Epiphany and Uniting Our Parishes

Join the Celebration this Sunday as our Crescent Family of Parishes choirs help us to end the Christmas season by making a last joyful proclamation of praise for the Nativity of Jesus through Christmas Season hymns!  Thanks to our Beacons of Light Pathways Planning Team for organizing this event hosted by our choirs to foster unity in our family of parishes.  See you there Sunday from 3-4:30 PM at St. John Church and at the reception after and thanks to those who attend!

Town Hall Follow-up
Thanks to parishioners who attended the Town Hall Listening Sessions in October and November.  Now that the data from those meetings has been compiled and viewed by parish leaders, it’s time to extend the scope of distribution of the data to all parishioners.  It will be in the bulletin next week.  Please read it there!  Also, ask yourself some questions about it.  For example,

• What was usual and expected in the data?
• What is unusual or what surprised you?
• What would you like to say about the data to a pastoral council person?
• What in the information is important for you to take to prayer for yourself and our family of parishes, whether at Mass and/or in personal prayer?

Thanks to those who seek out a pastoral council member with whom to share their reflections!  The great majority of them attended!  Thanks to pastoral council members as you lead us to be a Beacon of Light!
               As a part of the follow-up to the town Halls, for about five weeks after the summary appears in the bulletin, I will be answering the questions participants asked in my weekly bulletin article. 

Christmas is the Beginning of God's Vision of Salvation
The stories that surround the Nativity of Jesus, which is the beginning of God’s vision of salvation for the world, relate almost directly to the Beacons of Light second-year visioning process.  In two bulletin articles, I’d like to explain.  This week, we’ll look at the visioning process and an example from the Christmas story.  Next week, I’ll apply the process to our experience of Beacons of Light.

The Process of Visioning
It seems to me that there is a process when it comes to visioning, whether God’s vision for the world or our own Beacons of Light Process:

1. Initially, there is shock, surprise and even fear.
2. Secondly, there is an invitation to participate in the vision.
3. Making a vision real presupposes that the cross needs to be carried.
4. The joy of the vision is experienced.
5. There is a desire/passion to tell others about the vision and share the joy.

In my preparation to preach the Christmas Season Masses, I noticed that all of the players in the stories of Jesus' Nativity participated in this vision process, the same process that we are being offered in Beacons of Light.  While we could speak of this process through Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds, on Epiphany, let’s look at the visioning process for the Magi.
               1. The initial shock of the Magi was more positive than for Joseph, Mary and the Shepherds, who were clearly fearful at the announcement of the vision by an angel.  The Magi were seeking truth and seeing the star they were shocked and surprised with excitement to begin a quest to find the truth, the king, to which the star pointed.
               2. Wonderfully, the invitation to the Magi was to begin a long journey, which they had the ability and means to make.  It might be said that God would never ask us to go somewhere that we can’t go or do what we can’t do.  The Magi followed the star, they accepted the invitation.
               3. For the Magi, the cross presented itself not only in the arduous journey but by challenging them to be diplomatic and wise.  As they went to Herod and the Jewish people to discover the truth about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem, the Magi had to be careful not to disrespect the Jews, by saying something like, “You dummies have the truth and you don’t know it!”  Also, they had a bad intuition about Herod by what other kings or wise people said about him.  However, they were respectful and diplomatic, Herod didn’t suspect they would listen to a dream about God’s vision for them and high tail it home by another route!
               4. The joy of the vision of salvation for all nations continued to increase, “They were overjoyed at seeing the star…”   which led them to the Christ child.  Then, their joy was so complete that they gave of themselves most generously with precious gifts of self.  Joy is never as full as when we give generously of ourselves. 
               5. Finally, “...they departed for their country by another way” converted/changed so radically by the Good News of Jesus and experiencing him, they return by a new route, in part because of Herod, but undoubtedly also so that they could share the Good News of Jesus with those who have not heard their joyful witness!
               The same visioning process experienced by the Magi, Joseph, Mary and the Shepherds is being presented to us through Beacons of light.  I will say more about this next week.  In the meantime, “Merry Christmas!!” Merry Christmas one the last time this season...and pray for the visioning process in Crescent Parishes, which begins in a few weeks!

That Man Is You (TMIY)
Please see the articles on pages 10 & 11 about TMIY.  We are ready for the beginning of another thirteen-week semester of That Man Is You.  Men of our parishes please consider joining us on Saturday Mornings at 7:15, for an hour and a half.  Faithfulness to TMIY will change your life and be an awesome gift and blessing to others in your life, especially wives and children!!  Wives and children, encourage a beloved man you know to attend.  Also, bakers and chefs, please respond positively to the call for help (see page 11) to provide a great breakfast to men who attend!

Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat