I have said many times, to many people that I discovered in life that "the obvious is not always the obvious." This applies especially when I am searching for my car keys or my smart phone. I can look and look and never see either one of these two things. They can be right in front of me. The Gospel passage this weekend is about what we see or expect to see and what we really see. We also are expected to discern what this all means for us as people of faith. Our culture sees and expects the famous or the super-rich to be wonderful and thus glorifies them. Sadly, sometimes someone is famous simply by being famous; they have not accomplished anything significant or been outstanding in charity or courage. Often the super-rich are extolled for their generosity, but when you learn how they made their money by paying people less than a true fair wage or not ensuring their workers had good working conditions, their wealth is tainted and their charity is really from the back of the poor and underpaid. I guess I agree with the quote that "You should never really meet your heroes." They can be disappointing in real life. This disappointment is not obvious until it is obvious.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in ordinary Time in our Church year and so we can tell by that number 4 we are stepping along in our year and in our life. It is wonderful to see strong daylight after the 4 PM Mass each Saturday. Bit by bit we are progressing forward. Winter is probably more than half over at this point. Most likely we have pushed by halfway mark for ice and snow. We do have to wait for our famous groundhog to appear and gives us the prediction for the full length of winter! Just remember each day we step one day more forward to the end of winter and the final day Pandemic Emergency. All journeys begin with the first step and happen step by step. Thus we need to step into each day with faith and strength.

We learn in the history of the Jews that after the time of the Babylonian Exile, Nehemiah and Ezra were the two major forces or "re-constructionists" in the land of Israel. Nehemiah was the governor and the political leader of the people and Ezra, a descendant of Aaron, was the priest who was responsible for the restoration of the people's religious life. In our first reading it makes sense that we read the passage where we see and hear Ezra gathering the nation to hear the holy Law and to renew the Sinai covenant.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

Not only does our response to the COVID Pandemic keep us closer to home, this winter weather of bitter cold, snow, and ice also motivate us to stay inside and hibernate. Later January and all of February really are the times when our homes are our sanctuary. About 60 years ago a famous Monsignor in our Archdiocese once said: “the snow always melts.” This quote can be very helpful for all of us. It can keep us going and enduring and also help us get to better times.

Are you aware that the Gospel writer John is the only one who recounts the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana? In his Gospel, John makes the miracle that occurs at this wedding reception the first "sign" or miracle of Jesus. We may not realize this, as we are just at the near beginning of the Gospel of Saint John, but John is arranging to tell us that "signs" are a key element in understanding his Gospel and its meaning. Throughout his Gospel, as we read or hear it, we must always be looking for "signs" and then discovering and pondering their meaning. As a side note, not meant to be a distraction, we also discover that this great "sign" or miracle which took place was at the special request of his mother Mary. In reviewing the whole Cana story, do you realize upon reflection that the great amount of water in the urns which were to be used for ritual purification is to stand as a symbol for the whole of Jewish cult and Law? When Jesus ordered the urns filled up with water, He was giving the water a different purpose and mission. He also, in addition, at his special word transformed the water into wine. This is to symbolize the Eucharist for us. In a special way upon reflection, we can come to see that this wedding feast at Cana is about the revelation of the Messiah who has come to save us through baptism and the Eucharist.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

During this past week or so the season of winter has arrived in full force. The snow storm last week was a dramatic reminder that we live in New England and that winter does happen here. These days we are enduring the bitter, bitter cold. We sometimes forget that our winter really takes full shape and force during the months of January and February. So, all of us may need to wear an extra layer when in our houses because heating systems are not designed for almost zero degree outdoor weather and also when we go out, hats, gloves, scarfs and multiple layers of clothes are the only way to go. Our four season weather helps influence our underlying philosophy of life here in New England. We need to be prepared and then as they say in today’s idiom: just lean into it.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, there is the story of the Baptism of the Lord which is to inform us that the ministry of Jesus has begun. Each Gospel writer has a slightly different version in emphasis and detail because each Gospel writer wants to emphasize different religious ideas about Jesus as He begins His public ministry. In many ways, baptism is also the beginning of our own ministry. Although our baptism usually takes place at the font in church, baptism, in fact, does not end there in church but begins there. When we are washed with "the waters of life", we now stand in a special way in God's grace and favor. We now have the special presence of the Holy Spirit which for Christians is a powerful life force.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This past week I had some minor surgery which has laid me for most of this week and keeping me from my regular duties and tasks. Thus this letter is to wish you and those you hold close in your hearts “a Blessed and Happy New Year” and next week I will return to my regular more informative letter. I have, however, prepared and written my Weekly Pastoral Reflection.

