Message of the Week

Liturgical Season: Christmas

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

The Baptism of the Lord
January 10, 2026

The first reading from Isaiah begins by describing the servant “with whom I am well pleased” (Isaiah 42:1).  These are the words of the voice from the heavens that was heard at Jesus’ baptism.  Isaiah gives us more hints about who Jesus is.

The verses that say that he will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoldering wick (Isaiah 42:3) are descriptive of Jesus’ mercy toward sinners.  The reed and the wick were disposed of because they were useless.  But God, out of love for us, is always ready to forgive sinners and give them another chance.  God sent Jesus to forgive sinners, not reject them.  We can ask God to help us see our sinfulness and bring it to God for healing.

Isaiah also says that the servant is a “covenant of the people.”  A covenant was an agreement between unequal partners, in which the stronger one agrees to protect or defend the weaker one.  God is offering a new covenant through Jesus, not just for the Jews, but for all peoples. In this covenant, God has forgiven our sins before we were even born, much less committed any sins.  But we still have to live that covenant, by loving God and our neighbor.  When we forgive each other, we are setting free prisoners of sin.  When people see God’s love acted out in our lives, we are a light to the world. As we learn to do these things, we will find that God is well pleased with us.

Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications

The Baptism of the Lord | USCCB

We Saw His Star at its Rising

ChristmasEpiphany of the Lord
January 4, 2026

Almost every year at Christmastime, you can find a newspaper article or TV documentary about the star of Bethlehem.  Astronomers give various theories about whether the magi saw a supernova, or a comet, or a conjunction of two or more planets. But for us, the star has a deeper meaning.

In Matthew’s Gospel, light is used as a symbol of the good news of Jesus coming into the world.  That’s why verse 9 of the Gospel has the image of the star preceding the wise men and stopping over the house where Jesus was.  By following the star, they become followers of Christ.  So what do the magi show us about following Jesus?  First, they take the initiative.  They saw the star, figured out what it meant, and made their journey.  As followers of Jesus, we can look for what needs to be done (in our family, parish, or community) and do it.

Second, they expressed their faith in Jesus by the gifts they brought: gold —a gift for a king, who is worthy to be followed; frankincense —Jesus is worthy to be worshiped as Son of God; and myrrh —Jesus becomes king by dying for us all.  We can express our faith in many ways.  We can volunteer to help the poor, the elderly, or the disabled.  We can teach our children how to pray and tell them about all that God has done for us.

Third, they were not afraid to take risks for Jesus.  How often do we take risks for the Lord, by openly speaking about our faith, or giving God credit for the good that we do?  Let the star of Bethlehem remind us that Jesus is the star of our lives.

Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications

The Epiphany of the Lord | USCCB

Out of Egypt I called my Son

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph
December 28, 2025

Dreams are a thing in the Bible. Joseph in the Old Testament, famous for his coat of many colors, interpreted dreams and earned himself a place in Pharoah’s government.  Daniel also interpreted dreams and worked for King Darius.

Joseph, Mary’s husband and father to Jesus, was no stranger to divine communication via dreams.  When Jesus’ life was threatened by Herod, Joseph was told in a dream to rise and take the family to Egypt.  He was obedient and he trusted.  Despite having nowhere specific to go and no way of supporting himself or his family, he went in the dark of night.  He did what any loving father would do, trusting that God would take care of them. And God did.

We see Joseph acting with complete trust in God.  We imagine his fear for his family’s safety, his worry about the necessities of life, his awe at the instructions and their urgency.  We wonder if he wondered about it.  But we know he acted. We know Joseph embraced God’s perfect plan.  In him we see a man who radically trusted God.  We do not know if he initially struggled with what God asked of him; we only know he obeyed.

Whether we are man or woman, single or married, a parent or not, we can hold Joseph up as a model of trust and fidelity to God and his plan.  When we struggle with what God asks of us, we can ask for intercession from St. Joseph. During this Christmas season, we can thank him for his obedience and docility. He played a quiet, yet important role in salvation history.

 Merridith Frediani – Diocesan Publications

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | USCCB

..And the Holy Spirit Descended Upon Him Like in Bodily Form like a Dove

The Baptism of the Lord
January 12, 2025

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the liturgical Christmas Season and transitions us into the beginning of Ordinary Time.  Jesus’ life is also a transitional moment from His hidden life in Nazareth to the beginning of His public ministry.  Why was Jesus baptized?   Jesus’ true identity was made manifest through His humble act of baptism. “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased,” spoke the voice of the Father in Heaven. The Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, a public declaration of Who He is. He is the Son of God, a divine Person Who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, a manifestation of His identity for all to see as He prepares to begin His public ministry.

Jesus’ incredible humility is made manifest. He is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, but He allows Himself to become identified with sinners.  By sharing in an act that was focused upon repentance, Jesus speaks volumes through His action of baptism. From that moment onward, would be endowed with His divine presence and could be communicated to all who are baptized after Him. Therefore, sinful humanity is now able to meet divinity through baptism.

