We Meet Lots of People Along the Way

Sep 8

Letter from the Pastor
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sept. 10, 2023

We Meet Lots of People Along the Way

We meet a lot of people here on Long Beach Island. Not too long ago, my niece called me and asked, “How far do you live from The Black Whale; You have to go there!” Her question and command were all in one breath. That was the night Taylor Swift was in town, and Beach Haven turned into a mob scene. Although her visit to LBI made local and perhaps even national news, it did not excite me.

At the end of Mass last weekend, a very nice young couple introduced themselves to me. They explained they were from New Hampshire, and their mother/mother-in-law was from Houston. We laughed about the two extremes, New Hampshire and Texas, meeting in the “middle” right here in New Jersey.

He told me his name, Simeon Marklin, but it didn’t register. We chatted a bit more, and then he said, “I was probably the one who made your Paschal Candle.” With that, the pieces came together, and it clicked. Marklin Candles, based in Contoocook, New Hampshire, is the company we use to buy our candles. He was so proud of his work, and I thought it was great to meet the person who actually made it.

The Paschal Candle, blessed at the Easter Vigil, represents the light of Christ in our midst. This connection to our celebration of Easter is why we light that candle at all Baptisms and all Funerals.

Taylor Swift did not excite me, but I was thrilled to meet Simeon, as his work is a vital part of our prayer and worship. We never know who we are going to meet, but we do know that we always have the potential to meet Christ in everyone who crosses our path. Today’s Gospel offers us a very good way to ensure that our relationships stay healthy and good so we can increase the chances of meeting Christ, even with those we don’t see eye to eye.

As we remember the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11, let us continue to work and pray that more and more people heed Jesus' advice to reconcile with one another so we can truly come closer to seeing the light of Christ in our world and in one another.

May God grant us that Grace and continue to bless us all with Peace and All Good!

Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM

Pastor