I hope each and everyone of you have a Happy New Year. I write this on the first day of the new year waiting for our 10:30 AM Mass and for the ice storm that is supposed to come soon. I hope everyone gets home before the storm gets too bad. I also pray and ask you too to pray for an end of the pandemic and an easy transfer of power in Washington.
On the first, we welcomed in the new year by celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This feast tells us that Mary is the Mother of Jesus, who is both man and God, the Second Person in the Trinity. On Sunday, January 3, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. We celebrate the arrival of the Magi to worship Jesus, the new born king. They traveled many miles to see this wonder. At the birth of Jesus, all the people around him were Jews, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. On the Epiphany, the Gentiles arrive, the magi or kings. They represent the fact that Jesus came to save all peoples. In Mexico, I always enjoyed seeing the Three Kings in nativity sets. They were really representative of us all. One was brown skinned and riding a camel. One was white and riding a horse. One was a black African riding an elephant. Their gifts were very symbolic as well: gold for Jesus' kingship; frankincense for his divinity; and myrrh for his death to save us. Another interesting thing about this story is Herod, the Jewish king, had no idea that Jesus was coming. It was the foreigners who announced his birth to him. Jesus saves! He saves us all.
As the new year begins we still have lots of offertory envelopes and calendars for 2021. If you can stop by and pick them up, please do. Later in the month we will mail those not picked up. I want to thank everyone who has continued to support the church during this difficult time. One day the pandemic will end, if we follow the doctor's orders and mask, wash our hands and keep social distance, as we do at Mass. Sunday Masses will continue to held at 8:15 AM and 10:30 AM as usual. The Soup Kitchen remains open MWF from 11 - 12:30. Once again Thank you to all the volunteers who keep the Soup Kitchen running. Our Mass is videoed by Cheryl and can be found at the bottom of our webpage. Cheryl puts it on youtube right after the 10:30 Mass and so is here at church until about 12:30 each Sunday. Another chance to get your envelopes.