Here Am I Lord

Dear Parishioners,

Now that the Advent and Christmas seasons are over, we are back in what is called “Ordinary Time.” However, time is never plain and ordinary. It is a gift from God. Furthermore, ordinary is given the name from the ordinal numbers (1, 2, 3, 4…) as opposed to the special liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter). In any event, the color of the vestments is green—the color of life and hope. During this time, we hope that God’s grace will grow in our hearts that we may have life to the fullest.

In the first reading (Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34), Isaiah is told that Israel is to be God’s servant. The responsorial psalm tells us the motto of a good servant, “Here am I Lord; I come to do your will!” Of course, not everyone wants to serve; many want to be served, instead, forgetting the words of Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. Our Lord taught us many lessons in life but none more important than the greatness of serving God and our neighbor. That’s what the psalmist means when he says, “Here am I Lord, I come to do your will.”

- Fr. Carl

“God thinks like the Samaritan who did not
pass by the unfortunate man, pitying him or looking at
him from the other side of the road, but helped him
without asking for anything in return; without asking
whether he was a Jew, a pagan or a Samaritan,
whether he was rich or poor. He asked for nothing.
He went to help him. God is like this..”
~ Pope Francis

Baptism Of The Lord

Dear Parishioners,

Jesus came from Galilee and submitted to John’s baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus trusted his whole life to God, his Father. At our Baptism, we became more intimately united with Jesus and God, our Father in heaven. We who hear the story of our Lord’s death and resurrection, entrust our lives to the One who died and rose again. To be a Christian, to take into your life the Christian story, to believe God’s Spirit can work through you is to entrust your life—past, present and future—to Jesus Christ.

- Deacon Robert

“May you also be true evangelizers! May your
initiatives be ‘bridges,’ means of bringing others to Christ,
so as to journey together with him. And in this spirit may
you always be attentive to charity. Each individual
Christian and every community is missionary to the extent
that they bring to others and live the Gospel, and testify to
God’s love for all, especially those experiencing difficulties.”
~ Pope Francis

Feast of the Epiphany

Dear Parishioners,

The word “Epiphany” means manifestation or appearance. It was used to describe the visitation to his people by a king or ruler. There was a display of power as the king paraded through the town. However, King Jesus comes in just the opposite manner; he appears as a weak, helpless baby as the Magi come to him (Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12). He has none of the trappings of a king, yet the Wise Men recognize his majesty even robed in swaddling clothes. They see not with earthly eyes, but rather with the eyes of faith. They don’t just kneel, but they prostrate (lie flat on the ground) in adoration. Neither Herod nor the religious leaders in Jerusalem had their kind of spiritual vision (faith), and that was their fatal flaw, their tragedy. They should have known better, for if these gentile outsiders, the Magi, could read the signs of the heavens, even more so should the religious leaders of the times. After all, they had the sacred scriptures to give them a clue.

“I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
And a staff shall rise from Israel.”
(Num 24:17)

Let us pray for the same kind of vision as the Magi so that we can be with Jesus and never take our eyes off him as we journey through life.

- Fr. Carl

Feast of the Holy Family

Dear Parishioners,

Each year the Sunday following Christmas is celebrated as the Feast of the Holy Family. Each year a different gospel gives us a unique glimpse of our Lord’s family on earth. This year we hear how the Holy Family is threatened by King Herod who wants to kill Jesus. Today family life is threatened still but not by an evil king, but by more subtle forces of evil that eat away at family life, harmony, and support. The lure of materialism, consumerism, hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure) tend to make things more important than relationships. The bonds between family members often become brittle and break. The frantic pace of work, school, and extra- curricular activities prevent family members from joining together in common activities. Even regular meals are eaten at different times so that Mom and Dad can chauffer their children to different events.

The Holy Family did not have all the diversions that compete for our time and attention. They spent a lot of time together. If we want to prevent our families from becoming dysfunctional, and if we want them to become healthy and Holy, then we need to find ways and make sacrifices so that they can have more time together as a family. And if our families become Holy, they will be happier and more joyful.

- Fr. Carl

God With Us

Dear Parishioners,

Emmanuel, “God with us” reveals our Lord’s gift to us. At the soul of this season is a precious gift. In a few days, all of us will no doubt be someplace with folks who love us, and in whose presence, we feel love, to unwrap a gift or two… maybe more. We give and receive gifts in this season for many reasons, not the least of which is the gift we celebrate in this child born of the woman in Bethlehem.

“God with us” goes beyond announcing an event that took place some 2,000 years ago. “God with us” defines all our carefully worded creeds and honored traditions because of the gift of Jesus. He is why we celebrate this season. He is the heartbeat of all our music and memory, liturgy and celebration. So live knowing the gift who is our Lord is God’s presence and love among us in grace. Such is the Christmas miracle… God with us!

- Deacon Robert

Do You Hear What I Hear

Dear Parishioners,

I can’t remember when I first heard it, but Christmas would somehow not be the same if I didn’t hear that sentimental carol, “Do You Hear What I Hear.”

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
  Do you hear what I hear?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
  Do you hear what I hear?

The carol continues with numerous questions about what possibly can be heard in this season of expectation and wonder. It ends with an affirmation about the coming of the Christ child. With broad chords and all voices singing in parts, the carol affirms in an explosion of confidence, “He will bring us goodness and light!”

- Deacon Robert

Preparing for Christmas

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for good attendance at our Thanksgiving Day Mass and our youth group who served as lectors, greeters, ushers, and choir. They were very impressive in carrying out their duties in a very professional manner. At the end of Mass, they distributed small loaves of bread they baked earlier in the week. In the U.S. Navy, we would say “Bravo Zulu” which is the signal meaning “Well Done.”

In case you were away last weekend, you missed seeing our new Advent Wreath. I am very grateful to our Sodality and Knights of Columbus. Their generous donations made it possible to purchase this lovely symbol of the season as we prepare for Christmas.

Speaking about Advent and Christmas, I realize much energy and time is being spent in shopping and decorating. But don’t forget the most important decorating of all – that of your soul. This can best be done through prayer and the sacrament of Penance. If we want Jesus to enter into our hearts, we should make them as inviting as possible.

- Fr. Carl