Don’t Overlook Your Blessings

Dear Parishioners,

Sometimes we overlook the blessings we have received from God. We take them for granted. So I thought I would share a beautiful and powerful reflection from Pope Francis on January 7, 2018.

Fr. Carl

Today’s feast of the Baptism of our Lord ends the Christmas season and invites us to think of our Baptism. Jesus willed to receive the baptism preached and administered by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. It was a baptism of penance: all those who approached it expressed the desire to be purified from sin and, with God’s help, committed themselves to begin a new life. We understand then the great humility of Jesus. He who had not sinned put himself in line with the penitents, mixing among them, to be baptized in the waters of the river. What humility Jesus has! And by doing so, He showed what we celebrated at Christmas: Jesus’ willingness to immerse Himself in the river of humanity, to take upon Himself the failures and weaknesses of men, to share their desire for liberation and to overcome all that distances one from God and makes brothers strangers. As at Bethlehem, along the banks of the Jordan, God keeps His promise to take charge of the human beings’ fate, and Jesus is the tangible and definitive sign of it. He took charge of all of us then and now. Today’s gospel says that “when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the Heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.” The Holy Spirit is the engine that powers Jesus’ Baptism and our Baptism as well. It’s the Spirit that opens the eyes of our heart to the whole truth. He pushes our life on the path of charity. He is the gift the Father gave to each one of us on the day our Baptism. He, the Spirit, sends to us the tenderness of divine forgiveness. And it is He, the Holy Spirit, that makes the revealing Word of God declare, “Thou are my beloved Son.” — Pope Francis

A Beautiful New Reality

Dear Parishioners,

So the new year has begun, the presents have been opened, the eggnog drunk, the fruit cake consumed, the champagne even is done. It’s 2020, and we are again given the task of taxes, work, traffic, homework, and dinner dishes. Sorry! But let us remember what we have been through. Christ has been born to Mary. Mary and Joseph have protected him, nurtured him, educated him, sustained him so that he may be ready to do his Father’s will. He will spend time in the desert, be tempted, be baptized, find followers, cast out demons and bring people back to life. He will share his divine wisdom, teach and exhort, show us the way, and touch the hearts of many. During a brief public ministry, he will give us a new way to live, challenging us to be generous, to turn the other cheek, to love others, and to pray, to pray always. He will show us the love for the Father leaving us the bread and wine turned into his Body and Blood. He will show us the difficult road of discipleship. He will arouse the anger of the religious authorities and be tried and condemned. They will crucify him on a tree, but he will rise and return to his disciples, giving them the lesson of eternal life. And he will start a Church which shall come through the ages and be a place for us of truth, of peace, of communion. His Body and Blood will remain a constant over the centuries, and all people shall be called to abide by his teachings and follow his Way. There will be a time in January 2020 when his people will look around their lives and ask where they are going and how they should live. Christ will answer as always: love God with your whole heart, mind and strength and love each other as I have loved you. And so this is the reality we are called to, a most beautiful reality!

Happy New Year!
Deacon Steve

Being Christian Stewards

Dear Parishioners,

Last Saturday on a rainy dreary day, the doorbell rang and I met a young man who had some packages to drop off for the Giving Tree. He brought in two large boxes and one smaller one filled with brand new gifts for the less fortunate. When I commented on his generosity, he replied, “God has been good to me this year, and I needed to give back.”

At that moment, I realized I had come face to face with a real Christian “steward.” He recognized the good success he enjoyed was a gift from God. He was grateful, and to show his gratitude, he gave back to God by sharing with the less fortunate.

As I have mentioned several times this year, we are all stewards of God’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure. If we are truly grateful, like the young man, we will show it in prayer, service, and charity to the church and less fortunate.

The greatest gift we have been given, of course, is Jesus Christ who came into the world to sacrifice his life for our salvation. Let us be ever grateful and show it in generous service to God and neighbor.

Fr. Carl

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Dear Parishioners,

Today we are excited, because Christmas is only a few days away. The tree is up, the Christmas things are about the house. The little Santa Claus statues, the lights, the dish with red and green M&Ms, the little ceramic sleigh with reindeer, the nativity scene with the animals and the little baby, the beautiful angel hanging, sparkling in the tree lights. Some gifts are under the tree. We are ready. The Christmas dinner menu is organized, and everyone knows what to bring. The card tables are dusted off, the table clothes are ironed. The Christmas music is playing: Bing Crosby, Celine Dion, that George Winston CD. On the TV there is “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Home Alone” and others. The stores all have Christmas motifs. The externals are all in place.

