From the Pastor's Desk (1/4/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
1/4/26

Epiphany: The Meaning of the Magi
The Greek word Epiphany means “showing forth.” The baby born in Bethlehem presented in today’s Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12), is the Savior of all the nations and not just of his own people, Israel. Just as there is equal opportunity and equal rights these days, so in the Savior there is equal opportunity of salvation for all of God’s children. The point of today’s Gospel story, then, is to have the magi, as representatives of all the nations, present at the birth of the world’s Savior. In them, our Gentile forebears, you and I — of all races and of all colors — were present when Christ was born. Before that moment, we were religious outsiders to God and to grace. But, through the Magi, we were chosen for intimacy with the Lord. The gifts that the magi placed at the foot of the manger were gold, frankincense and myrrh. God symbolizes royalty, incense symbolizes divinity. Early Christian tradition understood these gifts as signaling the kingship and the divinity of Jesu. Myrrh was seen as a prophecy about the child’s future death, since myrrh is a resin that was used in perfume and in the anointing of the body for burial. We may interpret the magi’s gifts in that manner. It is time for us to make our own journey of faith to the Infant, following his star and not our own. It’s time to surrender the darkness of our false values to the light of his true values. It is time for us to offer the Savior our most prized gold, which is our heart; the incense that is genuine prayer from the heart, and the myrrh that is our works of love for others. It is time for us to be wise men and women who walk with commitment in the light of Christ, and whose hearts are always pining for their place at the manger of their salvation. (Fr. Joseph Pollard)

What Gift Will You Bring to Christ?
On this Feast of the Epiphany, we cannot go to Jesus empty-handed. He does not need our gifts since He is the Creator of all things. But He wants us to be generous so that we may receive more graces and gifts from Him. Today, we put at His disposal the gold of our charity. This is our desire to love Him more; to love others with more love. We will present Him with the frankincense of our prayers and good works. We will give Him the myrrh of our sacrifices united to His Sacrifice on the Cross, as renewed in the Holy Mass. What gift will you bring to His Holy Altar this day and every day of the New Year?

Spiritual Resolutions for the New Year
Well-known spiritual writer Deacon Greg Kandra offers us a few ideas and suggestions to chart a new path for this New Year. You don’t have to tackle them all; try one or two. You might be surprised at what happens. Our God is a God of astonishment and miracles. 
 

1. Prayer and Gratitude: Hit the ground running – and start by hitting your knee. You can kickstart your daily prayer life by resolving to begin and end each day in prayer. 
2. Adoration: “O come let us adore Him.” You don’t have to sing those words just at Christmas. Resolve to carve out some time during the week to drop by our St. Carlo Acutis Adoration Chapel (OLF Campus) and have a talk with Jesus.
3. Pray the Rosary: Grab those beads. Maybe they’ve been sitting in your dresser drawer unused. Resolve to pray the Rosary daily or weekly and ask Mary to intercede on your behalf.
4. Get Involved: Stop avoiding that parish group that’s been asking you to join. “Family” is more than just the people you live with. It’s also the people around you in the pew every Sunday. Resolve to learn what your parish is doing to reach out to the sick, the elderly, the hungry, or the poor. 
5. Confession: Get a few things off your chest. When was the last time you went to confession? Resolve to be reconciled regularly. Aim for once a month. Build up a routine. Make it a Saturday ritual. 
6. Works of Mercy: Remember that “giving up” begins with “giving.” Resolve to practice the corporal works of mercy. These involve acts of generosity and sacrifice that can bring abundant amounts of grace. And it all begins with giving – giving time, giving attention, giving a prayer to someone in need. 
7. Pilgrimage: Take a hike. That’s another way of saying pack a bag and go on that pilgrimage you’ve been meaning to take. How about St. Vincent Basilica (Latrobe) or St. Anthony’s Chapel (Pittsburgh)? A pilgrimage doesn’t have to be expensive, exotic, or far away. 
8. Reflect: If you do nothing else, just do this: remember. Resolve to remember what last year was like. In your remembrance, remember patience, kindness, mercy. Remember lessons learned, hope resolved. We Catholics live as people who every week hear again the quiet, transformative command: “Do this in memory of me.” Remembering is central to our faith. Take nothing for granted. Reflect on it all. Share what you learned with your children, your grandchildren. You won’t regret it. 

A Prayer for the Epiphany of the Lord
Almighty God, your Son was revealed in the most unexpected ways, challenging us to embrace simplicity, humility, and weakness. Like the star that rose to shine for the newborn King, grant us the joy to signal the presence of your Son to others, allowing the witness of our lives lead the way to your Son. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

On behalf of our entire Clergy Team and Pastoral Staff, I want to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year! As we journey together as Mary, Queen of Saints Parish, may we open our hearts to the many blessings and graces God wishes to bestow upon us in this New Year.