Through water that has now been sanctified by our divine Lord, we see in Jesus’ baptism a revelation of who we become in Him. Just as the Father spoke and declared Him as His Son, and just as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, so also in our baptism we become the adopted children of the Father and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus’ baptism gives clarity as to whom we become in Christian baptism.

The Baptism of the Lord | USCCB

Did You Not Know I Must Be in My Father’s House?

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph
December 29, 2024

On the feast of the Holy Family, it is tempting to compare our own families to the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Luke’s narrative of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple is not a warning for parents to watch their children closely while traveling.  The story looks forward to the time Jesus would be “lost” in the tomb after his crucifixion.  Just as his parents found him on the third day, so Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day.  And Jesus’ remark, “I must be in my Father’s house” (Lk 2:49) gives us a hint at who is Jesus’ family.

Luke was well aware that the Temple was considered God’s dwelling place.   To call it his Father’s house showed that Jesus was the Son of God.  Like Jesus, we call God our father, and like Jesus, we are part of a larger family than the one we live with.
But remember Jesus was 12 in this part of the gospel.  His duty to God included being obedient to his parents.  We, too, have a tension between obedience to our parents and following God’s call, a tension between taking care of our children and giving time to God’s children in the church and the community.  Let us ask God to help us appreciate what our family obligations really are.     Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | USCCB

Love is the Bond of the Family

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph
December 31, 2023

We are brothers and sisters of Jesus because we are children of his mother, Mary and his Father.

God has adopted us as his very own children and has forgiven us.

As a family, God has chosen us to allow the peace of Christ to control our hearts and so we should forgive our family members when they wrong us.

We are called to love our family in imitation of the Holy Family by….

¨ Being compassionate when they suffer

¨ Being kind in all the circumstances of family life

¨ Being humble even when you know you are right

¨ Being gentle and patient with their faults and failings

Let us always thank God for the gift of the Holy Family and our own.

 

Readings:  Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | USCCB

Christmas
December 24, 2023

Mary, a young, innocent woman with an abundance of grace and faith, said yes to God’s messenger Gabriel.

She did not understand how God’s will was to come about, yet she accepted it and her role in it.

We look forward to Jesus’ coming. Are we ready to say yes to His plan for us, even though it’s a mystery for us too?

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The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap, His hair was like a light.

(O weary, weary were the world, But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast.

His hair was like a star.

(O stern and cunning are the kings, But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s Heart, His hair was like a fire.

(O weary, weary is the world, But here the world’s desire.)

The Christ-child stood on Mary’s knee, His hair was like a crown, And all the flowers looked up at Him, And all the stars looked down.

GK Chesterton

 

Readings :  Fourth Sunday of Advent | USCCB

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) | USCCB

You Are My Beloved Son,
With You I Am Well Pleased

The Baptism of the Lord
January 8, 2022

Jesus begins His public ministry with an affirmation given to Him for us.

Jesus is the one who will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the one who will not only save but also ignite in the world a new commitment to God’s direction for us.

We also receive fire and the Holy Spirit in our baptism.  We receive the fire of faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our commitment to our faith mission is worked out over time in the circumstances of our lives.

Do you ever think of the meaning of your personal baptism for your life?

Do you ever feel the fire or the spirit of Jesus in your life?

 

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010922.cfm

You Are My Beloved Son; With You I Am Well Please

The Baptism of the Lord
January 9, 2021

The favor of God rested upon Jesus.

His baptism was an example for all of us.

Make a tangible stand on what you are about to do.

The spirit will come and remain with you forever.

Are you prepared to begin anew?

 

Readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011021.cfm

 

This is My Beloved Son,
With Who I Am Well Pleased

The Baptism of the Lord
January 12, 2020

It is He who comes out of the waters of the Jordan to begin a new cycle of life for all of us.

He comes into your life out of your baptism.

It is the acceptance of Him and listening to Him that makes this new life a reality.

Have you thought about what this means to you?

Flight to Egypt

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph
December 29, 2019

Mary and Joseph responded to the warning of the Angel of the Lord.

Their acceptance of the Infant Jesus immediately changed the circumstances of their lives.

They had to flee to Egypt to protect the King of the Universe.

Can we also flee from things that harm the Godliness within us?

Can we also listen to the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord in our lives?

The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph

Christmas
December 31, 2017

– We are brothers and sisters of Jesus because we are children of his mother, Mary and his Father.

– God has adopted us as his very own children and has forgiven us.

– As a family, God has chosen us to allow the peace of Christ to control our hearts and so we should forgive our family members when they wrong us.

– We are called to love our family in imitation of the Holy Family by…..
Being compassionate when they suffer
Being kind in all the circumstances of family life,
Being humble even when you know you are right, and
Being gentle and patient with their faults and failings.

– Let us always thank God for the gift of the Holy Family and our own.