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| From Father's Desk |
Click on the date below to see Fr. Dennis' weekly bulletin article:
March 16, 2008
March 9, 2008
March 2, 2008
February 24, 2008
February 17, 2008
February 10, 2008
February 3, 2008
January 27, 2008
January 20, 2008
January 13, 2008
January 6, 2008
March 16, 2008
Holy Week begins today. This is the most important week of the entire liturgical year. It is during this week that we commemorate and celebrate the whole meaning of the Incarnation. The birth of the Messiah was thousands and thousands of years in the making, as it were. The whole world awaited the arrival of the Messiah but when He came they didnt recognize Him. He grew to full manhood and set out on the task of final preparations: three years of itinerate preaching, healing, preaching, teaching and all of it aiming Him toward the events of this final week of His life.
Most of us, if we are able, work the majority of our lives working toward retirement and hope to sit back to enjoy the fruits of our labors. We wait for the arrival of our retirement and social security checks to arrive in the mail so we can do the things we didnt have time for while earning our living.
Not so with Jesus. He spent the entire time getting ready for these last hours of His life, a life which would end abruptly and tragically. No gold watch or set of golf clubs for Him. His only retirement gift was a heavy wooden cross and three huge nails for attaching Him thereto.
Instead of applause, pats on the back and hearty handshakes, He received laughter and jeering, spitting and buffeting. His last meal took place the evening before with His specially chosen apostles and a handful of loyal disciples. His Mom sat with them as they celebrated the Passover feast, recalling that great religious event that was to be changes forever this night and over the next two days time.
The next day, bloodied, bruised, derided and ridiculed, crowned with thorns, flesh torn open and laid bare by the cat-o-nine-tails, He suffered capital punishment, meted out by the Roman state in the name of the people. His blood poured out upon the cross and streamed down to the earth below in a cleansing and purifying act of self-giving and other-centeredness.
As He gave over His last breath in an act of forgiveness, the only-begotten Son of God destroyed death and conquered sin. Amidst a crowd of enemies, fickle followers and Roman soldiers, only a handful of His loyal disciples had the courage to stay and offer support by their presence even as they witnessed this greatest act of love and greatest sacrifice ever to occur.
His Mother stood there helpless, along with one courageous Apostle, a teen-ager named John. Mary the Magdalene and another Mary, the wife of Clophas were there as well. Beyond that, the others hid amidst the crown of people clammering for His death.
During the high Holydays this Passover season, where will YOU be? Commemorating His death with His disciples here at St. Theresa or busy about other things of much less significance and too numerous to mention? Peter, James, John, could you not watch one hour with me?
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
March 9, 2008
Im going to take a time-out from my usual Lenten column as we discuss our future and the whys and wherefores as we raise up ideas and share information about what goes into a new church building and worship space. Some information will come from the Vatican documents for the Liturgy, some from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and some from our Archdiocesan directives. While we have some leeway to dream and wish, we arent just putting up a barn or a meeting tent. Were talking about raising a new house of worship and that is quite a task indeed, and quite an honor.
I know that there are still those persistent rumors flowing over this way from St. James parish that we are merging with them. I dont know were that is originating from. Perhaps it is coming from the parishioners over there who wish we were part of their parish family. I cant blame them for that since we are a great parish and a great family here.
However, as I have said before, the Archbishop has no plans for closing our parish. In fact he is hoping not to have to close any more parishes if possible. Two months ago now, on January 15th, both Fr. Malloy from St. James parish and I met with the Vicar for Planning, Fr. Jim Connell. We discussed where our parishes are with planning and the reasons and needs to take the next step. After hearing our stories about the two parishes situations, Fr. Connell went back and sent a letter to the Archbishop telling him and the planning commission that it makes sense for both of us to take the next steps. Subsequently we received a proxy to move ahead.
Our next step is to hire a Liturgical Design Consultant (LDC) to help us do a visioning process and to hire an architect to take our vision and give us some schematic drawings based on our vision for us to look at as a parish. Another part of that process is to engage a contractor to give us some cost estimates. (They usually do that for free in the hopes that by helping us, they will get strong consideration when the bidding starts.)
