The Angels & The Shepherds

December 6, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

(Luke 2:8) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. These shepherds were watching Passover lambs, which would be sacrificed later that year. So it is appropriate that they are about to go look at another Passover Lamb who will also be sacrificed later in His life.

(Luke 2:9) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. (Luke 2:10-12) Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

The angel tells the shepherds about the birth of Christ, that He will be the Savior of the world. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” The angels proclaim Christ will bring peace. Peace does not come through money and power of the Emperor, but through humility and service. Moreover, the all-important peace with God comes only to those who believe in Jesus for eternal life. Only through Christ can you have true and lasting peace. That is the message the angels proclaim. You see, in Isaiah 48:22, God says that there is no peace for the wicked. We live in a wicked, sinful world. Those who live in wickedness and sin will never have peace. If, however, you are one of those who have come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior by believing in Him alone for eternal life, then you can know this peace the angels proclaim. Romans 5:1 states, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peace is available to you today if you are a person of God’s will. What is God’s will? To believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life. In John chapter 6, some people come to Jesus and ask him, “What must we do to do the works of God? What is His will?” Moreover, Jesus said, “This is the will of my Father, that you believe on Him whom the Father has sent.” (John 6:28-29) That is it. Believe in Jesus for eternal life. Do you want to have the peace the angels proclaim here? You need to be a man or a woman of God’s will; you need to do God’s will, which is to believe in Jesus for eternal life. However, if you reject Him, you also reject peace. There can be no peace in this world without Him.

(Luke 2:15-16) So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

It says they came with haste. This was the first Christmas rush, but certainly different from the Christmas rush we are familiar with. They were rushing to see Jesus. I wish we all were more like these shepherds. They heard the Word of God spoken here by angels, and they immediately acted upon it. They did not wait around until it was morning. They did not ask for better directions. They received by faith the message God sent to them and then responded with immediate obedience. I am sure they knew where all the stables were, so they just checked around until they found the one Mary, Joseph and Jesus were in.

We should also note that the angels did not appear to kings. They did not appear to the mayor of Bethlehem. They did not appear to the religious leaders in Bethlehem. They appeared to be shepherds. Just humble shepherds out in the field. Shepherds were outcasts in Israel. Mary’s song pointed out back in Luke 1:51-53 that this would be a pattern in the life of Christ, and it has already begun here. (1 Cor. 1:26-29) It seems that the poor and the people who are nobodies are often the ones whom God gives special attention to.

(Luke 2:17) Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. The shepherds became the first Christian evangelists. The first witnesses to spread the good news of the Messiah. When they saw Jesus Christ, they could not help but keep silent about Him. They told everyone they met. Again, they are a lesson for us. Not only did they obey God’s Word immediately, but they also went beyond that and told others about Jesus. Once you have seen Jesus, it is a privilege, it is an honor, it is a necessity to tell others about Him. Once you have seen Jesus, you can’t keep from talking about Him even if you tried. The shepherds were so excited about what they had seen and heard, they just had to tell everybody.

(Luke 2:18) And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. This is a key idea after all that we have seen today. Things did not go as planned for Mary and Joseph. They had experienced more trouble than they should have. And rather than complain, rather than criticize, they quietly accepted what God was doing. Joseph could have blown his own horn and demanded he get what he deserved as a descendant of King David. But he didn’t. Mary could have gone around bragging that she was carrying the promised Messiah and as a result, she could have demanded that she be given the best room in the inn – for free, and the innkeeper should kick out whoever was there. But she didn’t.

Mary and Joseph chose to humbly accept the trials and troubles that God sent their way, and as a result, God lifted them up. He raised them up. He sent angels to blow the trumpet for them, and shepherds to pass the word for them about who they were, and what kind of child they had been blessed with. Mary and Joseph chose not to blow their own horn. Instead, they let God do it for them. When credit comes to you for the ministry and talents and abilities you have, let it be God and others who bring it rather than yourself.

(Luke 2:19-20) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Mary was not the one to go around and tell people about how great she was, and how much God had blessed her. Instead, she just kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. God used the shepherds to tell the world about Mary and her newborn baby. Instead, like Mary and Joseph, quietly and humbly accept whatever position and privilege God has placed you in, and as you prove yourself faithful with a little, He will give you more. Don’t blow your own horn. Let God blow it for you in his perfect timing.

All of us need to learn from Mary and Joseph that our sufferings, our troubles, and our trials in life are tools in the hand of God to mold us shape us, and make us into something beyond our imagination. When trials and troubles come into your life, God is making you into something great. In whatever trials you are facing, ask God these kinds of questions: Say, “Father, what are you trying to teach me in this situation? How can this trial make me more like Jesus Christ?” God wants to change your troubles into trumpets if you will only let him perform His work in you.

God brought the first message of the birth of Jesus to ordinary people rather than to princes and kings. God spoke through His holy angel to the shepherds who were keeping sheep in the fields. This was a lowly occupation, so shepherds were not well educated. But Mary tells us the true story: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones; and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away, empty.” (Luke 1:52–53)

What was the message of the angel to the shepherds? First, he told them not to be afraid. Repeatedly, the presence of angels was frightening to those to whom they came. However, unless they came in judgment, the angels spoke a word of reassurance. They calmed the people to whom they came.

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) The good tidings were that the Savior had come. The people needed somebody who could bring them back into fellowship with God because the blood sacrifices could not do this in any permanent way. The Lord had visited His people with salvation.

Another lesson we can learn from the shepherds at Jesus’ birth is that ordinary people can tell others about the Savior. Once the shepherds made it to Bethlehem and saw the Savior, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them this child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” In their joy and praise, they could not refrain from telling others about their experience.

These ordinary shepherds, who were outcasts among their people, were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth and to spread that news. They did not wait until they had extensive theological training to tell others. Instead, they went out and told people about their experience of hearing the message of the angel and seeing the Savior. We can do the same.

Many of us will think that we need more effective in sharing the gospel once we have read a book or the Holy bible or taken a course on the bible. Books and courses are helpful resources, but all believers can tell others about how Jesus saved them. We do not have to wait until we feel qualified enough, because we can all testify about Christ’s saving work in our lives.

If the shepherds, who were outcasts in society, could spread the good news about Jesus’ birth, then we can certainly tell others about how Jesus saved us. The shepherds also remind us of the need to listen to the Lord and obey Him, that ordinary people can spread the good news of Jesus, and that worship should be our response to Jesus’ saving work.

Posted in Angels, Nativity, Reflection, The Shepherds | Leave a Comment »

The Magi & King Herod

December 6, 2023

By Fr. Victor Feltes

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

This is how the second chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel introduces us to the noble Magi and the infamous King Herod. Their good and bad examples in the story of Christmas present much for us to learn from and reflect on.

The gospel tells us the Magi were astrologers from the East who saw a celestial sign which firmly convinced them the heir to the Jewish throne was born. The Magi were so convinced by this sign that they packed up valuable gifts and traveled far from their home to honor this newborn king. What are magi? “Magus” is the title which ancient civilizations east of Israel, such as the Persians and the Babylonians (or Chaldeans), bestowed upon their individual men of wisdom. These experts, their various teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, soothsayers, Magicians, or interpreters of dreams, were collectively called magi.

How did the Magi who journeyed to Herod know how to recognize Heaven’s sign? In the 6th century before Christ., King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. In response to his people’s unfaithfulness, God permitted them to be conquered and many Jews were taken east into Babylonian Captivity. The Babylonians reasoned that conquered peoples were more productive alive than dead and less likely to stage a successful rebellion when resettled outside of their homeland. Thus the Jews’ relocation deeper into the Babylonian Empire.

