cannot be saved alone. We need a strong sense of community within the Church. I have one concrete suggestion for your consideration. As our Parish Council is launching a new initiative, a renewed CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, I invite you to respond generously. More information will be shared with you shortly. Stay tuned! Sign up as a volunteer. Your talent and time are precious. Thanks for being willing to share them at OLHOC, your parish, your church, JESUS' CHURCH. Many of you are already doing so and we are most grateful to God for your generosity! Let us pray: “JESUS you are the Messiah. Jesus, you are my savior. Jesus, you are the Son of the Living God. I believe that YOU ARE GOD. Help me to love you always and to love Your Church. Help me to keep you and your church at the center of my life. Help me to follow you and your commandments. Help me to be a more active participant in YOUR CHURCH. Help me to go to regular Confession and receive you in the Eucharist in a state of Grace. Help me to trust in You and Your Church. Jesus, keep protecting Your Church and all the faithful members of Your Church. Jesus take away all my fears and give me YOUR PEACE!" One in Christ, Fr. Alain