Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 20th, 2020

The year 2020 has been something else, to say the least.  For some, it has meant having their business closed down.  For some they have lost their jobs as a result.  For others it has been "business as usual."  For some it has meant sickness.  Whether it be someone in your own family or perhaps it is a friend, we all probably know someone who has gotten sick this year.  For some it has meant that we have even lost a loved one.  Again, it might be someone in your family or a dear friend, but someone has even died during this year.  It seems that it has put a new perspective on things for most people.  Things that we took for granted before are more appreciated now.  We have a new-found appreciation for "essential workers."   These hard-working souls have turned out to be the heroes of 2020.  Whether they be medical staff such as doctors and nurses or hospital staff.  Whether they be police officers or fire-fighters.   Whether they be paramedics or EMT's.  Our military men and women, they truly are essential.   We could also look at truck drivers who bring in the items and supplies we need on a daily basis.  Beginning this year, we have a new-found appreciation for those who work in retail.  Those who stock the shelves in the stores so that we can buy what we need.  For those who work in the nursing homes taking care of those we love so dearly, these are heroes.  And if I could also point out the brave men and women who work for the Department of Corrections throughout our land.  These truly are essential workers.  We could all come up with our own lists but I am sure that each and every one of us has a new-found appreciation for all of our "essential workers."  For, you see, essential workers go about their tasks with little fanfare.  Essential workers go to work every day with little appreciation.  When was the last time you thanked a police officer or a fire-fighter for what they do?  When was the last time you thanked a nurse for the service he / she provides?  When was the last time you thanked a clerk in the store for the service they provide?  The year 2020 has shown that essential workers the world over who go about their duties quietly with little fanfare.  They do what they are called to do and receive little attention for it.  They continue going to work day in and day out because they know the job needs to be done.  

I can think of another "essential worker" in history.  In other words, someone who came to do what needed to be done.  Our Lord came to earth with little fanfare.  He came to earth in the humblest of ways . . .  being born in a stable with common farm animals as witnesses.  He grew up as a little boy unknown to the world at large.  He spent the majority of his years working as a common carpenter working on ordinary projects.  And even when He began His "ministry years" He did not spend this time with kings and princes and influential people, He spent His time with the common, ordinary people He would come across as He traveled.  The only time there was any acclaim or excitement upon His arrival was when He entered into Jerusalem the final time.  This was when He was going there to die on the Cross . . . . to atone for your sins and mine.  But other than that, Our Blessed Lord also did the job of an "essential worker" and did what needed to be done with little fanfare and very little appreciation.  In the eyes of the world, He was not important.  He was not a king or a prince in the  eyes of the world, at least.  He did not have a grand army.  He had Twelve Disciples . . . .  one of whom would betray Him.  He did not have a majestic palace in which He lived.  In the eyes of the world, He was not extraordinary.  In the eyes of the world, He was simply ordinary.  And yet this Man came to save us from our sins and to teach us about God, Our Heavenly Father.  He died an agonizing death on a common, ordinary cross as a common criminal.  But in this way Our Blessed Lord turned the "ordinary" into something truly "extra-ordinary."  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, December 20th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

Third Sunday in Advent

 

Third Sunday in Advent, December 13th, 2020

In the Eleventh Chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, we hear of the interaction between St. John the Baptist and Our Blessed Lord.  As St. Matthew describes the scenario for us, he tells us that St. John has been placed in prison and he sent to of his disciples to contact Our Blessed Saviour.  And after He had given St. John's disciples the message for St. John, He continued to speak about St. John the Baptist.  Our Lord says in Verse Ten:  "For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."  (St. Matthew 11:10)  Here, Our Blessed Lord is quoting the Prophet Malachi from the Old Testament.  Our Lord is paying the ultimate compliment to St. John the Baptist by telling all those listening that he is the messenger which was foretold of by the prophets.  

