January 5, 2020

May I tell you a story?

On this feast of the manifestation of the Lord, may I tell you a personal story? On December the 8 ^th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in 1986 my dear mother, Alice, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had brain surgery on December the 12 ^th, the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. We brought her home joyfully on Christmas Day and I was extremely grateful to God to have her present at St. Paul’s Cathedral on January the 3 ^rd, 1987 when I was ordained a transitional deacon. That Sunday was the Feast of Epiphany and I preached as a deacon for the first time in my home parish of Holy Rosary in Muse. I will never forget looking out and seeing my dear mother in the pews with my dad and brothers as I read the Gospel and preached. My homily, of course, was inspired by her.

It struck me, as I prayerfully reflected on what to say, that everyone comes to Christ through someone or something else. Mary was introduced to Him through Gabriel and the Holy Spirit. St. Joseph came to know Him through divinely inspired dreams, and Mary, His mother. Shepherds came to know him through the angels and the Wise Men followed a star. Their star was called the Star of David.

I also have come to Christ through a star, but my star’s name is Alice! My dear mother introduced me to Jesus Christ and she did so with such faith and conviction that I came not only to faith but to a conscious decision to dedicate my entire life to his service.

So, who or what brought you to Christ? Today would be a good day to thank God that for that person or experience in your life.

An equally important question is who are you bringing to Christ? It is the vocation of every follower of Jesus to introduce others to Him. As it says in our mission statement of Holy Spirit Parish, our goal as a parish community, and as individuals, is to “Know Christ, Love Christ, Serve Christ and invite others to Christ through word, sacrament and sacrifice.”

The Feast of Epiphany is known as the Manifestation of the Lord. God continues to manifest Himself in our midst if only we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. Let us all pray for the grace on this special day to see more clearly the Lord in our lives and to heed His voice more attentively as we all recommit ourselves to bringing and inviting others to experience Christ Jesus in our world today.

God love you,