The Epiphany of Our Lord

Jan 3

From the Scriptures

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Jesus fulfills more than 300 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah! Some of those are pretty minor. For example, The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and would come from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10). Others are more esoteric such as the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend during supper (Ps 41:9) and the Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12).

Like most prophecy, these are much easier to understand in retrospect. And so, it’s easy enough to understand how the big group of experts that King Herod gathered to ask about this newborn king of the Jews thing would struggle to answer even a basic question like where will the Messiah be born...

It’s very difficult to translate to our modern mind just how important these kinds of questions were to ancient peoples. We are in one of the most religious parts of the most religious state of one of the most religious counties on the planet... Even so, the most fervent Baptist and the most devout Catholic for 100 miles in any direction would look like an atheistic heathen next to the most average peasant in the Middle Ages or the least devout Jewish laborer. Religion was everything to the ancient Jews (as it has been in many societies throughout history and as it is in many cultures around the world today). The question of the Messiah was as real, relevant, and topical as water in Tallulah or taxes in April.

The idea that these Jewish experts would be so flummoxed by such a basic question is emphasized here as an indictment of the Jewish religious establishment. The Jewish leaders had lost touch with true religion. They were clearly concerned with power and politics, but they were ignorant of what mattered.

Here’s the verse that I cited earlier from Micah 5: But you, O Bethlehem Eph′rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

This would’ve been very, very well known at the time of Jesus. Micah was one of the twelve minor prophets writing in about 750 BC. Don’t be fooled by “minor” - he was a big deal and his book was well known. Still, these experts couldn’t quote him... As I say, prophecy is hard and hindsight is easy. Still, we do well to take the lesson that today’s gospel is teaching to heart: even a very religious person can lose sight of what matters. As we begin the new year, don’t miss the opportunity to take stock and refocus on Jesus!

Epiphany Chalk

In the early Church, bishops were very, very local. A bishop would have had a Cathedral Church and maybe four or five rural churches to serve. And so, he was generally able to travel to the home of each Catholic family on a somewhat regular basis. Most bishops got into the habit of making their visits and blessing each home at the beginning of the year, around the time of Epiphany. As the Church grew in numbers, the bishop couldn’t do it himself. So bishops started sending priests out at this time of year to bless homes. As the Church continued to grow, even the priests couldn’t make it to everyone’s home near Epiphany and so two traditions arose. First, priests were instructed to bless water at Epiphany and to use that water to bless chalk. The faithful would then take that chalk to their homes and inscribe a blessing upon their doorposts. They were told to write the initials of the wise men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar) in the midst of the year. For example, for 2025:

MM + C + M + B + XXV

This inscription is designed to remind everyone who passes through the door of the true meaning of Epiphany which begins by realizing that the Lord made Himself known to us in a specific space and time. Also, the letters serve as shorthand for the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat (“Lord, Bless this home”).

While many of us simply assume that we’re heading for heaven (a dangerous assumption), the truth is that God chose a specific people - the Jews. As such, only the Jews had any reason to believe that the resurrection of the dead would apply to them. When the Wise Men from the East recognized God’s design and they found the Christ child and were welcomed by Him… WOW! Symbolically, this is the sign in the scriptures that Jesus came not only to save the Jews (symbolized by the shepherds), but also to save gentiles (symbolized by the magi). It’s an incredibly important moment and so we, as the gentiles we are, mark our homes with the names of those gentiles who symbolize our admission into the promise of being chosen by God. Simply make the marking that you see here above the door (on the frame) with blessed Epiphany Chalk and add a prayer of your own choosing to thank God for His goodness to us.

I should add that this isn’t some kind of totem, taboo, magic or other wacky thing. This is kind of like making the sign of the cross with your house instead of your hand. It’s meant to convey a real blessing and then to remind us of God’s work in our lives. Beyond this blessing and marking, the chalk is not special and can’t be used to convey other blessings. You can’t, sadly, mark the cross on your misbehaving child or your broken TV...

I also encourage you to make sure everyone in your home understands the message of the chosenness of the Jews and the meaning of the gentile wise men so that when people ask what that writing is - we’re able to use it for a little evangelization.

This is also an ideal time to invite your pastor over to your home for a yearly house blessing… and maybe a piece of pie.

