Fr. Steve’s Reflections

Fr. Steve Adrian wrote his bulletin reflections in advance. This is the last reflection he wrote before his passing. The manger is a significant part of Luke’s one sentence description of the birth of Jesus. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). In the second chapter of Luke, the author mentions the manger three times within nine verses: 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger’ (2:12). The angel announces … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – December 15, 2024

Fr. Steve Adrian wrote his bulletin reflections in advance. This is the second to last reflection he wrote before his passing. His last reflection will be published on December 15, 2024. December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (a feast celebrated continuously since early in the 5th century) and also the 56th anniversary of my ordination—December 8, 1968. Family and friends, teachers and colleagues, classmates and parish members gathered for the ordination. Archbishop Leo C. Byrne was the ordaining bishop. There are no pictures of the event; at least I have never see a … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – December 8, 2024

“O Lord, may this sacrament in which we have participated profit us. Even now as we walk amid passing things you teach us by these sacraments to love the things of heaven and to hold fast to what endures.” These words are the final prayer of the Mass for the First Sunday of Advent. The spirit of this prayer will be repeated most of Advent as the conclusion of the daily Mass. Another translation of the prayer invites us “to use wisely the things of earth and to love the things of heaven.” I plan to use this simple prayer as my mantra for the season. What are the things of earth? - Time, … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – December 1, 2024

November 11, 1940 - The Armistice Day Blizzard The Armistice Day Blizzard ranks #2 on the Minnesota Top Five weather events of the 20th century. Ask any Minnesotan born before 1940 and they can tell you where they were during the Armistice Day Blizzard. The weather was relatively benign the morning of the November 11, 1940. At 7:00 am, the temperature was 55 degrees. Many people were outdoors, taking advantage of the mild November weather. The weather forecast that morning was for colder temperatures and a few flurries. Few people were prepared for what was to come. Hundreds of duck … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – November 10, 2024

Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day. In a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, “holds office.” Every one of us is in a position of responsibility, and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends on how we fulfill those responsibilities. John F. Kennedy Our trouble is that we do not demand enough of the people who represent us…. We must spur them to more imagination and enterprise in making a push into the unknown; we must make clear that we intend to have responsible and courageous leadership. Eleanor Roosevelt The biggest threat to our … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – November 3, 2024

Thursday is Halloween. This annual autumnal observance is anticipated by children of all ages. I have personal traditions connected with holidays. I spend an hour rereading The Legend of Sleepy Hallow on the day before Halloween. The celebration and costuming of Halloween used to be associated with the November 1st Feast of All Saints. It was the celebration attached to First Vespers of the feast—the eve of All Saints, All Hallows Eve, Halloween. In some cultures, people would dress in costume and gather in the city square. They would sing and dance and eat and drink! At midnight, Death … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – October 27, 2024

In a little over two weeks, we go to the polls. I don’t think I have ever missed the opportunity to vote. An early pastor of Saint Matthew, Msgr. James Cecka (my history teacher), instilled in his students the priority of voting, “even if the only contest is for dog catcher.” As an elementary school child, dad took me with him into the voting booth on Election Day and showed me the names on the slate and the levels to pull to cast your vote. This was a regular outing on the first Tuesday of November. My ability to get around is somewhat compromised by cancer and the treatments I am taking. A … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – October 20, 2024

Wednesday of this week, October 16, marks the 46th anniversary of the Papal election of Karol Wojtyla, known as Pope John Paul II. He was 58 years old and the first Slav to be elected Pope and youngest elected Pope in a century. In 26 years, he visited 129 countries, which included seven visits to the United States. He was the first Pope of modern times to focus on the duty to conserve creation. “The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” He reminded … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – October 13, 2024

On Friday of this week the whole Church observes the Feast of Saint John XXIII. This man, in the five short years he served as Pope, put into motion the most consequential event for the Church of the 20th century and the first half of the 21st century. He saw the world changing and he was committed to see the Church renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit in a new Pentecost. He called us to return in spirit to the early centuries of Church life and rediscover the very meaning of what it is to be Church. He called us to open the Word of God, to search the scriptures. He found in the first … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – October 6, 2024

Friday, October 4th is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. There is no saint more admired and loved by Christian and non-Christian alike as is Saint Francis. Francis was a “peace maker.” He was a lover of nature and saw in the created universe the plan of God for all people. For all too long, we have misused the gift of God’s creation, and we continue to do so at our own peril and that of future generations. We deny the moral dimensions of our decisions and we conflate progress with activity. The idea of infinite and unlimited growth, so attractive to economists, financiers and experts … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 29, 2024

