the sunday good news -...
TRANSCRIPT
The Sunday Good News Epiphany of the Lord The Church of Saint John Bosco January 4, 2015
HIS WORD TODAY BY Rev. William J. Reilly
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Isaiah speaks poetically of the coming of the Lord. He describes how
“darkness covers the earth” but light and glory appear over God’s chosen
people.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Paul tells the Ephesians that the Jews and Gentiles are now co-heirs of the
promises God has made. He explains that both groups are now members of
one body through Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus’ birth, three astrologers from the east came to Jerusalem and
inquired about the newborn king of the Jews. King Herod became greatly
angered, and asked the astrologers to bring him more information about
the child once they had found him, so that he too could pay homage to
the infant. However, Herod’s true plan was to kill Jesus. The wise men
were warned in a dream not to return to him and they took a different
route to return home.
“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but
upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall
walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and
look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant
with what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.”
We continue to bask in the Christmas season. The Nativity, Holy Family
and Motherhood of Mary lead us to the great Epiphany. We become
immersed with details of three gifts, magi from the east, the plotting of
Herod. Our camel led journey brings us to the person of Christ.
As the astrologers returned to their place, changed by the Christ event, we
too should reflect on the change which has taken place for us. Perhaps we
travelled and visited, or others did us the favor. The light of Christ,
perhaps has dimmed as we said goodbye and return to normal. Maybe
there was some sadness too during the days of Christmas joy, the absence
of a loved one, or family member, because of death or sickness.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the light, the radiance, ‘raise your eyes
and look about.’ The darkness of world and personal problems cannot
take away the brilliance of the light of Christ. The magi brought their
treasures, and we have been given not gold, myrrh and frankincense, but
we carry within us the treasure of Christ Himself. As they opened their
coffers we continue to open our hearts to receive the Christ.
THIS WEEK & IN THE WEEKS AHEAD…
Epiphany Distribution of Chalk and House Blessing …………………………….. Saturday & Sunday, January 3 & 4, all Masses
“Resilient Heart” Resilience: What is it? Exploring the ability to “bounce back” .…………………. Tuesday, January 6, 6:30 PM
Liturgy Committee Meeting …………. Wednesday, January 7, 6:30 PM
“Praying it Forward” Prayer Exchange …………………………. Saturday & Sunday, January 11 & 12, all Masses
Walking in Hope as Dementia Caregivers ………….. Wednesday, January 14, 7:00 PM
STJB Book Club ………………………………………………….. Sunday, January 18, 12:30 PM
Adult Faith Formation with Father Jack …………….. Wednesday, January 21, 7:00 PM
Feasts of Gazing in Wonder and Awe: Christmas, Epiphany and the
Baptism of Jesus
Each celebrating a disclosure of Divinity!
The Epiphany of the Lord
“If the magi had come in search of an earthly king,
they would have been disconcerted at finding
that they had taken the trouble to come such a long way for nothing.
Consequently they would have neither adored
nor offered gifts. But since they sought
a heavenly king, though they found in him
no signs of royal pre-eminence, yet, content with the testimony of the star alone, they adored;
for they saw a human, and They acknowledged a God.”
St. John Chrysostom
The whole season invites us into a celebration of mysteries.
Emmanuel, our God is with us. Hope dwells among us.
PAGE 2 The Sunday Good News
ADULT FAITH FORMATION with FATHER JACK
Join us on Wednesdays, January 21st and 28th at 7:00 PM in the Parish Center as we continue to examine the Old Testament. Our journey will take us from Genesis through the Psalms to the prophets and beyond. Don’t miss it! Why not bring a friend?
D A ILY R E AD I NG S
Sunday Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a; Mt 2:1-12
Monday 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35
Tuesday 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40
Wednesday 1 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18
Thursday Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
First Friday 1 Jn 2:22-28; Jn 1:19-28
First Saturday 1 Jn 2:29—3:6; Jn 1:29-34
WALKING in HOPE as DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS
Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00 PM for help and hope in caring for someone who suffers with Dementia. We’ll share cutting-edge research to enhance our understanding of this
condition and techniques to cope with it’s unique challenges. Please call Sr. Marilyn (570)788-1997, ext. 203, to reserve your space. See you there!
