Firstly, let me share with you something that I found very consoling. I recently received a note from an 84 year old parishioner who said that she is praying for all of the new pastoral initiatives in the parish aimed at young people. Even though she is not directly involved in those things, she recognizes how important it is to evangelize, form, and build community among Catholic youth and young people. Her prayers, I have no doubt, are a source of great fruitfulness in those endeavors. Last week’s “Theology on Tap” hosted by the young adults of Stoneham and Reading had over fifty young adults join together for fellowship, prayer, and formation. Nobody was expecting such a large number, so they were all crammed into a very tight space. Thanks to all of those who helped organize it and attended it. Thanks also to Fr. Patrick who gave the talk. Last Sunday our Confirmation class had a retreat day led by Nicholas and Sarah Antonacci. Nick is the Assistant Principal at St. Patrick School. 130 or so young people prayed, listened to wonderful talks, shared in small groups, went to confession, and attended Mass. The day was the culmination of a lot of work by our confirmation team of parish staff and volunteers. These persons made a lot of personal sacrifices to commit to our young people during this whole year. In your name, I thank them. This brings me to a concern of mine. Every Sunday, approximately 1300 people attend Mass at St. Patrick. We have hundreds of Baptisms each year, over one hundred First Communions and Confirmations. Between our school and our religious education program, there are 650 children and young people. If all of those children and their parents were coming to Mass each Sunday, our Mass attendance would be at least 1950. And that would only be just them. Not all the other parishioners. When a parish has big numbers, it can be easy to be deluded into thinking that everything is great or, at least, safe. Those occasional “big blip” numbers–like First Communions and Confirmations–are not really an indication of the health of our spiritual life as a parish. In fact, they may be telling us of a serious problem. The real indication of spiritual health among our young people and their families is whether they are coming to Mass on Sundays and intentionally growing in their life of discipleship. A child who isn’t raised intentionally and actively in the Faith (especially by attending Mass every Sunday) is not, in twenty years, going to have his or her own children baptized. Those children will likely be devoid of any connection to the Faith that their grandparents once practiced with devotion, sacrifice, and fidelity. As I continue to reflect upon the situation our young people confront, I recognize that something urgently needs to be done. Do I know exactly what that is yet? Not entirely, but I think a shift needs to occur in our expectations and in our methods. I think we need to once again return to the expectation that parents are the first teachers of their children in the Faith. What volunteers, parish staff members, and teachers do is supplement and help parents in that responsibility, but we cannot–and should not–replace the parents in this obligation. What will this look like? I wish I knew! I think it means a pretty big paradigm shift in our thinking and approach. It will likely start small, but will be focused on helping those parents who really want to raise their children in the Faith. The problem is daunting. I am, however, reminded of the words of our Lord to his apostles, “Put out into the deep waters and lower your nets for a catch.” I sense that we have to leave the safety of what we have known and done in the past and trust that we have to go deeper. I have lots more to say on the matter, but no room to say it! Please keep this intention in your prayers. Your Brother in Christ, Fr. David Barnes

Even though the Christmas Season is over, today’s Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is, in some sense, the very, very end of Christmas. In some cultures, the Christmas decorations stay up until today. (I think sometimes in my family, the Christmas decorations stayed up until St. Patrick’s Day, but that was more out of procrastination than for any theological reasons.) Today’s Feast is always celebrated on February 2nd, so it is not often celebrated on a Sunday. It is a beautiful feast and has wonderful imagery. At all of the Masses, we will bless candles that will be used on our altars throughout the year. (Ever wonder why candles are used to bless throats? It is because the Feast of St. Blaise is on February 3rd, the day after all the candles are blessed.) On the front cover of the bulletin this week is a reproduction of Rembrandt’s depiction of the Presentation of the Lord. You will notice the contrast between light and darkness. Simeon, holding the forty-day-old Christ Child, says, “My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the Nations and the glory of your people, Israel.” Rembrandt artistically depicts this by showing most of the people in the painting as standing in the shadows. The Christ-Child, however, is not merely in the light. He is the Light. It is He who is shining on those nearest to Him, illuminating their lives, and his light is gradually conquering the surrounding darkness. The world can often be dark, cold, and cruel. Sin and its sinister seduction also draws us into the clutches of darkness. Even after we recognize its emptiness, we sometimes are deluded to think that going deeper into the abyss will eventually provide some satisfactory answer to our desire for meaning and our desire for fulfillment. To cast our lot in with the world and its power or to give ourselves over to sin is always the path to nowhere. It is the path to emptiness. Similarly, to base our life on power, pleasure, or possessions is to grasp at nothing. Simeon lived as a man who longed for the appearance of Christ. He must have known–perhaps more than most–the depth of the darkness that weighed upon the world. He was a man who hoped in the promise that he would see the Messiah. He waited patiently for the Lord. I am reminded of a piece of music that was often sung at funerals at a previous parish of mine. It is from Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, entitled, “O Rest in the Lord.” It is a very consoling and beautiful piece which repeats the phrases, “O rest in the lord, wait patiently for him. He shall give thee thy heart’s desires.” It also reminds the listener, “And fret not thyself because of evildoers.” Just rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. (Look the piece of music up! It’s beautiful!) I look at that Rembrandt depiction of Simeon, and it makes me think how good it is to just rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. In that moment, all of Simeon’s hopes and desires were far-surpassed. And the light embraced by Simeon gradually begins to affect those who are still in darkness. Each of us experiences the weight of the darkness of sin and the corruption of the world. We can easily grow discouraged by the evil-doing of others and by our own sinfulness. There can be a temptation to capitulate to a worldly mentality or to yield to the easy escape of sin. We can easily become trapped by the memories of our own past sins, ensnared by present sins, and hopeless about future freedom. We can easily lash out against our enemies and live with resentments. Difficult situations confront us–family problems, illnesses, addictions, loneliness, alienation from loved ones. We can also be deluded into thinking that we can, by sheer force of will, create the better world for which we long and then be frustrated when such a world eludes us. Are you suffering, discouraged, feeling weak, anxious, afraid, trapped in sin, feeling like you’re too far into the abyss to get out? Do you experience some darkness in your life and wonder if there is any relief? Simeon’s illumined face shows us the way: “O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for him. He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. Wait patiently for him.” Your Brother in Christ, Fr. David Barnes