10 January 2019 – Friday after Epiphany in the Christmas season – Luke 5:12-16

    A leper approaches Jesus, falling prostrate at his feet, and tells him: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  Leprosy was a very feared disease in the ancient world.  There may not be any physical lepers in our community today, but we can think of others we treat as lepers in our society.  When Jesus cured this leper and brought healing into his life, it was not only his physical condition that he was healing, but also his position within the community as well.  

     We can bring the healing of Christ to our communities as bearers of his Good News.  Bringing the healing of Christ to others is part of our role as disciples of his.  In fact, one of things I really like to see hear at St Jude is the warm welcoming spirit that we have.  Not only do we try to welcome visitors to our mass, to make them feel at home, I also have seen a great sense of bonding and welcome in the ALPHA program we have had in our parish this past year.  Yes, if we enter a place and we feel like people are ignoring us or really caring about us, we can only imagine how the lepers in Jesus’ day through their isolation in their community.  

In his recent message of prayer for world peace that he delivered on January 1 to mark the beginning of the new year, Pope Francis spoke about his apostolic visit to Japan where he met some of those who survived the nuclear bombs that were dropped on Japan at the end of the second world war.  Pope Francis spoke about how memory is so important, how we can keep in our memory what we have learned from past events in order to shape our future.  As a fruit of these learnings and these experiences, the Pope calls us to greater understanding, to reconciliation, and to peace. 

Healing, reconciliation, peace, and participation in the community.  That is what was central to the life of the leper in the Gospel today.  That is what is central in our lives as well.  May we all hear this message calling out to us today so that we can be bridge building and conveyers of these Gospel values in the world today. 

7 January 2020 – Homily for Tuesday after Epiphany in the Christmas season – 1 John 4:7-10

     Today, we continue our celebration of the Christmas season.  Our Christmas celebrations will come to a close this upcoming Sunday with the celebration of the Baptism of our Lord.  Today we hear about love in the first letter of John, a letter we have been hearing from in our first reading during a lot of the Christmas season.   The topic of love is certainly very appropriate in the Christmas season since the arrival of the Baby Jesus into our world in that manger in Bethlehem is all about love.  Love is a word commonly used in the Gospel of John and the Letters of John as well.  The love that John is talking about in his writings is not a romantic love, but rather an agape love that cares about the well-being of the other person.  This type of love is all about giving of our very selves to the other whom we love.  In agape love, we are called to give of ourselves to our brothers and sisters in the same spirit in which God gave himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ.  If we forget this concept of self-giving in the way we live out our faith, perhaps we forget about the very essence of what our faith is all about.  In his writings, Pope Francis has asked us to love beyond our differences, to reach out to others in a spirit of peace, solidarity, and brotherhood.  May we push through some boundaries this year that are keeping us from living out agape love in our lives of faith.

5 de enero de 2020 – La Epifanía del Señor – Mateo 2, 1-12

       Hoy, continuamos nuestra celebración del tiempo de Navidad con una celebración muy gozosa en la comunidad hispana.  En el Evangelio de hoy, escuchamos sobre la visita de los tres reyes magos al niño Jesús en el pesebre en Belén.  En muchos sentidos, esta visita de los magos es un catequesis sobre Jesús y su misión para nosotros.  El mensaje de la visita de los magos es que Jesús está enviado por la parte de Dios Padre para ofrecer la salvación de Dios a todos los hombres de la tierra. Es interesante que los magos son reyes del oriente, que son paganos, no son judíos.  Ellos vienen a Belén para adorar al niño Jesús, mientras Herodes y los sacerdotes queden en Jerusalén.  Herodes está perturbado y enojado cuando se da cuenta sobre el nacimiento del niño divino.  Herodes no quiere visitar al niño; él quiere planear su muerte.  Herodes no tiene alegría en su corazón cuando él recibe esta noticia del nacimiento del niño.  Al contrario, los magos están gozosos porque ellos lo reconocen como el salvador del mundo. 

        A veces, nosotros también no podemos reconocer las maravillas de nuestra fe que están en frente de nosotros. A veces, no podemos reconocer la presencia de Cristo con nosotros.  Jesús estaba rechazado por su pueblo, por la gente que esperaba el Mesías, pero estos extranjeros -  estos tres reyes magos - ellos reconocen su identidad verdadera.  Cuando yo estaba trabajando en las selvas de Ecuador como misionero católico, yo tenía mucho para enseñar la gente, pero, también, yo tenía mucho para aprender.  Todos los hombres del mundo forman el nuevo pueblo de Dios.  Todos los hombres son los hijos de Dios. La salvación que tenemos en nuestros Señor Jesucristo es para todo el mundo.  Pero, tenemos la libertad y la voluntad para aceptarla o para rechazarla.  Tenemos señales para encontrar a Jesús como los magos tenían esta estrella muy especial.  Como esta estrella tenía una luz muy brillante, Jesús es la luz mas brillante en las tinieblas de nuestro mundo.  Es una cosa para conocer los mandamientos de Dios y sus Escrituras, pero es otra cosa para seguir la luz de Jesucristo y para caminar en esta luz en nuestro viaje de fe. 