Once we finish the visioning process and receive some schematics and cost estimates, we will begin a pledge drive to see where the monies lie hidden! We will be able to piggy-back our pledge drive along with the pledging for the archdiocesan capital campaign that is taking place in all the Catholic parishes of our archdiocese. This will save us some costs since the diocese is covering the major costs for the Faith in Our Future campaign.
Who does the visioning? We all do! You and I and everybody! This is not my project or that of the Parish Council or the New Church Building Committee (NCBC). It is the work of all the people of St. Theresa Parish. Ill try to give a brief explanation of the procedure in an upcoming column.
Meanwhile, keep praying to the Holy Spirit and St. Theresa. We have a phone call in to the LDC and are awaiting her reply so we can best fit the process into our schedules. Keep your eyes open for more info to come.
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
March 2, 2008
Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent already and that means we are into the second half of this years Lenten season. With the snowfalls and cold weather we have been having this winter we keep asking: How did Lent come so early? Fortunately, if the weather-guessers are correct today should be quite a bit warmer and Im all for that.
I am reminded of Lent during my youth. This is one time I can say with absolute certainty that it was tougher for us back then than it is for us today. Those of fasting age had to fast Monday through Saturday and abstain on Wednesdays as well as Fridays during Lent. Moms and Dads even had to weigh or measure out the amount of food so that they didnt break their fasting. It was much stricter back then.
Each kid in the family declared what penance they were going to do. Everyone gave up one of their favorite things: candy was always a front runner or soda pop; cigarettes for adults; a favorite television program for many kids. (We tried to get Mom to give up watching Bishop Sheens program but she just laughed at that one!) Our parents always suggested that we kids work at not quarreling with each other so much. We kids suggested that that would be an impossible task and, anyway, Lent was to be a period of sacrifice, not martyrdom!
And so we fast, we diet, we give up something for Lent. If we are lucky, we lose a few pounds. We begin changing bad habits. We find we dont need to use foul language to prove we are growing up. (Dirty mouth? Clean it up!) We discover that those neighbors, classmates and co-workers that we always talked about arent so bad after all.
The reason for all the sacrifices, for all the good works and good deeds we do during Lent is to help us to experience a change of heart, a metanoia. If we make a turn about in our spiritual life during Lent, we can keep it up after Easter. If our sacrifice includes being a nicer person, we find we dont need or want to go back to being nasty and rude. If we gave up cigarettes we can drop them forever and our food tastes better.
If we have been treating others at home, school or in the workplace with kindness, we discover we like ourselves better too. If weve done a good job of keeping our room clean for the whole of Lent, if we no longer leave dirty clothes on the floor or toys strewn all over the place, no one else has to pick up after us anymore. (Maybe even Dad hangs up his coat when he comes home?)
If we have begun to pray a bit more every day, five or ten minutes worth, we decide to keep it up because if we stop we feel as if we are missing something good in our day. Thats because we are. If during Lent we have become closer to our God, closer to our Faith and our Church, we will have found that there is much more to life than we once thought, and it is well worth it.
Remember to pray: Jesus, Savior, Son of God, have mercy on us!
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
February 24, 2008
It is quite common for us to find fault with others, after all, their sins are so blatant. This is no new phenomenon. Read the story of the Fall in the Book of Genesis. Adam and Eve, given almost unlimited freedom in the Garden of Eden with only one tree to leave alone, fell into the trap set by the Tempter: to know all things; to becoming like God; to therefore not need God. They didnt resist the sins of pride and disobedience.
So they turned from God and sinned and God came seeking them (Adam, Eve, where are you?). God knew they had hidden because they had sinned. Adam tried to turn Gods attention away from himself and so he put the blame on Eve and Eve then put it on the serpent. Both tried to avoid responsibility for their own behavior. (Sound familiar?)
Even more devious is how we try to use the sins of others to excuse our own sins. This too is found in the Scriptures even as it is in our lives today. Read Matthew 23: 1-7. Jesus reminds us that we should listen to the leaders of our Faith when they teach from the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church. He warns us that if the leaders sin we should not follow their bad example. (Remember Mom asking you: And if Johnny jumped off a cliff, would you jump off the cliff, too?)
Just as some of the scribes and Pharisees taught one thing but acted differently, so too have some of our Church leaders. As a result, some Catholics jumped on that as an excuse to stop practicing their own Faith. They used the sins of others to justify not practicing their own Faith, not following Gods commandment and the Churchs Teachings. They stop attending Mass and blame it on the priests and bishops.
