Announcements: 5th Week in Ord Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: This week you are encouraged to uncover your lights (please see homily below). This picture was taken Saturday evening, January 29, 2011, St. Theresa Parish Naknek.

Prayers: Please keep Pat Durbin in your prayers as he will be in Anchorage a couple weeks after recovering from a doctor’s appointment.

Around the Mission: For the first time in six years we had a missed approach into Dillingham due to strong winds. Since the wind was blowing over 30 knots to begin with, I decided not to fly our Cherokee Warrior II to King Salmon and Back. Instead I flew in a single engine Penair Saratoga (a bit larger than our Warrior II). On the way from King Salmon to Dillingham the wind was reported at 23 knots (a direct crosswind over runway 01). It would be a treacherous but doable landing for the skilled Penair pilot Jason. When we arrived at Dillingham the wind had cranked up to 38-40 knots. We were literally sideways on final approach. The severe wind made it impossible to straighten out the small Saratoga and Jason had to abort the landing. We flew all the way back to King Salmon with a 60 Knott headwind and lots of bumps (I even started to feel sick). I also had to cancel going to Clarks Point due to the wind. The weather did improve enough to do a quick practice flight to Igiugig on Wednesday.

Canon Law: I am continuing to do Canon Law Marriage Tribunal work for all three Alaskan Dioceses, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.

Sunset Picture: Here is another picture I took from the basement of Saint Theresa in Naknek, Alaska, after our aborted landing in Dillingham.


Have a fantastic week…Fr. Scott

Homily and Readings:

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Bushel Basket, Isaiah 58:7-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16

Have you ever tried to hide your light under a bushel basket?

Here is a candle and here is a glass jar. The candle represents the light of Christ in each one of us. The jar represents a bushel basket.

When a lit candle is covered up by this pint Mason jar the fire eats up the air. The candle’s light slowly starts to dim and go out.

This candle covered up and going out is an analogy for our spiritual lives. If the light of Christ within us is covered up, the light slowly dims. Eventually spiritual death occurs.

The gospel says that if our lights are hidden, then that light must be uncovered.

There are several ways to uncover a hidden light. My Spiritual Director at Mt. Angel told me that if we don’t bring our secret sins to light, then it is really tough to get rid of them.

“Talking about our secret sins,” he says, “breaks the power that satin has over them.” In this case, the jar represents sins we do in secret. Removing the jar is the sacrament of reconciliation.

Here is a great way to give your light some oxygen: Get involved with this Church. Be a lector, be a Eucharistic minister, learn to play the piano, clean, help with our accounting, count the Sunday collection, fix things, and give money.

Partaking in the body of Christ uncovers our light. Not going to Mass every Sunday is the cover (the Jar). Taking off the cover is receiving Holy Communion.

I urge you this week to remember this demonstration. If our lights are covered they you will slowly suffocate. Figure out new ways to brighten that light that is within you. This week make an attempt to uncover your light in a big way (300 Words).

Isaiah 58:7-10
Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday;

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive (words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Announcements: 4th Sunday in Ord Time Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: The Beatitudes tell us how to be happy in this world. (Please read the Homily below).

Confirmation: There will be a meeting after Mass for those wanting to be confirmed (Sunday, 30 Jan, 2011).

New Roman Missal: I will be going to Anchorage the End of February to receive training on the implementation of the New Roman Missal.

Diocesan Pastoral Council: Thank you Angela Clark who attended the Pastoral Council meeting in Anchorage last week. This Archdiocesan council is composed of representatives from every parish in the Archdiocese.

Prayers: Please keep Pat Durbin in your prayers as he will be in Anchorage the next couple of weeks. Pat is getting medical attention and will be in the hospital for a few days then he will be staying with some friends in Wasilla.

New Pastor: I met with the Archbishop and the Vicar for Priests last week. In July, 2011, I will be leaving and getting a new parish. My new parish has not yet been decided. Additionally, the Archbishop is deciding on who will be the new pastor of the Holy Rosary Mission. Updates to follow.

