From the Pastor’s Desk: January 20, 2019

     After weeks of joyful celebration of the Christmas season, we now enter into Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year. We return to the routine marked by school and work schedules, as well as family activities. This year we focus on the Gospel of Luke and his approach to reflect on the life of Jesus and our call to discipleship. The Ordinary Season invites us to enter and to take stock of our relationship with Jesus – to learn more about Him and His life, to meditate the meaning of the Gospel for our lives today and to practice our Christian vocation in the world. It is a special time that should not be put aside, but rather to ponder what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
     Today, we reflect upon Jesus’ first miraculous sign at the wedding feast of Cana and the way to follow Jesus in our lives. “Do whatever He tells you,” are the famous last words of Mary registered in the Gospel. Mary doesn't speak often in the Sacred Scriptures, but every time she does speak, her words overflow with wisdom. With her last words in the Bible, the Blessed Virgin Mary gives us the three keys to stay on-task in our efforts to follow Christ and discover the happiness that only He can give. First - Service. Mary did not remain preoccupied with herself enjoying the wedding, but kept her eyes open for opportunities to help others, and she took the initiative to seize those opportunities. This is how she reflected in her own day-to-day life the goodness and generosity of God, who is always thinking of us and providing for us and watching over us. Second - Confidence. Mary noticed the problem, and she wanted to do something about it. Although with extremely limited physical resources, she turns to an abundance of God’s generous grace, “They have no wine”.   She doesn't give Jesus a specific to-do list, as if she were trying to micro-manage God, but rather presents her specific and concrete need with profound trust in God. Third – to put service and confidence/trust into practice – obedience. If we truly believe that God is our Father, our Savior, and our King, we will obey His commandments and His teachings and we will "do whatever He tells" us. In the midst of pressure from popular culture, obeying Church teaching often seems to be too much work. So today, let us take confidence in Mary’s example of trust in her Son to find enough faith to obey what God, in His infinite love and wisdom, asks of us, and then we, too, will become part of a miracle and save the day.
     In over 100 years of history during the week of January 18-25, Christians around the world have taken part in the octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. The theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is " Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue" ( Deuteronomy 16:18-20). The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019 has been prepared by Christians from Indonesia. With a population of 265 million, 86% of whom are reckoned to be Muslim, Indonesia is well known as having the largest Muslim population of any country. However, about 10% of Indonesians are Christian from various traditions.  In the world that is affected by corruption, modern-day slavery, dishonesty and sense of advancement at the expense of the other, the Christians of Indonesia found that the words of Deuteronomy, “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue...” (see Deut. 16:18-20) spoke powerfully to these situations and needs. Before the people of God enter the land God has promised them they renew their commitment to the Covenant God established with them. Let us pray fervently this week that Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper: "That they all may be one"  (cf. John 17:21).
     On January 22 ^nd in the United States of America, as Catholic Christians we observe the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. On that day, 42 years ago, the Supreme Court decided to legalize abortion. Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss- often in silence. United in prayer, we embrace this day as a Day of Penance for Violations to the Dignity of the Human Person and Prayer for the Full Restoration of the Dignity of Life. Today we pray for an end of destruction of human life due to abortion. We pray for the innocent lives lost to abortion. We pray for the families of the unborn and all who suffer from the act of having an abortion. We pray for the restoration of the culture of Life in our society.
 
I pray for God’s blessings upon you in this upcoming week! 
With prayers,
Fr. Andy