December 30 2024 - Sixth Day of Christmas - The allurement of the physical world

 During the Octave of Christmas, our first readings are taken from the first Letter of Saint John. 

In his old age, the apostle wrote to his spiritual children to guide them in growing in Christian maturity—that the life and light and “love of God might be perfected” in them.  Like his Gospel, this letter is profound, yet simple.  Mysterious, yet clear enough for a child to understand it.  

John begins his letter speaking of the Incarnation—"what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon, and touched with our hands.” By taking on our human flesh, the one born for us on Christmas was able to be heard, and seen and touched. 

God who is love, according to his loving plan for our salvation, took on the flesh, entering the material physical world. And yet, in today’s readings, John speaks of the continued dangers of the physical world—how the flesh can lead us away from God if gone unchecked. He writes, “For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” 

Remember, John is writing to Christians because he wants Christians to know and love God. But he is honest that there are certain elements to living in the world that can hinder us.

Not everything that looks good is good for us. In fact, everything in the world has been contaminated. Everything can become an occasion for sin, if we allow our selfishness to prevail over our desires for godliness. 

The world is enticing and seductive. Love of the world keeps us from loving God. Love of the things of the world keeps us from the Christian perfection God desires for us. Thinking ourselves entitled to the things of the world is a pretension deadly to the spiritual life.

Especially as we enter into a new year, we do well to identity an object or an activity or habit or a pastime, that we need to love less, that we may love Christ more. 

To love Christ more: that is the gift God offers to each of us at Christmas. To love him more than the passing enticements of the world. And to allow that love to animate our lives, to form the way we treat others, to deepen our conviction for spreading his Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Trusting in God’s loving plan and mindful of the call to draw closer to Christ, let us bring our prayers before the Lord:

That all Christians may recognize and turn away from any worldly attachments that hinder our relationship with Christ, and embrace a deeper conversion this new year.

For those who do not yet know the love of God: That through our witness and service, they may come to hear, see, and touch Christ’s presence alive in our midst.

For those struggling with illness, addiction or harmful habits: That they may find healing, support, and freedom in God’s grace, and discover the lasting peace Christ desires for them.

For the faithful departed: That through God’s mercy they may enjoy eternal rest, beholding at last the glory of the Incarnate Lord.

Loving Father, you sent your Son into the world so that we might experience the fullness of your love. Hear our prayers, and by your grace, help us cast aside anything that keeps us from you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

December 28 2021 - Holy Innocents - Savage Violence and the Victory of Christ

 The former Prefect for the Roman Congregation in charge of assisting the Holy Father with liturgy and the sacraments, Cardinal Sarah was asked about the disturbing trend around the world of churches being profaned. “The profanations are multiplying” he said, “we have lost count of the churches that have been profaned and defiled.” Sometimes images and statues of the Blessed Virgin are defaced, “sometimes the tabernacle itself is the target.”

Cardinal Sarah then drew a connection with the feast we celebrate today, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. He said, “let us not be surprised when we experience rejection and hatred. God’s love for mankind, which was manifested at the time of the Nativity, triggered the devil’s anger. Recall that the horror of the massacre of the Holy Innocents followed shortly after the joy of Christmas. When God reveals his gentleness and his love, the devil responds with blind, gratuitous violence. The Church is in the world as a sign of contradiction. The more she preaches him who is ‘the way, and the truth, and the life,’ the more she disturbs and the more she is rejected.” (This is from his book “The Night is Far Spent”, by the way)

We hear in the Gospel today how King Herod was “greatly troubled” over the news of the Christ Child’s birth. And so he orders the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old or younger. 

Herod’s extreme brutality and grasp for power at the threat of the loss of his throne, represents all the powers that stand against Christ.

We can see those powers at work, in a rage and a fury, throughout history, in the persecution of the Church, in the amassing of violent means to protect their thrones. We can see them, in those who lash out against God, as Cardinal Sarah points out—taking their fears and angers and hurts out on God and his sacred places and objects.

And yet, if we are honest, we can even sense a little bit of Herod in each one of us, whenever we refuse the particularly challenging call to conversion, when securing our own personal kingdom becomes more important than the kingdom of God.