Cada año, en el primer día de enero, el Papa da un mensaje de paz por todo el mundo.  Su mensaje este año tiene el titulo: “La Paz como camino de Esperanza: Diálogo, Reconciliación y Conversión ecológica”.  Lamentablemente, conocemos muy bien que tenemos un mundo de mucha división y mucha discordia.  Muchas personas no quieren escuchar a la voz de su prójimo.  Muchas personas no respetan las diferencias que miramos en nuestro prójimo.  Según el Papa Francisco, es importante para dialogar en nuestras comunidades, en nuestros países, y entre los países del mundo.  Podemos ser puentes de paz y reconciliación en nuestras comunidades y en el mundo.  

        Me gusta el cuento de los tres reyes magos muchísimo, como me gusta también el mensaje del Papa por la paz.  La verdad que existe en su viaje a través el desierto para llegar a este pesebre en Belén es un verdad para nosotros hoy día.  Su camino como discípulos es un ejemplo para nosotros. 

5 January 2020 - Feast of the Epiphany - the Magi - Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6

     I was talking to a friend recently about the celebration of the three kings during the Christmas season, and he did not realize that the feast of the Epiphany was related to the three kings.  So what does the word epiphany mean, since it is a word we don’t use often in daily conversation aside from the celebration of this feast day?  According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, epiphany means (1) a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something or (2) an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure. It comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” - which means appearance or manifestation.  It is very interesting that when so many people in Ancient Israel - including the Jewish scholars and priests and leaders - did not recognize the significance or nature of Jesus’ birth when he was born in the stable in Bethlehem. It was the shepherds who were tending their flocks in the middle of the night, through the visit of the angel, who were able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah who is coming to bring great joy to the world.  And the Magi, strangers to the land of Israel, who through the guidance of a miraculous star, were able to recognize the special nature of Christ’s birth. The shepherds and the Magi are messengers, announcing to all the nations that the Savior has been born, that the light of God in the Christ-child is shining forth in the world.  

     Christ is our light in the world, which we know for sure from our faith.  God’s light shined on the Magi in the star that guided them because they were open to receive that light in their lives. 

Indeed, God’s light shines on those who are willing to receive it. The prophet Isaiah tells us today that that light of God does not prevent the darkness from covering the earth, but God’s light shines forth on those prepared to accept it. So, Isaiah addresses a challenge to all of us, telling us to: “Arise, shine” (60:1).  Just as the Magi respond to the challenge of a long journey to meet the Christ child, we also need to arise, to get up from our sedentary lives and prepare for a journey.  Otherwise, we will stand still, like the scribes that Herod consulted, who knew very well where the Messiah was born, but they were not able to respond in faith. God calls us to shine with his light.  God needs us to shine to be lights in the world.  Herod, the scribes, and so many in Ancient Israel preferred the earthly lights of success and power to the divine light that Christ brought. We see the Magi fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. They arise and shine. They clothe themselves in the light of God. They alone are able to see and recognize the star in the heavens: not the scribes, nor Herod, nor any of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

       So many paths call out to us in our world today. But, in order to find Jesus like the Magi found him, we also need to take a different route, to follow a different path, his path, the path of humble love, the path of faith. And we will have to persevere. Today’s Gospel ends by saying that the Magi, after encountering Jesus, “left for their own country by another road”. The Magi took an alternative route than that of the world, like the road taken by those who surrounded Jesus at Christmas: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds. Like the Magi, they left home and became pilgrims on the path of God. That path is only those who are will to undertake a journey to find the mystery of God.

      I have always loved the story of the Magi ever since I was a child.  Their story is so vivid and appeals to our imagination. What can we learn from the gifts that the Magi bring? Their first gift was gold, the most precious of metals, reminding us that God has to be granted first place in our lives, that he is to be worshipped and valued.  In the frankincense the Magi offered as the second gift, we can see it symbolizing a relationship with the Lord through prayer.  Our prayers rise up to God like smoke from the incense. Just as incense must burn in order to yield its fragrance, so too, our prayers must burn in our hearts as we spend time with God in our prayers. That brings us to myrrh, the ointment that would be lovingly used on Jesus’ body, preparing it for burial after he was taken down from the cross. Myrrh reminds us of the suffering and sacrifices we will have to make for our faith.  As our Christmas season is soon drawing to a close, let us not miss the opportunity to bring our own precious gifts to the Lord.  Let us not miss the opportunity to have his light shine upon us and for us to be shining lights in the world.  

