A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, January 11, 2026 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 There are some interesting and intriguing lines in today’s readings that can lead to deep reflections on God’s plan: specifically, why Jesus came, what His plan means for you and me, and its purpose for everyone of all times, ages and cultures — heaven . Does this mean it’s just for Christians who are baptized, or is it for all people — even those who don’t believe, don’t want to believe, or have no idea what and how to believe? Yes, this is for everyone God placed in the world — whether for a few moments or for many, many years. Yes for everyone. God loved us from our birth, planned our birth, and placed people in our lives so that each would be touched by God’s agent of love, peace, compassion, caring and forgiveness. We struggle with the goal of realizing that all are loved by God and needed by God to be His agents of love. Maybe that only happens at a fleeting moment, maybe even once? Could that be why ...

For Sunday, January 4, 2026 Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The word epiphany means revelation — the purpose of God’s appearance in the world. It is the manifestation — the showing forth — of Emmanuel , a Greek word meaning God is with us . It is a drawing of all nations together, represented by the Magi. There are only two fully developed infancy narratives in the Gospel: Matthew and Luke. Mark and John have no infancy narratives at all. Luke was Greek and Matthew was Jewish, filled with the history of the promise of the Messiah and God’s interaction through the Ages — starting with Abraham and leading through Moses’ sojourn in Egypt, leading God’s enslaved people to the Promised Land. So what was Matthew trying to tell us here? What were the meanings of his symbols? There are many traditions among the world’s cultures about Epiphany, which also is known as “Little Christmas.” Some churches offer a servic...

For Sunday, December 28, 2025 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 3:13-15, 19-23 The days of Thanksgiving have been absorbed in our preparations for Christmas, and the festivities are now being committed to memory, under different headings: so much done in so little time … great fellowship … difficult times … hard times … frustrated times … loved ones getting older ... young ones older … teens getting as old as us . And so we arrive at a new year, 2026 — and the feast of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We look at them and to them for help, guidance and love, and they too are looking at us because God loves each one, all the time, and is leading us to love as He is preparing His reception in heaven for us and the loved people who have touched us. We could say our loving has been great, poor, mediocre in these days, while God’s loving has been deep, penetrating, constant. We come today to match our responsibilities with His love; to match our love with God’s all-e...

While working as a reporter for WCBS 880 in New York City, Peter Haskell composed and read a Christmas poem to his audience, inspired by the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Its words continue to ring true.   Haskel wrote: It might feel like spring, but this tree sets us straight. It’s ablaze in bright lights from morning til late, It’s a symbol of hope, of joy and of peace, A time for a breath, exhale and release. The world can feel scary with its hate and its fear, Makes the message of Christmas seem all the more clear. We need love, understanding, compassion and care. These are the gifts we really should share. We gaze to the future, we hope and we pray, That our lives will get better with each passing day. Share your heart and your spirit, hug your lad or your lady. At Rock Center, Peter Haskell WCBS News Radio 880 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [Galatians 5:22-23] May I reflect Yo...

For Sunday, December 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24 We are in the last days before Christmas. In our minds we are “looking at our list and checking it twice” — and we are wondering if we will ever get through it and whether we have forgotten anything. Our commercial society blocks us so much: Buy this … it’s the best last-minute gift . It just loads us with questions about things ... roles ... presents. The meaning of God, coming to us through Jesus, is lost among the Christmas cards, gift-wrapping, greetings, parties and fanciful sayings. Among these sayings are verses of “peace and goodwill to all.” The readings today challenge us directly to change our focus to the bottom-line mystery this feast celebrates: faith . Despite all the times we have celebrated the Nativity, we still do not comprehend fully its personal meaning. God loves us so much that He came to show and prove this love ... to lead you, me and everyone to understand that love’s fulfillment i...

For Sunday, December 14, 2025 Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Christmas is fast approaching, and we’re “checking our list” twice (or more) to see what we need to do. And what about ourselves? HOW AM I DOING? How do I feel? What do I need from God for me — am I letting God love me or am I too busy to take time to do this? This weekend is a wonderful time to stop and take notice and realize that I am important to God, and I am loved. So with 10 days before Christmas we pause on our journey to celebrate Gaudete Sunday: a Sunday of rejoicing. In addition to remembering my special gifts and people who have shared their gifts and love with me, I’m called to look at my life and my destination. My life is a blessing. God wants me here at this time because living my life in love NOW is the path that God has chosen as the BEST way for me to get to heaven. This is not conjecture — this is what Jesus promised. So I rejoice in knowing this. While the readings help, they’re not...

For Sunday, December 7, 2025 Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-9, Matthew 3:1-12 I was always fascinated by Isaiah’s prophecy of a future Davidic king who would rule in an amazing way — being peaceful and caring, especially for those who are underlings who can’t care for themselves. Isaiah declares, “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.” [Isaiah 11:6] This reminds me of a comic strip that I would read every Sunday — The Phantom — first written in 1936 about a fictional hero character who operated from a fictional country in Africa. Eventually made into a movie, The Phantom was a skilled fighter and marksman with a genius intellect and in peak athletic condition. He was the first of the “heroes” to wear a mask. He swore “to devote my life to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty and injustice in all their forms.” He was described as The Ghost Who Walks ...