Search
-
The Epiphany of the Lord
Dear Parishioners:
Greetings from Australia. I arrived in Melbourne airport on Tuesday, January 3rd, bringing to conclusion my nice 22-hour flight. The rest of my family arrived to celebrate Christmas in Australia. I departed Newark airport New Year’s Eve and celebrated New Year’s Day onboard!
On Wednesday, the 4th we left my brother’s home in Melbourne and as a family we rented two houses by the beach. Yes, it is high summer in Australia, and we had several days to relax and unwind. It is a beautiful small town called Portlandsdale. It is a beautiful coastline and some fabulous vineyards. On Saturday, 7th, my nephew James, and his fiancée Kate got married in a beautiful winery by a civil officiant. As a family, we celebrated this great event. It was so nice to be together in joy and celebration. I am looking forward to this coming Tuesday, 10th when I will bless their marriage at the Catholic church in Kate’s local town.
We gather this weekend to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Our masses this weekend point us to the beauty and dignity of the visit of the Three Kings (“the Three Wisemen”). As we contemplate the visit of the Three Wisemen, these three kings were really wise, because although they had temporal responsibility in their own lands, they were yearning for something greater; they were yearning for a relationship with God. Their hearts were hungry for the truth that only God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit could bring. They set out from distant lands, to travel to a rural part of Israel to find the baby that is God.
In the coming days, we will all take down our trees and Christmas decorations, but this Christmas season is part of our story to reflect upon and to draw strength through eternity. On Monday, January 9th, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, the day when the adult Christ began his public mission to save the world and all who would ever lived on planet Earth. The Feast of the Baptism brings the Christmas season to a close. As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we celebrate the adult Jesus who began his three years of public ministry; three years that would change the world forever. As Jesus is baptized by his cousin, John, the voice of the father is heard. The father makes it clear that this is his son, Jesus and that we must pay attention and listen to him. During the Christmas season, we celebrated the baby Jesus who became a boy. Now, we follow on with the teachings that Jesus has given to us during his public ministry. At each Mass, the priest or deacon proclaims the gospel; the living words of Jesus and in the homily, the priest or deacon invites the laity to put those gospel practices into full use. As members of our parish of St. Luke, with loving care, we ensure that our children and young people are well prepared in the knowledge of our Catholic faith. We pass on our Catholic values so that when they become adults, they continue the cycle of discipleship, the mission of being Christ in the world.
Happy Little Christmas!
Fr. Owen