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This weekend is when we celebrate he Feast of the Epiphany—a word that means a new realization or new understanding of something.  In everyday English, you could say “I had an epiphany,” and then proceed to tell one or more people about some new insight you acquired.  The epiphany we celebrate this weekend refers to the Wise Men coming to the realization that this baby in the manger is the King of the Universe, the…

Christmas arrives and families come from near and far to gather.  Family members become Santas who distribute “presents” to one another against the backdrop of specially prepared food that makes everyone gain weight at this time of year.  Churches see their pews fill with persons seldom or never seen in the congregation during the year.  More often than not, “a good time is had by all” when gathering as families in their mother churches.  Their…

There is an emerging movement that sees its members speak about belonging to a “Christian culture.”  This “culture” can include atheists and agnostics, and all sorts of people who practice or condone behaviors that Jesus specifically forbade.  People in this “Christian” culture will accept laws against stealing goods from stores, and murdering someone without good reason, and other basic concerns (like stopping for a red light).  However, this same “Christian” culture is “Caucasian” and intolerant…

Instead of today’s 4-week observance, Advent USED to be a period of 40 days on our liturgical calendar.  It was a counterpoint to Easter’s Lenten season. This 3rd week of Advent is called “Gaudete” (“Rejoice”) Sunday.  It refers to us ALMOST being at Christmas—and so we should rejoice in realizing once again that Jesus was born.  During this season, we are called to reflect on Jesus coming to us 3 times: 1) at Bethlehem, 2) in…

The opening verses of this week’s Gospel might put listeners to sleep as they spell out who the political leaders were in power when John the Baptist was born.  The names and regions they ruled are strange sounding—perhaps as strange as some names that people will read about in the centuries ahead—when the world is very different from what it is today.  Why did Luke bother to cite those names and places?  Probably to remind…

This weekend we begin the Advent season.  It reminds me of my life journey bringing me to you here at Bethlehem (that is, John the 23rd Parish).  Here’s how the trip here unfolded. The university at which I taught for 25 years went into debt and fired its faculty at the end of the academic year of 2019.  Since universities hire for the coming year long before our termination, it was a challenge to find…

This week’s bulletin is a little different from others. This is because I thought it would be helpful to shed light on the Church’s observance of what we call “holy days.”  2024’s calendar presented some confusion on this topic, so I hope this casts light on the matter.  The following paragraphs are quoted from the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Saginaw. What prompts my spending time on this topic is motivated by my…

November is an important month for the U.S. because it is the month of Thanksgiving, Native American Month, and, most importantly, the month of the pastor’s birthday.  Okay, 2 of those 3 make it an important month.  Regrettably, my birthday doesn’t make the cut.  In light of my connection to Native America, I wanted to see that our parish once again join in contemplating certain themes within this people’s spirituality and ritual practice.  But first—a…