Pastor's Letter

A New Series on Living the Christian Life!   Our CAFÉ adult formation team is sponsoring a brand new series that shows how experiencing our seven Sacraments actually move us into discipleship.   Learn more about this new series called “Sacraments and Social Mission."  We hope to see you there!

Today we celebrate the great feast of Epiphany—the moment when the Magi arrive in Bethlehem and finally see the Christ child after their long, intense journey— not following a map, but a star!  The light brought them to Christ, the Light.
 
In the first reading, we hear Isaiah say “Rise up” and notice: “Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines on you” (Is 60:1).   It’s the prophesy that talks about the kings coming to visit the place the Lord is present with their caravans of camels and riches, like gold and frankincense. 
 
But the prophesy also includes another incredible realization: when the light of the Lord is seen, he says “then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall throb and overflow” (Is 60:5, emphasis mine). 
 

Thank You!   Thanks to everyone who made our Christmas celebration very joyful and meaningful—our choir, musicians, liturgical ministers, Mass coordinators, liturgical planners, art and environment team, our maintenance crew, and everyone who worked behind the scenes!

As we enter into Matthew’s gospel, this prophesy is fulfilled through the Magi or the “Wise Men”.  Our tradition calls them kings because of the reading from Isaiah, which is also where the camels come from. Even though Matthew doesn’t say there were three, our tradition held onto three because of the number of gifts that are presented to the Holy Family.
 
Matthew’s description of what takes place in the hearts of the Magi is so important.  Just like we hear in the reading from Isaiah, he tells us that, upon seeing the star stop above the place where Jesus was, they were “overjoyed” (Mt 2:10).
 
There is great joy that comes in experiencing Christ.  In fact, the Magi weren’t just joyful, Matthew says they were

Swing with the Kings! Join us on for a free live concert courtesy of Night Express.    Sunday, January 6 on the Feast of Epiphany 2:00—3:30 PM in the church These are the same talented musicians that shared their gifts with us this summer at the Sharing Parish Picnic.

overjoyed. They experienced Christmas and the reaction that it’s meant to have in each one of us.  Christmas is the gift of Jesus Christ, alive in our world and our lives.
 
There’s a great line in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas that describes how the Grinch felt when the experience of Christmas suddenly hit him: “his heart grew three times larger that day.”  That’s the kind of joy Christ is able to give us. It’s in seeing goodness, love, charity, hope, compassion, forgiveness, empathy, sympathy, and mercy (just to name a few) in the One we call Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”  When we experience the fullness of Christ, our hearts grow.  And, when the journey is complete, we have more joy than we ever thought was possible.  We can actually experience what it means to be overjoyed.
 
So, as we head into this brand new year, my prayer for all of us is that we will discover the joy that comes from an epiphany—a moment of discovery that Christmas isn’t just one day a year, but a life to be lived, and not just now, but forever!  Enjoy the journey!