Dear Parishioners,

If we follow the Gospel this week, it is one that truly makes us as Christians stand out in the world; the teaching to love our enemy is unique. The deep call in the Christian life is to love not just those who we like or are like us, but to embrace in love all people. This can be difficult, especially when we have been hurt or someone in our family has been mistreated. And it is hard if we keep it simply at an emotional level, but what God calls us as Christians to understand is that love is an action as well as a feeling. We are called always to act in love even when we might not feel like it. This comes from grace – it is a supernatural grace that allows us to do something that otherwise seems impossible.

Dear Parishioners,

Our readings today call our attention to Jesus the teacher as He shares what we call the Beatitudes. A call to what it means to be blessed – to be poor, hungry, weeping and hated. Wow! That does not seem like what we signed up for, does it? Being blessed ultimately is being in a right relationship with God and dependent on Him. So the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated in a special way have to rely on the Lord.

God's love certainly unites us!

This is evident in the parish response to our recent annual mission engagement outreach. THANK YOU! I am humbled and grateful for your commitment to St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, especially during challenging times. Through your commitment, our parish remains vibrant, engaged, and Christ-centered in the Eucharist and in serving one another.

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. It is a feast of encounter. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to Jerusalem to the temple to present Him to the Lord. God places two special people in their path, Simeon and Anna, both of them were devout and righteous people of faith. They immediately recognize the presence of God in their midst and proclaim their wonder and blessings to God. The Holy Family will return to Nazareth, where the scriptures tell us “he grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.”

Dear Parishioners,

Today in the Gospel, we witness Jesus teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown, as well as in the other towns in Galilee. People are amazed and listen intently. Teaching and passing on the faith is an important part of our journey as disciples. It is good to ask ourselves how we are listening and learning more about God’s love for us, Jesus’ saving grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We have the great benefit of many saints and scholars who have gone before us and help to provide insight through their experience of God’s love.

Dear Parishioners,

It is now ordinary time in the Church year. As you walk into the Church this week, it will look so different with all the Christmas decorations down. It seems that in a blink of an eye – the seasons of Advent and Christmas are gone. Yet, we carry the way the Lord has spoken to us in history, mystery and majesty in these special times into the natural order of ordinary time.

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas! Today we complete the season of Christmas in the Church. It has been a nice extended period for us to soak in the mystery of love revealed in the crèche and the cross. The Baptism of the Lord is celebrated today and helps us make the transition into the public ministry of Jesus. He submits himself humbly into the waters of the Jordan so that he might sanctify the waters of baptism for all Christians who follow.

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas and Epiphany blessings! The word epiphany means manifestation, striking appearance, and we often use it to indicate a deeper understanding or revelation of something that was confusing or unknown. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany – God’s revealing His love for all nations. The preface of today’s Mass says, “For today you have revealed the mystery of our salvation in Christ as the light for the nations, and, when He appeared in our mortal nature, you made us new by the glory of His immortal nature.” He comes to save all nations and for us to share in His divine and immortal nature.

Christians around the world celebrate the great Christmas Mystery of the Incarnation that God has become flesh and dwelt among us. It was unfathomable to the people at that time and should be for us as well. It reveals the amazing and generous love of God for us, His people. He did not choose to be exalted, but humble. Our journey of faith is one of humility, vulnerability and tender loving care for all people.

Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent and it is just two days until Christmas. It is important to savor these last days of preparation and waiting in active hope. The readings from the Gospel of Luke give us the account of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth who is with child in her old age. This story is one that reveals that we are created for relationship. We are privileged to “hear” the conversation between these two women and even between the children in their wombs, John the Baptist and Jesus.

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend, we light the third candle on the Advent wreath – the rose colored one. It is a reminder that we are halfway through Advent and Christmas is just 10 days away. The entrance antiphon for today sets the tone, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.” With this proclamation as a Church, the people of God remember we are called to rejoice in a world of busyness, technology, suffering and fear. You might ask how we rejoice in these things – only with the promise and hope of Jesus.

Dear Parishioners,

Advent – a time for renewal, conversion and making room for the mystery of God’s love revealed in His Son born in a manager. It is a season of Hope for us – Hope in His Coming is our focus as a parish this year. It ties into the Jubilee 2025 Holy Year… Pilgrims of Hope. Christian Hope is unique in that it is hope in our Savior, Jesus. That He is our strength and source of peace.

Dear Parishioners,

We begin a new year in the Church with the season of Advent. It is a season of hope and longing. One in which we cry out Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus!” This has been the call of the faithful Christian community for over two centuries as well as ours each year as we journey through this time of year. The shorter days and longer nights of winter impact us and are a reminder of the longing for brighter days. This was easily connected to the longing for the light of Christ by the early Church and still can be for us.