Epiphany 2020 - "Athirst for the Infinite"

At our Christmas Masses, I reflected on Holy Father Pope Francis’ apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of the nativity. I hope every still has their nativities set up, for we are still in the Christmas season.

In his letter, the Holy Father explains the significance of the different elements of the nativity scene. The dark sky represents how it is often in the dark times of life that we need to look for God. The humble shepherds remind us how it is the poor and humble who go out to greet the event of the incarnation. “The presence of the poor and the lowly in the Nativity scene remind us that God became man for the sake of those who feel most in need of his love and who ask him to draw near to them.”

On this feast of the Epiphany, I’d like to consider what the Holy Father had to say about the Magi. “As the feast of Epiphany approaches,” the Holy Father writes, “we place the statues of the Three Kings in the Christmas crèche. Observing the star, those wise men from the East set out for Bethlehem, in order to find Jesus and to offer him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These costly gifts have an allegorical meaning: gold honors Jesus’ kingship, incense his divinity, myrrh his sacred humanity that was to experience death and burial. As we contemplate this aspect of the Nativity scene, we are called to reflect on the responsibility of every Christian to spread the Gospel. Each of us is called to bear glad tidings to all, testifying by our practical works of mercy to the joy of knowing Jesus and his love.”

And then he writes something quite profound, he says, “The Magi teach us that people can come to Christ by a very long route. Men of wealth, sages from afar, athirst for the infinite, they set out on the long and perilous journey that would lead them to Bethlehem. Great joy comes over them in the presence of the Infant King. They are not scandalized by the poor surroundings, but immediately fall to their knees to worship him. Kneeling before him, they understand that the God who with sovereign wisdom guides the course of the stars also guides the course of history, casting down the mighty and raising up the lowly. Upon their return home, they would certainly have told others of this amazing encounter with the Messiah, thus initiating the spread of the Gospel among the nations.”

The Holy Father connects man’s search and thirst for God with our need to spread the Gospel. There are people out there, athirst for God, they search, like the Magi. Some of them, are certainly searching for God in all the wrong places, but everyone thirsts for God, for God has placed that thirst deep in our souls.

And, we who have encountered the Christ, like the Magi, must go from this place, telling others of our amazing encounter with the Messiah. We have a responsibility, to speak of our encounter with God, at Holy Mass, in the Sacraments, whilst in prayer, whilst in service. We are to speak of our encounter with the infinite God, so that others may know that he can be found here. Amidst all the scandals, God can still be found. Amidst all the technological and artificial alternatives, God still satisfies. Admist all the ugliness in our world and political discourse, God's truth, goodness, and beauty can still be encountered in the traditions of our Catholic faith.

“Dear brothers and sisters”, the Holy Father writes, “the Christmas crèche is part of the precious yet demanding process of passing on the Faith.”

We do well, as we begin this new year, to identify those people in our life, members of our families and neighbors that we have a duty towards to pass on the faith. Particularly, if we have godchildren, at whose baptism we promised to assist in their religious formation. That role of Godparent doesn’t end.

The magi brought gifts to the Christ child. Well, we have an epiphany gift for every, a wonderful book by Catholic author Matthew Kelly, “Rediscovering the Saints.” Might I recommend, everyone take a copy, read the book, then give it away to someone who has fallen away from the faith or who could use some heavenly inspiration in their life. Read the book, share with them your thoughts on it, and why they could benefit from reading it.

As we humbly approach Christ in word and sacrament on this beautiful feast, may that encounter open us to the simple grace of loving him more deeply and desiring to share that encounter with others for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

September 08 2017 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - A day of joy and hope

Today, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin arrives on the Liturgical Calendar exactly nine months after the Feast of her Immaculate Conception.  Nine months, the term of a pregnancy….not a coincidence.
Mary was conceived through the natural marital embrace of her parents, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim.  She was brought to term and was born like any of us, though, through that special grace from God she was preserved from any stain of original sin.

The day the daughter of Anne and Joachim was born ranks as one of the most beautiful in human history, yet, nothing explicitly is recorded or known about Mary’s birth.  In fact, according to certain traditions, no one in the small town of Nazareth where Saints Joachim and Anne lived paid heed to the new arrival. Although the blood of David flowed in her veins, although she was the virgin about whom Isaiah prophesied.  She truly had humble beginnings.  Yet, though her birth went unnoticed by her countrymen, one Church Father said that the angels could not find adequate praises to express their joy to the Blessed Trinity for having created this most beautiful of creatures.

The Immaculate Mother came into the world at a time when many of God’s people had lost hope in a Messiah, just as many have lost sight of Christ the Sun in our modern day.  Sometimes God waits until we are on the brink of the abyss before extending His hand of mercy. I know a priest who is very fond of the saying, “the night is always darkest, right before the dawn”.

Saint Thomas of Villanova explained in sermon that Mary is the heavenly dawn, not only for the world, but especially for each individual soul. The birth of Mary initiated a new era in human history. And when an individual begins to grow in their devotion to the Blessed Mother, that can signal a new beginning for them.

Mary will help any soul find her Son. Mary will help any soul develop a burning love for her Son. So just as we celebrate the birthday of our earthly mothers, with great sentiment, today is a day for all Christians to celebrate our Spiritual Mother, our mother in the Order of Grace.

The Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin fills our hearts with hope and joy: hope and joy in her presence with the Church for all ages, hope and joy that all those who turn to her aid will find salvation through Her Son, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For deeper Marian devotion amongst all Christians, that through her our faith may be strengthened and our witness may shine more brightly.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their vocation of love, and that all sorrowful mothers may know the consolation and peace of God.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.
That through Mary, Our Lady of Grace, all those who have fallen into sin may return to God through sincere repentance.

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws permitting the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Mary, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven, especially all those affected by natural disaster. We pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: Sept 8 2016 - Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary - Joy and Light

Two themes pervade the readings and prayers of this feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: joy and light.

“With delight we rejoice in what the Lord has done” – we proclaimed in the Psalm. Saint Andrew of Crete said all creation sings with joy, exults, and participates in the joy of this day....for this is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple; today is the day on which by a stupendous project a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator"

Joy comes from recognizing the importance, meaning, and weight what God has done for us. Considering the truly miserable state of humanity without God, broken, fallen, enslaved, divided, self-destructive; without God, separated from God, we are in darkness. Joy breaks into our souls when we truly appreciate His love for us, in saving us from the darkness.

Today is a feast of joy, because it is part of the story of salvation—God’s light breaking into the darkness of the history of humanity’s sin. The liturgy tells us: “Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.”

There is an ancient hymn about Mary and Christ in which this beautiful theology of salvation is expressed:

1. Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
2. Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
3. Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread; Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
4. Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood; Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
5. Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord; Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
6. Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest; Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
7. Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son. Both ever blest while endless ages run. Amen.

On this side of eternity, in each one of us there is always still some darkness.  And we know all too well, how this darkness continues to pervade our world. This feast reminds us to turn to Mary every day, pray to her, that the light of Christ will banish the darkness of selfishness and sin in us; that as God used her as the Gate to bring salvation into the world, God continues to use her to bring grace into our souls.

If we want joy we need to turn to her devoutly for joy, if we want peace we need to turn to her earnestly for peace, if we want to be with God forever in heaven, we need to turn to Mary fervently for help in following Christ faithfully for the glory of God and salvation of souls.