From the Pastor's Desk

    “Brothers and sisters: Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

    This quote from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, placed between today’s reading from Exodus and Mark’s Gospel, serves as the link between the restating of the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ Cleansing of the Temple of the Money Changes. 

    How well we see the Wisdom of God in giving Moses and the people His Commandments.  Each Commandment is a counterbalance to the foolishness of human beings, who can destroy themselves if left to their own desires and will.  In every Commandment (especially those which tell us what not to do) God tries to keep us on the right path. No one could deny that if we were to ignore each of the, “Thou shall not’s,” we would be walking down the path of death and destruction.  Certainly to steal, to lie, to cheat, to be jealous, or to kill is utter human foolishness and the cause of so much pain in our lives. 

    Likewise, human foolishness is seen in today’s Gospel when we see what Jesus found in the Temple Area.  Those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, which were offered for sacrifice to God, were not so much concerned with the holiness of the Temple.  No, they were more concerned with how much money they could make in selling these things and in the currency exchange from Roman Coins to Jewish Shekels.  As you may recall, the Romans only allowed the use of their coinage in the streets, but shekels were the only coinage allowed in the Temple Area, because they did not bear the image of Caesar: a false god.   Human foolishness is counterbalanced by the Wisdom of the Son of God who tries to call them back to the Wisdom of the Father who gave them the gift of the Temple in the first place.  Human foolishness also refuses to understand what Jesus means when He says, “Destroy this temple and in three days I shall raise it up.”  They of course think He is speaking about the building they are in, not realizing that He is speaking of the Temple of His Body.  While this could be an easy mistake to make, they would not have made it if they were listening with their hearts and souls and remembering the Old Testament Scripture Passage that His Disciples remembered; “Zeal for your house will consume me.”   If they tried to understand Jesus’ Mission they would have seen the Divine Wisdom at work through Him and they would have better understood what He was doing and saying: for there is more meaning behind what Jesus means when He is speaking about the Temple of His Body.

    Yet, true belief in Jesus has to come from more than just seeing signs, it has to be a full conversion of the heart and a desire to seek Divine Wisdom given to us as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  As St. Paul tells us, no one can say Jesus is Lord except through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is in this way we can move beyond what the Jews and Greeks think about the Cross and see is not as a stumbling block or foolishness, but the Tree of Life and fulfillment of God’s promises made through the Ten Commandments, the Prophets, and the Messiah.

        Mark your calendars for Saturday Evening March 24th when we will celebrate our Patron Saint, St. Joseph with our annual dinner.  Admission is free, but you need a ticket to get in because space is limited; see the bulletin for details.

 Happy Lent and may God bless you always.

Fr. Mike

     This Second Sunday of Lent always brings us to the Mount of the Transfiguration. Each year we remember that faithful day when Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountaintop to pray and He was changed before their eyes.  He became as bright as light and He was so beautiful that it hurt to look at Him.  And if this was not enough, Moses and Elijah appeared on either side to converse with Jesus, about what was about to happen to Him when He arrived at Jerusalem.  During this completely wonderful encounter, the Apostles then hear the voice of God the Father who tells them to listen to His beloved Son.  This event is so wonderful that we remember it two times every year: this Second Sunday of Lent and on August 6th the Feast of the Transfiguration.

    Why do we remember the Transfiguration every Lent?  Well the way Jesus appeared on the mountaintop is how He appeared on Easter Sunday.  This of course makes sense as we recall that Lent is the preparation period for Easter, but there is more to see in the account of the Transfiguration, and this is borne out from our first reading from Genesis.

    In Genesis, we are told that Abraham was told by God to leave his home and go to a new place and that God will make a great nation of him and his descendants.  What does this have to do with Lent?   Well think about it, God is telling Abraham to pick up and leave the place where he is comfortable, and go to a strange place.  God tells him to leave his father’s house (and we are given the impression that Abraham’s family was very prosperous) and totally trust Him!  For Abraham to do this required a great deal of courage and trust; it would be for anybody to leave their comfort zone and go where God lead them could any of us easily do this? 

