THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD & THE HOLY FAMILY

A very blessed Sunday to you and yours. In light of the recent violence in our nation’s capitol, and the ongoing polarization and hostility of our political life, I would like to draw your attention to the following excerpt from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians:

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Dom Prosper Gueranger, Abbot of Solesmes, had the following commentary on this passage, which we would do well to reflect upon:

If we would attain Charity, the bond of perfection which unites all Christians together in the one great family of God, we must pay heed to those virtues which the Epistle puts before us. We must be full of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, and patience; we must bear with one another, after the example of the Incarnate Word. Then the peace of Christ will dwell not only in our hearts, but in those around us, and our homes will truly become like that of Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph were ever singing in grace to the Lord God.

The simple fact is that in our culture today, we are surrounded by fear. Many are afraid of what might happen to the church or to their families. Many are afraid of illness and death. Many are afraid for the future of our country, on both the right and the left. But we must bear with one another and forgive one another, not engage in endless

recriminations. It is only then, as the Apostle and Abbot make clear, that the peace of God will dwell in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us. In Mary’s Immaculate Heart,

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my

hope. Let me never be confounded.

- St. Francis Xavier, S.J. January 10th, 2021

The Liturgy last week revealed the mystery of God’s plan—that in Jesus all peoples, symbol-ized by the magi, have been made “co-heirs” to the blessings promised to Israel. This week, we’re shown how we claim our inheritance.

Jesus doesn’t submit to John’s baptism as a sinner in need of purification. He humbles Himself to pass through Jordan’s waters in order to lead a new “exodus”—opening up the promised land of heav-en so that all peoples can hear the words pro-nounced over Jesus today, words once reserved on-ly for Israel and its king: that each of us is a be-loved son or daughter of God (see Genesis 22:2; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 2:7).

Jesus is the chosen servant Isaiah prophesies in to-day’s First Reading, anointed with the Spirit to make things right and just on earth. God puts His Spirit upon Jesus to make Him “a covenant of the people,” the liberator of the captives, the light to the nations. Jesus, today’s Second Reading tells us, is the One long expected in Israel, “anointed . . . with the Holy Spirit and power.”

The word Messiah means “one anointed” with God’s Spirit. King David was “the anointed of the God of Jacob” (see 2 Samuel 23:1–17; Psalm 18:51; 132:10, 17). The prophets taught Israel to await a royal offshoot of David, upon whom the Spirit would rest (see Isaiah 11:1–2; Daniel 9:25).

That’s why people of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to John. But it isn’t John they’re looking for. God confirms with His own voice what the Angel earli-er told Mary—Jesus is the Son of the Most High, come to claim the throne of David forever

(see Luke 1:32–33).

In the Baptism that He brings, the voice of God will hover over the waters as fiery flame, as we sing in today’s Psalm. He has sanctified the waters, made them a passage—a way to healing and free-dom—a fountain of new birth and everlasting life. -Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

The parish staff knows of the following who are ill, in retired living accommodations, etc. If you are aware of others, please let Father or the parish office know: Carl Burrell, Elvira Colistro, Ray Lobdell, Rose Zinkgraf, Bella Mally, Jane Soars, Marge Ivanis, Eleanor Finley, Virginia Warren, Susan Fisher, Gerri Allen, Peggy Cloke, Kathy McCarthy, Christopher Pitner, Ken Keyes, Shirley Anderson, Wayne Anderson, and the residents of Franklin Hills Care Center and Cherrywood Place.

Prayers for the infirm and homebound are a work of mercy.

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St. Irenaeus of Lyon wrote the following passage in his work Against Heresies, drawing attention to the real and physical nature of Christ in the Eucharist. When we receive the Eucharist, we must remember that we are not partaking of a purely spiritual exercise– it is the Flesh and Blood of our salvation.

There can be no blood without veins, flesh and the rest of the human substance, and this the Word of God actually became: it was with his own blood that he redeemed us. As the Apostle says: In him, through his blood, we have been re-deemed, our sins have been forgiven.

We are his members and we are nourished by creatures, which is his gift to us, for it is he who causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall. He declared that the chalice, which comes from his creation, was his blood, and he makes it the nourish-ment of our blood. He affirmed that the bread, which comes from his creation, was his body, and he makes it the nourish-ment of our body.

When the chalice we mix and the bread we bake receive the word of God, the eucharistic elements become the body and blood of Christ, by which our bodies live and grow. How then can it be said that flesh belonging to the Lord’s own body and nourished by his body and blood is incapable of receiving God’s gift of eternal life? Saint Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians that we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. He is not speaking of some spiritual and incorporeal kind of man, for spirits do not have flesh and bones. He is speaking of a real human body composed of flesh, sinews and bones, nourished by the chalice of Christ’s blood and receiv-ing growth from the bread which is his body.