This weekend is the annual solemn celebration of Saint Matthew, our patron. Matthew had a dirty job; he was a tax collector. Jewish tax collectors collected taxes on behalf of the Roman rulers of first-century Judea. They were objects of scorn and even hatred among their own communities, since they worked on behalf of the occupying power and often earned their living by collecting more than the state's due. Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him: Follow me. Jesus saw Matthew, not merely in the usual sense, but more significantly with his merciful … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 22, 2024

In Saint Mark’s gospel, Peter comes across as being impetuous and brash. Yet in the gospel for this Sunday, Peter quickly proclaims his faith that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus then says that the Messiah must undergo suffering; and that suffering is intrinsic to the life of the Messiah. Suffering is the inevitable cost that the Messiah must pay in fulfillment of his mission. Jesus later goes on to say that his disciples must also embrace suffering for the truth; and that suffering can come from one’s own family and friends. Suffering is not a value on its own, but suffering can be the … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 15, 2024

Sunday, September 8th, is Grandparents Day! Central to our understanding of who Jesus Christ is believing that he is true God and truly human. St Paul tells us that: 6 though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. Jesus is fully human and as any human being, he is understood in terms of his relationships. He had parents, … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 8, 2024

Labor Day—the beginning of a new year. In so many ways, Labor Day marks both endings and beginnings—summer’s end, beginning of school year , cabin’s closure for the winter season, harvest, and the plentitude of fresh produce. In a time gone by, this was the day on which men put aside the straw hat and white shoes and returned to brown or black shoes and felt hats. This is the day on which we remember the ennobling quality of human work and the dignity of workers. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued a letter to all Catholics on the condition of human labor and the dignity of work. This was the … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 1, 2024

Over the past two weeks, I have binge watched much of the Paris Olympics. I continue to be amazed by the discipled art of the athletes. These young people prepared for years for this opportunity. They honed their skills by rigorous practice many hours every day in and out of season. I was impressed by interviews with the Ukrainian athletes. They spoke of the bombed out condition of many of their practice venues. They told of how they were offered the opportunity to train outside their country; and yet many of them insisted to train in their country as a statement of solidarity with those … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – August 11, 2024

On Sunday, March 10, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Shortly thereafter, I began a series of chemotherapy and radiation cycles. Two weeks ago, I had a CT scan and an MRI. The results: Favorable treatment response of left lower lobe cancer and scattered metastases involving thoracic lymph nodes, left pleura, liver and upper abdominal peritoneum. No new sites of metastasis. Brain now cancer free. I am a realist and try not to jump to conclusions. I know that I have a chronic illness for which there is no cure. The treatments are meant to shrink the cancer cells and contain the cancer so … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 21, 2024

Pope Francis has a way of seeing reality, making decisions and taking action. Francis’ theological method is made clear when he states: “Realities are more important than ideas” (LS, Nos. 110, 201). In continuity with the methodological preferences of Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI, Francis uses the See-Judge-Act method for reflection on, and interpretation of, reality (or the signs of the times, if you prefer), with the goal being transformative social action and justice. The See-Judge-Act method was created by Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, even though its roots can be found in Thomas Aquinas’ … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 14, 2024

We find the bits and pieces of the story of our patron saint, Matthew, in Chapter 9 of the Gospel and we find him listed as “Matthew, the tax collector” in Chapter 10 where the Twelve Apostles are listed. In Hebrew, the name “Matthew” means “gift of God.” The city of Capernaum, Matthew’s place of work, was built on the side of the Lake of Galilee and had about 1,500 residents. Among those residents were Peter and his family. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen in Capernaum. Jesus “adopted” Capernaum as his city, “leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum.” (Matthew … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 7, 2024

The conclusion of the Synod on Synodality will mark the opening of the 2025 Holy Year — Pilgrims of Hope. Francis sees the practice of synodality as a further development in the implementation of the work of Vatican Council II — marking its 60th anniversary in the Jubilee Year. Synodality has to do with openness to the experience, thoughts, desires, and gifts of others. Francis calls this “encounter”, and sees the mission of the Gospel, entrusted to the Church, only carried out through such “encounters.” Listening to others with the ear of the heart in one’s faith community, among other … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – June 30, 2024

Pilgrims of Hope Pope Francis chose these three words as the theme of the Jubilee year 2025 and the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Last week, we reflected on what it is to be a Pilgrim people, or as the Council spoke of us as a “Pilgrim Church”. Today, I reflect on hope. The hope to which Pope Francis alludes is not some pious wish or vague desire. The virtue of hope is confident trust and conviction that the promise made will be fulfilled. Hope undergirds the strength of faith. Richard Gaillardetz died in 2023 after a long battle with cancer. In the course of his … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – June 23, 2024