    The Apostles also had to trust in Jesus and move from their comfort zone, only not quite the same way that Abraham did.  Abraham’s trust required him to move to a different geographical place, but the Apostles’ trust required them to change their beliefs and understanding when it came to the mission and the role of the Messiah.  Keep in mind that the events of the Transfiguration occur right after Jesus tells the Apostles that the Messiah was going to go to Jerusalem, where he would be betrayed, and handed over to the Romans who would crucify Him.  However, He also told them that three days later He would rise from the dead.  That it appears they did not hear, but Peter did hear the first part and took Jesus aside to tell Him that this could not happen.  The Messiah is not supposed to be betrayed and He not supposed to die like a criminal, so Jesus cannot be right, or either that He cannot be the Messiah.  But he just told them that He was, and so they were very confused and kept their thoughts to themselves.  So when Jesus asked them to come and pray with Him six days later, they put their thoughts aside and went.  Maybe they thought he would better explain what he told them.  And that He did, but He did not use words, no instead, He gave them a vision of His true Divinity and that no matter what happened it would be for the good of all. This was backed up by the their hearing the voice of God the Father, who with His command to listen to Jesus challenged them to move beyond what they thought and think the way God does. In shot the Father is saying move beyond yourself and see how things are brand new because of the Son; after all Father Knows Best!

    These readings remind us that we should always try to see God the way He wants to be seen, not just the way we want to see Him.  We should likewise try to see others the way God sees them, and we should try to see our self the way that God sees us.  Lent helps us to focus on these and other areas of our lives and if we use Lent well, and surrender ourselves to God, we can indeed move out of our comfort zone into something much better.  How can we do this? Paul tells us in the 2nd Reading that we should remember; “…He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design…”   And we must trust in Our Lord who is always trying to get us closer to Him.

    Keep in mind the Catholic Ministries Appeal and how many people who are helped by it throughout the Diocese and in our Parish.  Please make a pledge if you have not done so yet, and keep in mind that you may pay off the pledge over a period of 10 months.  Every pledge of $200 or more gets you into a raffle for dinner for two with the Parish Priests, Deacons, and Staff.  Also, remember St. Joseph’s School, if you are looking for an excellent place to educate your children in the things of this world and the teachings of the Church.  Call the school and speak to Mrs. Arpino about touring the school and finding out more what we have to offer.

God bless you always and Happy Lent

Fr. Mike

     This past Wednesday we entered once again the Holy Season of Lent, a season that calls us to look at our lives and amend the areas were we are not being the best Christians we can be.  This first Sunday of Lent presents us with the account of the ending of the Great Flood. We join the account at the point when the waters receded and God promised Noah and every generation that He would never again destroy all bodily creatures by the waters of a flood. God created a Covenant with His people, and by the physical sign of the Rainbow, He sealed it.  When we look at the story of the Great Flood and Noah’s Ark, we are drawn to the reason why these terrible things happen.  The story points to the sinfulness of the people of the time, not just people who, because of human weakness, commit a sin now and then; no, it is much more than that!  We are told that the people had become very sinful, living life according to their own design and desires. They were forgetting about what was just and right and even God Himself.  We are also told that no matter how hard God tired to change them and call them back to Himself they refused. 

    All were doomed except for Noah, his wife, his sons and their families.  Why, because they had remained always close to God trying to do His will, seeking forgiveness for any sins they may have committed, and trying to live upright lives. They did not drown, but were able to stay afloat because God provided for them the means to survive.  God throughout the Old Testament constantly gives His people the means to survive a world of darkness and sin, and at times, they repented.  However, as we see they also put themselves on the path of destruction just as the people who allowed their sins to destroy them.

     But now things are better, sin and darkness no matter how hard they try, will never fully conquer the whole people.  Even though many may fall into their trap and temptations, all of humanity will not fall, and in fact will be able to resist temptation.  For God has provided us with another Ark of Safety, one much better than Noah’s Ark.  This new Ark is the Ark of the Church the Living Body of Christ.  In Baptism, which the waters of the Great Flood pre-figure, we are set free from Original Sin and its capacity to allow us to put our will before God’s.  Baptism also gives us the power to resist temptation and calls us to seek forgiveness of our sins when we fail to resist.

    On this First Sunday of Lent, we are told once again how Jesus under the power of the Holy Spirit resisted temptation, prepared Himself for all that He was about to do and came forward preaching the Good News so our captivity can end and the Kingdom of God will now be at hand.  We receive this same spirit in Baptism, which save us, and helps us through the saving events of the Cross and the Resurrection.  This is what can help us to fight off the flood and destruction of sin, but we have to choose to do so, as we choose to allow Jesus in our lives.  To help us to do this, the Church invites us to use this Holy Season of preparation to renew the promises of Baptism and to strive to change even more this year for a better life: one free from sin. 

     During Lent, several practices are recommended to help us, such as abstaining from meat on the Fridays of Lent, Fasting (having only one main meal and two smaller ones in the course of the day, and this usually done on the Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent).  We also can attend daily Mass, spend more time in prayer, read the Scriptures, and make the Stations of the Cross.  These are just a few, I am sure there are many more and I am sure that many of us have our own customs that we follow.  What truly matters is that we use the Season of Lent well.

     Please remember the Catholic Ministries Appeal and help that it offers for so man people in our Diocese and even here in our own parish.  Once again, our goals for this year is approximately $98,000; and remember that every pledge of $200 or more puts you in a raffle for 10 dinners for two with the parish priests and deacons and staff.  You have 10 moths to pay off your pledge and a pledge of $200 is only $20 a month or only 67cents a day.  You can make a pledge at the table in the back, using the form in the bulletin, or by sending it directly to the Ministry Appeal Office: yes, we will get credit.

Happy Lent

Fr. Mike

  “‘Which is easier to say…your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, pick up your mat and go home.’”

     These words spoken by Jesus at Capernaum, tell us so much more about our Lord’s earthly mission than one could imagine.  We know and have heard so many times that the people 2000 years ago equated illness, injury, suffering or chronic conditions with sin or  sin’s effects. The sin could have been committed by the person himself or by the some direct ancestor like a parent or grandparent.  We also know that Jesus did not believe this, but spoke about sin and illness in this way because the people did.  Yet, if Jesus does not believe that illness is caused by sin, why does He first tell the paralytic in today’s account that his sins were forgiven?  Again, because the people believe in this connection, but on a deeper level, He wanted to show them that His mission was more than just performing miracles.  For the Messiah did not come to earth just cure the sick, cast out demons, turn water into wine, feed huge crowds with a few loaves and fish, and walk on the water.  No, He came to reconcile humanity with God and to destroy the wall that stands between God and us: Sin!   So by equating illness with sin, in this one account, Jesus is telling us that sin does to the soul what injury and illness does to the body.  Christ did not just come to heal the body, but to heal the soul He is the soul’s true physician.  This is why we say just before we revive Communion; “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Sin makes it hard for us to be what we want to be, and to do what we want to do in our spiritual life and it does get in the way from having a meaningful relationship with the God who loves us so much.  Sin gets in the way of everything and prevents us from seeing the good people we really are and the better people we can truly be.  God does not want this for us, so by sending us His Son He takes matters into His own hands.

    Also at work in today’s readings are Faith and Friendship;  we see Friendship on the part of  God to the people in the reading from Isaiah; in Paul’s Letter he speaks about the support and friendship of Silvanus and Timothy; and in the Gospel, we see deep friendship on the part of the man’s friends.  Faith in Isaiah is seen, as God calls the people to remember Him in all things. How they are called to change their actions toward God in the past, and believe that He wants something new for them.  Faith in Paul’s Letter is seen when he tells the people of Corinth that he (Paul) will return to them as promised so he could teach them again.  Paul tells them to have faith in Jesus who will help the, in all things and bring them closer to Himself.

