The Cycles and Rhythms of Life

Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor

Letter from the Pastor
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 16, 2022

I do hope that everyone enjoyed the Christmas and New Year celebrations.  It is a great time to remember our blessings; to remember the love that holds us together and the love that keeps us going.  Hopefully, in the gifts that we may have given or received, or in the cards that we sent to those far off, we were reminded of all the people in our lives that we love, and who love us.  It is always good to remember that.  Even if it was only one person that we connect with over the holidays, it is a great reminder of the love of God’s Incarnation in our midst.  Of course, on the heels of that great celebration we then begin our New Year.  I do like beginning again.  It can be a time to correct the things we missed in the past year, as it can also be a time to start something new.

As we start anew, the readings at Mass speak of Jesus starting anew, as he begins his public ministry. With God’s affirmation last week, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” [Luke 3:22] Jesus enters into a new phase of his life.  Our liturgical time, now “ordered,” hence, Ordinary Time, walk us through the different phases and developments of Jesus’ ministry and teachings.  That, of course will be interrupted when Ash Wednesday comes along [March 2nd, in case you were wondering] so we can then begin our Lenten journey leading us to the Easter mysteries.  If nothing else, as yet another Christmas and New Year have come and gone, we are aware that life has its cycles and has its rhythms.

Of course, our “normal” cycle and rhythm has been interrupted for almost two years.  Our celebrations have become muted and there always seems to be a pall over everything we do now, wondering if that last sneeze means we have Covid.  It is not a great way to live and the frustration level is very high.  We all want it to end so we can get back to where we were…back to “normal.”  Who knows, maybe we just might get there.  I don’t know.  All I do know is that right now the omicron variant has quickly made its way across the globe and certainly into our community.  Along with Covid, I can personally attest to the fact that there is also a nasty flu going around.  I have tested negative, twice, for Covid, but this flu certainly did knock me down for a good two weeks. 

With what is “in the air,” I strongly encourage everyone to be as careful as possible.  I know we are all tired of the masks and the hand sanitizers [at least I know I am!] but in lieu of simply waiting for it to be over, it might be better to figure out how we can continue to best live our lives, with everything that is going on around us. We can’t repeat last year’s three month shut down but we can’t pretend as if Covid or the flu doesn’t exist.

To that end, I have asked our Pastoral Staff, that when having meetings or events that they be via Zoom and/or if in person, to have everyone wear a mask.  In these cold months, when we are spending more time inside, the possibility of catching something increases tremendously.  Although you do not have to wear a mask during Mass I would strongly encourage you to do so as an act of charity for those around you as well as for yourself.

We cannot stop living, and we cannot live in fear, but we can be wise.   We are beginning a new cycle but the rhythm is certainly different.  We will adjust.  God is still good, all the time, and we still live that message.

May God continue to bless us, our New Year, and teach us how to live the Incarnation anew in the world that is before us. 

Fr. Francis J. Di Spigno, OFM

Pastor