Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, January 4, 2026

Happy New Year! Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the day on which “magi from the East” came seeking the infant Jesus, to bring Him gifts, and to pay Him homage. “Magi” were learned (or “wise”) men who studied the stars and probably performed some types of magic. More than anything else, they were “seekers” who had great intellectual curiosity.

They sought the birthplace of the “the newborn king of the Jews” which had been heralded by the prophets Isaiah and Micah more than 700 years earlier. They carried gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold represented wealth and power. Frankincense was a type of incense and perfume. Myrrh was added to oil used for anointing kings. These foreigners approached this infant “king” with reverence and humility. Yet, His own people could not understand the critical importance of His arrival. In fact, King Herod was “greatly troubled” because he was worried about whether Jesus would be a challenge to his power. The chief priests and scribes were – at best – ambivalent to Christ.

On the other hand, the Magi, who knew very little about the God of Israel, spent much time and effort to seek Him. While the Magi did not know God, He knew them and placed a remarkable star in the winter sky precisely because He knew that the Magi would notice a new, very bright star. The Magi opened themselves up to the unknown possibilities of following the star. They weren’t sure where they were going, or even why they were going, but they humbly devoted their time and resources to take the journey.

When they arrived, they were “overjoyed” and transformed by their encounter with Jesus. Then, they “departed for their country by another way.” They not only physically followed another road to their home, but they were different men when they got home. They did not just follow another way; they were now joyfully following The Way. Like the Magi, we must have the humility and curiosity to be “seekers:” seekers of deeper relationships with God and others; seekers of the light of Jesus Christ; seekers of the truth of the Gospel; and, seekers of The Way to eternal life.

May God richly bless you as you seek Him throughout this New Year!

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, December 28, 2025

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on the Fourth Commandment – “Honor your father and your mother.” This instruction appears in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Matthew, Ephesians, and in this weekend’s reading from Sirach. The Book of Sirach teaches us to live according to God’s plan – to walk in the way of wisdom. In this passage, the author instructs us to honor and respect our parents—not just while we are children, but our whole lives long.

While disrespect for parents may be common in our culture, God “sets a father in honor over his children.” In a practical sense, honoring our parents involves four key components: appreciating them, accepting their authority, treating them with respect, and, particularly as they grow older, providing for them. It is not blind compliance, but a due deference and respect, a love that shows itself in obedience. A child’s obedience to his father is different than an adult son’s honor for his. “Respecting” an elderly, infirm parent is different than “respecting” a young, healthy parent.

This attitude of deference is a way to break down the inner workings of pride in our hearts. We can’t get very far along the path of wisdom without giving up our “own way.” Pride, or having our own way, is the toughest of sinful habits to break. That is why one of the three vows that religious brothers and sisters take, is obedience (the other two are poverty and chastity). A vow of obedience is the perfect antidote to pride. Sirach encourages us to embrace the way of obedience, the way of humility, so that we may obtain wisdom not by seeking our own path of self-realization, but by humbly submitting ourselves to our fathers and mothers. Wisdom and obedience go hand-in-hand. True wisdom enables us to defer to another and let go of our pride.

The respect that sons and daughters should have for their fathers and mothers is something the Lord set up to orient us toward Him. If we honor our parents, our hearts will be in a great place to honor God. If we honor our parents, then we too can obtain by grace the “long life in the land which the Lord our God is giving us.” That land, of course, is heaven.

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, December 21, 2025

The time of Advent preparation is over! In a few days we will experience the joy of once again celebrating the birth of our Lord.

Some people have a hard time distinguishing happiness and joy. As a result, they are trapped in their anger, frustration, and disappointment, unable to get beyond their own emotional abyss.  They constantly search for that elusive someone or something to make them “happy.” They seek surface happiness instead of inner joy. Yet, their happiness is elusive precisely because they expect it to be provided to them by others.As they look outward, they fail to realize that joy, which they should be seeking, is an inner feeling. While happiness is a temporary feeling in the mind; joy is a long-term feeling in the soul. Pope Francis said, “joy fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.”Happiness depends on and reacts to circumstances; joy transcends day-to-day earthly challenges and can exist in a person even when there is difficulty or uncertainty.

Happiness is typically derived from immediate and temporary pleasure often as the result of our selfish pursuit of accomplishments. Pursuit of happiness is not always a good thing. Joy, on the other hand, is internal, selfless, sacrificial, a spiritual connection with God, and is purely good. Joy involves transcending ourselves. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose.  Joy comes when our hearts are in others and exists whether we are changing diapers, driving to practice, waiting up at night, dancing in the kitchen, playing in the yard or just sitting quietly together watching TV.

There is no “get joy quick” scheme. It requires regular practice and continued effort. The authors of The Book of Joy outline eight pillars of joy: Acceptance, Compassion, Forgiveness, Generosity, Gratitude, Humility, Humor, and Perspective. Each involves putting others first and recognizing that the world is larger than ourselves. It is the present that life gives us as we give away our gifts.

Luke describes the joyful moment when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who said: “At the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” As we celebrate Christ’s loving presence in our lives, may we not only smile, but may we “leap for joy” and feel that joy every day of our lives!

Fr. Mike