Faith in today’s Gospel is seen clearly in the faith of the friends of the paralyzed man.  So strong was their faith in Jesus that they would stop at nothing to get their friend to Jesus: even putting a hole in the roof! 

    As we enter into the Season of Lent this Wednesday, we might want to keep in mind the paralyzing effect of sin on us, and how sin stands in our way from having a meaningful relationship with God.  God does not want us to remain in a state of sin for they are a burden to Him.  They are a burden to God, because they are a burden to us.  To destroy this burden we must use the 40 days ahead to the best of our ability.  We must identify that which is standing between God, and us and we must get out of God’s way so He can help us and wipe away our sins.

    Ashes will be blessed and distributed on Wednesday February 22, 2012 at the 7& 9 AM Masses, and at Prayer Services being held at 12:10, 5 and 7:30 PM.  Also starting on Thursday February 23, 2012 to Wednesday April 4th, we will have Mass at 12:10 PM for the Holy Season of Lent.

We close now with the Entrance Antiphon from Ash Wednesday:  You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made.  You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God. 

Happy Lent

Fr. Mike

     In today’s world when a person is suffering from a serious disease, or has been exposed to a person who is inflicted, we place that person under quarantine. We of course do this so no one else will catch the disease and to avoid an epidemic. As today’s first reading, and Gospel reading, tell us this was kind of in place in ancient Israel especially when it came to Leprosy or any other skin aliment. But the rule to separate the person from the community had more of an effect than just preventing the spreading of a disease.  The Mosaic Law also declared that the infected person was also spiritually unclean and could no longer be a part of the community’s worship of God.  They were totally cut off from all life, physically and spiritually.  The Law also made sure that the person was kept apart from others, by requiring the leper to shout out: “unclean, unclean.”

    This was the Law for centuries, even during the time of Jesus so when we read the Gospel how the leper came up to Jesus and begged Jesus to make him clean he was taking a big chance.  He was violating the Law and there could have been great repercussions. But he was not the only lawbreaker, for Jesus moved with pity stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.”   Our Lord or course breaks this law, so that He can make the man whole, and restore his relationship with his family and friends and most importantly with God as a part of the faith community.  But this could only happen if the man does what Jesus tells him to do once he is cured.  “…go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed…”

    The leper had a direct encounter with Christ and as a result was cured, and able to return to a full life.  But encounters with the Lord are not restricted to the Gospel or Old Testament Figures.  We too can have an encounter with Christ, and in a way that if far better than the leper or anyone in the Gospel.  Certainly, his cure was a miracle, but in many ways, this was just a one-time encounter with Jesus, and one that was alive only in his memory.  Our encounters with Christ come every day as we pray, read Scripture, attend Sunday and Weekday Mass, and receive the Sacraments.  The Sacraments especially are a direct encounter with the Risen Lord and they are a regular part of our lives as we live them out on this side of God’s Kingdom.

     The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Sacraments as powers that come forth from the Body of Christ, which is ever living and life giving.  They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in His Body the Church; the Sacraments are efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which the divine life is dispensed to us.  The visible rites by which the Sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each Sacrament.  The Seven Sacraments touch all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith.  There is a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of spiritual life (just as we see lived out in today’s readings).  The Seven Sacraments are divided into three groups. The Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; the Sacraments of Healing: Penance and Anointing of the Sick; and the Sacraments of Vocation: Matrimony and Holy Orders.  Therefore, Christ is with us not only in our memories, but also in our weekly encounters in Word and Sacrament. 

    Please remember the Catholic Ministries Appeal and help that it offers for so many people in our Diocese and even here in our own parish.  Once again, our goals for this year is approximately $100,000; and remember that every pledge of $200 or more puts you in a raffle for 10 dinners for two with the parish priests and deacons and staff.  You have 10 months to pay off your pledge and a pledge of $250 is only $25 a month or only 68cents a day.  You can make a pledge at the table in the back, using the form in the bulletin, or by sending it directly to the Ministry Appeal Office: yes, we will get credit.

