A message from Father Pete

Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3: 12-21; Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23 Today we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family. What was it like growing up in our family?   What immediate memories come to mind: was it love and fun times; or tragedy rather than enjoyment? Did we take family vacations every summer? Was the family involved in sports and recreational activities? Would we consider our family a normal family?   Did the good times dominate the ruptured times? Was support and affection shared by members of the family unit? Were you listened to and affirmed? Did you feel important and valuable? How was your faith developed? Did it seem that one person took more responsibility for your faith development? Many have moments when we would have liked to ‘switch families’ so that we could have more fun and/or ‘rules’ would be easier to live with ... was this the case with you? It’s always good to look at the special times when we were a valued member ... when lasti...

Isaiah 7: 10-14; Romans 1: 1-7; Matthew 1: 18-24 Have I said ‘ Yes ’ to God’s plan for the world?   Do I really know what this means?   It doesn’t take long to realize that I cannot live forever nor can anyone else.   I have watched people die.   I watch loved ones, special people who have touched me, die.   I have seen not so nice people who have hurt others die.   I know that death is not the end, because it doesn’t make sense if everything just ends.   I writing this blog because I know that there is life after death and that life centers on God.   God has planned it this way from the beginning.   I don’t have a choice in this, it is the way it is, which means:   this is God’s plan for all eternity.   Can I understand God’s plan?   A total understanding or even a partial understanding…I don’t think so.   But I can get glimpses of God’s plan in my life.   Why has God surrounded me with beautiful people of love? ...

Isaiah 35: 1-6,10; James 5: 7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11 Christmas is a short ten days away. I say short because all of us are ‘rushed’: we have so much to do and not enough time, so we worry if we will ever finish our ‘assigned tasks.’ If we check our ‘track history’ we have always finished in time but we still worry. We are thankful for Amazon and all those websites that help us so much ... but we just seem to find more things to do. This ‘rushing’ also carries over to our spiritual life and our relationship with our loving Lord and God. Could it be possible for us to continue these days, just knowing that the Lord is right next to us and within us as we are ‘rushing’? Could we come to relish our Lord being with us each moment throughout the day, caring for us, loving us and lifting us up? What do we need in our lives these days to be aware of God’s presence and His love? We look to our readings which are ‘right on the spot,' or as the original English said, ‘rig...

Isaiah 11: 1-10; Romans 15: 4-9; Matthew 3: 1-12   Advent continues.  Christmas carols are heard all over. Elaborate decorations pop up on homes in our neighborhoods and in stores.  At the same time, Christmas brings some anxiety perhaps we don’t have enough money for our upcoming bills…relationships in our families or loved ones may be strained.  The joy of the season, isn’t exactly joy for us.  And I’m wondering what am I doing this Advent?   To be succinct: how am I preparing my heart for the feast of the coming of the Lord?  Am I taking time to see this season differently, through God’s eyes?  When I look at the world through God’s eyes I see a world where everyone is loved…where everyone is special.  Do I give everyone this opportunity or do I give up on people?  Am I aware of God’s total unconditional gift of love?  Am I convinced that this means I am responsible for loving all people, those in my life and all in the world, ...

Isaiah 2: 1-5, Romans 13: 11-14; Matthew 24: 37-44 Advent has arrived.  We know what it means:  Christmas will be upon us real soon.  How true the old standard:   ‘You better watch out…You better not cry…Your better not pout…I’m telling you why…’   We know this is the chorus and the song: Santa Claus is coming to town  has two verses and we know them both.  I’m sure most of us have heard this played in stores for weeks.  I first heard it in Cracker Barrel on the third week of November.  We hear this and old memories come alive coupled with a new mind set:  I have to get busy.  Our commercialism has set in with the ‘obligations’ to help, care and remember those close to us and those in need.  It ushers in the RUSH SEASON.   It is accompanied by the troubling thought, ‘ Will I ever be ready…’  Somehow we always make it…and we try to focus on ‘living with God and being grateful and peaceful’.  Lofty goals ar...