At that time, King Nebuchadnezzar told his chief chamberlain to bring in some of the Israelites of the royal line and of the nobility. He said, “They should be young men without any defect, handsome, proficient in wisdom, well informed, and insightful, such as could take their place in the king’s palace.” He was to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Among these chosen young men was the Prophet Daniel, who would go on to give prophesies about the coming of Christ recorded in the Old Testament book which bears his name.

Impressed by Daniel’s wisdom, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar “advanced Daniel to a high post… made him ruler of the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” Perhaps Daniel’s prophetic wisdom, handed down for centuries, enabled these wise Magi from the East to recognize the significance of the starry sign and inspired them to journey to Jerusalem. The Bible does not record the Magi’s names, but a tradition hands down their names to us as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.

Behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

More than thirty years prior to the arrival of the Magi, the pagan Roman Senate had appointed Herod as the region’s king. He is known as “Herod the Great” because of his vast territories and many building projects, including new cities, massive fortresses, and a complete renovation of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Herod heightened the architectural beauty of the temple to such greatness like it had in the days of King Solomon. However, Herod was not greatly loved.

He imposed extremely harsh taxes for the ancient world and ruled ruthlessly, executing many of his political opponents and family relatives, including three of his sons and at least one of his ten wives. No one ever mistook him for being the Messiah; besides being more of a pagan king than a Jewish one, Herod was not a descendant of Kind David like Scripture said the Christ would be. So when foreign Magi came to Jerusalem seeking the Messiah, word got around and King Herod became greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him.

Why were the whole of Jerusalem troubled (that is, “stirred or agitated as in roiling water”) along with King Herod by this news of Christ’s possible coming? Because they knew Herod better than the foreign Magi did. The Magi had swooped in as innocent doves, but Herod was a cunning serpent. The Jews of Jerusalem realized King Herod was not eager to freely hand over power. Even if the Messiah had indeed been born, violence or a civil war would likely follow.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, [King Herod] inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

There is a Jewish joke that two rabbis together produces three opinions, but here all of the priests and scribes assembled by King Herod cite the Old Testament Prophet Micah to identify Bethlehem as the promised Messiah’s birthplace. Maybe Herod asked them subtly amongst many other questions, inquiring about the Messiah’s birth in such a way that they did not suspect his motives. But if they grasped what Herod was after and why, then this was the first time Jewish religious leaders betrayed the Christ. Perhaps they reasoned that if God’s Anointed One had indeed been born in Bethlehem, then God would protect him, “For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.” God did protect the Infant Jesus, but Herod ended the precious lives of innocents in the little town of Bethlehem.

Our God will win in the end, all evil will ultimately be defeated, but we must not go along to get along in this world by cravenly cooperating with evil. Imagine if those religious leaders had refused to tell wicked Herod where the Messiah would be born; then they might now be celebrated throughout Heaven and earth as men who defended and died for Christ, instead of Bethlehem’s baby boys. We are all called to practice courage as Catholic Christians. Remember that it is better to innocently suffer or even die for Christ than to die as one of his enemies or betrayers.

I do not know whether the chief priests and scribes of the people knowingly betrayed the infant Christ, but there is no record in the Gospels of any of them going in search of the child. The Magi traveled hundreds of miles to find him, but it appears the priests and scribes never went the six miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in search of him. Beware of practicing your faith so feebly that you forego making the simplest sacrifices in service of Christ.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

What was the star which the Magi saw? There are several interesting theories. It may have been one of the planets in a meaningful position, or perhaps a pair of planets combining their light. This is a possibility since the ancients deemed the other planets in our Solar System to be ‘wandering stars.’ Our word “planet” comes from the Greek word for “wanderer,” because the planets wander across the constellations. Some have suggested the Christmas star was a comet or a star’s supernova, but whatever the star was it was something too subtle for Herod to recall. In the ancient world, comets were regarded as foreboding omens and some supernovas have been notably bright to eye at night in recorded human history; however, the star which arose at Jesus’ birth was not of particular note to Herod and his royal counselors. This is why Herod must ascertain from the Magi the time of the star’s appearance.

As God once said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This world and worldly people miss what is important, and what the world pays attention to are often fleeting things. So many things talked about today will be forgotten by next week, discarded like last week’s newspaper. Sports, movies, music, TV, social media, advertising, celebrities, politicians, and even much of the 24-hour news cycle will not show you what really matters. God tells us through St. Paul, “Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” If you follow the nightly news you might naturally conclude that nothing good is happening anywhere, but remember that God is always quietly at work. I believe that many of the most important things which happened in the world today are good things, and things which the world will not notice, like the appearance of the star which announced our Savior’s birth, or a caravan of Magi beginning a journey west to meet God.

Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

Though their meeting was secret, Jesus says “nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” Looking back, we can see that the Magi were sincere and faithful and sought to honor the Christ Child, while Herod was a cynical liar who sought to destroy him. No good or bad secret, of yours or mine or others’, will not be revealed in the end. St. Peter writes that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief… and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be? Conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion.” At the Presentation in the Temple, Simeon had told Mary that through her Son ‘the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed.’ That was true in the lives of King Herod and the Magi. In your personal response to Jesus Christ, your own heart is revealed, too.

After their audience with the king [the Magi] set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.

Notice that the Holy Family is no longer dwelling in a cave or a barn, but inside a house. This was not Christmas night but at least forty days later. We know this because when Joseph and Mary came to present Jesus at the temple, to offer a sacrifice God’s law required following the birth of a firstborn son, they could not afford a yearling lamb, so they offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” instead, as the law of God permitted. And their humble gift pleased God. If the Magi had already visited them and provided their gift of gold, the Holy Family would have had the ability to purchase the more expensive lamb instead. The Magi arrived in Bethlehem between forty days and two years after Christmas. We know that upper bound from the cruel command which Herod issues later in hopes of destroying the Christ Child, targeting baby boys “two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi.”

Upon entering the house the Magi unsurprisingly find the child with Mary his mother. She is the Lord’s new ark, his throne, the seat of Wisdom Incarnate. Sadly, some Christians consider her a harmful distraction from Jesus. However, the mother of the Christ is no hindrance to Jesus, for when you meet Mary she will joyfully show her Son to you.

[The Magi] prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Unlike Herod, who grasps and clutches what he has, the Magi freely give gifts to Jesus. Three gifts of the Magi are mentioned by St. Matthew since they reveal who Jesus is; gold for a king, frankincense for a high priest and the true God, and myrrh resin used for external embalming, for one who has come to die. But the Magi’s best gift was the gift of themselves. What Christmas gift will you prepare for Jesus this Advent?

The Magi prostrated themselves, laying down on the floor with their faces towards the ground before Little Jesus in homage. Did they feel embarrassed to be bowing down to a baby, a child of poor parents in a humble house, far from the trappings of obvious power and glory? The Magi had deep faith in who Jesus was and faith in his future glory so they did not refuse to be seen paying him respect and honor. Do you feel embarrassed to be seen praying or honoring Jesus? Jesus says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” Let us not be ashamed to acknowledge Jesus in others’ presence.

Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, [the Magi] departed for their country by another way.

These Magi took signs seriously. They previously followed such one sign hundreds of miles from home and it led them to the Christ Child. So they heed this message and bypass Herod on their trip back home. In that dream, the Magi might not have been warned that the Christ Child was in danger. Recall how Bethlehem is only six miles away from Jerusalem, just a two or three hour walk. If the Magi had sensed that Jesus was in danger, wouldn’t they have warned the Holy Family before they departed to caravan back east? Perhaps they did warn the Holy Family of possible danger, but Joseph and Mary simply did not know what to do next. But if this inspired dream told the Magi not to return to Herod without revealing the reason why, the Magi’s obedience provides a beautiful lesson for us.

Jesus and his Church teach us many precepts about what we must or must not do, what we should or should not do. There are good reasons behind these commands, and it is good to explore these teachings and ask questions to better understand them, but there will be times in your life when you are called to be faithfully obedient even before you fully understand. The Magi’s obedience served Jesus and likely saved the Magi’s lives. Your obedience to God will bless you, and more than you may realize.

[The Magi] departed for their country by another way.

They came to Jesus from one direction, but they departed for their country by another way. Servant of God Bishop Fulton Sheen makes a famous observation about this fact. He writes that it is fitting that the Magi left this way, since “no one who ever meets Christ with a good will returns the same way as he came.”

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the Magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi.

Did Herod actually believe that the Christ Child has been born in Bethlehem? Probably not, but he was afraid that other people would believe it, rally around this child, and attempt to overthrow him. He reasoned that, ‘If all the baby boys in Bethlehem are dead, none of them can rise up against me as a rival.’

His calculation is like that of Pharaoh’s at the start of the Book of Exodus. Pharaoh said to his people in Egypt, “See! The Israelite people have multiplied and become more numerous than we are! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us….” After enslaving the Hebrews, Pharaoh commanded all his people to “throw into the Nile every boy that is born, but you may let all the girls live.” Both Herod and Pharaoh aimed to prevent a future rebellion through the murder of baby boys. As ancient Machiavellians, they were willing to do great evils in hope of gaining good outcomes.

To the Romans, St. Paul records that ‘we are accused and some claim we say that we should do evil that good may come of it.’ Denying their false charge, he says, “Their penalty is what they deserve.” Remember that Christians are never allowed to do evil or sin in the hopes that good things will result. Good ends do not justify sinful means. Beware of how readily any evil deed can and will be justified with practical arguments.

When [the Magi] had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophets might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

The Holy Family remained in Egypt until Herod’s death. Then Herod’s kingdom was divided among three of his sons: Archelaus who ruled Samaria and Judaea, Philip who ruled the Golan Heights, and Herod Antipas who ruled Galilee and the east bank of the Jordan River. This Herod Antipas is the Herod who would go on to murder St. John the Baptist and meet Jesus during the Passion, mocking him, dressing him in a splendid robe, and sending him back to Pilate. Fathers are important. I like to believe the sons of the Magi went on to find saving faith in Jesus Christ, then these sons would have born fruit following the example modeled by their fathers.

In conclusion, I invite you to take one or two of these ideas to contemplate and pray with. “Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” What worldly things do you need to pay less attention to? What heavenly things do you need to pay more attention to? “The day of the Lord will come like a thief… and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.” So “what sort of persons ought you to be? Do not do evils in the hope that goods will follow. Do not justify your sins with rationalizations like Herod. Anyone searching for excuses can easily find them forever. Remember how simple obedience saved and blessed the Magi. We are called to be courageous and go extra miles for Christ. How can you better acknowledge him before others? In your personal response to Jesus, your heart will be revealed. Ask Mary’s help in this, for believers draw closer to her Son with her. What Christmas gift will you prepare for Jesus this Advent? Remember that the greatest gift to him is yourself. Embrace this Advent season with our Lord, for “no one who ever meets Christ with a good will returns the same way as he came.”

Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary, Culture, Nativity, Reflection, The Magi | Leave a Comment »

St. Elizabeth & The Innkeeper

December 5, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

Christmas is a time for joy, cheer, and festivities. It is a time when we gather around the Christmas tree to share our joy. For many of us, each year, around this time we pull out our Bible and read the classic story of the true meaning of Christmas. Luke 2:1–21 tells us the story of Jesus Christ being born unto this world to save us all from our sins. However, today we are going to meditate about the Elizabeth and the Innkeeper.

Among the gospels, only St. Luke recorded the real songs of Christmas, sung by Elizabeth, Mary, Zacharias, Simeon, the angel Gabriel, and the angelic host. Beginning with one older woman who understood something of the mystery of what was happening in her womb and the womb of her young relative from Galilee named Mary. After the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she traveled from Galilee to the hill country of Judah, to the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Gabriel had told her about Elizabeth’s miracle pregnancy (Luke 1:36). Now Mary needed human help, someone to talk to, and someone who would listen to her with understanding. Who was there better to do that than Elizabeth?

God’s timing is perfect. In the Gospel of St. Luke, we see the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah who were well advanced in years. They were a couple who loved the Lord and went about Kingdom work here on earth. We know them for their righteousness, and for being barren. “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.” (Luke 1:6) Elizabeth and Zacharias were waiting. A priest has been chosen to serve in the holy of holies only once in his lifetime and Zacharias is advanced in years. Elizabeth dearly longed to be chosen to bear a child, but she was beyond childbearing when God called her to bear the prophet in her womb. With all this waiting, they remained faithful to God’s commandments and statutes, unwavering in faith.

Elizabeth fully saw the hand of God in her life and rejoiced over His plan for her. Elizabeth could have complained that God waited too long. She could have thought that it would be harder to raise a child. She could have even balked at the plans God had for her child’s life. However, she did not do any of those things. Rather she turned and offered her praise back to God. She rejoiced over the blessing she was given and gave glory to God.

This is the lesson we learn from Elizabeth. Even into our advanced age, God can bring life into the world through each one of us. God does not favor the young or the old. Mary was a young and, adolescent virgin, and Elizabeth was advanced in years. Through each woman, young and old, He brought life that contributed to His plan of redemption. Elizabeth testifies to all of us that faithfulness does not go unseen by our God, nor unrewarded. Though the wait may be long, God will fulfill His purpose for each of us. We can pray with the Psalmist, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (Ps 138:8) Just as Elizabeth was in His sights, so are we.

Elizabeth was a woman of God, and we know that all her life she devoted herself to serving God. Despite not being able to bear children, she still held on to her faith in God. Elizabeth must have honored God with her life. As you walk close to the Lord he will do the same for you, your faith will move the mountains in your life. Both Zechariah and, Elizabeth show us that God can be trusted. God was merciful to her. Elizabeth believed and bore a son in her old age, which was a miraculous blessing from God. The message that Elizabeth taught, is to believe what God says He is going to do even if it seems impossible.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist, were both exceptional women who were chosen to play important roles in salvation history. Both were filled with the Holy Spirit which empowered them to the fulfill mission entrusted to them. We can only imagine the internal anxiety that Mary went through upon knowing that she would be pregnant without having a relationship with a man. There was of course the very harsh punishment that was awaiting her yet she trusted in God’s will and power. For Elizabeth, we can only imagine how she coped with barrenness and insults; moreover, it was not easy to bear a child in old age, and There were no medical experts to help. She, too, gave her full trust in the goodness and mercy of God.

The foundation of the Christian life is the gift of faith that we freely receive by asking Jesus into our hearts. Believers should look for the hand of God in every circumstance. Recognizing God’s supernatural intervention and purpose comes with spiritual maturity. The Bible says that believers who have yet to see God’s involvement in their lives but still believe will be rewarded for their patience and unquestioning faith. However, in reality, becoming a Christian is evidence of a divine revelation in every believer’s life.