Well, I wonder if God will accept that as an excuse when we stand before His throne on judgment day. I wonder if He will excuse our sins because we point out the sins of others. I wonder if we will get away with sins of fornication, adultery, theft, murder, disrespect, deception, dishonesty, pride and prejudices by showing God our neighbors sins.
I wonder if God will let us off the hook for refusing to respect life at all ages and stages, from womb to tomb. I wonder if He will allow our anger and hatred because someone first harmed us and hated us. I wonder if God will not hold us responsible for the lack of justice and mercy and peace in our acts because we needed revenge or our pride and feelings were hurt by another. I wonder if He will forget that we ate and drank sumptuously from the bounty He had given us while others went hungry and thirsty.
Scripture tells us differently. God will hold us responsible for our own acts. Thats scary, isnt it? And yetJesus reminds us over and over again that He wishes not the death of the sinner but that s/he be converted and saved. The Good Shepherd comes looking for us because we are lost sheep and need rescuing. He leads us to green pastures and beside restful waters he gives us repose. He saves us by His death and resurrection. Are you still carrying your nail this Lent?
Let us pray constantly:
Jesus, Savior, Son of God, have mercy on us!
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
February 17, 2008
Remember that you are dust and to dust
you shall return.
With these words and blessed ashes traced in the form of the cross on our foreheads, we were marked for Christ last Sunday. Although Lent officially began the previous week on Ash Wednesday, we delayed the distribution of blessed ashes until Sunday because of the great snowstorm.
It is almost as if the Tempter (another name for Satan) was trying to distract, to keep us from beginning our journey towards Easter this year, to get us to forget that the kingdom of God is at hand and that we must be travelers on the path of salvation. Just as last Sundays gospel described how the Tempter tried to distract Jesus from His mission, from His goal, so too we often find ourselves distracted and led astray, wandering off in a direction away from the Lord. Yet the path that Jesus leads us on is the only one that will bring us to our true goal, to our true destiny: the kingdom of God and eternal happiness.
We have been created to know, love and serve God in this world so that we might be happy with Him forever in the next. But if we allow ourselves to be governed by earthly desires and worldly goods, obsessed with power and possessions, and directed by the empty promises of the false gods that we come up against daily, we will find ourselves with growling stomachs, still hungering for something that truly satisfies our needs. In the end, we will open our fists to look at the trinkets we were so tightly grasping and find nothing but dust.
Like the ashes on our foreheads, the things of this kingdom will rust and decay. Only the things of Gods kingdom remain, shining more brightly than all the gold and silver of this world. We pierce our ears and body parts with shiny pieces of jewelry. The hands and feet of the Lord are pierced by dull, rough nails that fasten Him to the Cross. You have been given a nail to carry with you during this Lent. Let it remind you of His nails.
The Emperor Constantine had a vision in which he saw the crucifix of Christ and the words In this sign shall you conquer and by accepting Christ and painting the Cross on his shield, so he did. Those same words are directed at us. We sign ourselves or are signed at Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders, during the Sacraments of Matrimony, Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, at the beginning and end of the celebration of the Eucharist, each time before and after we pray.
Hundreds and thousands of times during our lives we are dedicated and rededicated, signed and re-signed with the Cross, just as we were so recently with the blessed ashes. Whenever we are tempted to be led astray, we should sign ourselves. Every time we are afraid, we should sign ourselves. Anytime we are in difficulty, we should call upon the Lord with this powerful sign as we pray those oft repeated words: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Remember: In this sign shall you conquer!
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
February 10, 2008
On Ash Wednesday we began the season of Lent once again. Most Christians took the time to come to their parish churches and receive blessed ashes. The ashes were smeared onto their foreheads in the form of the cross by the priest or minister. The reception of this sacramental is quite a significant act of faith for those who participate.
Wearing the ashes is a sign of humility before God. If anything has been reduced to ashes, it has ceased being what it once was and has become the very least part of its former self. It has been changed radically into something it was not before. That is really the intent of Lent for us spiritually. We want to use these six weeks of Lent to reduce ourselves from a sinful people into humble people, to eradicate sin from our lives, to place God before all else and to banish all false gods from our lives.
