Pastor's Message

Pastor's Message December 27 DON’T LET IT END, YET The baseball player-philosopher Yogi Bera once said, “It’s not over until it’s over.” That’s a good reminder that sometimes we assume baseball games — or other activities — are over before they are fully completed. To quit too soon is to miss the full picture and often something important is lost in the process. That principle especially applies to the Christmas season. It’s not over until it’s over. And it is not over yet even though radio stations stop playing Christmas music, people take their trees down, and stores put away Christmas decorations. I am sure that you will have noticed by now that in the church we do not even begin Christmas until late in the day December 24. The season itself extends through today (Feast of the Holy Family), New Year’s Day (Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary), the Feast of the Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord (January 10). So there is much more of the season still ahead of us. Why does the Church do this in direct contradiction to the style of our society? It is mainly because we are trying to enter more fully into the mystery of the Incarnation. One day is simply not enough to fathom the depth of the reality of Jesus’ coming to earth. Certainly, some of those Christmas trees get dry and need to be taken down. But please do not totally abandon the Christmas season just yet. It’s not over. Fr. Herb
December 20 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Lots of people will be heading to their homes this week to celebrate Christmas with their families. Many others will be away from home and not be able to get there. Some will feel the tremendous pain of not being with sons, daughters, or parents. We associate Christmas with being with those we love. That is probably good since this celebration is all about love. However, these can be very difficult days. Here are a few thoughts. FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE WITH FAMILY: Be patient! Especially when members of the family come for a few days, their very presence -- no matter how desirable -- can become a source of stress. Often you are not used to being together that long. Enjoy each other, but also be willing to bend a little to each other's idiosyncracies. For parents of college students and for those home from college, be very gentle with each other. Being at home is not like living in a dorm. (Thank God!) But also being at home means living under parents' rule again. Accept that. FOR THOSE UNABLE TO BE WITH FAMILY AND LOVED ONES: No doubt this could be hard for you. But, above all, do not give in to self-pity. That only makes things worse. Enjoy those who are near. And pray for the ones who are distant. Prayer has a special power to unite people with each other. If there has been a death or other loss this past year, these days may be quite hard. There is no way around that. However, the one you grieve would probably want you to find some peace during these days. Be sure to participate at Christmas Mass. Remember that the Lord of Christmas is also the Lord of Resurrection. We celebrate eternal life, including that of your loved one, even as we observe Jesus' coming to earth. As a parish, these days need to be a time for remembering to pray for each other. May the peace of the season be with you! - Fr. Herb
December 13, 1998 MELODY Have you ever had a particular melody float around in your head? It just goes on and on all day. Sometimes you can identify the song and even hum it. Other times, you don’t know where you’ve heard it. Even worse, your mind sometimes only recalls part of the song. You feel unfinished as you try to complete the melody. It helps when there is someone else present and that person can help you name the song. Otherwise, it can be a frustrating experience until the melody is somehow claimed. In a person’s quest for God, the same search takes place. There can be the feeling that God is just beyond our reach. A restlessness resides within us and makes us want to find God, but we can’t quite do it alone. This unsettling feeling can actually be a blessing. It entices us to continue to seek. It calls us towards something that is attractive and fulfilling. It reminds us that we don’t have any controls over God. Like a wonderful, tantalizing melody, God’s presence flows through our lives. It is a song of love. - Fr. Herb
December 6, 1998 DON’T SKIP THIS SEASON Last Sunday’s unseasonably warm weather had everyone talking. As I met a family outside church, the mother of the family commented that it felt more like spring than late fall. I agreed and, in jest, suggested that we should just skip Christmas and go directly to Easter. The woman’s two small sons, who had heard my comment, suddenly had long faces. One muttered, “Skip Christmas?” I quickly assured the boys that I was only kidding. After all, who would want to skip this season of the year? Unfortunately, though, many people do skip the real season. Far too many folks look past he true sense of Christmas because they overlook the season of preparation, Advent. These short weeks before the big holiday-holy day are a valuable time for placing our focus on what counts most. Without advanced thought and prayer, it becomes almost impossible to find the true significance of Christmas at the last minute. Advent is a quiet season, standing in stark contrast to the hectic pace of these days. Our music is church is subdued, but inviting. The readings are filled with hope and anticipation. Even the dark blue and violet colors in church create a warm setting for reflection and meditation. Like the candle in the Advent wreath, we stand against the dark confusion of the world around us. No, we will not skip Christmas this year. Hopefully, we won’t skip Advent either. - Fr. Herb