Carolina Beach Today: An internet newspaper wrote a great article about my new "lighted cap." To read the article CLICK HERE.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday.

Homily

04th Ord A DLG 2011 Beatific, Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Caliph of Cordoba, a 10th century ruler, declared he had riches, honors, power, and pleasure at his command. After 50 years of absolute rule, he counted up the days of genuine happiness he had enjoyed…fourteen days.

All happiness comes from God. It doesn’t come from money, power, or pleasure. Happiness is a gift that God gives us. It is when we are closest to God that we are the most happy.

Perfect happiness can only be experienced after death when we see God face to face. Catholics call this the beatific vision. The vision of God is perfect happiness; heaven is eternal bliss.

The beatitudes in the gospel are about people who are as about as close as one can get to being perfectly happy on earth.

How blessed (happy, lucky) are those who are poor: In other words, how lucky you are if you are not attached to material things.

Everyone of us is wired to God…we are hotwired to God. We desire God inherently. When we short circuit that connection to God with other desires, we set ourselves up for frustration. I hunger for that bank account. I hunger for that new car.

For a while things we buy are fulfilling. They satisfy. Like a drug that newly purchased car, or bike, are that top of the line computer gives me a high, but the drug wears off, and I need more.

I get a buzz when I get more. I panic, the buzz wears off, I want more. I am addicted. Jesus says, how lucky you are if you are not attached to material thing. When our hunger for God is hooked to some earthly pleasure or desire, we feel miserable…we are not as happy.

How blessed you are when people hate you…rejoice and leap for joy. Translation: How lucky you are if you are not addicted to the approval of others. Ever fished for a compliment? Like if someone said, Fr. Scott that was a great homily. Then next week I ask people, how did you like that homily? Fishing for approval.

Like anything else, the approval of others becomes an addictive drug…I need more and more and more. How fortunate you are if you are not addicted to the approval of others. You are focused on Christ. Christ is your center.

Remember this, all you need to do is please God…do the best you can, love your neighbor, be kind to others, and struggle with your sins.

Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “You want to know what the happy life is: Love what Jesus loved on the Cross and despise what Jesus despised on the cross. How lucky you are who are poor. Jesus cannot grasp at any material things on the cross.

How lucky you are if you are not attached to good feelings. Think of Jesus is on the cross. If Jesus had made good feelings the center of his life, he would have NEVER come to the cross. Jesus did not love approval from others. His was detached from material things…this allowed him to be attached to God’s will.

My brothers and sisters, Jesus on the cross is a sign for us. He is a sign of happiness. Jesus on the cross becomes the center of the spiritual life. Jesus on the cross reminds us how to be happy. I ask all of you to take a good look at a crucifix. See if you can see these beatitudes. Jesus on the cross says pure of heart, simple, a peacemaker, poor, and most importantly, happy (592 Words).

First Reading: Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13
Seek the Lord all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord. In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Announcements: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Congratulations: Congrats to Liam and Layla. They were baptized last week. Here is a picture of Pat Durbin welcoming Layla into the Catholic Community with a sign of the cross on her forehead.

Gospel: Praying and worshiping in harmony is paramount to Catholicism. We gather together every Sunday because we believe it is more pleasing to Jesus to pray and worship together as one family of God. That is the main argument for attending Mass as opposed to “me, and nature, and God.” Yes, everyone should have a personal relationship with God outside of the gathering at Mass every Sunday, but that should never take the place of gathering together, as one family of God, to pray and worship. (Please read the Homily below).

Confirmation: Please let me know if anyone would like to be confirmed around Easter Time. I have one person so far and three or four in mind that I need to ask.

Around the Mission: I flew to Goodnews Bay for the first time on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. It was a beautiful clear day. I climbed up to 6,000 feet and about 20 miles out started my descent. It took my awhile to find Goodnews because the runway was hard to see in the snow. But, good news, I found Goodnews. I was also able to fly to King Salmon/Naknek on Saturday. It was about a negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit with the chill factor. I fly to Anchorage on Penair Monday, January 17, and will return on Thursday.