A Blessed New year!

Father Brian

Often times there are books written about "roads taken, or not taken" in life. People often reflect upon their lives and write autobiographies as if they are journeys in life. Oftentimes people will describe their growing up as a journey in life from one point to the next to the next etc. Often this literature describes how one needs to keep going at all times no matter what. Our Feast of Epiphany is about a journey for some exotic foreigners from the East who have to put one foot in front of the other for a very long time in order to find and see an unknown foretold new-born king.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This past weekend we celebrated the beautiful Feast of Christmas, the Nativity of the Lord Jesus. Our mangers scenes, both outside and inside the church show us that Mary, Joseph and the shepherds are all looking at Jesus in wonder and awe. Their gazing at Jesus should help to remind us that we too need to always be looking for Jesus in our lives. In the coming days as we return to our more usual pattern after the New Year’s, remember that our faith is about Jesus and do not get distracted by other matters.

The section of Luke which we read today comes from a section often called the "Prologue" because the first two chapters of Luke deal with the earliest days of the life of Jesus. They are in a sense the stories before the great story of the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. In fact, they are often called "the Infancy

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This brief letter is to offer my personal Greetings and Blessings for these Christmas Holidays. Please treasure the memories you make and the ones that you share from the past. The Pandemic Life has been taking its toll on all of us in obvious and subtle ways, so please think and speak words of Christmas joy. Please also remember in prayer those who feel sorrow and loss of loved ones at this Season.  We especially hold up in prayer in particular the Owen Family, their relatives, friends and neighbors. In our outside Christmas Crib and also in the Crib in the main church there will be a candle which is lit in memory of Shirley and for victims of Domestic Violence. May the peace of the Holy Stable fill the hearts of all who suffer from the effects of Domestic Violence.

In thinking about this weekend's scripture and one of the underlying themes in all of it, we are reminded of the wonderful saying of God writes straight with crooked lines. We learn in the scripture and perhaps from personal observations, we can discover God's presence in the most unexpected places and people. Those who are planners and have a need to be always in control or always be "right" do not like the crooked lines with which God writes. Often they feel threatened. Those who are able to see the hand of God in the crooked lines are amazed and grateful to him.

Church-wise we make a big deal about the Third Sunday in Advent and we call it Gaudete ("rejoice") Sunday. I think the major reason is "in the olden, olden days" people used to fast and perform many extra ascetic pious practices during Advent in preparation for Christmas. Thus, when folks were almost through the Season of Advent, they would rejoice that all that extra discipline and denial of self was almost at an end. They used the color rose as a visible sign in church that the end was almost there. In a sense, it is a weakened form of the color of red which is a major Christmas color. Our readings this weekend pick up the theme of the joy that is soon to be here and that the coming of the Light of the World will soon be celebrated. We pick up speed as we come closer and closer to Christmas Day. We can sense Christmas in the air and the liturgy at Mass helps us feel its closeness. The readings for this Sunday reflect this delight. In fact, the whole rhythm of Advent picks up today. We start proclaiming in song the "O Antiphons" beginning this week.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

This Sunday at 3 PM in our main church our Choir will offer a most wonderful “Lessons and Carols” Service. Our extraordinary choir will be offering various Christmas Carols interspersed with sacred scripture about the Birth of Jesus Christ. This is during daylight hours and it is a great opportunity to prepare spiritually for Christmas. This is also a wonderful service of less than one hour to take your children to. Afterwards visit our beautiful outdoor Christmas Crib outside on the St. Rocco Plaza.

We must always remember that the word "gospel" means "good news". This weekend our scripture abounds in "good news". We must remember as followers of Jesus Christ to spread His Good News to one and all by our daily words and actions.

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

I hope everyone has recovered from the wonderful activities of Thanksgiving Day and Weekend. For many of us we saw family and friends for the first time in a long, long time and it was wonderful. Now all of us press on towards the Christmas Season. Advent is the four weeks of church time that helps us to prepare spiritually for Christmas. We are holding a Holy Hour and Benediction each Sunday evening from 7 to 8 PM in our chapel on the lower level of the church building. This would be an excellent way to spend some quiet time reflecting on the Birth of Jesus and your own daily life. Come and spend some time one of more of these Sundays.