The placing of the ashes at the beginning of Lent then becomes a seal on our foreheads which symbolizes the seal on our hearts, an outward sign of our inward desire to become more and more the people of God. The ashes remind us that we must use this season to transform ourselves, to turn back to God from our former selves, to once more purify our minds and hearts, to humbly submit our wills to the will of God.
In order to eliminate bad habits, we replace them with good habits, new habits. If we wish to improve our physical health, we take up exercising, watch our calorie intake, eliminate unhealthful foods and replace them with healthful foods in our diet. We cut back on salt, eat smaller helpings and give up cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
First exercise, then discipline and then affection.
Thats the mantra of the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, and his National Geographic TV programs show how well it works. If we apply this to our dogs, the dogs begin to be calm, submissive and live as dogs should. They become healthy dogs, happy dogs, good pets and the gifts from God they were meant to be.
If we apply this mantra to our own physical lives, we will be physically healthier persons. If we apply this mantra to our spiritual lives, we will be spiritually healthier as well. Why dont we try it this Lenten season?
Lets exercise our faith during Lent by living it more fully than ever before, by practicing the teachings of the Gospels and the Church. Lets discipline ourselves by avoiding whatever leads us to sin and replace sinful habits with holy habits. Then lets give affection, or better yet, lets give love: to God first, then to our neighbors and to ourselves. These three actions can make our own lives and the lives of our family and neighbors, our school mates and fellow workers happier and healthier lives.
Pray the Stations of the Cross. Pray the rosary. Read the Bible daily. Come to daily Mass if possible. Spend some time each day in prayer. Attend Sunday Mass every week!
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
February 3, 2008
Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday, or Paczky Day (a Polish custom), is upon us. A Paczky (pronounced poonshkee) is a jelly-filled or prune-filled treat made with dough rich enough to be a doughnut. If jelly-filled, it is usually sugar-coated and if prune-filled it has icing on the top. It is delicious with a cup of hot coffee or a glass of cold milk. Its also Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, although such revelry is closer to pagan celebrations than to Christian!
It is called fat Tuesday because in ancient days in the Church fat rendered from meat was not used during the forty day Lenten season as Catholics the world over fasted and abstained. Cooks would use up any fat still in their larders so everyone could consume it all before Lent began. Its known as Shrove Tuesday because when we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation our sins are shriven and Lent is a special time for doing penance and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As a matter of fact, the lowly pretzel was created to eat as bread during Lent because it is made without fat. Yes, the Church was into healthy foods centuries before it became a fad. The pretzel twisted-shape has a special meaning as well. It reminds us of hands folded over our breast during prayer, again a symbol of the special time of Lent.
This coming Wednesday, February 6th, is Ash Wednesday. On this day, Catholics, Lutherans and other Christians attend church services to solemnly celebrate the start of Lent. Last years blessed palms are burned and the ashes sifted, blessed and placed on the foreheads of parishioners in the form of a cross, the sign of our salvation.
Lent is a time for us to work at atonement by practicing some form of penance, doing something that is difficult for us to do, that as a result we will become a holier person. It can be as simple, but as difficult, as giving up soda, or desserts, or a favorite television program from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday. Money saved by giving up food or beverages (or smokes) can be put into the St. Vincent de Paul poor box in the back of church each week when you come for Sunday Mass or given to some other organization that serves those less fortunate. If you give up a T.V program, spend the time reading something spiritual or in prayer.
Your Lenten sacrifice could be doing something positive for someone in special need, reaching out to someone neglected or rejected, helping a neighbor without being paid. Do a positive act done for someone with the suggestion that they pay it forward.
For those able to get to church or who are retired, why not attend 8:00 a.m. Mass on weekdays during Lent? It might start out as a sacrifice but by Easter you might find that it was so prayerful that you might want to continue daily Mass attendance.
Attend our Lenten penance service on Tuesday, February 26th together as a family and make a good reconciliation. Pray the rosary and the Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
January 27, 2008
Father, what do I need to do to come back to the Catholic Church? Ive been away for (many) years but I wish to begin practicing my Catholic Faith again.
Thats a good question and you already took the first step by asking it. Let me assure you that this is not of your own initiative but has been prompted by God. He may have used a friend, parent, sibling, colleague or neighbor, but He has sent out a call to you.