Here is a picture of Goodnews Bay I took after I found it.


Prayers: Please keep Pat Durbin in your prayers as he will be going to Anchorage this week for a Doctor’s appointment. Also, please keep the family of Emily Ruby Olson in your prayers. Emily two weeks ago and the family will be gathering in Dillingham and Clarks Point on Monday, January 17.

Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott

Homily: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 23, 2011, Isaiah 8:23--9:3; 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13 & 17; Matthew 4:12-23

In the reading from Corinthians, Saint Paul is giving us telling us about one of the first Christian communities ever established, Corinth. The community of Corinth was having trouble united…living in harmony together. Some wanted to follow Paul, some Apollos, and some Kephas. Paul basically says that for the good of all people, Jesus Christ us our leader. Jesus unites us. Jesus helps us to live in Harmony. The gospel tells us that to live in harmony is to live in light.

Corinth was having trouble uniting and living in harmony. You might say they were living in disharmony. Today, many of us live in disharmony. To live in disharmony is to live in darkness.

Here are several examples of living in disharmony or darkness today: warfare, violence in our homes, religious, sexual, or racial prejudice, extreme poverty and injustice, loneliness, life without love, the sense that God is distant or that life in meaningless, being guilt ridden, the inability to forgive, addiction. These are all forms of disharmony or living in darkness.

The readings challenge us to live in harmony. We live in harmony by seeking out the light. How powerful are we when we work in harmony together.

Saint Athanasius says, “Consider the example of our soul. It moves our senses according to their several functions so that in the presence of a single object they all act simultaneously: the eye sees, the ear hears, the had touches, the nose smells, the tongue tastes, and often the other parts of the body act as well, for example, the feet may walk.

Think of a musician tuning his lyre. By his skill he adjusts high notes to low and intermediate notes to the rest, and produces a series of harmonies. So too the wisdom of God holds the world like a lyre and joins things in the air to those on earth, and things in heaven to those in the air, and brings each part into harmony with the whole.

What does it look like to be united and to work in harmony? Think of Hurricane Katrina. That was God’s people working in harmony together. Since there are different times zones around the world, when religious and laity pray the Liturgy of the Hours, it is like a constant river of prayer going to our Heavenly Father.” Praying in harmony gets God’s attention.

Are there advantages to living in perfect harmony? Saint Ignatius said, “If you live in harmony God will listen to you and see from your good works that you are members of his Son. “It is an advantage to you to live in perfect unity, so that at all times you may share in God.”

God has adopted us. He unites all people; He made each of us special. We each have something that nobody else has to contribute. Janitors, fishermen, politicians, mill workers, police, accountants…it takes all of our gifts to build up God’s Kingdom. Each on of us, working together with God, allows love to flourish, brings us peace, and gives us hope for eternal life. When we work in harmony together, we can move mountains (522 Words)!

First Reading: Isaiah 8:23--9:3

First he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land West of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13 & 17

I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Kephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17 short form or Matthew 4:12-23 for long form.

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Announcements: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Gospel: At Baptism we receive a spiritual thumbprint right in the center of our foreheads. (Please see Homily and readings below)

Ordinary Time: The Baptism of the Lord last Sunday kicked off Ordinary Time. There are nine Sundays of Ordinary Time from now until Ash Wednesday.

Around the Mission: After having Tucker Aviation (Dave) repair a leak in my fuel system, I was able to fly our Cherokee Warrior II about six hours this last week. For practice and to check out the maintenance on the fuel system, I flew from Dillingham, to Kokiganek, New Stuyahok, Manokotak, and back. I flew to Clarks Point and King Salmon/Naknek for Mass. To King Salmon and back, a total of 128 air miles, I burned 13.5 gallons of 100LL. At 6 dollars per gallon, that comes to $81. The going seat fair Round Trip to King salmon is about $250.