PILGRIMS OF HOPE Pope Francis chose these three words to describe the theme of the 2025 Jubilee year and the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The Council chose similes, metaphors, and images to describe the Church. Chapter VII of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church speaks of the Church as a Pilgrim Church. Pilgrims set out on a journey, perhaps a quest. Pilgrims are people with a goal. Pilgrims desire an end that brings some completeness, fulfillment, perfection. Prior to the Council, the image of the Church was as a static institution. The Church was … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – June 16, 2024

2025 has been declared a Jubilee year by Pope Francis. The Jubilee year has a long history, beginning in Old Testament times. Then, it was every 70 years that a Jubilee took place. Now, it is every 25 years. Pope Francis has named the theme of this Jubilee “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee is a time of new beginnings, the advent of a new generation, and the opportunity to start fresh — a need that individuals and communities have. One cannot carry yesterday on one’s shoulders forever. There has to be a fresh opportunity for today and tomorrow; thus the Jubilee. 2025 is also the 60th … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – June 9, 2024

LPi is our bulletin publisher. Each week, LPi has additional resources including weekly Gospel meditation. Below is the Gospel meditation for June 2, 2024. The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ The best way to understand the Eucharist is to recall God’s long, careful teaching process beginning in the Old Testament. This week in Exodus 24, we learn the basic pattern. Moses reads the dictates of God’s law to the people, who profess their allegiance to it. Then Moses takes representatives of Israel’s twelve tribes and splashes the sacrificed blood of animals in two directions: on the altar … [Read more...] about Reflection from Fr. John Muir – June 2, 2024

Below is a reflection from the May 29, 2022 bulletin by Fr. Steve Adrian, retired pastor and sacramental minister of St. Matthew. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of their country. It's difficult to prove the origins of this day as over two dozen towns and cities lay claim to be the birthplace. Regardless of the location of origins or the exact date, one thing is crystal clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. On the 5th of May in 1868, General John Logan, who was the … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – May 26, 2024

Saint Columba (7 December 521 – 9 June 597) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland. He founded the abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious institution in the region for centuries. Around 563, Columba and his twelve companions crossed to Dunaverty before settling in Iona in Scotland. There, they founded the abbey as a base for spreading Christianity among the northern kingdoms who were pagan. Legend has it that from the time of Columba to the present day, in these northern lands, the Holy Spirit has been symbolized by the wild … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – May 19, 2024

Open Letter to 2024 Graduates: Your graduation marks a significant milestone in life. You are completing a course of learning, and beginning the next stage of life. You have acquired a set of skills that outfit you for particular life challenges. It is these skills and capacities that so often form the definition of your successes. I suggest to you that there are qualities or strengths that you have which mark and reflect who you are. I speak of character. A person’s character has to do with acquired values, strengths, virtues—being a virtuous person. You have learned to collaborate with … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – May 12, 2024

During Fr. Steve Adrian’s break from active ministry, we will look back at his previous reflections. Below is his reflection from the August 21, 2022 bulletin. In the 27th chapter of the rule Saint Benedict wrote for his monks, he writes about the need for the Abbot to care for the weakest. He wrote: “They (Church leaders) are to imitate the loving example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the mountains and went in search of the one sheep that had strayed. So great was Jesus’ compassion for its weakness that “he mercifully put it on his shoulders and carried it … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – May 5, 2024

During Fr. Steve Adrian’s break from active ministry, we will look back at his previous reflections. Below is his reflection from the June 26, 2022 bulletin. Are you a follower of Jesus? How do you become a follower of Jesus? Fr. Gerhard Lofink says, “there is no New Testament noun for followers of Jesus. The word used is disciple. Disciple means student; and to be a disciple means that you are under the tutelage of a teacher. Jews had many opportunities to find a teacher, yet when a teacher was chosen, the student pledged fidelity to the teacher. Disciples learned to see the world, and to … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – April 28, 2024

During Fr. Steve Adrian’s break from active ministry, we will look back at his previous reflections. Below is his reflection from the April 24, 2022 bulletin. I grew up at a time the Church taught much about meriting the grace of God; my good works would result in God’s favor toward me. It was a kind of spirituality where much was placed on the shoulders of the individual. Only as I grew older did I come to realize that the grace of God is total gift – there is nothing I can do to achieve or merit God’s favor. There is much I can do to show gratitude to God for the many ways He has blessed … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – April 21, 2024