 God bless you always

Fr. Mike

     “On leaving the Synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.  Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.  They immediately told him about her.  He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.  The fever left her and she waited on them.”   The fever left her and she began to wait on them, some may say, “that’s some way to treat someone who was sick!” And for the most part many of us would agree, but not in this case.  Jesus is not being mean or cruel, and He is not forgetting the fact that she had a fever.  Nor is Peter’s mother-in-law forgetting that she had a fever, yet she wants to show Jesus how grateful she is and He allows her to do it.  But do not forget one thing, her fever did more than just break when Jesus touched her, she was completely healed: maybe better than she was before.  That is why she could not help but get up and serve them. 

    As the Gospel tells us, that trend continued, as people from all over the village brought people to Simon’s house for cures and the expulsion of demons.  Jesus was very busy and the people were all amazed and surprised when they could not find Him after sunrise.  So Simon and those with him pursued Jesus, and on finding Him he said, “Everybody is looking for you.” Yes, they were all looking for Him, hoping that He would come back and do more great things.  Yes, they wanted Him to come back so that they could keep Him all to themselves.  Who could blame them, who would not want Jesus to be in their town?  But Jesus tells them something they may not have totally expected.  He tells them drop everything, leave everything and everyone behind and, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.”   Jesus is calling them to be a part of His mission and He is calling them to share the wealth of their experience with Jesus with others.    

    Jesus will tell them after His death and resurrection to go out to teach the Good News. Baptize all Nations, and to carry on in His place.  This is the command He gives to His Church beginning with the Apostles right up to Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Murphy, you and me!  Let us go out and build the Kingdom of God, let us go out and spread the great wealth of what God has given to His Church.  As St. Paul tells us in today’s letter, “If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me and woe to me if I do not preach it!”   This obligation is upon all who are baptized, we cannot live up to our Baptismal Promises if we decide I will accept only part of the task. Nor can we hope to receive all of the benefits of a life with Christ if we do not do our part.  For to have life with Christ means to accept all He wants to give us and to do all that He asks us to do: just as He told Simon and the others on that fateful morning.

     But demands on our lives, sometimes makes it impossible to do all that Jesus commands us to do in the Gospel.  Sometimes we are not able to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, cure the sick and dying, teach the next generation, and carryout The Corporal And Spiritual Works Of Mercy.  We may say, “Yes, I want to do all these things, but I do not know how or when.  And if I cannot, how can I be faithful to the Gospel?  There are many ways we can do this, even if we cannot do it ourselves. We do this by supporting the ministries of the Church and those who carry out these tasks.  We can help by supporting the Catholic Ministries Appeal.  We will speak about this Appeal this weekend and we will have volunteers in the Church Lobby to receive your pledge for this very worthwhile Appeal.  This Appeal helps so many people throughout the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and right here in Ronkonkoma. 

God bless you always,

Fr. Mike

     When we read the Book of Genesis, we see that God communicates with key people directly.  He speaks to Adam and Eve, even when He is expelling them from the Garden of Eden.  He speaks to Cain, after he kills his brother Abel, and He speaks to Noah to tell him about the Flood. God speaks to Abraham when He calls him to leave Ur and go to the Promised Land;  and God speaks to him when He makes His Covenant with Abraham and his descendants;  and, later, God will communicate directly with Jacob.

    After Jacob, it appears that God does not directly communicate with His people until He calls Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  God comes to Moses in the Burning Bush, but there is no doubt that Moses is experiencing the power of God.  As the Book of Exodus continues, God communicates with Moses and the people and, as we see in today’s first reading, God communicates even in the Book of Deuteronomy.  However, as we see today, the people are upset over this for they are afraid of God.  God, for His part, gives in to their request; but He does not leave it at that!  God tells them that He will send them a prophet from their own people, who will speak like Moses and speak totally in God’s name.  When this prophet comes, all should listen to him.  As we see, “Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.”