Here is a picture I took on my way to Clarks Point, via Portage Creek, Friday, Jan 7, 2011. It was a very beautiful morning.



New Years: During New Years Day I was supposed to be at Saint Theresa in King Salmon for Mass but the weather was too bad for me to fly myself and Penair was shut down for the holiday. Parishioners at King Salmon/Naknek put a sign on the front door of Saint Theresa:



Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday...Fr. Scott

Homily:

2nd Ord DLG 2011, Is 49:3&5-6; 1 Cor 1:1-3; John 1:29-34

There are four important elements in our world. They are water, air, fire, and earth. God takes these four elements and makes them full of saving power. For example, water used in baptism represents life. Water nourishes crops, supplies us with seafood, refreshes us, and gives us recreation.

From the earth come animals. Saint John refers to earthly images, birds and animals, to refer to the saving power God has sent us. For example a dove is used for the Holy Spirit and Jesus for the Lamb of God.

Out of all these elements, water is the most important. It is used for the sacrament of Baptism.

If you were baptized as an infant, like I was, you don’t remember what happened. What happened to Jesus more or less happened to us. John, in today’s gospel accounts that, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.”

Marks gospel says, “A voice came from the heavens, you are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." After Jesus was baptized, he baptized us with the Holy Spirit. It was then that God identified us as his adopted Children.

When God adopts us, it is like he puts his thumbprint right in the middle of our foreheads. He marks us his own.

At Baptism we receive the of the Holy Spirit. God marks us for life. That mark means help, protection, and guidance to all of us who believe.

Unlike Jesus, who is human and divine, we are mere humans. Through our words and deeds, we can smudge our spiritual thumbprint or blur our special relationship with God.

Blurring our adopted relationship happens through things like indifference, swearing, jealousy, impatience, and selfishness…we all sin.

But when our thumbprints get smudged, God helps us to clean them. We are not thrown to the wolves. Our Lord will never abandon us. He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us.

The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in goodness through the moral virtues. Prudence helps us to choose the true good. Justice challenges us to be fair to our neighbors. Fortitude strengthens us so we can overcome our fears. Temperance assists us in finding balance and helps us to moderate when using earthly goods.

Isaiah tells us, “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

As God’s adopted children, we are not just God’s servants…that is too little says Isaiah. We are that light, which can reach out to all people to the ends of the earth.

Each time we seize an opportunity to reach out to people, our spiritual thumbprint gets a cleaner. It gets cleaner when we apologize to someone we have hurt. It gets cleaner when we help our next-door neighbor with a problem. It gets cleaner when we visit a sick person in the hospital.

When you get home, take a look in the mirror. Think about that special covenant God made with you at the time of your baptism…that unique thumbprint stamped right in the middle of your forehead. How clean is that thumbprint stamped on your forehead? If it is smudged, what can you do to clean it (541 Words)?

Isaiah 49:3&5-6
You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:29-34
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

Announcements: Baptism of the Lord Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Baptism: During Mass on Sunday two children will be baptized, Liam and Layla. What a perfect time for a baptism on the Sunday of the “Baptism of the Lord.”

Reception after Baptism: Please bring something to eat for the reception after the Baptism.

Around the Mission: It was a slow week for flying. I was able to check out the electrical system in the Cherokee Warrior II on December 28. I flew two and one-half hours to New Stuyahok, Levelock, Manokotak, and back to Dillingham. Ops check good. There was wind gusting to 40 miles per hour most of the week, dense fog and icing, and the Dillingham runway was actually closed all day on January 1, 2011 due to “Nil Breaking Action.” The ice was terrible.

Gospel: Why did Jesus have to be baptized? Please see the homily below.

Have a fantastic week and see you Sunday, Fr. Scott

Homily:

Jan 11 Baptism of Lord DLG Baptize, Isaiah 42:1-4 & 6-7; Act 10: 34-38; Mat 3:13-17

When we baptize a new member into the community, we wash that person clean of original sin. All humans are born with original sin, except for Mary. We believe in infant baptism because we believe that it is the best option. The faster we can wash away the original sin, the better.