Here’s the 411 in Faith Formation
this Week!
Faith Formation classes and C.L.O.W. resume this Sunday, January 4th. Weekly attendance is expected. If your child is absent, please contact the Faith Formation office promptly. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!
Families in Faith parent group will meet on January 11th during Faith Formation class-time. This is a wonderful opportunity to network with other parents and our Faith Formation staff, to share and to pray together. Don’t miss it!
Confirmation class will meet on Thursday, January 13th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the gym. Please continue to practice the Confirmation questions. Remember: we’re only a few short months away from reception of the sacrament on April 15th!
THE GREY DOG IS HERE !!
Our most important fundraiser, the Annual Grey Dog Raffle on Superbowl Sunday, February 1st, is just around the corner! This year’s Grand Prize includes your choice of one: a two-year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease; a two-year 2015 Cadillac ATS lease; a 2015 Mazda 3i purchase under $20K; or $20,000 in CASH!!! And twenty cash prizes of $200 each and two cash prizes of $500 each! Only 750 tickets will be sold, so your odds
of winning are excellent. Don’t delay, get your tickets now by calling Linda at 570-788-1997. We gratefully extend special thanks to our ticket sponsors, Robert J. Gillespie, Jr., Esq. and Joseph R. Ferdinand, Esq.
P.S.: Ever wonder why it’s called the “Grey Dog?” The story is told that St. John Bosco was visited many times by a mysterious, yet gentle and loyal, large grey dog who protected him as he walked from town to town. The dog would appear when he was needed and then disappear just as suddenly. A lucky dog!!
HELP for TROUBLED MARRIAGES
R e t r o u v a i l l e (pronounced retro-vi with a long ‘i’) is the French word for r e d i s c o v e r y. A R e t r o u v a i l le weekend for couples who need help restoring their marriage will take place at the Ramada Inn, 820 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, PA, February 27 —March 1. This is a great opportunity to improve communication and to reclaim an even more loving relationship. For more info and to register, please call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.helpourmarriage.org.
RESILIENT HEART
Join us on Tuesday, January 6th, at 6:30 PM in the All-Purpose Room of the Parish Center for spiritual and emotional self-help and support in coping with life transitions, loss and grief. One of a series of monthly meetings, we’ll examine the quality of resilience, the ability to bounce back. Please call Sr. Marilyn, 788-1922, ext. 203 if you plan to attend in order to ensure adequate seating and handouts.
STJB BOOK CLUB
All are welcome to join us at 12:30 PM on Sunday, January 18th at Tom’s Kitchen, Route 93, Conyngham, when we’ll discuss our latest selection, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini. For a copy, please call Arlene at 570-788-3643.
SPECIAL THANKS to all our High School students who delivered Christmas ornaments, songs and cheer to the residents of Providence Place Senior Living Community on December 20th. The generous gift of your time is the best present of all!
WITH THANKS “To all who offered comfort and condolences through their prayers, cards, and gifts, I would like to thank everyone with heartfelt gratitude during my time of bereavement. Your kindness and generosity will be remembered by myself and my family. Once again, thank you.” Deacon Maurice J. Cerasaro, Jr.
