A message from Father Pete

For January 29, 2023 Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12 We all have a need to belong. And we like to belong to the best or be considered the best. The world … or at least our world ... is involved in seeing which team will win the Super Bowl on Feb. 12. Teams will be determined this weekend and the winner from each division will be waving banners and screaming, “We’re Number One!” And the defeated will be proclaiming, “Wait till next year!’’ And life goes on. We certainly like to cheer when winning a game, a race, a pennant, even an election. We are proud and like to be involved when “our side” has accomplished something great. Is this need of ours really that important? Years ago many of us studied Abraham Maslow, an “expert” who suggested that the need to belong was a major source of human motivation. He taught that it was one of five of a hierarchy of human needs. Do you remember the others? They were physiological needs, safety needs, self-esteem needs...

For January 22, 2023 Isaiah 8:23-9:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-23 What are the dark areas of my life? Why do I consider them dark? Is it because darkness traditionally keeps me from seeing what is happening? Could it be that darkness keeps me in suspense? Am I possibly carrying over scary notions from my youth, where hidden figures — sounds — are frightening? Do they obscure my seeing and distract me from life’s realities? According to Peter, “But you are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.’” [1 Peter 2:9] God not only calls us out of darkness; we are called to be light for others who are lost or in need. Light defines the love and face of Jesus Christ. He calls us to lift up those in a dark and troubled world. His light shines over us and ahead of us. Psychology tells us that the unpreparedness caused by darkness makes us anxious, and...

For January 15, 2023 Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34 Whom do I consider great? Is it a person well-known, famous in a certain area or areas? Is this person a family member, relative, boss, work companion, teacher, one known in my community? Down through the years I have had numerous people replace my original choice because a new one touched me when and where I needed it most. Many years ago I was given a copy of a “letter” that was written by a young person whose father had died at a relatively young age. It read: “A great man died today” … and the youngster listed why he felt this person was great. He concluded, “that great man was my dad.” I’m sure tears were concealed. Today’s readings describe every Christian’s role to be “a light to the nations” [Isaiah 49:6]. It is no accident that the first Vatican II document is titled “Lumen Gentium”… “Light to the Nations.” Paul writes how he was called to be “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” [1 Corinth...

For Sunday, January 8, 2023 Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany: a Greek word that means the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. The actual word, “epiphaneia,” means a sudden and striking understanding of something. We know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to our world to show us God’s love and to redeem humanity from sin and show us the way to heaven, our eternal home. Are we letting Jesus be the focal point of our hearts? Are we recognizing Him alone as our treasure? Why not? Where is our hesitation? According to John Hildesheim’s The Story of the Three Kings , the Magi came from India, Persia and present-day Iran and Iraq. They met in Jerusalem and went from there to Bethlehem. Then, after worshiping and leaving their gifts, they ventured to India where they built the church in which they are buried. Theirs has been an interesting journey: 200 years later, St. Helena placed their caskets in St. Sophia’s  Church i...