Belated
Christmas Greetings
Many "things" have been taking place in this blogger's life during the last two weeks ... the most demanding and strenuous has been a move to a parish, St. Matthias, located in Lanham, Maryland. As a retired priest, I will be assisting the Pastor in various ways but it will not be a return to full-time ministry. Fr. Jeff has been alone at the parish -- which has a school -- for five years. Securing help on short notice has been a difficulty for him. He asked me if I would consider helping for a while. Who could turn down such a request from a man who has worked so hard to make the parish the wonderful community that it has become? Certainly not me! Fr. Jeff was the first Assistant Pastor that was assigned to work with me at Mother Seton Parish in the early 90s. It is wonderful to see how he has matured as a priest and Pastor. Now I truly hope that age and wisdom will be my principal gifts to him in his ministry.
The blog entries may be sporadic over the next week as unpacking and finding the items and books I need takes place. My hope is to return to the regular day to day reflections.
Today as we reflect on the Holy Innocents, those first martyrs, the young boys who were slaughtered by King Herod in his effort to make sure that the savior promised the Old Testament people would not survive and diminish his power, we might recall with gratitude the great numbers of men and women and children who have died because of their faith. We do not have to look backwards very far: there are a number of men and women who have sacrificed their lives just in the last ten years. Martyrdom is not a long-forgotten reality in our world.
Consider, as well, the various kinds of martyrdom that occur in our culture today --- in our communities and in our families: abuse of children both physical and sexual; spousal abuse; children without both parents; struggling single parents; those broken by poverty, loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of self-esteem. There are a significant number of "innocents" among us today that need our prayers.
The photograph above was taken by a friend who attended Mass at St. Matthias on Christmas Day.
Let this be a reminder to you of my priesthood shared with you in liturgies and in the words of Prayer on the Hill. May the new year that lies ahead be for you and your loved ones an abundance of days when you realize the presence of Jesus Christ in your life with countless graces.
