From Father Steven - November 24, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • November 22, 2024


Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

Although this week our minds are fully immersed in Thanksgiving, we are not focusing on the pilgrims or the Native Americans. On the last liturgical Sunday of Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Therefore, I would like to reflect together on the profound reality of having Christ as our King. In this weekend’s Gospel, we encounter the dialogue between Pontius Pilate and Jesus. Pilate begins by asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). This question calls us to reflect deeply: Is Christ truly our King, or do we have another ruler? In other words, who governs our lives? Who is in charge of our actions, our thoughts, and to whom do we pledge our obedience? Surely, it should be Jesus, but if we are honest with ourselves, that is not always the case. As St. Augustine once said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (Confessions, 1.1). We know that our hearts were made to rest in Christ, but we often allow other things to take precedence.

 

A few weeks ago, we heard the Gospel calling us to love God with all our hearts, to love Him above all else. That would be ideal, but it is not always the case. At times, we put other priorities before God—skipping Mass on Sunday, failing to make time for prayer, or neglecting the needs of others because of something or someone else. This is a sign of whose voice we are listening to. We can easily become distracted and follow our own desires—whether laziness, gluttony, pride, or envy. We may act not because it is God’s will, but because we have other intentions.

 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, whose voice do we obey? Many times, we have clearly heard God’s voice. Whether He was calling us to go to confession, pray the rosary, attend Mass, forgive someone, or respond to another prompt, we knew it was God speaking. But how often do we disregard that voice? We also hear a different voice—one that calls us to do the opposite—sometimes accusing us or justifying our own actions. St. Francis de Sales beautifully reminds us, "Be who you are and be that well" (Introduction to the Devout Life), which speaks to the necessity of aligning our will with God’s. Therefore, this weekend, we are all asked: Is Jesus truly our King?

 

As the dialogue continues, Jesus reveals that His kingdom is not of this world. He tells Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). If we look closely at the Gospels, we see that Jesus repeatedly affirms His heavenly origin. In the Gospel of John, He speaks often of being "from above" (John 8:23), and in the Catechism, we are reminded that "Christ’s kingdom is present in mystery" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 865). He also tells us, "You are in the world, but you are not of the world" (John 17:14-16). So, the question becomes: Do we live as if our kingdom is in heaven? Today, more than ever, there is a sense of everything happening instantly. The world moves so fast that we rarely have to wait for anything. We are conditioned to desire the "here and now," with little patience for delay. We have grown up hearing that "time is money," and we are constantly reminded not to waste it. But Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which takes time to grow (Matthew 13:31-32). This is the opposite of the world’s fast-paced, instant-gratification mindset. Once again, we are in the world, but we are not of the world.

 

Consequently, if our ultimate prize is eternal life—if everything we long for will be given to us after death—then we can endure suffering, trials, and tribulations. These are the ways God purifies us and prepares us to enter His Kingdom. As St. Teresa of Ávila said, "The Lord does not give us an easy way to heaven. He wants us to come through the narrow door, and He calls us to embrace the cross" (The Interior Castle). This is what the martyrs discovered. This is why many saints gave up their lives, careers, and families to follow this higher call. Therefore, we are asked this weekend: Where is our kingdom? Where is our treasure? Jesus tells us, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). In Hebrews 12:2, we are urged to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who "for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame," so that He could sit at the right hand of the throne of God. Would you be willing today to embrace your cross (your suffering), face rejection and humiliation, in order to have this joy and enter the Kingdom of God?

 

While your answer may not be a definitive "yes," Christ, this weekend, desires to be our King and rule our lives—both on earth and in heaven. There is little we can do about our past, but today we can change our future. The Catechism teaches us, "The Kingdom of God is the reign of God, the reign of love, the reign of peace" (CCC, 2816). Let us listen to His voice, and let us do His will. After all we have heard in Mass throughout the year, today let us recognize Jesus as our sovereign King and follow in His footsteps, so that where He is, we too may be.

 

We wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 



From Father Steven - April 5, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • April 2, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter! The other day, Archbishop Richard Henning shared an example during the Chrism Mass that stayed with me: the image of a broken clock. While I will take the idea in a slightly different direction, it offers a helpful way to reflect on the meaning of Easter. A clock is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship. It is made up of springs, gears, dials, and wheels, all carefully designed and assembled. Once everything is in place, we call it a clock. It may come in different shapes, sizes, and styles, but its purpose is the same: to tell time. But what happens when it stops working? Do we still call it a clock? Is it only a clock when it functions properly? In a similar way, we can reflect on our own lives. Each of us has been wonderfully made, with a complexity far greater than any clock—our bodies, our minds, our souls, all working together in harmony. And we, too, have a purpose: to love. Yet there are times when we fail. There are moments when we struggle to love as we should. But do we cease to be who we are because of that? Of course not. Just as a broken clock is still a clock, we do not stop being children of God—created in His image and likeness—even when we fall short. This is precisely why Christ comes to us. Through His Resurrection, He does not simply “fix” us in a superficial way. He comes to restore us completely—to make us whole. He does not just replace a part or patch us up; He offers us new life. He gives us His Spirit, a life that can overcome sin, temptation, and despair. A clock cannot repair itself, and neither can we. We often think that if we just try harder, we can fix everything on our own. But what we truly need is the One who made us. We need God to restore in us what is missing. And He desires to do so—if only we allow Him.  The Gospel of the Resurrection tells us about Mary Magdalene going to the tomb of Jesus. She and the other women wondered who would roll away the stone. It seemed like an impossible obstacle. And yet, when they arrived, the stone had already been removed. The angel announced to them that Jesus was no longer among the dead. Later, Mary encountered the Risen Lord, though at first she mistook Him for the gardener. How often do we experience something similar in our own lives? We see obstacles that feel immovable—stones we believe we cannot roll away. But Easter proclaims to us today that the stone has already been moved. What seems impossible to us is not impossible for God. This message is like the voice of the angel speaking to each of us: do not be afraid. The Risen Christ is near. But we must be willing to seek Him. Among all those who knew Jesus, it was the women—those who went looking for Him—who first received the joy of encountering Him alive. It is not a matter of worthiness or merit, but of desire. Those who long for Christ, who seek Him, will find Him. Those who remain indifferent or closed off may miss the grace that is being offered. So today, we are invited to make a decision. Do we want to remain as we are, or do we want to be made new? Christ rose from the dead to give us a new life—life in abundance—for all who are willing to receive it. And this life is given so that we may love one another as He has loved us. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who made these Holy Week celebrations possible: our staff, volunteers, musicians, and all who worked so generously behind the scenes. Please keep them in your prayers. And to all of you who have come today—whether you attend Mass every week or are here for the first time in a long while—know this: you belong here. This is your home. If there is anything we, as a parish, can do for you, please reach out. We may not be perfect, but we promise to give you our very best. Christ is Risen! Alleluia! He is truly Risen Alleluia, Alleluia! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - March 29, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • March 27, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Here we are in the most holy week of the year! I hope you had a fruitful Lent, preparing your souls for this moment. I would like to share a brief reflection with you for each day of this upcoming week.  You might have noticed last week that all the sacred images and statues were covered. The Church recommends covering them after the Fifth Sunday of Lent to help us focus more deeply on Christ and to heighten our longing for Easter Sunday. When we walk into the church and notice that things are different, we sense that something significant is about to happen. These final days of Lent are meant to be a time of preparation for the Sacred Triduum, and these veils serve as a powerful reminder to get ready. We begin Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. The technical name for this Sunday is “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.” As you may recall, we proclaim two Gospels: one recounting the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem at the beginning of Mass, and another, at the usual time, recounting the Passion according to one of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or Luke). These two passages are important, as they direct us toward Easter. They help us meditate on the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday with hearts that long for the Resurrection of Christ. On Thursday, as we begin the Triduum, we celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper. Although it is often associated with the washing of the feet, there are two other essential elements to remember. The washing of the feet symbolizes fraternal love, as Christ loves and serves His disciples as His friends. At the Last Supper, we also celebrate the institution of the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist. Not long ago, during the pandemic, we deeply missed receiving Communion. In this moment, we are reminded that Jesus gives us His Body and Blood as a gift to sustain us. During that time, we had to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood, but now we are able to restore it. What better day to do so than the very day on which Jesus Himself instituted it? I encourage you to receive the Blood of Christ, not only because it is His desire, but also because the Church, especially since the Second Vatican Council, has affirmed that the faithful should have this opportunity. At the end of the celebration, we will process to the hall, where we are invited to keep vigil with Christ until midnight. On Good Friday, when Mass is not celebrated, we gather for the “Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.” In this service, we listen once again to the Passion, and we venerate the Cross of Jesus, as well as reflect on our own crosses. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, though this is not always easy. On this day, we are invited to come forward to adore and kiss the Cross, trusting that Christ helps us carry our burdens. Finally, on Saturday evening (8:00PM) and Sunday morning (7:30AM and 11:00AM—there will be no 5:00PM Mass), we will gather to proclaim the Resurrection of Christ. As we accompany Him to the tomb and mourn His death, we will also come together to proclaim to the world that God is not dead—He is alive and desires to share His divine life with us. Last week, we heard St. Paul exhort us to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. This is only possible if a new life is formed within us. That new life comes through the power of God, made present in the death and Resurrection of Christ. Just as God led His people from Egypt to the Promised Land, so too He desires to lead us into new life. Therefore, it is essential to approach these days with intentionality, striving to rise with Christ into a new life. God Bless, Fr. Steven