Yes, today’s feast is a reminder of the savagery by which God’s kingdom is opposed, but it is also a celebration of the holy martyrs who witnessed to the way, the truth, and the life throughout the centuries. It is a feast of the victory of Christ, the victory of God, the victory of the light over the darkness, the victory of peace over savage violence. For the holy innocents, and the holy martyrs throughout the century are able to share in Christ’s victory, and they pray for us, that we may do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

For the conversion of those who bring violence against the Church and the holy places and things of God, for healing in their troubled souls, and for the peace of Christmas to reign in every heart.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice and honesty, and for the reversal of any law which permits or leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and that God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 30 2020 - Sixth Day of Christmas - To love Christ More

 During the Octave of Christmas, our first readings are taken from the first Letter of Saint John whose feast is celebrated two days after Christmas. In his old age, the apostle writes to his spiritual children to guide them in growing in Christian maturity—that the life and light and “love of God might be perfected” in them.  Like his Gospel, this letter is profound, yet simple.  Mysterious, yet clear enough for a child to understand it.  

John begins his letter urging Christians to believe in the one born on Christmas—"what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon, and touched with our hands.” God truly took on flesh and was able to be heard, and seen and touched. Yesterday, John urged us to follow the commands of the Christ, most importantly the command to love. If we continue to hate our brother, while claiming to be a disciple, we are deceiving ourselves. Love for God, love for Christ, love for our neighbor must characterize our life. 

Yet, as we heard today, we must not love the world. “For all that is in the world,” john says, “sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” 

This is a hard message because the world is enticing and seductive. Who hasn’t allowed the world or the things of the world to distract us from loving God as we should?

Christmas is celebrated with such great joy, throughout the Christmas octave and Christmas season, we continue to reflect upon the event of God taking flesh, being born in a stable to the most holy Virgin, so that we may deepen our love for him, that when faced with the inevitable temptations and seductions of the world, we may cling to the Christ. 

Especially as we enter into a new year, we do well to identity an object or an activity, a pastime, that we need to love less, that we may love Christ more. 

To love Christ more: that is the gift God offers to each of us at Christmas. To love him more than the passing enticements of the world. And to allow that love to animate our lives, to form the way we treat others, to deepen our conviction for spreading his Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

That the joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth bring renewed conviction for Christ’s truth to the Pope, all bishops, clergy, and lay faithful.

That our President and all leaders of nations may protect and promote religious liberty for all. 

For the young people of our parish and school, that they may be blessed with faith-filled homes, centered on Christ Jesus, that they may not become enamored with the things of the world, but be encouraged to live for Him.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 29 2020 - St. Thomas Becket - 850th Anniversary of Martyrdom

 From his youth, Thomas Becket was a good friend of King Henry II, and it was the King who nominated Thomas as archbishop of Canterbury.  But when the King began to overstep his authority and infringe upon the Church, Thomas opposed the king. Like Herod, in yesterday’s Gospel for the Holy Innocents, the king was filled with fury, and shouted “who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”  Four of his knights took these words literally, and killed the archbishop in his own cathedral.  

Today is the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket. I was surprised to see in my news feed this morning, President Trump issued a proclamation today in honor of today’s saint, and offered some pretty poignant words. ““Thomas Becket’s death serves as a powerful and timeless reminder to every American that our freedom from religious persecution is not a mere luxury or accident of history, but rather an essential element of our liberty. It is our priceless treasure and inheritance. And it was bought with the blood of martyrs.”

Freedom is not a mere luxury or accident of history. I couldn’t have said it better myself. And I think the president touches upon the connection with this martyr’s death and Christmas.

For our salvation, our reconciliation with God, doesn’t just happen. It’s not an accident. Salvation comes through a savior, born into history, who makes choices and decisions, and suffers. In a sense, Thomas Becket and the Martyrs are living out the spirit of Christmas in their martyrdom. 

Sacrificed everything, opposing the wolves which seek to invade the fold of our shepherd. The Spirit of Christmas, lived authentically, leads us to witness to the one born on Christmas. It pits us against the spirit of the world, the spirit of darkness, which seeks to overcome the light of Christ. 

Thomas Becket, when those four knights with swords drawn approached him in his Cathedral said, “I am ready to die for God.  I am ready to die for the defense of justice. I am ready to die for the freedom of the Church. Would only that my lifeblood might purchase Her peace and freedom”.

Again, to quote our president, “A society without religion cannot prosper. A nation without faith cannot endure — because justice, goodness, and peace cannot prevail without the grace of God”

May we like St. Thomas Becket allow the grace of God, the grace of Christmas, to transform and animate our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

That the joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth bring renewed conviction for Christ’s truth to the Pope, all bishops, clergy, and lay faithful.

That our President and all leaders of nations may protect and promote religious liberty for all. 

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 1 2020 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - The Octave Day

It is good for us to gather for Holy Mass on this 1st day of the New Year for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it’s a good day to come to mass, simply because it is a new year. We begin the new year offering the most powerful prayer we can, the holy sacrifice of the mass, the eucharist, looking back with gratitude upon God’s grace and mercy last year, and placing 2020 into His providential hands.

