Letters from a Pastor to His People

Letters from a Pastor to His People- January 24, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

Have you ever had an epiphany about one of your behaviors?  I know the feast of the Epiphany was last month, but the theme of revelation or epiphany is pertinent, I think, to the readings today.  The town of Nineveh has a 'wake-up call' with Jonah's preaching and they change.  Jonah reveals to the people just how destructive their behaviors are, and they repent.  Jesus too speaks of repentance.  Peter, Andrew, James, and John receive a sort of revelation when Jesus calls them: they leave their old way of life and convert.

So, back to the question.  Have you ever read something or seen something that has made you realize, Wow, that's me or Yikes, I'm doing that, and tried to change?  Or maybe had someone reveal something to you?  I had a recent example.

As I mentioned in a homily a few weeks ago, some priest-friends and I are reading Glittering Vices by Rebecca DeYoung.  It's a book on the Seven Deadly Sins.  The chapter on gluttony opened my eyes.

OK, I'll make a public confession: I commit the sin of gluttony.  You might be surprised, thinking I'm pretty thin.  Sure, I talk a lot about Malnati's, but it doesn't appear like I overindulge. 

Letters from a Pastor to His People- January 17, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

As you may have noticed, I was away the first week of January.  I was asked to serve as a spiritual director on a retreat for seminarians from around the country.  It was an emotionally-tiring experience, but very fulfilling.  I'm grateful to the Lord for calling me to this ministry of spiritual direction.  It is a blessing in my life. 

Before I continue about spiritual direction, I want to thank Father Emanuel and the staff for handling the parish so well while I was away.  Of course we had an influx of funerals that week while I was gone (and Father Roger had also left for Florida—he'll be away for several months, FYI, in case you noticing him missing), but Father Emanuel did a great job, rising to the challenge!  I owe him a bottle of tequila.

At any rate, there are four icons of spiritual directors in our readings: Eli, Paul, John the Baptist, and Jesus.

Letters from a Pastor to His People- January 10, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

Christ's baptism in the Jordan was a significant event in his life.  One could even make the argument it was "life-changing."  (As I write, I can almost see the seminarians getting out their red pens and licking their chops to circle the heresies in this letter...settle down, boys.)

Christ's baptism was deeply touching for him.  It can be too for us.  Remember, as Columba Marmion says, "Christ's mysteries are our mysteries."

To me, when Jesus is baptized, he becomes fully aware of just how much the human race needs him as a savior.  Yes, he receives the Father's love as he hears the voice from Heaven speak, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).  But Jesus already knew and received that love.  He already "felt" that love poured out to him in the Trinity from all eternity.  So, that's not really "life changing."

Letters from a Pastor to His People- January 3, 2021

Dear Parishioners,

On my 30-Day Retreat last July, I spent a fair amount of time in prayer with the Adoration of the Three Magi.  Saint Ignatius of Loyola would have us put ourselves in the particular scene of Scripture.  Here with the Holy Family and Three Kings we imagine ourselves present and assisting as a "poor little unworthy slave." Allow me to describe part of my imaginative prayer from that scene...

After presenting the three gifts, the three Persian visitors made ready to leave, but Joseph insisted that they sit and stay a while.  They accepted the offer.  I laid out some food and Joseph boiled some tea while Mary held the sleeping child. One of the kings remarked as I handed a date to him, "What a privilege it must be serve the King of Kings!"  I merely nodded in assent.