    The people were afraid and begged God not to let them see Him talking to Moses.  The same is not true of the people in today’s Gospel, when the promised prophet drives a demon out of the man.  The people in that Capernaum Synagogue were more amazed and realized that Jesus spoke with the authority God said He would in Deuteronomy.  Notice what is at work here, Jesus would not allow the demon to identify Him as the Holy One of God, yet He did not stop the people from spreading His name throughout Galilee.  That is because Jesus want human testimony, and He wants them to spread the Good News about Him, so others would be ready to listen to Him when He came to their town.  We too should not be afraid of God, we too should be totally amazed and accepting of His Divine Authority, and we too should be spreading the Good News: just as they did 2000 years ago.

    Today starts Catholic Schools Week and we are very blessed to have our own St. Joseph School.  During this week, we will have several activities to celebrate our school.  We will also have an Open House with student-guided tours and people will be able to speak with our Principal, Mrs. Arpino, and other members of the school community.  If you have children or grandchildren from Nursery to 8th Grade, and are looking for a great place to send them for their education, then look no further;  you have found it right here!  Yes, going to Catholic School means paying more for your child’s education, but you get back so much more than you can ever imagine.  Also, keep in mind that Tomorrow’s Hope Scholarships are available to those who qualify.  Please call the school at (631) 588-4760 for more information.

    Next week at all of the Masses, we will be speaking about the Catholic Ministries Appeal.  Volunteers will be available in the Church Lobby to take your pledge to support this worthwhile appeal.  Please pray about this and be as generous as your means allow; so many people are depending on you.

God bless you always.

Fr. Mike

    “The word of the Lord came to Jonah, saying: ‘Set out for the great city of Nineveh and announce to it the message that I will tell you.’ So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh.”   Last week we read about the Divine call of Samuel and the call of the first disciples from John’s Gospel.  Today we see two more examples of God calling people. 

    Our first reading tells or how God called the Prophet Jonah to preach to the city of Nineveh that the end was near because of their many sins.  We also see in the Gospel another version of the call of the first disciples: as we see in Mark’s Gospel.  This time Jesus is not pointed out by John the Baptist; no He called Simon and Andrew and said to them; “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Jesus calls them to abandon their old way of life and follow Him in His mission to call all to salvation. 

   Observe that before Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, James and John, He is called to action by the arrest of John the Baptist.  Jesus’ first act is to announce; “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”  This week the call to discipleship reminds us that it is a call to action.  Last week reminded us that the call comes to us in the quiet spaces of our lives (which was true for Samuel, Andrew and John), but it is also true for Simon and James and Jonah this week.  Why, because Jonah was first called by God in the quiet spaces of his life, and one can assume the same was true for all those called by God. Certainly, they had moments of quiet when they knew God was calling them or else they would not have been able to leave all behind and follow Jesus.  But after the call in the quiet, comes the call for action (Jonah goes to Nineveh, and the first Apostles dropped everything and follow Jesus)

    Remember that this call to discipleship is not limited to or restricted to those in Ordained Ministry, Religious Life, or Professional Lay Ministers of the Church.  No, the call is for all Christians, and they like the Apostles and Jonah are called to act. We are all called to live out and share the Gospel and to practice the moral teachings of the Church, which come from the Gospel.  We should be living out the Beatitudes every day and trying to put into practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.  The Spiritual Works of Mercy are: To Instruct those Ignorant of the Faith; To Counsel the Doubtful; To Advise Sinners; To Bear Wrongs Patiently; To Forgive Offences; To Comfort the Afflicted; and To Pray for the Living and the Dead.  The Corporal Works of Mercy are To Feed the Hungry; To Give Drink to the Thirsty; To Clothe the Naked; Shelter the Homeless; Visit the Sick; Visit Those in Prison; and To Bury the Dead.