What should we conclude from Elizabeth’s life of faith? First, God was merciful to her. Elizabeth believed and bore a son in her old age, which was a miraculous blessing from God. The message that Elizabeth taught, the lesson that God recorded in the Bible, is to believe what God says He is going to do even if it seems impossible. She also taught the message that if you do what God says to do and believe, you will be blessed by seeing the fulfillment of what was promised.

God chose a woman of faith and obedience to rear and teach an important prophet. It is by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God, that one is to teach and to inspire others. As parents, all of us should have that same desire to teach and inspire our children in the ways of God. John the Baptist was indeed special, and there was none like him—the greatest of all the prophets—but there is a lesson here for all of us. Both Elizabeth and Zacharias taught their son about God and the role and mission God wanted him to fulfill. Are we doing that with our children? Do our children know the ways of God and do they know why they were born? This is the time we follow the example set by Elizabeth and Zacharias.

Luke 2:7 says she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. “No room in the inn” became prophetic words of the truth that “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” (John 1:11) They experienced so many troubles here, that I am not sure I can list them all. First, they went out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. They have to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem; Now Mary is nine months pregnant. This is not the ideal time to go on a long journey. The journey went much slower than normal; they arrived in Bethlehem long after everybody else. Which means there was no place for them to stay. All the inns were full. The end of Luke 2:7 says, “there was no room for them in the inn.”

Joseph has to leave his home, he has to close his shop, has to travel a long way, he feels bad he has to take his pregnant wife when they arrive in Bethlehem, he realizes all the inns are full, and he forgets to make reservations. He does not know what to do. He feels ashamed and depressed. He sometimes feels angry with Caesar Augustus for making him do this. Other times he feels angry with God for allowing this to happen. He knows that God still loves him and is somehow going to work things out for good because He is still in control.

God had His reasons and His purposes for having His Son born in a lonely and dirty stable. Moreover, the baby Jesus was born there. It appears from the verses that she did not have any help. No doctors. No midwives. Just Mary and the animals. It appears that Joseph was not even there. Maybe he was out looking for a midwife, or a better place to stay. There is a lot of loneliness in Jesus’ birth. It happened that way. According to Luke 2:7, “Mary wrapped the newborn baby in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.” Again, a manger is not the best crib. It did not have any safety features. No soft mattress.

Is there room in my heart for Jesus? Some hearts never welcome Jesus, not because of hatred toward Him, but simply because their hearts are already overcrowded with thoughts of riches, honor, prestige, pleasure, business affairs, etc. No room. No time to reflect on His will, no desire to go out of their way to do what will please Him.

It would be Easy to Miss Jesus if the innkeeper had understood who Jesus was, and then he would have made different arrangements. He would have kicked out some of his other guests to make room for the savior of the world. We can make the same mistake as the innkeeper. We see Jesus all over the place during Christmas; on cards, on wrapping paper, in carols, and in nativity scenes. But do we understand who Jesus is? He is God in the flesh. He is the savior of the world. It is easy to miss Jesus because we do not expect God to arrive as a baby, born to a poor family in some part of the earth. Yet, this is what happened.

The innkeeper teaches us about the danger of judging people and events without having all the facts and letting our imaginations run wild. When we judge other people or assess events without knowing the truth, the results can be unfair, dangerous, damaging, and destructive. Suspect that we have treated the innkeeper unfairly.

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Watching & Waiting

December 3, 2023

1st Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

The season of Advent always calls us to a sense of hope, that God loves us, has sent his Son to redeem us, and that no one is excluded from God’s loving care and protection. That is the heart of our belief in God: He knows us by name, cares for us, and never abandons us. That does not negate the fact of our free will, the ability to choose what is right and good, to heed God’s voice and God’s grace in our lives. We are always free to choose the good, since God never forces us, but always lovingly invites us.

The first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, and the second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthian Church, give us examples of looking forward in hope for the Lord’s coming. The people confessed their guilt and admitted that God was indeed right to punish them. They understand that they have given Yahweh their God plenty of reason to stay away. They feel that they are sinful, unclean, and full of guilt. And yet, for those who are awake and waiting in faith, the second coming is a joyful event.

In the gospel, Jesus encourages us to be prepared, to stay awake. If we fall asleep and forget the need to wait in hope, then we risk that the Lord comes at a time we do not expect. In that case, we would not be ready to welcome him and celebrate with him. (cf. Mt 15:1-13) The Lord uses the example of a man who leaves his servants in charge while he travels abroad. He warns the gatekeeper to stay on the watch because he does not know the day and hour of his master’s return. Jesus specifically mentions all four watches of the night. The Lord of the house may come in the evening, at midnight, at dawn (“cockcrow”), or in the morning.

Jesus is going to come in glory to judge all people and take the righteous to their reward. The first Sunday of Advent invites us to be ready to receive the Lord who is going to come. This is the time of waiting and we await the one who is certain to come to us. We must be ever alert and ready so that the coming of the Son does not find us unprepared. Advent is a season for us to renew our hope because of the coming of Christ. As we reflect upon the period of waiting for the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem, and as we begin to prepare for his coming at Christmas, we also await his final coming into our lives.

In addition, the Readings remind us that while Heaven and Earth shall pass away, the Word of the Lord shall not pass away. Every promise that He has made shall be fulfilled. Thus, Jesus gives us the warning: The Christian who listens to the words of Jesus lives in permanent expectation of his coming and will welcome him as the long-awaited Master arrives from his journey. To be on watch is to be aware each day, through prayer and reflection, that the ‘today’ of salvation is here and now.

We should live in the living presence of Jesus every day waiting for his Second Coming. We can experience Christ’s living presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Holy Bible, in our worshiping community in our parish, in our family, in our souls, and everyone around us. The early Christians experienced it, and that is why the mutual greeting among Christians was “Maran Atha” which means “Come, Lord Jesus.” This greeting acknowledged Jesus present in each of them and about to return. May God bless you and keep you ever-prepared for Christ’s second coming.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Second Coming, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

The Three Comings of Christ

December 3, 2023

1st Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

During this Advent season, we are called to contemplate three distinct comings of Christ. The first is his coming in the past, twenty centuries ago at the first Christmas. Answering the Prophet Isaiah’s plea, our Lord rent the heavens and came down for the sake of his servants by assuming a human nature. Through the Incarnation, God wrought an awesome deed we could not have hoped for, something unheard of from of old. The Shepherd of Israel came down to save us. By his birth, the Lord let us see his face that we may be saved.

The second coming of Jesus Christ which we contemplate in Advent is literally called his Second Coming. Like a master leaving to travel abroad, our Lord has promised his servants he will return some unknown future day and hour. He will return in unveiled glory as both our King and Judge, so we must strive to be firm to the end, irreproachable for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the upcoming weeks, when you hear St. John the Baptist preach about ‘making straight the way for the Lord,’ realize that these words are addressed to you. Now is the time to go to Confession and cast your sins away. You do not know when the Lord is coming. So be watchful and alert, lest our Lord come suddenly — on the Last Day of this world or the last day of your life — and find you unprepared.

So what is the third coming of Jesus Christ we should contemplate this Advent? The first is his coming in the past, the second is his coming in the future, and the third is his coming now. He comes to us now most marvelously in the Holy Eucharist, but he also comes to us during our ordinary days.

The master in Jesus’ parable “leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.” Each of us has work to do during this Advent season; some tasks which come as part of our regular duties and others which are particular to this time of year. Whatever your state in life, you will likely be busy this month. May you be occupied with the good work our Lord entrusts to you, rather than distracted and burdened by ill-chosen pursuits of your own. But amidst your daily tasks, whatever they may be, be watchful for our Lord.

