Providentially as we near the end of the first month of the New Year 2022, the Gospel passage talks about the fulfillment of the Scripture in our hearing: the long awaited prophecies of the work of the Messiah “to being glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to give sight to those who do not see with faith, to set free those oppressed with burdens, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

The Lord’s principal work is the Incarnation, to be with us in the world, to save us. And one of those in Nazareth who accepted that mission and allowed the Lord to do His work within her is Mary, a sharp contrast to most Nazarenes who were initially amazed at Jesus’ words, but did not want Him to do that work. They went from amazement, to incredulity, to doubt, to murderous thoughts and actions.

We are once again reminded that we are Jesus’ family, even more than the Nazarenes; but we, like Mary, need to allow Him to do His work in us through the work of our human hands. God created us to be stewards of His creation. And since each of us is made in the image of God and bound by His love, possessing a profound human dignity, we have an obligation to love and honor that dignity in one another, and especially in what we are able to do which ultimately defines who we are: beloved children of the Father.

We begin this weekend of January 22-23 until February 19-20, our series of information campaign highlighting our various ministries classified into five groups: Stewardship, Outreach, Worship, Engagement and Religious Education, and on the weekend of February 26-27, we will have our Ministry Faire to gather all of our leaders and volunteers who make our Church dynamic, growing and continually evolving community of missionary disciples!

Finally, before the first month of the New Year ends, we welcome back ERIC HOM as the “new” Director of Business Operations here at Saint Raymond’s! You may be familiar with him as he served as Business Manager here 5 years ago. Eric will concurrently work at Saint Michael Church in Livermore where he resides with his family. He will be at most Masses this weekend. If you are around, stop by to say HI and pray with him as he continues his ministry journey with us here!

Sono semipro grate,
Father Erick