God Calling

Dear Parishioners,

It seems to me that where we get hung up in saying “Yes” to God’s call is where Jonah got hung up (Jonah 3:1-5, 10). We confuse what God calls us to do… in Jonah’s case, go to Nineveh… with simply who it is who calls us. The disciple’s immediate decision to follow Jesus is our best example (Mark 1:14-20). They had no idea what they were signing up to do, but they trusted the One who called them from the seashore. They said “Yes” to the person and never gave a thought to what our Lord would ask them to do, much less become.

So it is with us. Our best response to God’s call on our lives is to remember who it is who is calling. Whether it be to say a soulful “Yes” to being a follower of Jesus or to serve in some capacity in this congregation or our community, we are wise to remember the One who calls us is none other than the very One who hung the stars in the skies and holds our lives in his loving hands.

- Deacon Robert

“Do not distrust the Providence of God.
He who made your corn to grow will
assuredly help to gather it in.”

- The Cure D’Ars

Glorify God in mind and body

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s second reading (1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20) stands out as a rebuke to the pleasure seekers of today who revel in excessive eating, drinking, and immoral sex. St. Paul tells us that we dishonor God when we act in this way. When we use our appetites for food, drink, sex, and recreation in moderation, we glorify God in our bodies as well as our minds.

- Fr. Carl

“A spiritual alms is even more
precious than a material one.”
- The Cure D’Ars

New Year’s Resolutions

Dear Parishioners,

The Solemnity of the Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12) celebrates the fact that Jesus came to save not just his own people (the Jews), but all others (the Gentiles) as well. How ironic it is that at His birth his own people, with the exception of the shepherds, ignored Him. The Jewish leaders were only a few miles away, but they did not come. Whereas, the Magi (3 Gentiles) traveled a great distance to honor Him.

Quite often, we cradle Catholics are put to shame in the same way by converts to the faith. We remain lukewarm and nonchalant about our faith while they burn with enthusiasm and gratitude for the treasure we take for granted.

As we begin the New Year, let our first resolution be to imitate the wise men in our search for true meaning in our lives – Jesus Christ.

- Fr. Carl

“If you set out to meet God, He will
come to meet you.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Our Heart’s Treasure

Dear Parishioners,

Mary, the Mother of God. What is her manner, her witness to the miracle that is Christmas? Mary is quietly, simply, beautifully treasuring in her heart all the words that tell the story of Jesus. She knows what all of us must know if we are ever to fully know the power of the Gospel, the truth about God who loves us so much and wanted to give Himself to us so much that He became one of us in Jesus. Jesus teaches us that God has always been with us and is with us still to this very day. Christianity is a simple faith about who Jesus is, not who we are or what we think or how important we think any tradition or theology may be. Our heart’s treasure, if our hearts have a treasure, are the sacred stories of Mary and Jesus and their love for us, even until the end of time.

- Deacon Robert

“Although Mary knew that God had
raised her to the most supreme of all
honors – that of being the Mother of
God – nevertheless she regarded
herself as the least of all creatures.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Dear Parishioners,

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, darkness surrounds us for a greater portion of time each day. There is a tendency, therefore, for our spirits to do the same. That is especially true in the northern part of the world. I remember that so vividly during the two years I served with the U.S. Navy at the Submarine Base in Holy Loch. Each day I went to work in the dark and came home in the dark. It was not an upbeat time.

But one thing made it bearable and raised our spirits. That was the coming of Christmas. In the midst of long dark nights, the anticipation of the celebration of our Lord’s birth lifted up our morale and lit up our hearts. In continues to happen here in Pasadena, and Jesus wants it that way.

After all, in John’s gospel (John 1:1-18), Jesus is referred to as the “light of the world; the light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). However, Jesus doesn’t want to come into our hearts at Christmas only. He wants to be with us each and every day to brighten our lives. We simply have to make some room through daily prayer and weekly worship.

On behalf of the entire staff at St. Jane’s, may you and your families have a Blessed Christmas and New Year!

-  Fr. Carl

“Do you know why our Lord persists in remaining day and night
in our churches?. . . He stays there so that every time we want to go
and see him, we may be able to find Him.”
- The Cure d’Ars

Making God Laugh

Dear Parishioners,

There’s an old saying that “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” In other words, life doesn’t always go as we plan. In today’s first reading (2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16), David planned to build God a more suitable dwelling for the “ark of the covenant.” He thought the tent wasn’t good enough. However, God had other plans. David’s son, Solomon, would build a temple for God, and God would build a house for David, a spiritual kingdom that would stand firm forever.

In the gospel (Luke 1:26-38), Mary planned on having a virginal marriage with Joseph, but when God asked her to change her plans, she readily agreed to be the mother of our Lord. Thank goodness for Mary’s flexibility and openness to God’s plan.

There is a lesson in that for us. When problems, difficulties, or different situations arise, they are often invitations from God to change our plans and follow His plan instead. May we be as open as Mary.

- Fr. Carl

Make straight the way of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

The Pharisees learned that John was Baptizing large numbers of people at the Jordan River (John 1:6-8, 19-28). They decided to make a fact-finding trip to see him. “What are you doing out here? Why are you baptizing people? Who are you? What’s your role in the plans of God?”

Imagine the Church authorities are forming a commission to investigate you. They call to make an appointment. “We’d like to ask you what you are doing and who you are. We want to know what role you think God has given you in his work in the world today.”

I guess I’m happy that we don’t actually have investigative commissions these days, not that we all would like to know your answer, or that you even have an answer. But it is important that you know your answer, or are working hard to discover it. Today’s Gospel story tells us that John was sent from God. We were, too, and all of us are called to discover what it is that God sent us to do… and then doing it.

- Deacon Robert

“HUMILITY is to the various virtues
what the chain is to the Rosary; take
away the chain and the beads are
scattered, remove Humility and all
virtues vanish.”
- The Cure D’Ars