    At the end of this month, we will celebrate Catholic Schools Week and it promises to be a great week.  On the Sunday of that week, we will have school families sharing their experience of our beautiful St. Joseph School.  We will have an Open House with student-guided tours and people will be able to speak with our principal, Mrs. Arpino, and other members of the school community.  If you have children or grandchildren from Nursery to 8th Grade, and are looking for a great place to send them for their education, then look no further; you have found it right here!  Yes, going to Catholic School means paying more for your child’s education, but you get back much more than you can ever imagine.  Also, keep in mind that Tomorrow’s Hope Scholarships are available to those who qualify; please call the school at (631) 588-4760 for more information.

    Tomorrow, Monday, January 23rd, the Annual March for Life will be held in Washington, DC.  A bus will leave from St. Joseph’s immediately following a special Mass at 4:30 AM for those making the trip and for those who cannot make the trip, but want to show their support.

God bless you always.

Fr. Mike

        Six years ago, I commented in this space the following words about today’s readings.   Samuel as a young boy was sleeping in the temple area when he heard the voice of God.  He did not know who was calling him, so he assumed that it was the voice of his mentor Eli.  Even Eli did not immediately realize who was calling the lad, until the third time Samuel went to him, saying here I am you called me.  When Samuel finally does answer God, we see that God develops this calling into a life long relationship in which Samuel will offer God service upon service.  Samuel served as a Judge of Israel, and it was Samuel who anointed Saul king, and then David when Saul loses God’s favor.  Samuel is living in the temple area because his mother Hannah (who prayed to God to have a child who she would dedicate to Divine Service) brought him there to learn from Eli.  But as we see in the account, God calls Samuel to a deeper vocation than just a student of Eli’s:  Samuel is now given a change of perspective, to serve God not just in a local shrine, but to enter into Israel’s politics and be God’s Official Spokesman.

    In John’s Gospel, we read all about the call of the first disciples.  They are already serving in a religious vocation in the fact that they are following John the Baptist.  Their interest is peaked, when John points out Jesus and says; “Behold the Lamb of God!”  He tells them that Jesus is their new Rabbi, so they leave John and follow Jesus.  After spending the whole day with Jesus, they realize that they too have been given a change of perspective, as they are now called to a deeper relationship with God and are given new avenues to offer service.  They are no longer disciples of the forerunner; they are now disciples of the Christ.  While at first they do not totally understand who Jesus is, they are excited about this encounter.  In fact, they are so excited that they go out and spread the good news with others, as Andrew call his brother Simon to meet Jesus.

    Here is another story of a call within a call and it takes place in the life of a young woman in what was then Yugoslavia.  The girl’s name was Agnes Bojaxhiu, and at a young age, she learned to care deeply for the sick and the poor.  At 18, she joined the Loreto Sisters and after she made her vows, she went to teach in a girl’s school in Calcutta.  After 19 years of teaching, while on a trip to Darjeeling (where she was recuperating from tuberculosis), she had an experience that helped her have a change of perspective.  She revealed, “It was on a train that I heard the call to give up all and follow Him to the slums, to serve Him in the poorest of the poor.”  In her response to her call within a call, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, and brought to the world’s attention the plight of the poor and dying in India and throughout the whole world.  That sister was Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta! 

    Judges, Apostles, Saints, what wonderful examples they provide us with, and I am sure we can all come up with stories from the lives of our favorite saints.  Who does not like hearing stories about the saints?  How comforting they are and how safe they are: safe in the sense that at times we can use the fact that they are saints to excuse ourselves when we fail to do as they did!  We excuse ourselves because we say they were saints and they were given a special call from God that call within a call but surely, that’s not me!  Wrong!  Of course, God is calling you and each one of us.  The first call comes with Baptism and the second call comes from our state in life (Ordained Minister, Religious Life, Married, dedicated Single Person).  God calls each of us to use our Baptismal and Confirmation Gifts in unique ways, which help us and others, to have a change of perspective!