Jesus concludes today’s parable declaring, “What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” Each of us is called to be on watch for him. And Jesus tells us on another occasion, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” So vigilantly keep watch for the Lord. The past has gone and the future is not yet here. The only time you can ever encounter our Lord is the present moment. So as you go throughout this Advent, contemplate his presence with you from moment to moment.

Be attentive to him in times of dedicated personal prayer, even if starting with just five or ten minutes a day. And converse with him, commune with him, throughout the tasks of your daily life. Jesus came to us first at Christmas. He will come again in glory on the Last Day. And he comes to us at any moment we watch for him.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Last Judgment, Repentance, Second Coming, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Jesus Is The King

November 26, 2023

Solemnity of Christ the King
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. When I say “the King” to you, I am sure several images and concepts will immediately come to your mind, among them: a throne, white robes, kingship, servants, and feasts. judgment, glory, and dominion. The King we are going to reflect on today is something different from other kings. “His Kingdom will be a Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness and grace, and a Kingdom of justice, love, and peace.”

The first reading today comes from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel and shows us God as a Shepherd. God himself will come personally to tend his sheep because the entrusted shepherds have not been found worthy of their charge. God will take care of the sick and weak sheep but will separate and punish those who have made themselves strong at the expense of the weak. This is the work of our king, something different from other kings. “I will seek the lost. I will bring back the strayed. I will bind up the injured. I will strengthen the weak.”

The kingship of Jesus is different from that of other kings. During His life on earth, Jesus was born in the royal Davidic family. In the annunciation narrative, we have the angel Gabriel bringing the good news to Mary in Nazareth, saying, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. His Kingdom will never end.” When the Magi came to Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews?”

Jesus preached the Kingdom of God and told the disciples to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. It means we must give first place in our lives to God. It means we must come under the rule of His kingship. We must confess that Jesus is the Lord and King. Yet, He called his disciples friends, not servants and bestowed on them a share in his priesthood and kingship. Though he died, unlike other kings, he died willingly to save his people, and his death was not a result of loss but of a glorious victory planned by his Father.

During his passion, he manifested that he was the King and died on the cross with the title that he was the King of the Jews. He was left alone to be mocked, insulted, beaten, humiliated, and finally to die a criminal’s death. His own disciples left him and ran away when he needed them the most. It was one of the thieves who was crucified with Him who recognized him as a king, and asked for a place in his Kingdom. Jesus promised him that place. The Lord’s death also shows that He is the king who came to serve all, even His enemies. He said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” His life, teachings, and death spell out a Kingdom of justice. At the same time, we know that when our King judges the world, his just judgment is balanced with radical love, mercy, peace, and forgiveness.

As the followers of Jesus, we need to surrender our lives to Christ’s rule because He is our King. We must do his will by sharing His forgiving love with others around us. This is what asked his disciples to do. And so, this feast is an invitation to all those who have power or authority in the government, in public office, in educational institutions, and in the family, to reflect. Are we using the authority we have been given by Jesus in the way He used His authority? Are we using our God–given authority to serve others with love and compassion as Jesus did? As parents, are we using our God–given authority to train our children in Christian values?

Posted in Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Jesus Christ, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

He is in the Hands of God — Funeral Homily for David Dachel, 81

November 25, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

On behalf of the parish community of St. Paul’s, I would like to extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the members of David’s family. I would like to assure his children, grandchildren, and near and dear ones of my prayers.

We have heard in our first reading, “The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God.” (Wisdom 3:1) What better place could we go after death than into the hands of God? What a beautiful way to describe God’s care for us. Do you remember when you were small and your parents took you up in their arms? You felt safe in the arms of your parents. When we die, God takes us up in his hands. We are in the hands of God. We believe that God has taken David up into his hands. The reading ends beautifully, expressing the faith of someone who believes in God’s goodness and who therefore is not afraid to die.

“Those who trust in him will understand the truth,
  those who are faithful will live with him in love,
 for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.” (Wisdom 3:9)

David peacefully passed away, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023. He married JoAnne Fanetti on February 27th, 1965, here at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. He was a simple and humble man, and friendly with everyone. He served his country in the National Guard and worked for Catalytic Combustion in Bloomer. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, and cruising around town. He used to call his grandchildren “Doodlers.” He enjoyed the T.V. program “Judge Judy.” Above all he enjoyed driving around the city and saying hello to everyone he saw.

In the Gospel today Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Look at Jesus’ invitation; it is an open invitation to all of us, and no one is excluded. Life is full of struggles and hardships. It is easy to grow weary, it is normal to get discouraged. Jesus offers us rest. This is a free gift from Jesus, we do not have to earn it, but we need to respond to Jesus’ invitation.

Here is Jesus’ invitation for “rest.” It is not physical rest, nor mental rest; He is talking about a more important rest, a deeper rest. He is talking about spiritual rest – rest for our soul. Sometimes we are restless people. Our lives are often filled with hurts regrets, guilt, and so many distractions. For these moments, we try to turn on our music or television or various activities, but none of that cures the restlessness in our souls. None of that can make us whole again. St. Augustine says, “O Lord, you have formed us for yourself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in you.” Now our brother David is resting in the hands of God.

When we die, God takes us up in his hands. Those who trust in God will understand the truth that people only appear to die; their leaving us seems like a disaster. But we can look forward to God’s love, grace, and mercy after death. Anything else is of our own making and we have time to repent and reform before our death. So we ask God to take our brother David up in his arms, to pour his love, grace, and mercy upon him.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him
May he rest in peace! Amen.

Posted in Funeral Homilies, Homily | Leave a Comment »

Give Others The Royal Treatment

November 25, 2023

Solemnity of Christ the King
By Fr. Victor Feltes

After having supported the murder of St. Stephen the Martyr, Saul of Tarsus was trying to destroy the early Church. He entered house after house, dragging out Christian men and women and handing them over for imprisonment. Still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, Saul went to the high priest and obtained official authorization to arrest any Christians he might find in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. But on his way to Damascus, this future saint saw the light.

Light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice ask him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, sir,” Saul replied. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Notice how Jesus did not ask “why are you persecuting my people” or “why are you persecuting my Church,” though both of these descriptions would have been accurate. Jesus asks, “Why are you persecuting me? … I am…whom you are persecuting.”

Imagine if you and I are standing side-by-side in a buffet line and I willfully knock your hand out of the way as we both reach for the delicious deviled eggs. Will your feelings of offense be any less if I reply, “Oh, I didn’t hit you—I merely slapped away your hand”? No, every part of your body is one with you. If I mistreat one of your members, I am mistreating you.

St. Paul and the Holy Spirit teach us in the New Testament: “You are now Christ’s body, and individually parts of it… He is the head of the body, the Church, … [and] we, though many, are one body in Christ.” Jesus himself teaches, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” This is why he will declare at the Last Judgment “what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me” and “whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Our mystical union with Jesus Christ is more intimate than we realize and this has important implications.

The 1st Letter of St. John tells us, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Now man does not live by bread alone, but we are called to practice Corporal (that is, bodily or material) Works of Mercy. St. James writes, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is that?” Jesus is hungry and thirsty, ill-clothed and a stranger, sick and imprisoned in his brothers and sisters, and our love for him is reflected in our care for them.

Yet do not fall for the demons’ trap; their persistent accusations which sound like: “You could be doing more; you should always be doing more!” They seek to rob you of your peace and lead you to ultimately give up the good things you are doing because of discouragement. God our Maker knows that our time, talents, and treasure are finite; resources spent on one holy effort cannot be spent on another. Nevertheless, it is important for us to be self-reflective and truly generous with ourselves and what we have.