The slip of a vine planted in the ground bears fruit at the proper time. The grain of wheat falls into the ground and decays only to be raised up again and multiplied by the Spirit of God who sustains all things. The Wisdom of God places

these things at the service of man and when they receive God’s word they become the eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ. In the same way our bodies, which have been nourished by the eucharist, will be buried in the earth and will decay, but they will rise again at the appointed time, for the Word of God will raise them up to the glory of God the Father. Then the Father will clothe our mortal nature in immortality and freely endow our corruptible nature with incorruptibility, for God’s power is shown most perfectly in weakness.

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Mass Calendar & Mass Intentions

Sat Jan 9 Baptism of the Lord David Metzger+

Sun Jan 10 Baptism of the Lord Pro Populo Jan 17 2nd Sunday, Ordinary Pro Populo Sun Jan 10 Holy Family Poor Souls Jan 17 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Poor Souls Sun Jan 10 Holy Family United States Jan 17 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Special Intention Mon Jan 11 Weekday Daniel Lander Jan 18 Weekday Megan & Matt Wallblom

Tue Jan 12 Weekday Czapla Family Jan 19 Weekday Czapla Family Wed Jan 13 Weekday Marge Ivanis Jan 20 Weekday Marge Ivanis Thu Jan 14 Weekday NO MASS Jan 21 Weekday NO MASS

Fri Jan 15 Weekday NO MASS Jan 22 Weekday NO MASS

Sat Jan 16 2nd Sunday, Ordinary David Metzger+ Jan 23 3rd Sunday, Ordinary Richard Saccomano +

Sun Jan 24 3rd Sunday, Ordinary Pro Populo

Sun Jan 24 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Poor Souls

Sun Jan 24 3rd Sunday after Epiphany St. Joseph

Masses without intentions are celebrated according to the intention of the priest celebrant. To request the offering of the mass for your intention, please call the parish office or place your request in the Sunday collection

Confessions Tuesdays 4-5pm Saturdays 3:00pm Sundays 10:30am Holy Mass Schedule

Saturdays at 4:00pm, Sundays at 7:30am in the Ordinary Form, Sundays at 11am & 12:30pm in the Extraordinary

Form.

Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday 8:00am SFX Directory

Office Telephone: (509) 487-6363

Office Hours: Saturdays, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Father Gaines: pastor@sfxspokane.org

Office Email: office@sfxspokane.org SFX can be found online at: sfxspokane.org

or facebook.com/sfxspokane Mailing Address P.O. Box 7179 Spokane, WA 99207 Baptisms, Marriages, Conversions

Please contact the parish office at “office@sfxspokane.org” to arrange a baptism, schedule marriage preparation, or if

you are interested in becoming Catholic. Adoration Schedule

Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament is held Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Prayer Chain

Contact Jackie Silvey for prayer requests or to volunteer, she can be reached at (509)

food through the Missionaries of Charity and Caritas ser-vices Please leave your donations of nonperishable items

Natural Family Planning

NFP uses the physical signs placed by God with-in each woman’s body to identify when pregnancy can occur. Monthly classes for three months. Tuition $95.00 for the series. Classes are currently conducted virtually. Contact the Women’s Health Center: 509-474-2400

Office Hours Changing

Our secretary, Miles Ormsby, has recently begun a teaching position at St. Charles Catholic School. Due to the conflicting schedules, the office will now be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you call or email during the week, Miles will do his best to get back to you as quickly as he is able (ideally within 24 hours). As Miles was part-time to begin with, this should be a relatively painless transition.

Seven Sisters Apostolate

The parish is looking for volunteers who would be interested in participating in the “Seven Sisters Apos-tolate.” This Apostolate seeks to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed every day for the intention of the parish priest.

The Apostolate is for women, and involves a commitment of praying a Holy Hour in the church one day a week. While we have as many sisters as we need, backups are always appreciated. If you are interested, please contact Jean Giovanazzi at (509) 466-2196.

Parish Events & Notifications

From the Bishop

Bishop Daly’s guidelines for re-opening can be found at the following website: dioceseofspokane.org/ coronavirus

Northside Catholic Youth Ministry NCYM meets in small groups throughout the week, view the Winter Schedule on the website using the link below for more details.

Website: https://www.ncymspokane.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCYSpokane/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncymspokane/

Year of the Eucharist

As we move through the Year of the Eucharist, please take time to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacra-ment here at St. Francis Xavier. We have adoration every weekday from 7am-8am, and time with our Lord is al-ways well spent.

Annual Catholic Appeal

The Eucharist forms us into one body in Christ and brings us together as the Church in Eastern Wash-ington. As one body, we are called to assist the Church in her material needs, each according to their own abil-ity. When we make a prayerful sacrifice and support the Annual Catholic Appeal we are giving back to God and affirming the belief that everything we have comes from Him. As one body in Christ we share in the responsibil-ity to support the ministries and programs of the Church.

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