    At the end of this month, we will celebrate Catholic Schools Weeks and it promises to be a great week.  On the Sunday of that week, we will have school families sharing their experience of our beautiful St. Joseph’s School.  We will have an Open House with student-guided tours and people will be able to speak with our Principal Mrs. Arpino and other members of the school community.  If you have children or grandchildren from Nursery to 8th Grade, and are looking for a great place to send them for their education then look no further; you have found it right here!  Yes, going to Catholic School means paying more for your child’s education, but you get back so much more than you can ever imagine.  Also, keep in mind, that Tomorrow’s Hope Scholarships are available to those who qualify; please call the school at (631) 588-4760 for more information.

    On Monday January 23rd, the Annual March for Life will be held in Washington, DC and a bus will be leaving from St. Joseph’s immediately following a special Mass at 4:30 AM for those making the trip, and for those who can not make the trip, but want to show their support.

God bless you always.

Fr. Mike

        “…behold magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.  Saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’” “They were amazed at seeing the star, and entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother…and did him homage.”

    Today’s celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord (also known as Little Christmas)  reminds us that even as an infant, Christ our Lord was made manifest to the whole world as signified by these gentile from several places coming to see the newborn King. Just imagine how excited they were, as their long journey to Bethlehem began with the sighting of that wonderful, strange star that moved through the night sky: a star, which indicated that something equally wonderful was happening here on Earth. Imagine their confusion when the star they were following disappeared as they approached Jerusalem; the place they believed would be their destination. Think of how taken back they were to not find him in a palace, but in a humble house; a stable as Luke tells us in the Christmas account.  Here is where they found not just the newborn King of the Jews, but also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Many would have said we have come to the wrong place; there must have been a mistake.  But keep in mind these where scholars not just of the sky, but of the religious traditions of all the peoples in the area.  They knew the promise of the Prophets of Israel, they knew that a Messiah was expected and hoped for, and they knew that God works in His own way.  So instead of turning around, they dropped to their knees paid Him great homage and placed before gifts fitting a king.  They totally understood what God had done, how God would make His Messiah manifest, not in a palace, but in a simple humble place, so that all could benefit from His mission on Earth.  They may not have known that Jesus was God made one of us, but they did know that He was indeed one sent by God to make all things new.

    Today also reminds us that God can be seen in so many ways in our lives, all we have to do is be open and look carefully.  We must be the like the Magi who did not reject what they saw at Bethlehem, but embrace what God has shown each of us in our lives.  If you are not sure what He has shown you than take time to thing, ask God to show you again, and stop looking for God to act in grand, miraculous ways.  Remember He works more commonly in little ways, and in ways that you least expect it.

    Today at the 12 Noon, Mass we welcome all of our children who were baptized here at St. Joseph’s during the last year for a special blessing for them and their families.  We are doing this today because of the way Christmas fell this year on a Sunday.  Normally we would do this on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (which is on the last Sunday of the Christmas Season) but this year we will remember that on Monday. 

    A very special thank you to all who helped decorate the Church for Advent and Christmas and for all who helped at the many liturgies: you all did so wonderfully.

     At the end of this month, we will celebrate Catholic Schools Weeks and it promises to be a great week.  On the Sunday of that week, we will have school families sharing their experience of our beautiful St. Joseph’s School.  We will have an Open House with student-guided tours and people will be able to speak with our Principal Mrs. Arpino and other members of the school community.  If you have children or grandchildren from Nursery to 8th Grade, and are looking for a great place to send them for their education then look no further; you have found it right here!  Yes, going to Catholic School means paying more for your child’s education, but you get back so much more than you can ever imagine.  Also, keep in mind, that Tomorrow’s Hope Scholarships are available to those who qualify; please call the school at (631) 588-4760 for more information. 

Let us pray: O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.   Amen 

God bless you always and for the last time this year.

Merry Christmas

Fr. Mike