When you see others or interact with people, try to remember the One whom you mystically encounter. Give them the royal treatment. Notice how both the saved and the damned will someday ask our King, ‘When did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison?’ He will reply, ‘Indeed, whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.’ It is a truer reality than we realize and all too easily forgotten, yet valuable for us to remember always.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Jesus Christ, Last Judgment, Last Things, Love, St. Paul, Sunday Homilies | 1 Comment »

Invest Yourself in Heaven’s Reward

November 19, 2023

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

As Jesus traveled from place to place he preached parables to different people. He told stories, for instance, featuring fields, fish, and flocks to teach farmers, fishermen, and shepherds about the Kingdom of God. It makes sense that Jesus would tell the same stories more than once, for different crowds to hear them for the first time and for his apostles to hear them repeatedly. But the gospels suggest Jesus sometimes changed his parables’ details to highlight different truths. What Jesus says in his Sermon on the Plain is similar but not identical to his Sermon on the Mount. As the Church journeys through our three-year cycle of Sunday readings we hear some parables retold by more than one gospel. And each fall, as we near the end of the Church year, our readings reflect upon the Four Last Things. Today, we have another such parable, about death and judgment, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ and us.

Christ is our Lord, our journeying master who shall return. We are his servants to whom he has entrusted our fortunes. And each of us one day will stand before him to give an account of our faithful or unfaithful service, with generous rewards or just punishments to follow. In Jesus’ telling through St. Matthew’s Gospel, the master entrusts weighty slabs of precious metal (called talents) in varying numbers to his servants, each according to their abilities. Upon his return, his faithful servants have doubled what they were given and receive the same words of praise: “Well done, my good and faithful servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy!” One servant, however, who buried his talent and returned it ungrown, receives his master’s condemnation and is tossed into the darkness outside.

When Jesus retells his parable in St. Luke’s Gospel, the master is a nobleman who goes off to claim his kingdom, entrusting to ten servants one gold coin each. Upon his return, his faithful servants reveal their various positive returns on his investment. One has earned ten more gold coins and his king declares, “Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.” Another servant has earned five more coins and the king decrees, “You, take charge of five cities.” One servant, however, hid his coin in a napkin and returned it unmultiplied. The king condemns that servant and orders all of his enemies who did not want him as their king to be slain.

The differences between these two parables highlight different truths about Heaven. In the first parable, the master speaks the same blessing to each faithful one: “Well done, good servant! … Come, share your master’s joy!” But in the other parable, the king gives his servant with ten additional coins ten cities and gives his servant with five additional coins five cities. So is Heaven’s reward the same for all the saints or can one’s reward be greater than another’s? One parable suggests their reward is the same, while the other suggests their rewards vary. On one hand, the reward of every saint is the same: they experience God’s unveiled glory forever in happy, loving communion with him and all who are in Christ. On the other hand, a great saint’s capacity for love and joy and glory may be greater than another’s.

Doctor of the Church St. Therese of Lisieux recounts in her great autobiography (“Story of a Soul”) how this idea once troubled her as a child: “One day, I expressed surprise that God does not give an equal amount of glory to all the elect in Heaven—I was afraid that they would not all be quite happy. [My older sister Pauline] sent me to fetch Papa’s big tumbler and put it beside my tiny thimble, then, filling both with water, she asked me which seemed the fuller. I replied that one was as full as the other—it was impossible to pour more water into either of them, for they could not hold it. In this way [she] made it clear to me that in Heaven the least of the Blessed does not envy the happiness of the greatest…”

Notice how in both forms of Jesus’ parable all the faithful servants are entrusted with greater responsibilities. The saints in Heaven are likewise given higher roles as our intercessors now and in the family and household of God forever. Consider how many churches, religious communities, and cities around the world are dedicated to St. Paul. They are blessed to have him as a loving patron praying for them. And consider how the Blessed Virgin Mary shall always hold a privileged place in Heaven as the spiritual mother of every Christian.

St. Paul says, “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” The generosity of our loving gifts to Christ, the additional sacrifices we make and good deeds we do, will surely not go unrewarded. Jesus tells us, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” Our individual hustle, cooperating with Christ’s grace, can win us greater glory, therefore “run so as to win!”

We should not fear that we lack sufficient talents or gifts to produce good fruits for glory. In the first parable, every faithful servant was able to double his money and won his master’s praise. The issue with that unfruitful, condemned servant is that he never tried. His master calls him “wicked” and “lazy” because that servant did not make even the most minimal effort to grow his gift. “Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?” That servant did not love his lord but rather resented his lordship over him. Which is easier: to digging a hole or visiting the bank? He did not want to be his master’s servant, he did not want him as his king, and so he finds himself condemned and cast out forever. But if we love our Lord we will produce fruit, just as “every good tree bears good fruit.” As Jesus declares, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.”

What is something more that you will do with the talents and gifts our Lord has lent you? It could be something large or small, in private or with others. You could be a more-focused prayer warrior, or offer secret penances for the salvation of souls. You could start a Catholic book or movie club at your home, or organize a regular Bible study that discusses the upcoming Sunday readings. You could visit shut-ins as an extraordinary Eucharistic minister, or invite somebody new each week to come with you to Mass. There are many good things you could do and I urge you to consider and answer this call, for Jesus Christ will honor your faithful, loving efforts with glorious rewards.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Generosity, Heaven, Homily, Last Judgment, Last Things, Parables, Sacrifice, Saintly People, Salvation, Service, St. Therese of Lisieux, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Use Them Or Lose Them

November 18, 2023

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

This is the harvest season, the fall of the year. I have seen many farmers harvesting their crops. Just as the farmers hope to have good crops, so God expects a return on his investment in each of us. The problem is we do not know when our harvest day will come. Each person comes into the world with talents from God. We do not know how much God has given to us. There may be five talents, two talents, or one talent.

The main theme of the three readings today is an invitation to live in such a way that we develop and make the best use of the talents, skills, abilities, and gifts God has given us. So that, at the hour of our death, our Lord will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and share the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25: 21)

In the first reading, we have a beautiful description of a ‘worthy wife.’ This praise-worthy woman dedicates herself to doing good, investing her talents for the benefit of all. A man with such a wife is greatly blessed; her value is far beyond pearls. He entrusts his heart to her. This woman represents each of us. She also represents the whole church, the bride of Christ, in joyful service of her groom, the Lord. Each of us brings honor to the Lord when we serve him freely, joyfully, and, generously.

The Parable of the Talents gives us several important lessons. First, it tells us God gives each person different gifts. The actual number and quality is not important, we are asked to make full use of what we have been given for the benefit of the community. When everyone does that, the community is enriched. Second, our work is never completed. We are asked to make full use of what we have. The servants in the parable were not told that they could sit back and rest. Rather, because of their trustworthiness, even greater responsibilities were given to them.

The man with one talent did not lose it. He did not do anything at all. If he had tried and failed, he would have met compassion and forgiveness. Every person has the responsibility to be active in the Kingdom of God. Finally, to the one who has, more will be given. For the one who has not used the talent, even what he has will be taken away. It seems rather unfair, like robbing the poor to pay the rich. However, Jesus is saying that those who share generously the gifts they have been given are likely to find themselves constantly enriched.