But the question remains what kind of messenger are we?  All of us are messengers.  We all convey messages whether we realize it or not.  At work I convey messages on behalf of my boss.  I pass along messages which need to be  relayed to others.  When we enjoy a fabulous meal at a great restaurant and we tell our friends, we are passing along a message that this is a good restaurant.  "You should try it too!" is the message we convey.  When we are hosting an event such as a dinner or a rummage sale, we send out a message whether that be via announcement, sign or post on social media announcing the details.  In days past we would send messages via letters or telegram.  Now we are more likely to send messages via email or text.  But the point is still the same.  What is the message we are sending?  What message are we trying to convey?  Our Lord said of St. John the Baptist that he was the messenger which was called to prepare the way of the Lord.  Do we pass along any messages when it comes to God?  Do we let others know about God?  Do we allow ourselves to ever become the messenger of God?  Maybe we are too busy to pass along any messages.  Perhaps we do not receive the messages ourselves.  Is it because we are not listening?  Is it because we don't care to receive the message?  At this time of year, Advent provides us not only with the time to wait for the Lord but to also take account of what kind of servant we are.  What kind of messenger are we?  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, December 13th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

Second Sunday in Advent, December 6, 2020

 

Second Sunday in Advent, December 6, 2020

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  (Romans 15)

Did you ever order something or send away for something and the item finally arrived and you open it with great anticipation.  And when you open the package and see what you ordered, the item that arrived does not match up with what you thought it would be.  You were "under-whelmed," so to speak.  "This is it?!?"   "This is what I've been waiting for?!?"   As we have spoken in the past, the faithful Jews were indeed praying for a Messiah to save them.  They were anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.  They knew that God would save them and they were waiting.  But they had a preconceived notion of what the Messiah would look like, I would imagine.  They expected the Messiah to arrive as a great warrior riding in on a powerful horse, surrounded by a mighty army in support with flags waving and banners raised.  They expected this messiah and his army to wipe out their foes and save them from their misery.    And yet we know that, yes, the Messiah did indeed arrive as promised but Our Saviour arrived as an innocent little baby, born to a common family, born in a lowly manger on a cold winter night  because nobody would take them in otherwise.  In fact, the actual arrival itself was so "low-key" that hardly anyone knew about it at all except for the angels and a few shepherds.  I mean let's be honest here.  In regards to anticipating the arrival of the Messiah, I am sure that none of us would picture the Saviour of the world arriving as a small baby, born to an impoverished family, with nowhere else to stay other than in a place for animals.  But, then again, if we look at a dying man hanging on a cross, if we didn't know any better, we wouldn't picture that as "victory," either.  It would seem more like "defeat" than "victory."  And yet we know through our faith that hope was born in that little manger at Bethlehem and we know that victory truly was earned on that Cross at Calvary.  Sometimes, hope is deceiving to our physical eyes.  The important thing for us to always remember as people of faith that we have to look at hope through the eyes of faith if we really want to see how God is working in our lives.  So, use this holy Season of Advent to look at things in a brand new way, the way of faith.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, December 6th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

First Sunday in Advent, November 29th, 2020

 First Sunday in Advent, November 29th, 2020

The Thirteenth Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans is the passage appointed for the First Sunday in Advent.  Personally, if I was forced to "name" this specific chapter, or this specific passage coming to us from St. Paul, I would probably call it the "Challenge Passage."  Why?  Because in this chapter St. Paul tells the Romans . . . . and not just the Romans, but us as well . .. . that we are called to love one another.   In this passage that we hear today, it begins with St. Paul writing:  "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another;  for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)  And then he continues after that by writing:   ". . . therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10)  And, once again you ask, why would I call this particular chapter the "Challenge Passage?"  Well, quite frankly, there are a few people in this world who are very difficult to love, aren't there?  

There are certain people in our life that it proves to be very easy to love.  These people are kind.  They are gentle.  They might be generous to us.  They might show us love first.  They might be fun to be around.  etc.  It's easy to love people described above.  But what about loving those who do not fit the above description?  What about those people who are rude?  what about those people who are mean to us?  What about the people that, quite frankly, could be described as "jerks?"  Truth be known, every single one of us could come up with a list of people whom we consider great . .   . . . in other words, the people that make it easy to love them . . . . and a list of people that we can't stand . . . .  in other words, the people that really make it a difficult challenge to love those folks.  And yet, we know from Scripture and specifically this Thirteenth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans that " ..  . .  love is the fulfilling of the law."  Why should we do this?  Well, quite frankly, because we are commanded to do so as Christians.  But, in my humble opinion, more importantly, we need to do it because we need to follow Our Blessed Lord's example.  In other words, He did it.  He loved those who did not love Him.  He showed love to those who did not show love to Him.  We don't know why sometimes, but God loves even those who do not deserve love, at least in our way of thinking.  This is proven in the fact that God sent His only begotten Son into the world on behalf of all men . . . . not just on behalf of kind men . . . .  not just on behalf of friendly men . . . .  not just on behalf of men who first do things for us . . . . He sent His Son into the world on behalf of ALL humanity, not just some.  Let us spend this holy season of Advent preparing ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child.  Let us welcome Him into our heart and prepare by imitating Him in our love of others.  Not just love for those who deserve our love  . . . . but working on loving those who do not show love to us because this is what Our Saviour did . . . .  He loved those who did not even love Him.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, November 29th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

