The Epiphany of the Lord_C - Lighten the Load_010222

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Lighten the Load”

The Epiphany of the Lord, Year C

As difficult as it was in the past to take a flight to see the kids or to go on vacation, it has gotten much worse since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The additional testing is another level of frustration on top of those airline regulations that have routinely irritated us. I refer to the 50-pound weight limit for our baggage which, if you go over, you get dinged $35 or $50 penalty. Perhaps you have seen people pulling items out of their check in bag and stuffing them into the carry on to avoid the penalty. If you are smart, you use your scale at home to avoid such a scene at the airport. In that case you might be confronted with the difficult choice of leaving behind that extra sweater or the additional pair of dress shoes and if push comes to shove, and you can’t decide, oh well, you are just going to have to pony up the extra bucks!

I wonder if the Magi had trouble packing all they needed for their trip. They didn’t know how long their journey would take nor what exactly they would need along the way. There was only so much that they could bring with them and there were no shopping malls along the way like there is today. They had to pack wisely if they wanted to find that special object they were seeking, the infant King of the Jews.

This journey of the Magi that announces the Good News of God’s salvation to the entire world invites us to reflect on the journey of our lives. The Magi’s story prompts us to ponder the direction of our lives and asks us, “What is it that we are looking for in this life”? What is the object of our hearts’ desire that is driving us forward each day; what is that “special thing” that will completely satisfy us when we find it? Most of us recognize that our lives are so busy and cluttered at times that we often neglect those important things that give us the most joy and happiness. Suffering from that same condition, I have been asking myself what are the essential, absolute necessities I need to enjoy life. It comes down a single word…relationship. Relationships with my family, friends, and God are what matter most to me at this stage of my life. Perhaps the same is true for you also.

There are so many activities that contribute to the busyness of our lives that don’t contribute to the quality of our lives, nor do they lead us to what is most important: a deeper relationship with those around us and God. If the choices we are making aren’t leading us to deeper, more profound relationships, then, these are the things we need to leave behind, just like we must leave some things behind when we pack for the airport. Life, as we are often reminded, is full of choices…some are good, and others, well, not so good.

There is no doubt whatsoever that we have been in challenging times these past two years brought on by this world-wide pandemic. Worse, it continues to evolve and infect people at an alarming rate. It has changed many people’s lives in ways that were unthinkable as 2019 came to a close. It has created this immense “work from home” workforce; it has changed how people shop, where they shop and what they buy... if you can get it; it has changed the education system by transitioning from classroom to virtual educating, and we have virtual doctor’s visits. Some people are wearing masks, getting vaccinated...and boosted; there are those who are avoiding large indoor gatherings... Yes, it is a different world today and we have all experienced many changes in one way or another. And that includes spiritual matters. Our churches are open for the most part with few restrictions. But many people still avoid attending for fear of getting Covid themselves or infecting their immunocompromised loved ones. Again, all a matter of choice. As I said, some choices are good.... and others, well, not so good.

The choice I hope all can agree upon as we enter into 2022 is our own individual need to make better spiritual choices in the New Year. By that I mean, to choose to spend more time in prayer, more time examining our conscience to see where we need to make some changes in our attitudes or to identify areas where we just aren’t living up the teachings Christ taught us, those difficult things to do like forgiving others, not judging others, stopping gossip or overcoming our skepticism over so many things. As our lives have been turned upside down in many ways because of the pandemic, perhaps we can use the time going forward to delve into our spiritual lives and toss out any baggage that is not leading us into intimate communion with the Heart of God.

May God, who sent His only Son to “dwell among us,” help us to accomplish this in the New Year. And, may God bless you and your loved ones in the days to follow.

Enjoy the day and a very Blessed, Holy, and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.


Deacon Tom

Image Credit: Epiphany_Three-Kings_reyes

The Epiphany of the Lord - Hearts That Throb and Overflow_010321

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Hearts That Throb and Overflow”

The Epiphany of the Lord, Year B

Isaiah gives us a vision of the future to tell us what God has in store us. The only way he can describe it is to describe our reaction to the things God is planning. This is how he sums it up, he says that,“(y)our hearts will throb and overflow…at what we see.”

We have just celebrated Christmas, the birth of Christ, our Savior. The most ancient of prophecies has been fulfilled, and we have joined in the festivities. The good news has gone out to all the earth, into every nook and cranny, carried in the hearts and minds of believers throughout the ages. Christ came to restore what was lost – our union with the divine. As our Covid-19 curtailed celebrations wind down, we can ask ourselves these few questions. Are our hearts throbbing?  Are we overflowing with joy, peace, a clam inner spirit? Are we rejoicing because “the glory of the Lord” is shining in us? That’s what we celebrate today, God’ faithfulness to His promises of old, by repairing the breach that separated creatures from the creator, the human from the divine. What profound reasons for our joyous celebration!