We also believe that Jesus is sinless. So why would John need to baptize him? Traditionally, there are two answers to this.

First, Jesus became a human (the incarnation). By letting John baptize him Jesus wanted to show that he was fully human and was united with us.

Second, by going down into the waters of the Jordan, he purifies, makes holy, or sanctifies the waters of the Jordan. He in fact sanctifies the waters of the whole world, to make them fitting for his own life-giving sacrament of baptism.

There is rich symbolism in our baptism. Through baptism, we share the faith of those ancient figures in the Old Testament. Picture Moses leading the tired, hot, and hungry Israelites across the desert for 40 years. They finally came to the Holy Land. The trouble was, they had to cross a river before they got there. Right! The Jordan River.

Those Israelites splashed threw that cold water to begin their new lives in the “Land of Milk and Honey.”

As our ancient ancestors did, we too have to cross the desert. Symbolically, this world we live in is like the desert. Our baptism is our first step to reaching the Promised Land. We come out of the desert with Christ to the Jordan River, the river of baptism. We immerse ourselves in the waters of baptism so one-day we will enter the promised land of Heaven.

If you noticed, John immersed Jesus fully in the waters of the Jordan. The word baptism is derived from the Greek word baptizo, “to wash” or “to immerse.” Although most of us are baptized with the sprinkling of water, our Catholic Church encourages full immersion baptism when possible.

The amount of water used at baptism does not make stronger or weaker the baptism. All it takes is blessed water. It does not matter how much.

What full immersion does is link the ritual of baptism more directly to the experience of Jesus. Full immersion means this symbolically: We do not have a detached God who only presides over us; We do not have a coaching God who sits on the sidelines barking orders at us on the field of life; We do not have a policemen God who wants to catch us breaking the rules.

We have a God who in Jesus the Lord immersed himself in our world, heart and mind, soul and divinity, boots and all.

Finally, Jesus spent three days in the tomb at his crucifixion. We plunge our children and adults into the watery tomb of the baptismal font three times. As we do this, we call on the trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to enable them to die to sin and rise to the freedom of Christ’s life.

In the baptism of Jesus, all the history of salvation is summed up and Jesus begins his mission of preaching the Kingdom. He passed that mission on to the apostles, the popes, and the whole church. We are, and will continue to, carry on that mission today 559 Words).


Isaiah 42:1-4 & 6-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Act 10: 34-38
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Announcements: Epiphany (Jan 2, 2011) Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Mission parishioners, here are a few announcements:

Nativity Narrative: Thank you to Bernina and all involved in the Christmas Eve nativity play. It was the first time we have ever tried it and it was excellent. Holy Rosary was packed to e overflowing. Here is a picture of the rehearsal the day before. The play starred twelve children from ages 4-10.

Thank you: Thank you to the Clark family who came by on Christmas eve before mass and decorated the outside Christmas tree with lights and star. The tree was donated by Cindy, who won it from Ducks Unlimited.

Thank you: Our music during Christmas eve was beautiful. Bernina Venua played her flute for the presentation and communion hymns, while Brian Venua played music on the piano for the entrance and recessional. The was the fourteen year old Brian’s fist time taking responsibility to be the musician at Mass. Thank you for helping to make our liturgy prayerful and spiritual.

Note from the Pastor: For a priest like me, where this is my first assignment as a priest, it is such a blessing to see so many Catholics come to the Christmas Eve mass. My heart was warmed! I did not count the people but there was standing room only. I am thinking between 125 and 150 people attended Holy Rosary in Dillingham. At Saint Theresa’s Christmas Eve mass there was also a good turnout of around 40 to 50 people. Thank you! Have a very Merry Christmas Season.

Gospel: Epiphany: (Please see Homily and readings below) Just what is an Epiphany? It is a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. Epiphany is a revelatory manifestation of a divine being. It is a sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something. Epiphany can be a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: “I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself” (Frank Maier).