Sunday next before Advent, November 22nd, 2020

 

Sunday next before Advent, November 22nd, 2020

In some ways the year 2020 has seemed like an eternity but here we are fast approaching December.  This Sunday is the last Sunday before the holy season of Advent, which begins next week.  And this year, just like every other year, people seem to focus on everything but the real reason for the season.  Now, more than ever, we should focus on the what the true meaning of Christmas is.  And Advent does just that.  Advent prepares us, it helps us to focus on the great and wonderful feast of Christmas which will soon be upon us.  But just like every other year, people in society lose sight of the real reason for the season.  They focus on everything but the Divine Child born at Bethlehem.  They focus on getting the latest and greatest gifts they see advertised on TV.  They focus on parties and food and trees and presents and sending out cards and stringing the lights . . . . and . . .  and  . . . and  . . .  All of these things are wonderful, without a doubt.  And in my humble opinion after this year of 2020 we need these things more than ever to get our minds off of a worldwide pandemic!!!!  But the point is still the same, Christmas should remind us of the greatest gift of all time.   It is the day in which God gave the Gift of His Son to humanity!  He gave this wonderful gift to all of us, to you, to me, to everyone!!!  God loved the world so much that He sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins.  And Christ loved us so much that He came to earth as an innocent little baby.  When you think about it things haven't changed very much from two-thousand some years ago until now.  When the Divine Infant was born in Bethlehem so long ago there were very few who took notice . . . . some shepherds . . .  and then the Magi who came in search of Him.  Today few take notice of Him either.  We do not notice because we are not looking . . .  we are not searching.  We are too busy looking for the latest, greatest gift we can give and / or receive on Christmas.  We are too busy looking for bargains on "Black Friday."  We are too busy putting up the Christmas Tree and stringing up the lights.  We are too busy to take notice.   The shepherds took notice because they were searching.  The Magi took notice and searched for the Christ Child.  So too must we search for Christ.  As Christians we need to search for Christ and stay close to Him.  We need to ever stay near to Our Blessed Saviour and never forsake Him.  And Advent helps us to do just this.  Advent helps us to focus on preparing ourselves for the coming of the small, innocent baby born at Bethlehem.  Advent reminds us to prepare our hearts for the Christ Child.  Advent helps us to remember the real reason for the season.  So this year,  . . . . more than ever, . . . .  use this time wisely to focus on the real reason for the season, focusing on God's Gift to the world and treasuring that Gift forever!

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity, November 15th, 2020

 Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity, November 15th, 2020

"For our citizenship is in Heaven;"  (Philippians 3:17 ff)

Whenever we go somewhere out of town such as on a day trip or we are travelling to another state, my wife is "amazed"  . . . . my choice of word, not hers . . . . at how fast we get there.  She says that I drive fast.  I don't think I drive that fast.  Well, I try not to drive fast because:  A) I'm too scared of getting pulled over and getting a ticket; and B) I can't afford the ticket.  Let's just put it this way:  when I start driving I continue driving and driving and driving.  I keep my mind focused on our destination and I don't let anything get between me and where I'm going.  Well, of course there are things that always show you down no matter what:  slow-down's  due to construction . . . or a crash . . . or a stalled vehicle.  Then there are also detours that might slow you down as well.  And you always have to make allowances for bathroom breaks and getting something to eat while you are on the road.  But to the determined driver such as myself, these are only minor inconveniences on the road towards my destination.  Remember that song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough?"  I like the version by Diana Ross best, I think.  But the lyrics in this song demonstrate the determination in a human being to get to the destination:  "Ain't no mountain high enough .   . . . . Ain't no valley low enough    .. . . . . Ain't no river wide enough . . . to keep me from getting to you."   All of us are determined in something, aren't we?  Some of us are determined to get to our destination far away.  Some of us are determined to get promoted or to get another position where we work.  Some of us are determined to obtain a certain item that we would like to possess; whether that item be a new pair of sneakers or a new appliance or a new house.  We save and we work overtime and we cut corners so that we can earn the money to get what we want.  Again, all of us can think of something where we are determined to get something and we will not let anything or anyone get in our way.