Like the father in the story of the prodigal son (daughter), God has been waiting on the porch for your return. He misses you and wants you back. Jesus said in another place in the Gospels: I do not wish the death of the sinner but that s/he be converted and saved. The Catholic Church wants the same thing. It must or it isnt living out the Gospel itself.
So what then should you do? Well, call your local priest and make an appointment to see him. Let him know that you are seeking help to begin practicing the Faith again. Then spend some time getting your story together by examining your conscience. It helps if you let the priest know what caused you to turn away in the first place so the two of you can address those issues together.
During the time with the priest, discuss the issues bothering you about the Catholic Church. Dont be afraid to ask questions. If the priest doesnt answer clearly for you, let him know so he can try to explain it better for you. If the priest cant or wont answer your questions for you, find another priest.
If you are in an irregular marriage there might be some extra work to be done to seek to annul any previous marriages and get your present marriage validated by the Church. If you are divorced but havent married again, you can still practice the Faith and receive Holy Communion.
If there are no major issues like that and you feel you are ready to begin practicing the Faith right away, ask to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If youve been away for a long time and forgot how to do Reconciliation, the priest will help. (The longest I have heard so far was fifty years and Ive heard every kind of sin during the past 40 years so what you have to confess will be nothing new to me.)
If your situation is just that you were angry or upset about something so you stopped coming to Mass then make a good confession and begin living your faith again immediately.
I am usually here at 4:00 on Saturdays to open the church and am available for confessions at 4:15. If I am not in the church, come to the back door of the rectory and ring the bell and tell me you wish to receive Reconciliation and Ill come right over.
Its as simple as that.
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
January 20, 2008
When I visited the Holy Land, we stopped at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This church, which has become an annual and frequent sight in the news, is built over the cave believed to be the place where Jesus was born. The jurisdiction of the Nativity Church (and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as well) is divided and the cave area sectioned into several areas over which different Christian denominations have control.
When we forty-some priests and a bishop offered Mass at the cave of the nativity, the priests who were vested had to be in the small area governed by the Roman Catholic Franciscans. In fact, for Holy Communion, each of us had to step down into that small area in order to receive. That experience really brought it home to me that we need to continue to pray for unity between Christian denominations.
The cover on todays bulletin reflects a forty-year old annual event here in the USA: the week of prayer for Christian unity. I belong to PAMA, the Palmyra-Eagle Area Ministerial Association, an interfaith gathering of clergy from the parishes in these two communities and the smaller communities near Palmyra. It is a source group for ideas and inspiration and inter-faith prayer and sharing.
Each year near or during this week, the member parishes and their clergy gather at one of the parishes for an interfaith prayer service specifically designed to promote unity among all Christians. A different parish hosts the gathering each year and the host pastor gets to rest as one of the other pastors preaches. (Last year it was held at St. Theresa Parish.)
One of the gifts derived from the Vatican II Council was the promotion of Ecumenism in an effort to draw us all back to the unity that existed at the time of the early Church. When the Apostles first took the message of Jesus out beyond the confines their own nation into the whole world, they began the process of fulfilling the directive of Jesus to teach, preach and baptize all nations in His name. While some church leaders and members of the varying denominations still continue to fight this idea, it is, after all, the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper: Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe that it was you who sent me. (Jn.17:21)
It was the folly of stubborn men who caused the divisions, either as they argued over definitions and interpretations or because they had some personal desire or political aspersions that went against the teachings of the one Church over the ages. We humans caused the divisions at various times and places. It is only Christ who can overcome our divisions and bring us back together again.
Let us all pray that with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Christ may continue to bring us together as one despite how difficult we may make it.
With God nothing is impossible.
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
January 13, 2008
On my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, one of our stops was at the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized. This was an awesome experience. Steps lead down into the Jordan to facilitate access to the water and along the shoreline there are platforms where visitors hear the Gospel story of Jesus baptism proclaimed as they wait to enter the waters.
Small minnows nibbled at our feet as we stood in the water, pant legs rolled up or skirts gathered and lifted to keep them dry while we poured water from the Jordan over each others heads, recalling our baptisms so long ago. We renewed vows so often repeated during Easter seasons and baptisms in our parish churches, but for some reason this time it was different. It seemed more meaningful, not just rote answers rattled off.
