Some call them Kings and some call them Wise Men. Tradition tells us there were three, but there are stories about the Fourth Wise Man. In the New American Bible English Translation (above), Matthew calls them “… Magi from the East …” While much of the world celebrates their Feast, the Feast of the Epiphany, on Jan. 6, for many years here in the United States and in other countries, we celebrate it on the Second Sunday after Christmas.
We know the story so well. We tell it and re-tell it in countless ways every year. As we approach and celebrate Christmas in this year of 2020, we are all, in one way or another, tired, maybe especially tired of hearing that Christmas (and the holidays) will be different in this most challenging and difficult year. So, what do we do? We can each ask ourselves as individuals and families, what is the best way that we can celebrate Christmas this year?
On Dec. 3, I received an email from a parishioner that included a request,
“Might you, dear bishop, consider decreeing a Year of St. Joseph for our diocese?” Included with the request was a reminder that Dec. 8 would be the 150th anniversary of the declaration (by Blessed Pope Pius IX) of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church (1870–2020). Also included was a list of 11 dioceses in the country that had already announced they would have a “Year of St. Joseph” in 2021.
I think that many or most Catholics are familiar with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and I would hope that many are familiar with the basic story. If you are reading this and the story is new to you I encourage you to Google it or to do some research and learn about this apparition and message of our Blessed Mother that took place almost 500 years ago and, yet, is still so relevant and important in the life of the Church today.
The Season of Advent has been described as a Season of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love (or Faith). You can find a few different explanations of the “Advent Wreath” and its meaning, as well as the meaning of each of the four candles. Most agree that the “first” candle symbolizes Hope. As Advent of 2020 unfolds, we might ask ourselves, “How hopeful am I?” or “Am I feeling very hopeful these days”? Are we ready to do what St. Peter tells us we always should be ready to do? Can we give a “reason for our hope”?