From the Saints

For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man. — St John Chrysostom

Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die. — Peter Chrysologus

Truth, by which the world is held together, has sprung from the earth, in order to be carried in a woman’s arms. — St Augustine

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of Eliette Maria Mendoza Villasenor/family
Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
Mon 9:00a In memory of Terry Murphy/Rome
Tue No Mass
Wed 9:00a In memory of Neal Bolton (death)/Howington
Thurs 9:00a For the special intentions of the family of Mathew Schnur at Legacy Nursing
Fri 5:30p In memory of Curt Farlow (death) and Anna May Farlow (birth)/family
Sat 5:30p In memory of Louise Testa (birth)/Magoun
Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family

ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Vickie Morelli

Assistants at Holy Mass

Date	Servers	Lector(s)	EMHC(s)
1/4 5:30p	None Scheduled	A Farlow	M Ernst
1/5 9:30a	Kathleen, Evelyn, Ashlyn	S Marsh	-
1/11 5:30p	None Scheduled	MA Gilfoil	N Ernst
1/12 9:30a	Mary Katherine & Maura	A Oliver	-

Upcoming Events

Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
January 4 First Saturday Benediction following Evening Mass
January 5 First Sunday Benediction following Mass
January 8 Feast of our Lady of Prompt Succor, Patroness of the State of Louisiana
January 15 Pastoral Council meeting - 6 p.m. - Parish Hall

For Your Information:

Our MAUSOLEUM project is now underway. Those who are interested in any way are asked to give us your name and mailing address so that the company can judge if there is sufficient interest to complete the project and so that they can send preliminary information. (Signing up is not an obligation to buy.) If you would like to sign up, you can do so at any Mass or by contacting us via email at the address listed on the inside page of the bulletin. Thanks!
2025 STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPES... 2025 envelopes can be found at the back of the church. Please sign your name on the register and indicate the number on the box you took.
FIRST SATURDAY, JAN 4, 9 a.m. Our Lady of Fatima called for special devotions to be offered on the first Saturday of each month. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION, JANUARY 5… at the conclusion of weekend Masses as part of our larger program to improve Eucharistic Devotion and to understand what a gift we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN… parish volunteers must be VIRTUS certified and visit Virtus.org for monthly training bulletins. Issues or questions can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available in the Church.
- “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse.
- “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide”
The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available at DioceseAlex.org or from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL...If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
FUNDRAISING WITH GROCERY TICKETS... If you shop at Doug’s and do not already do so, you may want to save your grocery tickets and place them in the bag on the table at the entrance to church. The church will be given 1% of the total of combined purchases (excluding milk, cigarettes, and alcohol). Our thanks to the ANGEL who collects the tickets and prepares them to submit to Doug’s
ALTAR CANDLES… Anyone wishing to provide candles for the altar in honor of their loved one or in prayer for some intention may do so simply by asking. A small donation is recommended, but not required. A list of dates is in the sacristy and a date can be reserved up to one year in advance.
2025 FLOWER CALENDAR is on the bulletin board at the entrance of the church. Please consider special events in your life or that of your family and consider putting flowers on the altar at least once this year for one of those events. If each family provides flowers for just one week, we would have fresh flowers for the entire year. Just pencil your name or intention in on the calendar and the church office will call to remind you of the date.

Stewardship The three kings in today’s Gospel traveled a great distance at considerable cost to offer their richest gifts to the Infant Jesus. How far will I go and what will I offer to do homage to this newborn King and Savior?

SECOND COLLECTION is for our parish building fund.

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2023-2024	$ 2,111
November Budget	$ 8,444
November Income	$ 9,187
November Expenses	$ 11,235
December Budget	$ 10,555
December 29 Collection	$ 4,068
December Income To Date	$ 22,343

Let us Rejoice in the Lord!

Happy Birthday Beth Sullivan (Jan 4), C. W. Keene (Jan 9), Matilda Johnson (Jan 10)

Happy Anniversary Elizabeth and Paul Naya (Jan 4), Abby and Darryl Ellerbee (Jan 5), Alyssa and Teddy Oliver (Jan 10)

In Our Daily Prayers…

Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.

Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Kenny and Betty Smith

Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Wayne EdwardsMike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Randy Parker, John Neill, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.

Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood

Fr. Ryan Humphries