Have a great week and see you Sunday, Fr. Scott

Homily:

Epiphany Jan 2, 2011, Yr A, Isa 60: 1-6 , Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Mat 2: 1-12

Story: When I first came to Alaska I had a job as a construction worker. It fizzled out six days after I started. I started painting houses. A person’s house I was painting worked at Arco Alaska. She told me I should apply for a job. I got a job as computer graphics specialist in the exploration drafting department. After awhile, I felt I was in a dead end job.

I came to a new understanding. I started thinking about college. I prayed about it. I decided to attend UAF. It meant quitting my high paying job. It meant suffering because of the income loss, the transition, and moving away from friends. Finally, I received a business degree and became a Confirmed Catholic. I thanked God for turning my life around.

What made me quit my job at Arco and go to College? I call it an Epiphany. An Epiphany is spark of spiritual inspiration. It is an intuitive grasp of reality through a simple and striking event. It is a divine sign spurring us into action. In the gospel the very idea of Gentiles coming to celebrate the birth of a Jewish Messiah is an Epiphany.

We can all have Epiphanies. They appear when we recognize the light of Christ in our lives? Epiphanies enlighten us to a new understanding causing us to change to a holier way of life.

For example: You dropped out of college years ago, but you recently made plans to return. I had friend in college. He kept looking at x rated websites. He took out the modem card, broke it, and chucked it out the window.

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh clues us in on the events that take place during an epiphany.

Gold is symbolizes a new understanding. It represents new wisdom.

Frankincense represents divinity and prayer. It points to a holy way of living that has come into the world in Jesus Christ.

Myrrh tells of the suffering involved in changing our way of life. It foretells the cross. It reminds us always of the price we must pay for anything worthwhile.

How does an epiphany work?

GOLD is a reminder to call on the Holy Spirit for openness to a new understanding or Epiphany. Ever had a real tough decision to make? Struggling with that decision may be an Epiphany in the making. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in that decision.

Frankincense reminds us we have to pray. Pray everyday about that new understanding…that inspiration…that epiphany you have received. Is that new understanding something that will make our life better and holier?

Myrrh reminds us that an Epiphany requires us to do something…make a change. That usually involves suffering. Call on Jesus to help you through that suffering.

Finally, thank God for that better and holier lifestyle (468 Words with story).

Isaiah 60: 1-6
Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Ephesians 3: 2-3a & 5-6
Brothers and sisters, you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, (namely, that) the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Mat 2: 1-12 – “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. When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he 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. Then 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. After their audience with the king they 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. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”

Research for homily:
Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior were three astrologers…men who studied the stars and discovered the meaning of human life on earth. They believed that solar marvels accompanied the birth of great kings. Modern astrologers tell us that there was an unusual solar phenomenon around the time of Jesus’ birth. This unusually bright star led the three wise astrologers to where this great king was. They read the signs in the stars and recognized the true identity of God’s light to us…the Christ Child.

Frankincense is a fragrant, aromatic resin, or gum resin, burned as an incense in religious rites or for medicinal fumigation. It comes from East Indian trees, of the genus Boswellia; and from the Norway spruce (Abies excelsa). The frankincense of the ancient Jews is still unidentified.

Myrrh is a gum resin, usually of a yellowish brown or amber color, of an aromatic odor, and a bitter, slightly pungent taste. It is valued for its odor and for its medicinal properties. It exudes from the bark of a shrub of Abyssinia and Arabia. The myrrh of the Bible is supposed to have been partly the gum above named, and partly the exudation of species of Cistus, or rockrose.

Announcements: Christmas & Holy Family Year A

Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners, here are a few announcements:

CLARKS POINT CHRISTMAS: On Friday, December 17th, I was able to fly to Clarks Point for a Christmas Mass. It was an ecumenical celebration. The children put together a nativity scene puzzle and the adults who were not Catholic came forward for a blessing. Below, in the Gym at Clarks Point, children wait for the Mass to begin.

