From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
We live in a world in which it can be easy to forget who we are. Many “voices” (media, advertising, other individuals, the Evil one) try to tell us who we are. Among the side effects of the pandemic is that we can be inclined to forget who we are. For example, a number of my brother priests fear that once the pandemic is over and we have some level of normalcy, including having Mass in our church with full capacity, that many of the folks who went to Sunday Mass in the past will stay away. They say that once folks get out of the habit of going to Mass, they will not return. In other words, parishioners will have forgotten who they are: practicing Catholics who need God’s grace to live and thrive. I am hopeful that folks will return and I pray they (you) do.
To be sure, it takes effort to participate in Mass these days, whether at home via live-stream or in-person in the church parking lot. We are used to being able to express ourselves clearly to each other. The masks we wear out of necessity, while they may keep our faces warm in cold weather, tend to hide our facial expressions. Our body longs to soar along with our spirits at Mass, but we know that we are not allowed to sing. Our physical distancing has kept us apart from each other, not just physically, but also emotionally and relationally. One can feel isolated and neglected. Through all this, we can forget that God made us in His image and likeness and that He sent His Son to be born among us and ultimately to die for us, so that we might live forever.
If we are inclined to forget who we are, during Advent, we hear a few voices that remind us who we are. Let’s listen to a moment to those voices. John the Baptist says of Jesus; “He must increase, I must decrease.” (Jn 3:30) The Blessed Mother says to the Archangel Gabriel: “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) Our Lady of Guadalupe says to Juan Diego and to us: “There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection?” The prophet Isaiah reminds the Israelites: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” (Is 25:6) Elizabeth says to Mary at the Visitation: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:45) Zechariah prophesies: “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Lk 1:79)
May we ponder these voices and be reminded that God loves us immensely and wants us to be always closer to His Son. He wants us to be as close to Jesus as a mother is to her child. Indeed, God is a Child who calls to us from the poverty of the stable. May we surrender our impoverished souls to Him so that we can receive His message which is infinitely rich in mercy, love and truth.
Blessed Advent,
Father Berg