Let us focus our attention on the third servant. He does not do well. So what are his problems? He chose the least risky action available to him. This servant knew what was expected of him but failed out of fear. He tries to give all possible excuses to his master. Fear is a powerful force in some of our lives; those who have experienced a lot of criticism growing up can be slow to take a risk and may not develop. There is a saying that goes like this, “Praise the young and they will make progress. Criticize the young and they will be held back.” Unfair criticism can stop the growth of the person.

So let us help each other with words of encouragement. As St. Paul says, “Encourage one another and build each other up, as indeed you are doing.” There is much to learn from our mistakes of the past, but the Lord would not want us to bury ourselves and our talents in the ground. Now is not the time to hide our talents out of fear. Rather, it is a time to share them and to encourage each other to do the same. It is your choice now are you going to use them or lose them.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Parables, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

In Jesus, We Find Total Comfort — Funeral Homily for John “Jack” Clark, 89

November 17, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

On behalf of the parish community of St. Paul’s, I would like to extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the members of John William Clark’s family. I would like to assure his children, grandchildren, and near and dear ones of my prayers.

Death is not the end but the beginning of a new life. We pray that our brother Jack is with God and enjoys eternal life with the communion of saints. A life with countless blessings, joy, love, and happiness. We are all hoping for that life.

Our brother Jack was born on March 1st, 1934. In the town of Auburn. Jack attended elementary school in Fox Settlement and graduated from Colfax High School in 1951. He married Marie Rubenzer at St. Paul’s Catholic Church and were they both longtime members. Jack served in the military for two years, and after that, he worked at the Sand Creek Creamery, and as a truck driver for various companies. Jack owned and operated a dairy for many years. Later he worked for ITW Corporation for eleven years.

After his retirement, he enjoyed deer hunting, cutting wood, gardening, and spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed the dance called Polka and the waltz, and fun conversations with his friends. He was known as a man with a beer in his hand who loved Friday Fish Fries.

Our readings this morning give us great consolation. In our first reading, we were told the Lord would wipe away tears from every cheek. We know that everything we do makes sense only if it is leading us to peace in God. We know there are many distractions and temptations in life, all pretending to offer us peace and happiness, but none of them do because we know that we will find this peace and happiness only in God. When we find our peace in God, we become friends of God, when we live with God’s love in our hearts, then we have peace. That is why our first reading says the Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek. When we hope in the Lord for salvation, how blessed we are.

All of us have problems in life. Big or small, these problems burden us and make us sad. When these problems go unsolved for a long time, we feel disappointed and become depressed. In these moments from whom do we seek help? Here is the good news our gospel today. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” The most comforting words of Jesus in the gospel. Anyone who is feeling tired, disappointed, or depressed can be lifted up by the comforting promise of Jesus.

As we believe our brother Jack is in the arms of God, we pray for him during this Mass. We pray for him to be embraced by Jesus’ unconditional love and merciful judgment. We pray for him to be embraced by Mother Mary, the Mother of God who knows how to bring her children to Jesus.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him
May he rest in peace!
Amen.

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Sometimes Just Being There Is Enough

November 12, 2023

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon Dick Kostner

Today’s Gospel message of the ten women who had the job of greeting the bridegroom (Jesus) teaches us that we might not be able to be perfect in the mission God has for us but that’s OK God only asks for us to say “yes” and be present as his representative when we are challenged with his call for service. Our gospel today has five women who, in their mind dropped the ball on not being properly prepared to great a bridegroom because they did not anticipate that he would be late and that they would not have enough oil for their candles to be lit when he arrived so they left the scene to get more oil. They underestimated the fact that their presence was what was the gift to the bridegroom not their lit candle.

Sometimes we overestimate the details of a mission God has for us because we want to be “perfect” in doing ministry for God and we forget about what is really important to God, and so we miss out on seeing God smile at us for doing his will even though we missed out on being “perfect” in carrying out a request by God. Two examples that made me realize these facts come to my mind when I was asked by God to help out as a member of the Body of Christ.  The first was when I did my first Communion Service as a lay minister at St. Paul’s. I was nervous and after I had completed that mission request, I realized that I had forgot to do the prayer petitions. This bothered me all day but after Mass one Sunday a parishioner came up to me and thanked me for “being there for them” in doing a Communion Service when Father was not able to celebrate a Mass.

The second example was when I had just recently been ordained a deacon. Father was out of town and I received a call at 1:30 AM from the hospital saying a family had requested the Last Rites for their son who was involved in an accident and was dying.  I told the nurse that I was not able to anoint but she persisted and asked if I could just come and say some prayers with the family? I gulped hard, put on some clothes, grabbed my prayer book and left for the hospital. I did not know what I could  or should say to the family as I was unprepared for this event, kind of like the women in today’s gospel.  When I got there everyone was around the sons hospital bed and crying. The injured man was in great pain and was fighting for his life. I opened my prayer book and began saying a “Litany of Prayers.” It was not long and everyone began to stop crying and the injured person relaxed and settled down.

It was like a faucet of suffering had been shut off for both the family and their son through the prayers that I had shared with them.  After the prayers, the family thanked me for “being there” for their son and for them. As I left I realized that I had not put on my Deacon Shirt and collar which would have been proper if I had only thought of it and I felt bad for dropping the ball. As I was driving home I remembered the last words the family spoke to me. “Thanks for being there for us.” I envisioned Jesus smiling at me and saying, “You done good, thanks for being there for me!”

Recently, I had an opportunity to talk to an adult within our community who is in constant touch with and contact with our young people.  I told that person that I was concerned about the our world and how we don’t have any tolerance for a difference of opinion. This person told me that within our community he has seen a very positive response from young people to be patient with other young people who are not only opposed to their idea of what being Christian is all about, and who have also been tolerant with those who feel that they need to oppose with aggression those who are not in agreement with their beliefs. He told me that it was not only with Catholic children but also children of other faiths within our community who are tolerant with others who have opposing views. A child’s primary mentor is its parents and family. God speaks to us through our mind and the mouths of his people, who St. Paul refers to as “The Body of Christ”.

Folks, “the Body of Christ” is alive and working even in our troubled world, and although we may not be as prepared as we would like to be I believe that Jesus looks upon us with a smile and as Jesus said to me he says to our faith community: “Bloomer, people, you have done good, and a big thanks for being there representing my presence!”

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Why Five & Five? What Is Our Oil?

November 11, 2023

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Jesus tells us, “The Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” In those days, the Jewish custom was for a man and woman to get betrothed. This marked the start of their marriage covenant, yet the husband and wife would live separately for the first year. In the meantime, the bridegroom would return to his father’s house and prepare a dwelling place for their life together. Once all was ready, he would joyfully return to bring her to himself. She would be expecting him, but would not know the hour, so she awaited his arrival with her bridesmaids. The bridegroom and his groomsmen would come and escort the bride and her bridesmaids to his father’s house for the consummation of their marriage and seven days of feasting.

This is the cultural context for what Jesus tells us at the Last Supper, as recorded in St. John’s Gospel: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” These Jewish marriage customs also provide the setting for today’s gospel parable about ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom.

Five of them were wise and five of them were foolish, with the foolish ones foregoing flasks of extra oil and, as a result, being shut out of the wedding feast. Jesus Christ called himself the Bridegroom and the Book of Revelation says his saints will enjoy “the wedding feast of the Lamb.” Before unpacking how we can avoid the foolish ones’ fate, consider this question: why five foolish ones and five wise?

Like other storytellers, our Lord theoretically could have crafted his parable’s details differently. Given ten female characters, instead of five foolish and five wise, Jesus could have told a tale about one foolish virgin and nine wise ones, or preached a parable about nine foolish virgins and one wise one, or shaped his story as one of the six other mixtures where some were foolish and some were wise. So why did he say five and five?