But now, let us pause. Let us be quiet for a moment. Let us stop our rushing about. Let us slow down. Stop and listen. God is whispering something to us.

The young couple, Mary and Joseph, have traveled from afar and have found their place to bring to the world their new born son. Even though it is a crude and dark place, they are excited and anxious. They will be parents, and their relationship will now become a family of three. The world is changing—the sky, dark and filled with stars, will never be the same.

God whispers, “I am with you.” Listen to that still and soft voice. “I love you and send you my Son.” Let us hold in our hearts those simple words of truth and goodness. Indeed, He is with us. He is the embodiment of love. Let us welcome Him in our families, our friends, in our guests. Let us seek him out, guided by that Spirit given to us in Baptism, leading us to goodness and love. Let us adore this child and make Him the center of our Christmas!

Merry Christmas and many blessings to all,
Deacon Steve

Again I Say Rejoice!

Dear Parishioners,

Several weeks ago we encouraged you to sign up for on-line giving. Instead of having to remember your envelopes or writing checks each week, your bank or credit card would automatically do that for you. A number of you did, so thank you. By the way, this week, on the front page of the Sun newspaper, there was an article about how more churches and parishioners are making their contributions through on-line banking. You might want to read it—very interesting. If you would like more information, please call Gina at the parish office.

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, the warmth of the summer sun becomes a faded memory, and winter storms frequently make their way across the country with snow, ice, and freezing rain, it’s easy to become a little gloomy or depressed. We need a little joy in our lives. And so we celebrate Gaudete Sunday this weekend. The antiphon before Mass from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians (Phil 4:4-8) tells us:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.”

And we do so as we remember our Lord’s coming into the world 2000 years ago, his promise to return at the end of time, and his continuing coming into us in word and sacrament. Furthermore, he promises us to come along on our journey through life and encourage us during whatever difficulties we encounter along the way.

In the first reading (Is 35:1-6a, 10), the Israelites have lost Jerusalem, been carted off to Babylon, and been living in captivity for a number of years. Their discouragement leads God to show them the future through the prophecy of Isaiah. They will return and experience blind eyes being opened, deaf ears being cleared, mute tongues singing, and the lame leaping like stags. This is what Jesus is doing in the gospel (Matt 11:2-11). The Messiah has come to bring the joy of the kingdom.

So let us too rejoice!
Fr. Carl

Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord

Dear Parishioners,

We hear today of the announcement of John the Baptist (Is 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12) to prepare the way of the Lord. I am reminded of the song in Godspell that goes, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

This is a crucial action. We are not in ordinary times here. We are about to be visited by the Son of God, and that is special. His way must be prepared. For me, this means opening my heart to all that God gives. It means to be open in my mind to the world around me and to take in all that God has created. It means to pray that God will send forth his love and grace to those in need this season. It means for me to give generously of my time and resources. We are asked to love one another, and so we must be agents of care to those around us. We are to be mindful of the great pain and suffering in the world. The birth of Christ is a joyous event that heralds also God becoming human and like us in every way but sin. This child represents the embodiment of God’s love and care for us. His son has come to save us and to open us up to God’s loving presence in our lives. Certainly we have gifts to buy, ornaments to put on the tree, and the bringing out of our special Christmas things that make our homes warm and festive. (Like my wife’s 40 Santa Clauses!) But let us not forget that this season is meant for our rebirth, for our mental and spiritual refresh, for us to realize again the presence of Christ made new by the manger.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make clear his path to your heart, mind and life.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Go To The Lord’s House Rejoicing

Dear Parishioners,

As we embark upon a new liturgical year this First Sunday of Advent, my thoughts are on our sister parish in Haiti, St. Guillaume (William). The people there need our financial help to assist in feeding their school children. And we have the money to help but are unable to send it there. We have written the checks, but our messengers can’t take them into the country due to the civil unrest and violence in the capital, Por-au-Prince. Let us pray for a peaceful solution to Haiti’s problems and St. Guillaume.

This week and two weeks ago, the readings called our attention to the end times when God will come again. The earlier readings were a bit more threatening to the evil doers; this week they are more up-beat as they talk about going to the Lord’s house rejoicing (Is 2:1-5; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44). Nevertheless, we are called to be mindful and live honorably and keeping watch so as to be allowed into the house of the Lord. Besides it just feels better to live that way knowing we are on God’s right side.

Fr. Carl