Archives for December 2019

From the Pastor – December 29, 2019

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16 ) Although the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph asks us to examine whether we’re being good family members.  When we contemplate the Holy Family, we note the fact that when Jesus became man – when the Word became flesh – He became flesh as a little child within a family. That was a divine choice; because Jesus could have chosen any way he wanted to manifest Himself.  He could have arrived on earth as a 33 year old adult or an 80 year old man. But Jesus was conceived and began his existence in Mary’s womb, and was born as a baby in a family.  Mary became the Mother of God (as we … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – December 22, 2019

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign:  the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,  and shall name him Emmanuel. (Is. 7:14)  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,  because he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21) In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers have a dialogue about their own names.  It begins with Romeo hearing Juliet call his name: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?”  Later in the dialogue, Romeo responds: “It is my soul that calls upon my name:  How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears!” This quote has been paraphrased to something like: “there’s nothing so sweet as the sound of one’s own name.”  And even if we don’t read Shakespeare or understand poetry, … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – December 15, 2019

“Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again:  rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all.  The Lord is near.” (Phil. 4:4-5 ) This third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday” from the Latin St. Paul uses when he tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always”: gaudete in Domino semper!  The spirit of the Liturgy in Advent is one of expectation and preparation for Christmas and the Second Coming of Christ, but our penitential attitude is suspended on Gaudete Sunday so that we might focus on the joy of our Redemption, which should never be far from our hearts. To highlight the importance of Gaudete Sunday, the priest wears rose vestments and lights a rose candle on the Advent wreath. Why do we mark this day by focusing particularly on joy?  It’s because … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – December 8, 2019

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.  (Mt 3:1-3) The Christmas Season can often be a time of anxiety for us.  There’s so much to do, so much to prepare.  We have cards to write, homes to decorate, presents to buy, parties to attend, year-end reports to finish, etc. etc. etc.  And when it’s all over, we let out a big sigh and enjoy ourselves.  Then we clean up.  And then we prepare for the next holiday, whether it’s New Year’s, Mardi Gras, or perhaps a Superbowl party…  Sometimes it seems like it never ends. Surely, we know that we’re called to … [Read more...]

From the Pastor – December 1, 2019

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.  Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Mt 24:42-44) A lot of times, the analogies of Jesus are just that – analogies.  But sometimes they hit closer to home.  At times, we have had problems with security at St. Stephen Church.  We have had incidents where people have tried to get into our church by breaking door handles and even using pry-bars.  Every time we put up our pro-life signs in front of the church, someone steals them.  We’ve had chalices and even a collection bag stolen.  And then … [Read more...]