PAGE 3 The Sunday Good News
Saturday, 4:00 PM January 3 Epiphany of the Lord Susan & Paul Scavnicky By Sten & Mary Ellen Oswald
Sunday, 7:30 AM January 4 Epiphany of the Lord John Cibulash Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Cieniawa
Sunday, 9:00 AM January 4 Epiphany of the Lord Living & Deceased Members of St. John Bosco Parish
Sunday, 11:30 AM January 4 Epiphany of the Lord Priest’s Intention
Monday, 8:00 AM January 5 Ann Sottile By Ann Ferrigno
Tuesday, 8:00 AM January 6 Denise Colombo By Special Roller & Machine
Wednesday, 8:00 AM January 7 Bruce Slusser Sr. By The Oplinger Family
Thursday, 8:00 AM January 8 Laura Pauline By Mr. & Mrs. Michael Formica
Friday, 8:00 AM January 9 Joe Larock By the Sass Family
Saturday, 4:00 PM January 10 Baptism of the Lord Marian Papinsick By Maryann & Jack Petrilla
Sunday, 7:30 AM January 11 Baptism of the Lord Priest’s Intention
Sunday, 9:00 AM January 11 Baptism of the Lord Living & Deceased Members of St. John Bosco Parish
Sunday, 11:30 AM January 11 Baptism of the Lord Joan Mattioli By Lou & Marge Mattioli
Gazing at Divinity ~ Coming to see, to behold, and to be held
The feast of the Epiphany is a richly layered and textured moment in Christian life, played out in a wonderful array of poetic elements: a great mother star signaling sages and seekers to undertake the great journey to see and find the divine child birthed in obscurity, in vulnerabil i ty, in primordiality, so that those who seek can behold divinity in its infancy, in its
familiarity, its vulnerability, its novelty, its likeness to us. In some ways Epiphany is one of the most profound festivals of the Christian liturgical cycle because it ritually signals the birth of the contemplative life. It is about coming to see, to behold, and to be held. The feast is about sacred gazing which we call contemplation: seeing and recognizing what it is we actually see. Remember the last time you simply, silently beheld an infant, were beheld by an infant: that startling exchange—the wonder, the awe of that encounter: a metaphor, or perhaps the reality itself, of divinity gazing upon us. This is the mystery of Epiphany.
TABERNACLE CANDLE
The Tabernacle Candle burns this week in memory of Robert Wallace by Mary Nora Wallace.
THANKS to ALL . . . who participated in last month’s Knights of Columbus blood drive. We’re happy to report that fifty-five pints of
blood were collected, exceeding our goal by twenty-eight per cent! The need for blood is great, especially at holiday-time, and because of your enthusiastic response, 153 patients were helped. Thank you!!
WE REMEMBER
S Y M B O L S S P E A K ! . . . let us gaze in awe, gratitude and joy.
STJB PARISH PRAYER EXCHANGE “Bearers of the Christ Light and Passing it Forward”
On the weekend of January 10th/11th, we will once again conduct a Parish Prayer Exchange. This is an opportunity to request prayer and to offer prayer for others’ intentions. On the threshold of 2015, a new “Year of Grace,” we continue to pass forward our legacy of Christian rootedness. As bearers of the “Christ light,” we are invited to further stretch our roots down to who and what we are created to be despite the darkness around us. Together we journey in hope and spread the “good news” of God’s unconditional love and mercy as we “pray it forward.”
CONGRATUALTIONS to our Fifth Grade Faith Formation students, who, under the direction of their instructor, Kristin Gammer, made and sold more than one hundred of these charming “star” ornaments! Proceeds of more than $300 have been c o n t r i b u t e d to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Good job, well done!
PAGE 4 The Sunday Good News
Bless this House . . . . In some homes the Feast of the Epiphany has an added significance. It is rich with family
traditions. There is a sense of anticipation as we wait for the Magi to ar r ive. When the time comes,
we carefully place the little statues in the crib. And if we take some time to think about it, we are given
an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Christmas mystery and to renew our commitment to live it.
A new year’s resolution, perhaps? Another tradition is the house blessing. The new year is a good time
to invite Jesus to be a daily guest in our homes and to bless those who come in and go out. Today,
following Mass, you’ll receive detailed instructions, a blessing prayer, and a piece of chalk for a
traditional house blessing. Here’s a little preview . . . . .
The Gospel tells us that the Magi found Christ “on entering the house.” Your front door is a holy threshold.
Tradition tells us that the letters stand for the names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
The letters may also
mean: “Christus
mansionem benedicat” or
“May Christ bless this dwelling.”
Inscribe above the door in chalk the first two numbers
of the year + C + M + B +
the last two numbers of
the year.