THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
8 JANUARY 2017
There
is an old joke that explains why it is easy to tell that the wise men were not
wise women. Wise women would have
arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole
and brought practical gifts – like formula or diapers or a stroller! Instead, the magi brought gifts which reveal
the true nature of this child. They gave
the gift of gold, because he is a King.
They gave the gift of frankincense, because he is God. They gave the gift of myrrh, because he would
suffer and die as the Suffering Servant.
These gifts set the tone for the Gospel of Saint Matthew, which we will
hear on most Sundays during this Liturgical Year. In reflecting on Matthew’s Gospel, we will
come to understand better how Jesus Christ manifests his kingship, his divine
nature, and his suffering and death in our individual lives.
That work
of manifesting the person of Jesus Christ has been conducted in this church
building since it was dedicated by Bishop D’Arcy in September of 1992. In the last 24 years, the Word of God has
been proclaimed, and the Sacraments have been celebrated many times. Lots of people, both infants and adults, have
been baptized here. Many have been
confirmed and received their First Communion here. Couples have been professed their vows in
front of this Altar and received the Sacrament of Matrimony. Newly ordained priests have celebrated their
Masses of Thanksgiving at this Altar.
Families have brought their loved ones to celebrate their funeral Masses
here. Countless individuals have entered
these Reconciliation Rooms and have emerged with their sins forgiven. People facing surgery and serious illnesses
have received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick here. Those of us who have been around for a while
have special memories of sacred events celebrated in this Church. My father’s casket was placed right
here. Not long after that, a couple
entering into the Sacrament of Marriage sat in that very spot where the caskets
of both of their spouses had rested.
This church building has provided
many stories. It is no secret that this
church was too small on the day it was dedicated. At that time, the plan was to form another
parish on the corner of Cleveland and County Line Roads. But as time went on and the priest shortage
worsened, Bishop D’Arcy decided that Saint Pius should remain here, and Bishop
Rhoades has agreed. Ironically, Bishop
D’Arcy left my mother’s funeral to come to the dedication of this church. I have always blamed her for my being named
pastor here.
As we
designed the new church, where these same mysteries will be celebrated for many
years to come, we knew that we had to preserve the sacredness of this
space. Not only will we use as many
sacred items from this church as we can in the new church, but this space will
be used for other sacred events. We will
baptize infants, teens, and adults in the new Baptismal Font on the north side
of this space. The panels containing the
baptismal meditation by Pope Saint Leo will be placed on the new Font. We will wake the dead near the Font and begin
Funeral Masses there. The parish library
will be located here, and the rest of this space will be used for gathering,
building community, and sharing food.
The three larger Holy Cross Rooms will be used for meetings, funeral
lunches, and expanded space for getting together.
We will
celebrate the final Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord tomorrow morning
at 8:15. After that, this church will
become a construction area, and we will celebrate Mass in the gyms until we
dedicate the new church on March 25. As
we leave the Christmas Season, we trust that the Lord will not leave us. We will continue to praise and worship him,
who is King, God, and Suffering Servant, much as the people of ancient Israel
praised and worshiped God in their journey through the desert of Sinai to the
Promised Land.
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