Dear Parishioners,

As you may have read in the short biography that was posted in an earlier parish newsletter, I have done a variety of different things in my life before I entered the Seminary.

In the past I have worked for many different bosses and CEOs. I did this ultimately in the pursuit of happiness. I thought that having the right job, getting the latest gadgets, having a nice car, relationships, a bigger pay slip… would satisfy my search and deep longing for joy. I later realised that in doing all this was, I was only serving myself and my own wants.

Today we hear in the beautiful first reading from Isaiah that “you are my servant… who formed me in the womb to be his servant.”

Furthermore, these words are echoed, in a more nuanced way in the Gospel reading from John.

John the Baptist was serving God through his particular calling and in his particular way. John was a man who went about the countryside boldly serving God through his preaching, teaching his own disciples, Baptising, and always pointing towards God.

This leaves us with the question “how we are serving God”?

There are many different ways and many different places in which to serve God. Often the most important ways to serve God takes place outside the walls of our Church. That is not to say that serving our parish community is not necessary and essential.

I am simply saying that our parish community is where we can fill up our gas tanks to then go forth and make other disciples.

Therefore, our activities and service must, like John in today’s Gospel, always point towards God.

The way we look after and treat ourselves in a positive way serves God. The way we act towards our family members, especially the ones that are difficult to deal with, serves God. Who we are and the way we act when we are around our friends serves God. It is only when we serve God with freedom and love that we will find what our hearts so deeply desire.

Deacon Isaac Falzon