Letter from the Pastor

December 3, 2021

Letter From the Pastor – December 5, 2021

          In the famous story of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare raised the now famous question, “What is in a name?”  And in the next sentence he gave his equally famous answer, “That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.”           In his poetic language, Shakespeare was saying that names, in and of themselves, have no meaning.  And in our western culture that is largely true.  Names are simply labels that are applied to people for purposes of identification.  They are sometimes chosen by association as when […]
November 24, 2021

Letter From the Pastor – November 28, 2021

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  As we know so well, the word simply means “coming” or “arrived.”  We use it in this context to refer to the coming of Jesus into the world.  Most of us have celebrated Advent many times and are quite familiar with its meaning.  But what many sometimes fail to recognize is that the coming of Jesus is a three-dimensional concept.  Our usual habit of thought is to limit it to only one meaning or two at the most. Characteristically, we think of Advent in terms of the Christmas story.  This is when we […]
November 19, 2021

Letter From the Pastor – November 21, 2021

                There is an old movie based on the beginnings of the Chinese communist revolution.  A Chinese mob breaks into orphanage run by a Catholic priest.  The communist officer, a big bully type, tries to assault a pretty, young orphan girl.  The priest, at the risk of his own life, tries to defend her.  While two or three soldiers were holding the priest, the man slaps him saying: “Your Christ recommends turning the other cheek”.  The priest complies.  The officer slaps him on the other cheek too.  The priest then in great anger […]
November 12, 2021

Letter From the Pastor – November 14, 2021

                Last week a young boy of 16 was murdered and two of his friends seriously wounded as they were traveling in a van in New York City.  This unprovoked act of violence filled the hearts of many people with great anger and frustration.  All of us recoil at senseless violence and injustice.  And yet we all know that violence and injustice must be rejected in favor of justice, understanding and peace.                   In the gospel Jesus’s message to us is very clear; there is no room for any retaliation; no eye for […]
November 5, 2021

Letter From the Pastor – November 7, 2021

          It is a psychological fact of life that each of us is not one person, but many.  Surely, we all recognize that truth about ourselves.  There is one part of us that is gentle and kind, another part that is mean and ill-tempered.  There is one part that is open and honest, another part that is deceitful and conniving.  We could multiply the examples endlessly, because every one of us is a bundle of mixed motives and conflicting emotions.           The ancient psalmist recognized that reality.  So he decided to do […]