When Jesus stepped into the waters, John tried to reverse roles but Jesus said "No to that. Although He had no sins to be forgiven, Jesus wanted to show how important baptism is for us. For Jesus, it was the beginning of a new phase of His life, what we might think was the most important part at least as it affects us. With most of His life behind him, Jesus will fulfill His Fathers charge in three-years, an eleventh part of His life.
For us it is the beginning of a new phase as well, but usually after only a few months of our life on earth. While Jesus had to perform His entire ministry in those last three short years, you and I are given much more time to perform our ministry. Lucky for us because each of us has a ministry to which we are called by our baptism.
Yes, each of us has a vocation. When we hear vocations, most people think that we are only speaking of vocations to the ordained Priesthood. With the shortage of young men accepting the call of God to serve as priests, we are certainly acutely aware of the need for ordained priests to serve the Church. But there are more vocations than priesthood.
Every man and woman, every boy and girl, every teenager has a vocation to fulfill and that scares most of us. We dont mind that the priests and members of religious orders are called to bring Christ into the world and spread His Gospel, but we dont want to hear that God is calling each of us to proclaim that same Gospel. Wed rather stop up our ears.
Each husband and wife in a marriage is called to make Christ present to their spouse by their continued love for each other. They are also called to make Christs love present to their children and to teach each child how to love as Jesus does. Each child is called to love his or her parents and siblings with the love that Jesus has for them also. Everyone is called to bring that love to others in the world as we work toward justice and peace.
We are each also called to serve in Church ministries at Eucharist, at parish dinners and fish frys, taking communion to the homebound, visiting the sick, caring for those in need, teaching children in religious ed programs. And yes, some of us are being called to the priesthood, deaconate and religious life. And some to other lay ecclesial ministries such as parish directors and other certified parish ministries. Whats your vocation in life? Whats your Church vocation for Life?
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
January 6, 2008
This is one of those rare years where the celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany actually falls on the traditional date, January 6th, the Twelfth Day of Christmas. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season has not ended yet. It runs from December 25th through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, next Sunday. (My tree is still up.)
It wasnt until about the 4th century that the Western Rite (aka: the Latin Rite) of the Church finally settled on December 25th as the official date to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. The focus was on the revelation of Jesus birth to the Jewish nation first, to Jesus own people, symbolized by the local shepherds visit to the Holy Child.
In the Eastern Rites of the Roman Catholic (and the Orthodox) Churches the Nativity was celebrated on the 12th day thereafter as the manifestation of the Savior of the whole world, Jews and Gentiles alike. (Epiphany means manifestation.) We in the Western Rite of the Church sometimes refer to the Feast of the Epiphany as Little Christmas.
Tradition holds that three magi (wise men, perhaps astrologers) came from the East after a new, brilliant star appeared in the sky. While the Sacred Scriptures do not record their names, tradition associates the names of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar with these erudite visitors. Scripture does tell us that the magi brought expensive (birthday?) gifts to honor the new-born King, namely gold, frankincense and myrrh, and so we have come to think that they might have been of royal blood as well.
What is significant for us, of course, is that the Magi represent Gods wish that salvation be availed to all mankind, Jews and non-Jews. The meaning of the gifts is interpreted in different ways, but most commonly as found in the prayers at Matins. There the Church says that the gold represents kingly power, incense the great High Priest, and myrrh the burial of the Lord; and so she depicts the Wise Men offering their gifts to Christ in His threefold character of King, Priest and Man.
Another interpretation, this by St. Gregory in one of his homilies, sees in the gold, wisdom; in the incense, the power of prayer; and in the myrrh, the mortification of the flesh. Both interpretations are worthy of our meditation and consideration and hopefully will help us to bring all the power of our intellect to Christ our King, the incense of our prayers to Jesus our High Priest, and the myrrh of our sufferings and labors, our time and talents to Emmanuel, God Incarnate.
May the Lord Jesus be evident in all we do throughout this new year and by Living Our Faith may we help manifest Him to others.
Blessings and Peace, Fr. Dennis
136 West Waukesha Road
Eagle, WI 53119
262-594-5200
262-594-5201
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