Letter from the Pastor
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January 3, 2021
The Twelve Days of Christmas are over; today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, “Little Christmas.” There are three epiphanies. Today, the Epiphany of the Magi, the revelation of the God-made-man to the Gentile world. And with that revelation and the arrival of the Magi, it sets into motion the difficult chapter of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family fleeing into exile to Egypt, the Holy Parents realizing that their precious Child is a wanted person; with all the confusion, hurt, and the not knowing what tomorrow brings. We can never separate our Lord from His cross, not even in the stories of His birth. The babe in the manger was God Himself who knew just how full of pain and suffering this world is, and His coming was meant to bring healing and joy to heavy hearts.
That first Christmas was during difficult days, the “peace” of Augustus Caesar was a brutal attempt to stamp out all opposition, the world was at peace because all of Caesar’s enemies were dead. It was a very dark world, it was brutal, violent and without civility. Into that world, the Christ-child was born as the true Light to the World, the true King of Peace. And on that first Epiphany Day, Magi from the East came to pay Him homage and give Him the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And since they encountered Christ, they were changed, and went home a different route, because they were different.
Like Casper, Melichor and Balthasar, we have seen the Lord, now let us go back another way and bring His message. O star of wonder, O star of night...guide us to the perfect light.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
There have been some questions regarding the morality of taking the Covid-19 vaccination. Some Catholics have expressed concerns that several of the new coronavirus vaccines, including those from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, might have used cells connected to two aborted fetuses from the 1960’s, either in their development or testing phases.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement, approved by Pope Francis on December 21st that it is morally licit to receive the vaccination against the Covid-19 even if it was developed from cells procured through abortion from the 1960’s. The act of the abortion was quite remote from the receiver of the vaccine, so the cooperation in the evil of abortion is very remote. If there is an alternative vaccine, it should be chosen. Reception of a vaccination, which developed from those cells, does not constitute approval ("moral endorsement") of abortions.
The Vatican says that vaccination should not be made mandatory. But one has the moral duty to protect one's own health, also the duty to pursue the common good. "In the absence of other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the common good may recommend vaccination, especially to protect the weakest and most exposed.”
If you choose not to take the vaccine for reasons of conscience, the Vatican says those persons "must do their utmost to avoid … becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent."
Happy New Year 2021
I wonder what the history books will say about the year just past? How did the Pandemic change the course of world history, indeed Church history? Will the year 2020 go down as a pivotal year in the history of the world? Will we have another “Roaring 20’s?” What will they write about our times and us as a society? I wonder the amount of good that will come from this disruption of our ‘normal’ living? Will we become strong in our faith, our resolve for freedom and our respect of the human person? Just wondering!Happy and Blessed New Year.