Pastor’s Corner – Jan 8

Pastor’s Corner – Jan 8

The Christmas season in the liturgy of the Church concludes with the Epiphany of the Lord and the Baptism of the Lord (observed on Monday, January 9). The Birth of the Savior in Bethlehem is the core revelation of the love of God for all his people, the Jews and the Gentiles alike. The Church celebrates the coming of the Messiah for several weeks from Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God on New Year’s Day, the Epiphany of the Lord to the Magi and the Baptism of the Lord. These events and celebrations help us to understand the full meaning of the coming of the Lord as Man in the Incarnation of the Christ Child. The Lord Jesus, the divine Son of God, came to birth as the fully human child of the Blessed Mother born in a humble, simple way to be the Redeemer of the Jewish people. Jesus the Christ Child came to bring salvation to non-Jews, to the Gentiles, in the beautiful and inspirational celebration of the Mass today in the Epiphany. In the Baptism of the Lord that we have in the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17, we see the hand of the Father almighty in the life of Jesus as he begins his public mystery as the Lord, the Shepherd and Teacher of the people of God. To properly understand the Birth of Christ, we have to see his mission as the Savior, the Son of the living God, who has come to save, to redeem and to reconcile us to God and to one another in the mystery of his life, his teachings, his sufferings, his death and his resurrection. The Paschal Mystery of Jesus completes his coming into our world as the Son of God and the Son of Mary, fully divine and fully human like us in all things except sin. Jesus came to bring peace and justice to all peoples, both Gentiles and Jews. The Psalm Response for Mass today from Psalm 72 is so appropriate: ‘Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.’

The biblical description of the Magi, also known as the Wise Men, is one of the truly memorable, inspirational and delightful passages in the Infancy Narratives of the Christ Child in the Gospels. This event occurs early in the life of the newborn King of the Jews. Magi from the east follow a star and end in Bethlehem and find the Child Jesus. The Magi have a less then pleasant and honest interaction with King Herod about the star that they had been following. Tradition is that there were three Magi who each had a special gift to offer the Christ Child. The symbolic gifts are gold to signify the kingship of Jesus, the frankincense to signify the divinity of the Child and the myrrh to signify the suffering and death of the Child. Some tradition also assigns names of Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior to the Magi. I strongly encourage to read, to pray and to meditate on the story of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. It is one of my favorites in the early life of Jesus.

One of the best aspects of the Advent season is the sending of Christmas Cards. One of my favorites is the one that has the image of the Three Magi with the words, ‘Wise Men Still Seek Him.’ The example of the Magi who found the Christ Child, the Prince of Peace, continues to inspire us to seek the Lord in our personal journey of faith. As we begin another calendar year, 2017, may each one of us have the spirit and the willingness of the Magi as we search and seek the presence of the Lord in our lives. Few of us will journey far in terms of miles and long distances to find the Messiah. The journey for all of us is far more going within ourselves, being quiet and prayerful, learning how to listen to the call and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, being more diligent in our daily efforts to follow the example of the Savior in our actions, plans and activities. Reflecting on the Magi, what they found at the end of their searching was beyond their initial hopes and filled them with a desire to worship, to adore and to give themselves and their treasures to the Child Jesus. My prayer for you and for me is that we will be committed to the deepest longings in our hearts and give ourselves to seeking the Lord in all that we do and with the persevering grace that the Lord offers us, we will like the Magi come to give God the worship, the homage and the praise that he deserves as we give ourselves totally to the living God and graciously, gladly and generously give our treasures to the awesome and wonderful God who creates, saves and inspires us. ‘Wise Men Still Seek Him.’

My prayers, love, best wishes and personal gratitude to you and to your loved ones for who you are, for all you do for the Lord and for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. Again, I am so thankful for all your acts of kindness, your generosity and your consideration to me, to the Staff and to the Parish over the past few weeks. As the Magi, may we prostrate ourselves and do the Lord God homage.

SHALOM! Fr. Gary

Homework for the week of January 8 – January 14
Psalms 8

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