St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

 Again, as you have probably already heard many times, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  If you think about it, ¼ of this century is almost over.  For those of us old enough, remember the change of 1999 into 2000?  So many people thought that the world was going to end as we moved into the next millennium.  Well, we are still here.  Let us pray that the next 75 years left in the 21^st century go well.

This first weekend of 2025 finds us celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany.  Epiphany means manifestation, revelation.  The Epiphany of our Lord is the manifestation to the world who the Baby in the manger really is.  When the Magi came to visit Jesus, the Word made Flesh, they presented three gifts to Him, and these gifts give us an insight to who He is and will be.

The first gift is GOLD—used by rulers to show their wealth and influence.  Emperors, kings, and the like are rich in the fineries of the world.  They have gold/money saved up.  They are used to being served and groveled to. 

Jesus Christ is the KING OF THE WORLD.  But, not with money, gold, influence, power as the world thinks.  Jesus comes as King, but as a poor servant, as one with spiritual power and not earthly power, and no influence in running the government.  He is the King of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, compassion.  His richness is seen in those things, not as the world sees richness.

Another gift is FRANKINCENSE—used in incensing.  When something or someone is incensed, it is a ritual which makes the person or thing holy and blessed.  A priest incenses the offerings at the Mass, a body before burial, the people assembled at a liturgical event.

Jesus Christ is the HIGH PRIEST of God, sent to us to make us and the world holier.  Also, Jesus is the priest, the one given by the Father to show us His love, and for Jesus to be that mediator between us and God.

The final gift is MYRRH—used at the time of death to anoint a body for burial. 

Jesus Christ is that King who will give His very life for the salvation of the world.  His body will be anointed with myrrh before He is put into the tomb.  He is the One who will sacrifice all He has, His very life, so that we may live forever in heaven. 

So—may the Epiphany of the Lord draw us to be those servants of Him who are rich in the things that matter, not of the world but of His Kingdom.  May the Epiphany draw us to be holier and blessed in the sight of the Savior born at Bethlehem.  Finally, may the Epiphany draw us to be His sacrificial stewards who live our lives faithfully in preparation for the day when we, hopefully, will see Him face to face.

Your Christmas Cleric, Father Joe