Clarks Point community members sing the opening Christmas song, "O Come all Ye Faithful." (December 17, 2010). We were fortunate to have the village elder Mun (bottom row third from the right), a 90 year old Yupik, attend the Mass.


CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE: During Christmas there will be a Christmas Eve Mass beginning at 7:30 PM, Friday, December 24th. There will be no Mass Saturday, Christmas Day. We will celebrate Mass on Sunday, December 26 at 12:30 PM (the Holy Family).

NATIVITY PLAY PRACTICE: Please come to the rehearsal for our Christmas Play. The rehearsal is for all children between the ages of three and eight. It will be at Holy Rosary Parish, Thursday, December 23rd, at 2:00 PM. Please call Bernina Venua for more info, 842-1275.

THANK YOU: Thanx to all who helped decorate the Church on Sunday. It looks wonderful.

AROUND THE MISSION: While in Clarks Point on Friday I lost all of my avionics. My engine was still running fine so I took off and flew the 12 miles to Dillingham. I am in the process of pinpointing the short. I also lost my GPS in Clarks Point. It fell out of my Pack. I had the whole town of Clarks looking for it. I finally found it under the pilots seat in the airplane.

HOLY ROSARY MISSION HATS: I ordered 30 more Holy Rosary hats today. Let me know if you are interested.

INTERNET DONATIONS: On our website we have a donation button. This last month I received two donations totaling $200. The Archdiocese of Anchorage is also developing some forms we can use so parishioners can donate on-line or directly to the bank, if they so choose to do so. There are people now who have never signed a check and will probably never have a checkbook.

GOSPEL: Our nativity scene and Christmas card portray the birth of Christ as very neat, clean, and tidy. Most of my Christmas celebrations have never been that orderly. Please see Homily below.

Merry Christmas!! Have a fantastic week and see you Friday! Fr. Scott


HOMILY:

Christmas, 2010: God Meets us in our Humanity:

Today Christmas looks very neat and clean. The Christmas carols we sing and the cards we send make the Nativity look beautiful, and refreshing.

Christmas’s I have experienced in my life have been a little messy. How about yours?

One year I was trying to figure out the present my Grandfather got me. I accidentally ripped it open. It was a holster and two toy six shooters in all of their glory. My Dad was not a happy camper.

Another time my brother and sister and I, I was about 12 years old, decided to get my mom a blender. We saved all our money and got the lady at Brandis Drug Store to give us a huge discount. While at the dinner one evening before Christmas I blurted out, Mom, I can’t wait until you open your blender!

My mom had a new camera. She set the timer, ran over to sit with us in front of the Christmas tree, and fell backward right on top of the tree. Ornaments shattered, lights shorted out, tinsel floated to the ground. My mom was floundering around trying to crawl out from the tree. My eyes were like saucers as I couldn’t believe what happened. Then everyone started laughing.

The birth of Jesus was a little messy as well. Mary and Joseph traveled several days across bandit infested wastelands. Nineteen year old Joseph had to help his fifteen year old wife have a baby. They had the child in a dark and cold manger. The smell of animals must have been nauseating.

The Birth of Jesus is about our God meeting us in our humanity. Jesus meets us as we are. Then, he takes us by the hand and helps us find the way to a life that has meaning and purpose. He takes us as we are and prepares us for eternal life.

This Christmas in the midst of the over-spending, of over-eating and excessive drinking: in the midst of being human, don’t forget what is important:

Bring God’s life to bear on the world every day. Don’t be afraid to bring up God at school, in the work place, at home with the family, in ordinary places you go every day, or in midst of utter chaos.

Christmas is the feast day when we are given the grace to search for an even deeper faith. It is the time of year to respond to everyone we meet with compassion because that is precisely what God did for us in Jesus.

This Christmas no matter how you feel, how stressed out you are, whether you are alone or with friends at Christmas, re-introduce yourself to our Lord and Savior. Let Jesus meet the real you. And then let him lead you down a path of peace, joy, and everlasting life. Merry Christmas everyone (472 Words).