Jesus knew that if his parable had featured just one fool beside nine wise virgins, we might presumptuously assume this story’s warning does not apply to us. On the other hand, if Jesus’ parable had featured nine fools and only one wise virgin, we might despair of being among those who enter the feast. Instead, Jesus speaks of five and five so that we will take this parable seriously yet also have confidence that we can take prudent steps to follow the Bridegroom.

What do the five wise and five foolish virgins teach us? What sort of persons were they, and what oil do we require? For an answer, recall another parable of Jesus.

In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, after a life in which he callously neglected to care for poor Lazarus at his doorstep, a rich man suffers punishment in flames. He calls out to Abraham above: “I beg you, father, send [Lazarus] to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment!” St. Jerome, the fourth-century Church Father and Doctor of the Church, saw symbolism in this rich man’s five brothers. Jerome sees them as the wicked man’s five bodily senses which were not ordered and dedicated to God. St. Jerome declares to that rich man:

“[Y]ou have five brothers: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. These are the brothers to whom formerly you were enslaved. Since they were the brothers you loved, you could not love your brother Lazarus. Naturally you could not love him as brother, because you loved them. Those brothers have no love for poverty. Your sight, your sense of smell, your taste, and your sense of touch were your brothers. These brothers of yours loved wealth and they had no eye for poverty. … They are the brothers who sent you into these torments.”

God created and bestowed us our bodily senses, and they are good. Through them we sustain our lives, experience one another and this world, and delight in God’s good creations. The goodness of these material things reflect the goodness of their Maker. But it is easy for sinful humanity to become fixated on these delightful things resulting in the distracted neglect or sinful contempt of our Creator.

What is to keep our flame of faith from going out, plunging us into darkness, stopping us from following the Bridegroom? How can we properly order our five senses, and be like the wise virgins rather than the foolish, lest the Lord declare, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you”? We need oil to keep our lamps faithfully burning and follow Christ in the light. But what is that oil?

In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with holy olive oil. Jesus was revealed to be the Christ, the Messiah – titles which mean “Anointed One.” At Jesus’ baptism, St. John the Baptist knew Jesus was the “Anointed One” when he saw the Holy Spirit descend upon him. And then at Nazareth, Jesus proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…” So the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Jesus, our priest, prophet, and king, is like anointing oil. The Holy Spirit is the oil we need for our burning lamps. If we are wise we will invite and welcome this third divine Person to pour out upon us, fill us, and fuel us. He will keep our faith burning and direct our bodily senses so that we may wisely follow Christ our Bridegroom into joy.

“Come Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful
& kindle in them the fire of your love.”

Posted in Holy Spirit, Homily, Parables, Rich Man & Lazarus, Sunday Homilies, Ten Virgins, Typology | 3 Comments »

Led by the Sacraments — Funeral Homily for Leona Rothbauer, 85

November 11, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

On behalf of the parish community of St. John’s, I would like to extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the members of Leona’s family. I would like to assure her husband, children, grandchildren, and near and dear ones of my prayers.

The Lord first stretched out his hand to her in the waters of baptism so many years ago. As the water washed her clean of the stain of sin, the lord Jesus welcomed her as a member of his Body and opened the gates of his Church to her. Looking back on her life, we know that the hand of the Lord did not abandon Leona, but remained constantly with her.

Repeatedly the Lord stretched out his hand to her in the sacrament of Penance for the forgiveness of sins. In the Holy Communion, he continually offered himself to her. When she was sick, the Lord anointed her to strengthen her and supported her with his grace in her final days. In marriage, the hand of the Lord was with her, blessing her with children and a wonderful life. Indeed, the Lord stretches out his hand to each of us every day of our lives. He offers it to us and with his hand comes his grace, his power, and his love. This requires our cooperation with the Lord’s grace; it requires that we stretch out our hand to Him.

Leona had a wonderful life on Earth; she was born on August 2, 1938. She graduated from Cadott High School and married Sylvan at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Boyd, Wisconsin on October 17, 1959. Leona was a loving and hard-working farm wife, she gave first place to her family. She was very much interested in cooking, baking, gardening, crafting, and caring for animals. She enjoyed with her husband traveling to various places such as Canada, Europe, and Las Vegas. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Leona and Sylvan have been longtime members of St. John the Baptized Catholic Church, where she was an active member of the altar Rosary Society.

In the gospel reading today, Jesus utters his final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.” Jesus commits his spirit to the Father and points us to the Father throughout his life. Jesus spends his time alone in prayer with his father, accepting his will and his call. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus surrenders himself to the will of the Father. Jesus’s words in death remind us of the way he lived his life. Repeatedly placing himself into his father’s hands. Jesus is the best example for us to place our work and efforts, our relationships, our words and actions, and our spirits into God’s hands.

The best way to remember Leona is to live as she did; dying to yourself so that others might live and flourish, following the example of Jesus Christ. In this way, you will come to find your life, the life unending, the life of joy and peace.

Let us then commend Leona into the hand of God. May the Lord honor his servant and welcome her into the mansions of his glory, that, having taken his hand, she might see her Savior face to face.

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Humility & Service

November 5, 2023

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

This week’s readings offer a clear invitation to all of us to be humble and give loving service to God and others. To help us reflect on the readings and understand their context, let us recall some of the history of Israel. God the Father gave the Law through Moses and appointed him the Law’s official teacher. Moses handed his responsibility to Joshua, Joshua transmitted it to the elders, and the elders passed it down to the next generation. From them, the scribes and Pharisees received the Law, and the authority to teach and interpret it to His people. Their duty is to interpret the true meaning of the Law to his people.

In the first reading, then, God expresses his personal love towards Israel. However, the people of Israel did not respond to his divine love. Both the people and the priests had become prideful. For this reason, God was angry with the people of Israel at the same time, they had also become sinful in their lives, walking away from the righteousness of the Lord.

We have a different example in St. Paul, who, in our second reading today tells us his description of his humility among the Thessalonians, that he was a caring and dedicated leader. He tells them that he worked day and night while preaching the gospel. He was not trying to impress them or gain anything from them. Thus, he was giving to people not simply human words but the words of God. St. Paul is truly a great example, putting into practice what Jesus teaches today: “The greatest among you must be your servant.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus affirms the leadership of Pharisees and Scribes. He tells His disciples to obey and respect them but not to follow their example. What they say is true so follow them, but in practice, they are misusing their authority for the sake of their selfish advantage. So, do not imitate their example. Authority is entrusted to us by God not to dominate or exploit others but for humble service to others. The Scribes and Pharisees had lost sight of this.

On the other hand, Jesus and Mother Mary are two great examples of humility and service. Mary said to the angel Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) When Mary consented to become the mother of Jesus, she ran the risk of being stoned to death because that was the penalty for an unmarried mother. Therefore, Mary, in her humility and desire to serve God. Mary is a model of humility and service for us. She is a model of giving and not counting the cost.

Jesus is our other greatest model of humility and service. In Gethsemane, in prayer, Jesus let go of his human will and submitted to the will of his Father. “Not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Crucifixion was the form of the death penalty for common criminals at that time in the Roman Empire. Jesus was executed as a common criminal. He knew that this was the sort of death that awaited Him. However, through his death, he won life for us all. The Son of Man came to serve, not to be served.

Humble people are happy because they accept themselves for who they are – children of God. They are willing to learn and willing to serve. Are you a humble person?

Posted in Chrisitian Virtues, Christian Perfection, Homily, Humility, Service, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

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