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from Fr. Pawel

My Dear parishioners,   Jesus’ words today, at the Beginning of his ministry are something like a priest’s sermon at his first Mass – on a theme really important to the priest. He knows he is appointed and chosen by God.

My Dear Parishioners,   Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. The Church recalls Our Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan.   The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, it was an event of great significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community. The Evangelists Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus' perspective; the voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. Compare this to Matthew's Gospel in which the voice from heaven speaks to everyone. In Luke, however, the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus during his time of prayer after his baptism. Through his Gospel, Luke will show Jesus to be a person of prayer who withdraws from the crowds and his disciples to pray to his Father.

My Dear parishioners,   Today we celebrate the Feast of The Epiphany of the Lord “Epiphany” means manifestation.  And the “Epiphany of the Lord” is Jesus’ manifestation not only to these three Magi from the East, but it’s also a symbolic but real manifestation of the Christ to the whole world.  These Magi, traveling from a foreign and non-Jewish nation, reveal that Jesus came for all people and all are called to adore Him.

As we come to the end of another year, once again we find ourselves in a world filled with problems, doubts, worries, and fears. We sing “Joy to the world,” but there is not as much joy as we would like.   Jesus, our Savior and God, became man to give us full freedom as Sons and Daughters of God. In Jesus and with Jesus we can realize all our dreams and hopes because he said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart: and you will find rest for yourselves.” For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”.

My Dear Parishioners,   “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jn 1:14 . This week we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord – Jesus the Christ coming into the world to brighten our lives. Christmas is the invitation not to be hesitant and to let him – whose love is greater than our own hearts and minds can comprehend – be our companion.

My Dear Parishioners,   Today has traditionally been called “Gaudete Sunday.” The Latin name is taken from St. Paul’s appeal in the second reading to “rejoice always in the Lord,” and the Latin Mass text based on that reading. The irony and paradox of this Christian joy is underlined by the fact that Paul wrote those words in prison. But from there he could see the joy and love of God.

My Dear Parishioners,   Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. We now have four weeks in which meditate mystery of Christ coming to us for our salvation. In the past he did come to suffer and die for us. And in the future he will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.  It is a struggle as much of our society will celebrate Christmas up till December 25th while we are trying to prepare for it!  We prepare then we celebrate!

My Dear Parishioners,   Today we begin the last week of our current liturgical year.  Next Sunday the Advent season and a new liturgical year will begin.  The Gospel chosen for this feast of Christ the King is a very solemn reading.  It is a reading from the Passion of Jesus Christ.

My Dear Parishioners,   Today we begin the last week of our current liturgical year.  Next Sunday the Advent season and a new liturgical year will begin.  The Gospel chosen for this feast of Christ the King is a very solemn reading.  It is a reading from the Passion of Jesus Christ.

My Dear parishioners The gospel is a series of contrasts – rich and poor, greedy and generous, arrogant and humble and it is not difficult to guess which of them Jesus is praising.   Jesus calls the attention of his disciples on the gesture of the widow, and teaches them where they and we should seek the manifestation of God’s will: in the poor and in sharing. The practice of giving alms was very important for the Jews. It was considered a “good work”, because the Law of the Old Testament said: “Because the poor will never be missing in the country; this is why I give you this command, and I say to you: Always be open handed with your brother in your country who is in need and poor” (Dt 15,11).

Today’s Gospel presents Jesus’ teachings on the two greatest commandments. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, love your neighbor as yourself. This first commandment deal with how we relate to God. Are we really giving all that we have to Him? What does it even mean to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

November 1st  and 2nd  are two feast days in the calendar of the Church. The first one is the celebration of All Saints’ Day, when we celebrate the great Communion of Saints. On this day, we remember the holy ones who have been canonized and those who were not. Pope Gregory III designated this day for honoring all saints. The other day, second of November, we are celebrating All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. 

To believe in Jesus is a great gift from God. Anyone that does a good act to another in His name is certainly blessed. Also, if someone gives you just a cup of water because you believe in the Lord, they too will receive a reward.   Jesus tells his disciples that there is no one who could performs great deeds such as driving out demons or healing in Jesus’ name who would speak ill of Jesus. This would be a complete contradiction of the deed they had done. Jesus continues: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.”

Who do people say that I am?” Christ really wants to know who his disciples thought he was. Yet he leads them by degree to the tougher and more committing questions. The first question- who do people say I am is easy to answer. The second question is more difficult. It involves self-examination. Only Peter had the courage to respond. Like the disciples in the Gospel, throughout our own spiritual journey Christ will give us surprise examinations and questions – moments when we, too, will be asked to evaluate who Jesus really is for each of us.

In today’s Gospel we see another example of Jesus caring for those who are suffering from sicknesses and disabilities of one kind or another. That someone could be interested in them and especially to be able to cure them was really a gift from God. Despite that fact that a great number of people are neglected in the world today who need care and help, there are a still a great number of people who are dedicated to the poor and the sick. This is a gift from God, both for them and for the people they help.

The distinction between the way of life of the Pharisees and the deeper meaning given by Jesus is clearly stated. We can become very shallow if we only fulfill the ‘obligations’ of society and pay no attention to where our heart is. God tells us that we are important, that we are loved by Him, and helps us to live that deeper life.

n today’s Gospel Jesus reveals the hospitality of God. Everyone is invited to the divine banquet: what matters is for each of us to foster our relationship with Jesus. Eating his flesh and drinking his blood is not an invitation to cannibalism, as the Jews feared. Instead, in the Eucharist the bread and wine are given a new and deeper meaning: they become the very person of Jesus.  

Elijah needed food for both the body and soul, for forty days which in the Hebrew Testament is a symbolic number for a journey of the soul.   Food for the soul can be some prayer, a good chat in the morning or evening, the Mass, culture, art, music, prayer to feed the soul. The bread of life of Jesus is Holy Communion, the Eucharist and other nourishment for the soul.

Today’s Gospel prepares us for the first miracle of the multiplication of the bread. Jesus and the Twelve went away to a deserted place to rest, yet there were many who wanted to hear his teaching that they found a way to get to the place ahead of them. Although the Twelve were tired and needed time alone with Jesus, he was not frustrated or angry because the crowd had interrupted their rest. Instead, he felt compassion toward them because “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” This is probably a reference to the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34:15. Jesus satisfied their spiritual hunger by teaching them many things, thus gradually becoming the shepherd of a new Israel, the new people of God.