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Sunday, February 1, 2026
Hello folks,
The Lord be with you all!
Today’s Gospel recounts the beginning of the sermon on the mount, and we will continue reading from it for the next several weeks. This week, our Lord teaches us the beatitudes: ways of blessedness, or happiness, that would appear hidden to our ordinary way of thinking (given our fallen human natures). As with every word our Lord speaks, they are worth contemplating through the week as well.
Given the lack of peace in the world, in our nation, and oftentimes in our own families and even in our own hearts, we need to turn to our Lord to show us a way forward. The world encourages people to “double-down” on whatever demands they have for justice or prosperity or whatever. To seek peace is sometimes perceived as being weak. Perhaps even worse is that if one has taken advantage of someone or some situation, then seeking “peace” can be a manipulation to try to lock in illicit gains! To seek an unjust peace is oftentimes kicking a can down the road to more problems later. Yet, our Lord tells us that the peacemakers shall be called “children of God,” thus identifying God with peace and showing something of our baptismal responsibility, since we are made children of God in the sacrament of baptism, and thus made to ultimately live in peace. Practically, may I ask you to please bring your conflicts, your hurts, your anger and your disappointments to the Lord? Drop into the church and spend some time with the Lord during the week when you are experiencing turmoil, and ask Him to show you the way forward!
I want to thank our contractors who clear the snow after (and during) snow storms: Kazanjian’s (in Our Lady of Grace) and Hussey’s (in Saint John’s), and all who do that work to keep us safe and functioning during the roughest New England weather. I want to thank all who donate so that we can pay these (and so many other service providers to our parishes). Although some prefer snow storms to occur on weekends at a time they might not be working, as pastor I am grateful when they occur in such a way that the weekend Masses can still go ahead as normal. Firstly, because the people get to worship our Lord (which is central to our being) and often they receive the Blessed Sacrament to strengthen them for the week ahead. Secondly and very practically, I am relieved that cash donations still come in so that we can pay our bills. Online giving and envelope giving and other planned giving tends to come in anyway, but loose cash donations might not. This past weekend, that amounted to $1,759 in Our Lady of Grace and $935 in Saint John’s. Thank you for these donations! However, do also consider making planned weekly or monthly donations, perhaps online, so that should one miss Mass locally due to weather or illness or travel, your support can still be received, and oftentimes you will be helping those who might not be able to support the parishes!
Finally, the two talks given by my brother went well, and I want to thank those who supported his efforts by helping to prepare facilities or by making a donation or purchasing a book. I have more copies if anyone is interested!
God bless,
Father Maher
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