Prayers of the faithful - Feast of the Epiphany - 5 January 2019

Penitential rite:

As we rejoice in God’s forgiveness, let us call to mind our sins and our need for God’s mercy: 

Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus, you come to us in word and in sacrament to strengthen us in holiness - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus, you will come in glory with salvation for your people - Lord have mercy. 

Prayers of the faithful: 

PRIEST:  Let us bring our prayers to God, who hears us when we cry out for help:

1. For the people of all nations — that they may believe the Good News of salvation.

2. For people of all faith traditions - may we work together towards healing and peace. 

3. For all Christians, that together they may meet the challenges facing humanity. 

4. For those in our midst who are sick or in sorrow, that God may be close to them in their pain and in their grief.  

5. For our friends and relatives who have died,  that eternal salvation may be theirs. 

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts. 

PRIEST:  O God, you rule the earth with justice:  help us according to our needs, we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Bulletin Reflection on the feast of the Epiphany - St Jude Catholic Church - Pearl - Mississippi

      We come together this weekend as a community to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus.  We are really excited to be able to celebrate a bilingual mass this weekend with our St Jude community for the feast of the Epiphany.  It is important for us to bridge the gap of language and culture in order to celebrate the devotions of our faith as one community. 

       The message of the feast of Epiphany is so rich in different messages and symbolism.  The main message of the Magi is that the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is meant for all, not just a select few, not just for one culture or one group of people.  There is a lot of symbolism in the gifts that the Magi brought the Christ child.  Their first gift was gold, the most precious of metals, reminding us that God has to be granted first place in our lives, that he is to be worshipped and valued.  In the frankincense they offered as their second gift, we can see it symbolizing our relationship with the Lord through prayer.  Our prayers rise up to God like smoke from the incense. Just as incense must burn in order to yield its fragrance, so too, our prayers must burn in our hearts as we spend time with God through those prayers. That brings us to the third gift myrrh, the ointment that would be lovingly used to prepare Jesus’ body for burial after he was taken down from the cross. Myrrh reminds us of the suffering and sacrifices we will have to make for our faith.  May these gifts the Magi brought remind us of different aspects of our faith.  And may we be willing to bring our own gifts in our own way to the Christ child, just as the Magi brought their gifts. 

      This week also is important in the ALPHA programs that we have for both youth and adults at St Jude.  We are starting to sign up people for the next adult ALPHA program, which will start on January 20.  We all need to take a role in evangelization; ALPHA is a good start to bringing the Gospel to others.  If you think of a parishioner who has not been to ALPHA before, or a neighbor or a friend who might not even be Catholic, it would be great to invite that person to ALPHA.  All of us to see ourselves as evangelizers. This Sunday, our youth ALPHA will also resume after a short break.  We are excited about our youth ALPHA continuing.   

       Blessings to all of you as we continue our Christmas season and as we celebrate the Magi this weekend. 

3 January 2020 - Christmas weekday - 1 John 2:29-3:6

      We have gone through the four weeks of the Advent season, a season of preparation and waiting, and have gone through Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Our world has basically moved on from the Christmas season, but we in the Church are in the middle of celebrating the season of Christmas, a season that our secular world really does not recognize during this first part of January.  In the days leading up to Epiphany, we hear from the first letter of John in the first readings during the daily masses.  One statement stood out for me from the first letter of John today: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” It is often difficult seeing the love God has bestowed upon us if we are struggling or going through challenges in life.  On New Year’s day, I visited four different parishioners in the hospital, each going through their own health challenges. We may be experiencing difficulty with a family member or struggles with additions or disappointments in our work or personal life.  Through all of that, it may be difficult to feel like we are children of God, that God loves us and cares for us.  In his homily on Christmas day, Pope Francis all mentioned places in the world that are going through different kinds of struggles and difficulties: 

Many countries of Latin of America are experiencing political, societal, or economic turmoil - the catastrophe that is unfolding in Venezuela is the worst example of that.

Many places in the Middle East and the Holy Land are lacking stability, peace, security and prosperity. 

Many places are still recovering after natural disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, or droughts.  

Ukraine  has civil conflict with Russia that is still on-going. 

Many countries in the world do not allow the freedom to practice religion.  

       Yet, through all of this, we have Christ the light leading us and guiding us, no matter how dark it may seem, no matter how difficult life seems to be either on a personal or national level.  That is the message we have to comfort us this Christmas season.  Christ arrived as a light in the world as a baby in the manger in Bethlehem.  Christ will continue to be a light in our world, only if we allow that light to shine.  Christ the light is with us through all the challenges, sufferings, and disappointments.  Christ be our light.