The Spirit of Epiphany is one of an awakening to all that surrounds us. Epiphany happens each and every day we chose to surrender ourselves to God and let Him guide our way, our thoughts and our actions. This is what gets our hearts into a constant state of throbbing and keeps them that way. Yes, a new house….exciting for a while; a new car… fun, until the first dinger; the beach house…that will get the blood flowing during the summer. But where can we find the one thing that will fill all of our hearts desires and keep it throbbing? In the most unlikely place possible… in the very quiet within each of us; that place where God most high has chosen to dwell among us.  

May the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us cause our hearts to throb and overflow as we begin this New Year. And may the love within us reach out to others giving them comfort, hope and joy so that their hearts may throb and overflow with the love of the Christ child too.     

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Deacon Tom

Hearts That Throb And Overflow

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Hearts That Throb And Overflow”

The Epiphany of the Lord, Year B

Isaiah gives us a vision of the future to inform us what God has in store for us. The only way he can describe it is to describe our reaction to the things God is planning. This is how he sums it up, he says that our “hearts will throb and overflow…at what we see”.

We have just celebrated Christmas, the birth of Christ, our Savior. The most ancient of prophecies has been fulfilled, and we have joined in the festivities. The good news has gone out to all the earth, into every nook and cranny, carried in the hearts and minds of believers throughout the ages. Christ came to restore what was lost – our union with the divine. As our celebrations wind down, we can ask ourselves these few questions. Are our hearts throbbing? Are we overflowing with joy, peace, and a clam inner spirit? Are we rejoicing because “the glory of the Lord” is shining in us? That’s what we celebrate today, God’ faithfulness to His promises of old, by repairing the breach that separated creatures from the creator, the human from the divine. What a cause for celebration!

The spirit of Epiphany is one of an awakening to all that surrounds us. Epiphany happens each and every day we chose to surrender ourselves to God and let Him guide our way, our thoughts, and our actions. This is what gets our hearts into a constant state of throbbing and keeps them that way. Yes, a new house... exciting for a while; a new car… fun, until the first dinger; the beach house…that will get the blood flowing during the summer. But where can we find the one thing that will fill all of our hearts desires and keep it throbbing? In the most unlikely place possible… in the very quiet within each of us; that place where God most high has chosen to dwell within us.

May the spirit of Christ dwelling within us cause our hearts to throb and overflow as we begin this New Year. And may the love within us reach out to others giving them comfort, hope, and joy so that their hearts may throb and overflow with the love of the Christ child.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

God's Wonderful Plan

Deacon Tom Writes,

“God’s Wonderful Plan”

The Epiphany of the Lord, Year A

As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany today we recall God’s immense love for his people that gave rise to his taking upon himself our human natures so as to become one with us and claims us as his own. The Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer we hear today tells us how the Father “revealed the mystery of our salvation in Christ as the light of the nations…” This light dawned on that first Christmas day when Mary gave birth to her Son Jesus, who is both Son of God… and Son of Mary.

It was difficult for the Jews of Christ’s time to understand that God willed salvation for everyone; that salvation was not reserved for the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob alone. True, God revealed himself through the Jewish people, but God intended Christ’s redemptive work to be shared by ALL.

This Feast we enjoy today celebrates the reality that God has not restricted or limited the saving work of Jesus Christ. It is through this revealing Christ to the world that God, again, in the words of the Preface, “you made us new by the glory of his (i.e. Christ’s) immortal nature.” What an encouraging thought in light of the many challenges we face today…that we can tap into this newness of life and love that Christ offers each of us.

None of us have the power to change things very much on a global scale. But, each of us can do something to show that we have been renewed and animated by Christ’s love and presence in our lives. We can do little things that make a big difference in the lives of the people we encounter every day. We can pray for one another; we can visit someone mourning the loss of a loved one. We can show that we have been renewed by Christ’s love whenever we visit a sick friend, welcome a stranger, give hope to the despairing, write a card or make a call to someone immobilized by old age or illness. We, ourselves, are renewed whenever we are animated as a member of the Body of Christ to be stewards of God’s grace or give witness to God’s transformative power over all things. We are renewed each time we realize God’s wonderful plan is to make all things new, even us.  Yes, our destiny is to be remade in the image of Christ… “to put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth”(EPH 4:24).

Have a wonder-filled New Year experiencing God’s love and sharing that love with others every day of the year!

Deacon Tom