Dear Beloved Parishioners,
So, the weekend missive is coming out early, as I head out on Friday, after the funeral for the drive to Texas and my friends’ funeral. I would be grateful if you would keep the Clark family in your prayers. And, if you have time, breathe a few for safe driving to and from for yours truly.
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Fr. Bob Barko, OFM will be covering the 7:30 Mass – and Fr. J. will add the 11am to his weekend duties. If you would give Fr. Bob the usual warm SJM welcome. You will see him again toward the end of the month, as I go on vacation, part one. (And then, perhaps in Feb. as my priest support group gathers for our yearly vacation/time together…)
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We invite you to join our new SJM adult faith program:
Do you know the difference between refugees and asylum seekers? Interested in immigration policies and how to respond as followers of Christ? Sessions will begin on zoom starting Wednesday, January 26th from 7-8:30pm. Cost is $25 and it includes textbooks and binder materials. For more information about how to join this eight-session program by JustFaith Ministries, contact Marge Kathalynas kathalynas@stjustinmartyr.org
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And then, from the Office of Ecumenical Affairs, here is the flyer for the event that had been held here at St. Justin for many years…
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Thanks, already, for all those who have sponsored our upcoming Celebration of Blessings, to be held on Feb. 5th. The committee set a pretty hefty goal on sponsorships, and, I am pleased to tell you that they have exceeded that goal! (You will have to come to the event to find out what that number is.) Registration is open at COB2022.GIVESMART.COM.
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The Deeper Dive into the 2nd Sunday in ordinary times comes from
Some years ago, a Canadian preacher opened a window into this story [Cana] when he asked: “What if, in the story, the wedding is a metaphor for life?” And if it is, in life, like this wedding, the wine always runs out. By definition, life—without exceptions—is an experience in which we discover that the wine always runs out. Wine can run out of a marriage or a career. Wine can run out of a business or a hobby. Wine can run out of a friendship. Wine can even run out of a church commitment or some civic connection. Write it down: In life, the wine always runs out.
How does this happen? Well for one, the wine runs out because of the exhaustion of activity. We find ourselves busy with the routines of life – education, marriage, career, family, hobbies, friendships – only to discover, to our shame, that the wine has run out of most, if not all, of them. Other times, the wine runs out from neglect. We take all the “goody” out of life and put nothing back in. We fail to pray, to worship, to give, to serve, only to learn as the wedding of our life winds down, that we have taken more than we have given, used more than we have replenished, destroyed more than we have created.
Why is this so? Because life’s first wine is easy, plentiful, even cheap. The first wine of life is the wine we drink from our intelligence, our charm, our connections, perhaps our beauty. The first wine comes easy. If you have a good mind and some drive inside of you, that first wine can be very rewarding. It is cheap, but very rewarding. It doesn’t cost us a whole lot. We just do life out of that young wine and it works well for a while. But soon, all too soon, the wine runs out. And when that happens, what do we do?
For one, we look around the wedding that is our life to see if Jesus is there. Though we may have ignored him, even avoided him for some time, look around and you will see our Lord. Truth be told, if we don’t have the Divine Guest at our wedding that can turn water into wine, we have a big problem. Second, we would be wise to tell Him the wine has run out. Admit to our Lord, “I have no wine. Life has lost its joy, its meaning, its vitality.” Confession is not only good for the soul; it is the only door to soul transformation. Admit the wine is gone.
Third, ask Jesus to transform the water of your life into wine. Go to the well of his grace that has no shortage, draw from the water of his love that knows no limit, and invite him to transform your water into wine. You ask, “How is that possible?” I cannot speak for you, but in my own life and from the record of God’s visiting other lives through the centuries, everyone who draws from the well of God’s grace, and drinks this new wine, says it is unlike any other.
And here is the best news of all: as in the story from the Gospel of John, God always saves the best wine till last. In God’s grace, in the wedding that is life itself, there are no “has beens” or “also-rans.” None of us have gone too far. Actually, when you think about it, we haven’t gone far enough. We haven’t gone to the well of God’s grace where water becomes wine. You think the best days are behind you? Think again. God’s best wine is yet to be served.
In life, the wine always runs out. Where are you today? Mid-life? Mid-career? Mid-marriage? Mid-something? Hear the good news. Go to the well and draw out this new wine, this best wine, this good gift from God. Amen.
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The Song of the Day – in light of the forecast of snow whilst I am gone – a lovely little Irish sounding ditty by my favorite instrumental band: Nightnoise. The song is: The Snow is lightly falling.
And, because it takes a bit to get used to the Irish accent, here are the lyrics..
Snow is lightly falling
In the forest after dark
Wishing it would cover up
The deep well of my heart
As I wait alone for you
Above the dewy mountain
Where the air is clean and pure
The snow is lightly falling
And my heart cannot endure:
The quiet lonesome calling
Of the Season’s hungry birds
As I wait alone for you my love
In silence without words
I keep forever looking back
On Seasons that have passed
In the very depths of winter
Love had come to me at last
I have not forgotten yet
That hushed October wind
That sang of love forever
Through the spirit and the mind
I have not forgotten yet
That little Christmas yet
When hushed October winds
They sang of heaven on this earth
And way beyond the snowtrees
Rising softly like a fire
Sparks the pining for a loved one
And the kindling of desire
The wind sings of love forever
Through the spirit and the mind
And I keep you in my heart
With the truest and the kind
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Blessings,
Fr. Bill