January 9th

​Dear Friends,

I was truly pleased with our Christmas Masses, and so grateful that concerns about crowds and illness were put aside so that people could gather for an hour of worship. Like so many, I am aggravated that this COVID business has lingered the way it has. The disruption it has caused to the lives of so many is maddening. People have gotten used to living in fear, and with good reason- illness and death from this has been a reality. But we are told that the risk of serious illness or death is greatly diminished for those who are vaccinated. We now find ourselves in what I pray will be the final gasp of the pandemic, even if we will need to learn to live with it at a reduced level- just as we have learned to manage living with the seasonal flu. 

We close out the liturgical Christmas Season with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Last weekend we noted how God was made manifest in Christ to the Three Kings. The Bethlehem manifestation was limited to the Holy Family, the shepherds, the Kings, the angels and the animals. At His Baptism, Jesus’ manifestation as the Son of God becomes evident to more people as he emerges from the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove, and the voice of the God the Father proclaims from the heavens in an audible voice: “You are My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” Jesus’ public ministry has begun.

Our own baptism initiates us into the life of Christ and His Church. When we were baptized our parents promised to raise us in the practice of the faith. Practicing the faith includes attending Mass each Sunday (or Saturday evening). You may have noticed Second, Seventh and Eighth graders handing me small cards after weekend Masses. This both gives me a chance to greet them and also provides a way for me to track and confirm that those preparing for the further initiation sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation are living lives in accordance with what we believe Christ wants from us (attending Mass). Our lives as disciples means developing a relationship with Christ through prayer, modeling our lives on the actions and teachings of Jesus, and studying the truths of the Catholic faith (familiarity with the Bible and the Catechism). Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass has also been an integral element of Christian discipleship since the beginning. COVID gave us a dispensation from the obligation if we are sick or worried about getting sick. Yet for those seeking further initiation into the Church, these sacraments presume active participation in the life of the Church as disciples of Jesus. 

One additional thank-you I missed for Christmas church decoration: Carly Perminas. Thank you Carly! Our churches sure are decorated beautifully, and it is a shame to have to take down our decorations- but with this weekend’s feast of Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas Season comes to an end. It’s back to Ordinary Time until March 2nd (Ash Wednesday- the start of Lent).


May your week reflect the encounter with Christ We experienced at Mass today!