In the Third Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians, St. Paul is reminding the young church who and what they truly are:  "For our citizenship is in Heaven."  In other words, your feet may be here on earth but you need to remember that your heart should be in Heaven.   Let me say that again just so it will sink in:  we need to remember that our heart should be in Heaven and NOT here on earth.  For so many people, their heart is anywhere BUT Heaven.  Their heart is in their possessions . . . their treasures . . . their riches.  Their heart is in their career or getting promotions or getting wealthier.  Their heart is in getting high or drunk.  "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  (St. Matthew 6:21)  St. Paul is reminding all of us that our true citizenship is in Heaven and we should keep our mind focused accordingly.  Too many of us forget that fact because our minds get too occupied on the latest distraction that the world throws our way.  Do you ever notice that us human beings are never content?   We never seem to be happy . . . at least for very long.  We get focused on one thing and we work and work and work until we get whatever we were working on.  And we are satisfied for about .. . . . . oh, a minute or two . . . . and then our mind gets diverted to something else that grabs our attention for the time being.  St. Paul is saying to each one of us:  "Hey!  You are a citizen of Heaven!  You are a child of the Most High!  You already have a mansion waiting for you up above!  Why are you messing around with this nonsense down here?"  Let our prayer be today that we keep focused on who we are and what we are.  Let us not get our attention diverted from the fact that our true citizenship is in Heaven and keep our minds focused on that fact.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, November 15th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity, November 8th, 2020

 Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity, November 8th, 2020

". . . . that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment"
(Philippians 1:3 ff)

The Epistle to the Philippians has been called by some the "Epistle of Joy" because it is in this epistle that St. Paul makes the point that he does rejoice.  As such, he is asking the Philippians the question, "Do you rejoice?"  Being joyful is certainly a human emotion.  We are joyful just as we are sad.  We are happy just as we are angry.  Depending of course on our mood and circumstances, we can experience just about any mood.  For example, I may be anxious and joyful about going to Opening Day of the baseball season and then I find out the weather forecast calls for Storms all day.  As a result I am then disappointed and sad instead of happy and joyful.  Again, human beings have the potential to "love" all kinds of things, don't we?  We "love" food, for instance.  If you would ask me the question as to what kinds of food do you enjoy, more than likely I would respond:  "Oh, I just love fried chicken."  Or I might say that I love to eat German food.  Again, it is not limited to food as to what we "love."   If someone happens to mention a show out of the blue that you like and you jump in, "Oh, I just love that show!"  "I just love that move."  Human beings tend to "love" all kinds of things:  fads . . . . clothing . . . shoes. . . .  food . . . . Hollywood stars . . . . sports teams . . . . hobbies . . . .  We could go on and on.  We love what we are interested in.  We love what brings us joy and satisfaction.  We love the things that entertain us.  St. Paul is telling us though to remember that true love is realized in the things of God as opposed to the things in the world.  Yes, there are things in the world that do bring us joy.  There are things in the world that do satisfy us for a time.  But true love and true satisfaction only resides in our relationship with God.  As such our true joy and contentment will also be found in letting others know about our love for God.  Have you ever been to a wonderful restaurant and you were so pleased with the food, also with the service, perhaps even with the price of the meal.  And you just couldn't wait to tell somebody about your experience.  The same thing happens when you see a movie or a show that you truly enjoy.  You just can't wait to tell others about your experience:  "Hey, let me tell you about a great movie I saw last night .  . . ."   This is only natural for human beings:  to share their experience of life.  Thus, St Paul is telling us as he was telling the Philippians, Let your joy be shared among others.  Let others know why you are joyful.  Share with one another the joy that you have.  And of course our joy as Christians is our love for God Himself.   All the joys . . .  all the satisfactions that this world has to offer are only temporary.   The things we love in this world are not meant to be long-lasting:  either they will wear out . . .  or they will break . . .  or they willl rust away . .  . but the love that God offers us is everlasting.   It is in God Himself that we should  find our true love.  It is the love of God that we should find our real love  . . .  our real contentment . .  our real satisfaction.  So many of us find our satisfaction solely in the things of the world.  This is a mistake because we can not take the "things of the world" with us when we die.  The only thing that we can carry over to the next life is our love of God.  Let us use our time wisely in this world to develop a love for the things of God and not for the things of the world.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, November 8th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!