Pastor’s Notes

LIVING THE QUESTIONS

The Advent/Christmas season showed us so much about ourselves. So many questions emerged what our church and country will look like of the future. The Christmas poem by Dr. Howard Thurman, “When the song of the angels is stilled…then the work of Christmas begins” has new meanings these January days. We celebrate this week Dr. Martin Luther King’s memorial and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.   

In the Gospel, Jesus asks, “What do you seek?” This is often most important question in anyone’s life. So much depends on our answer to it. Andrew and his companion begin to respond by calling Jesus and asking another important question, “Where do you abide?” This is nota question not about address or geography. He invites them to “Come and see.” And they do…immediately! Only after they spent three years with him could Jesus answer their questions more fully and they finally “get it!” At the Last Supper in John’s Gospel, they were reminded that following Jesus is a matter of the heart and soul, as much as the feet, ears and eyes. He said, “Abide in my love … just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love” (John 15:9-10). The real answer to that first question… is that his abode…his home… was in them.

The word, “liturgy” means “the work of the Assembly.” As we begin “the work” of Ordinary Time, as a parish of the “Ordinary form,” these readings invite us to take stock of what we most desire and how we are going after it. The vocation to “come and see,” to remain with, to abide in Christ, belongs to all of us – each in our own particular way.

Pope Francis has called for 2021 to be a year focused on “St. Joseph” I’m liking the idea more and more. He added his name as spouse of Mary to the Eucharistic prayers. Integrity goes with Joseph the just and Joseph the dreamer. Most of us can not measure up to his righteousness in the Christmas story. Still, it is nice to have him around. Our East window is dedicated to him.  And his statue is one of the most prominent among the Basilica saints. The inauguration of a new president has been the occasion of great ugliness and heroism for our country. Perhaps we have to dream our legacy again and set aside the media control over our imaginations and national loyalty. Perhaps we can find it again with Joseph as our guide.

“God seekers” is one of my favorite images for Catholic life these days. We stand with many across our planet…like the magi following the star in St. Matthew’s Christmas story. We do it with our own Franciscan style here at the Basilica. So many of us look for God in our own generous volunteerism and service. Pope Francis invites us to think more about our call to Gospel life in all its forms throughout this year. I look forward to exploring this with you. The right questions are key to the right answers. What are you looking for?  Where do you live?

We stand with all those struggling with COVID 19 in hospital and our homes. We pray with those who have lost loved ones in this pandemic and around it.  I am drawn to the prayer of our Fr. Mychal Judge, the Franciscan chaplain to the New York Fire Department who gave his life at 9-11, as I look at the work of this year.  It is like Samuel’s prayer in the first reading, “Lord, take me where you want me to go; Let me meet who you want me to meet; Tell me what you want me to say, and Keep me out of your way.”

A gentle week.

Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM