The readings of today present us with a picture of the temptations of Adam and Eve and the temptations of Jesus. The first reading narrates the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve and how their fall brought sin and death to the world. St. Paul says in the second reading, sin, death entered into the world through the sin and fall of one man. We need to know what makes sin possible and how to overcome the temptation of falling into sin. Sin consists of a free act by which one cuts herself/himself from God. Adam and Eve were free to make their choices and they did it against the will of God. One of the things that leads us into sin is the choices we make.

Beloved Parishioners,

It has been an amazing experience walking along this faith journey with you these eight months as your pastor. The great spirit I see in you gives me a lot of encouragement and I am so excited to be your pastor and priest.

In the first reading from the book of Sirach, Ben Sirach tells us to choose between life and death. What it means is that it is in the capacity of human beings to choose what they want in life. God does not interfere with our human freedom.

In the ancient period and time of Jesus, salt was of a great value. It serves multiple purposes. It was used to purify things. When things like fruits and vegetables were sensed to be contaminated, salt was used to wash and purify it. The Romans said that salt was the purest of all things because it came from the purest of things, the sun and the sea. It was used for preservatives, thus, to keep meat from decaying salt was used to keep it fresh. However, the greatest and most obvious quality of salt is that salt lends flavor to things. We all know how insipid a food without salt tastes. Thus Jesus, very much aware of the great value of salt in His time, uses it to point to His followers what they are expected to be.