Readings may be found at:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/

Today we have a reflection from the book of Wisdom on the problem of evil and Jesus faces arrest for preaching the Gospel.

Readings may be found at:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/

Today Moses intercedes for the people and Jesus encourages the people to hear his words.

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation
Readings may be found at:
​http://www.usccb.org/bible/

Readings can be found at:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/

The prophet Ezekiel has a vision of water flowing from the temple and Jesus cures a man at the pool of Bethesda.

The daily readings can be accessed at :
http://www.usccb.org/bible/
​Today we read about God's promise to create a new world and Jesus heals a child at his father's request.

This weekend we hosted our first "drive-in" event at the parishes. About 30 people stopped by to say hi, picked up their bulletin, and received a blessing. The weather was pretty cold and everyone had to stay in their cars. At this time I am not live-streaming a Mass since there are so many out there at the moment. It also appears that bandwidth is becoming limited and I am hearing reports that some live streams are failing or delayed. My advice to you is to find a quality Mass online and check in here for parish updates. I will also attempt to upload a homily every day so you can hear my homily if the other guy is too boring!

The last few weeks have seen reports of yet more terror attacks and mass shootings in our country.  One of these attacks even happened in a church as services were going on!  Often there seems to be no warning of any kind, no way to stop these horrific acts, and a lot of handwringing from the authorities over an inability to stop further attacks.

Human history has shown us that people are capable of terrible violence against others and all kinds of motivations can be cited for their actions.  It is very likely that these kinds of attacks will continue in the future.  After one of these attacks our responses have become commonplace.  There are those who call for prayer and those who shout that prayer isn't doing any good.  There are those who call for more regulations and those who shout that we mustn't give up our freedoms.  There are those who call for more programs for the mentally ill and those who shout that we can't afford it.  Some want to limit who can come into our country while others remind us that we are a nation built on immigration.  The debates go on and on while little changes.

The main problem ( at least as I see it) is that both sides have good points, but the other side is rarely able to acknowledge this.  As our nation struggles to come up with a response to evil, it may be a good idea to examine the nature of the problem, organize our own beliefs, and determine where we are willing to compromise on the issues that are important to us.

Step One: Acknowledge the problem. "Terror attacks/shootings are killing too many people."

Step Two: Acknowledge all the possible solutions, even ones you don't like.  These are often hot-button issues like immigration policy, personal freedoms, governmental surveillance, mental health policy, religious belief, etc.

Step Three:  Rank your beliefs. Examine each of your own deeply held beliefs and see how they compare to the problem.  For example, would you agree to broader governmental surveillance if it meant saving 100 lives in the future? 1000 lives?

Step Four: Admit that there is a place for compromise.  Our current plan, shouting at each other from the opposite corner of a large room, is not working.  It is not working.  Try to imagine a place where people were able to make reasonable, common sense decisions and agree to give up a little something for the common good.  There are few people who would argue that seatbelt laws, though they restrict your freedom, have made our lives worse over the last fifty years.

Step Five: Take positive action.  If you have an idea for a compromise or are willing to support someone else's, call your legislator and let them know.  Run for office yourself.  Make policy changes in your own workplace.  Do something that moves the debate along.

We should all pray for an end to violence, but this must be accompanied by positive action.

Soon we will be kicking off RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  This is the process whereby a person (who is not an infant) enters into the Catholic Church.  The classes will start soon and there are several tracks available.  Father Guillermo will have a Spanish language track at St. Mary's and there will be an English track here at St. Alphonsus with the Sisters.  Generally speaking, the first several classes are a time to ask questions, find out about the program, and make a decision about whether or not this is the right time for you to enter the Church.  RCIA can be for those people who have never been baptized as well as for those who have been baptized Christian but still need to make a Catholic Profession of faith or become confirmed.

Perhaps you are the one who would like to attend classes, or perhaps you have a family member who has been coming to Church but has never made it official.  Whatever your situation, please prayerfully consider attending one of our sessions.

Since the Holy Spirit is the best way to get people thinking about making a change, I leave you with a prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth.  O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Spirit we may be ever wise and rejoice in His consolations.  Through Jesus Christ Our Lord,  Amen.

The Sacred Heart is a powerful devotion and has led many people to rediscover their faith. It is my hope that many people in our parish will be enlivened by this devotion and it will be a source of blessing to all of us. When Jesus spoke with St. Margaret Mary about this devotion, he made several promises to those who follow this devotion and dedicate their lives to him. Here are the twelve promises of Our Lord Jesus to St. Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will establish peace in their families.

3. I will console them in all their troubles.

4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes in which an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.

12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Powerful stuff, I am sure you would agree… Please continue to pray for the successful completion of this endeavor!

-Fr. Paul