A second reason why this is an important day for the Church is because it is the octave day of Christmas, the 8th day. Biblically, the number 8 is important. Just like the octave note in music resonates with the same tone as its root, biblically, the 8th day resonates and recalls the major feast that proceeded it. The Old Testament prescribes that Passover, Hanukkah, and other major feasts be celebrated for eight days, and so, too the eighth days of major feasts of Easter and Christmas are celebrated have special solemnity.

Another reason for us to gather, goes back a little over 40 years. Pope Paul VI made January 1 a special day of prayer for peace. Pope Paul said, "The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it." And so today we gather to pray for peace in our world desperately in need of it—the peace of the Christ Child, offered to all who believe in Him.

Fourthly, the eighth day after Christmas was for many years, centuries really, celebrated the feast of the circumcision of the Lord and the Holy Name of Jesus. For the Mosaic Law prescribed circumcision to occur on the 8th day after birth. It was through circumcision, the shedding of blood that the child would enter into the covenant. For the Christ child, the circumcision would no doubt foreshadow the blood to be shed on Calvary.

And as we heard in the Gospel, Mary and Joseph had the Lord circumcised. And it was then that he was given his Holy Name. The Holy Name of Jesus, given by the angel, signifies his identity and mission. For the name of Jesus, derives from the Hebrew for “God saves”. Jesus the Christ is God incarnate, who brings salvation for his people.

Yet, on our liturgical calendar, January 1 is no longer the feast of the circumcision or the feast of the holy name. A new solemnity was instituted after Vatican II: the solemnity of Mary, the mother of God. This new feast is really a return to an ancient custom of the early church both in the east and the west, to honor the Lord’s Blessed Mother during the Christmas octave.

While much of the world is sleeping off a hangover, having spent last night with little or no reference to Christ, the Church gathers today soberly—with great solemnity and seriousness—to celebrate once again his incarnation through the ever-Virgin Mary, that our year, our life may always be in reference to Him.

As Mary’s life revolved around Him, so must ours. As her life was placed in total submission to God’s, so must ours. As she was found worthy to receive the Author of Life, so may we receive Him in our minds and hearts, and allow Him to reign in our lives completely. May his peace be ours. May his burning charity be ours. May his power to withstand the temptations of the devil be ours. May the Spirit of Him who was not slave, but Son, be ours. May the salvation that comes through Him be ours.

We along with Mary-Mother, keep all these, and reflect upon them in our hearts, that the invisible God may become visible in our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 30 2019 - Christmas Octave - "A certain prophetess "

The first two chapters of St. Luke’s Gospel contain what are known as the “Infancy Narratives”. They are familiar stories to us, including the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Our Lord, and his Presentation in the Temple.

Today, we read the concluding verses of the infancy narratives—of a woman named Anna. Anna is described by Luke as a prophetess, a widow, and a woman of advanced years. Her husband had died after only seven years of marriage, and since his death, for about sixty years, Luke tells us “she never left the temple.”

She, like Simeon, is a representative of faithful Israel who awaited the Messiah, who prepared for him through prayer and fasting and an enduring hope, and was now blessed to witness his coming. Here was a woman, whose life had become focused on patiently awaiting the promises of God. Can we even begin to comprehend her joy upon meeting Christ?

Notice, how after encountering Jesus, she begins to speak about the encounter, she becomes an evangelizer.

After the death of her husband, Anna could have stayed home, depressed and withdrawn, but after a period of grief and mourning, she devoted her life to God. Anna is a wonderful example for all widows and widowers, who answer the call to come to daily mass, to worship, to pray, to encounter the Lord.

There in the Temple, even in widowhood, her life was filled with Joy, as she encountered God, and that joy translated into evangelization. She is an example for all Christians. Those who celebrate the Lord’s birth on Christmas day, are tasked, like Anna, with sharing the good news of his birth with others.

We are to speak about Him, sharing with others, how he is the fulfillment of all their desires, he is the way by which God’s peace is offered to us, the way joy can fill our lives in this dark world.
May Anna help us to live out the true meaning of Christmas, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.
That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice and honesty, and for the reversal of any law which permits or leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and that God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.
For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

December 28 2018 - Holy Innocents - The choice to receive or reject

On Christmas morning, we read from the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel: how the Eternal Word took on the flesh of humanity to enlighten and save the world. John wrote how there were those who received the incarnate Word with faith and Love and there were those who rejected Him.

Those who accepted the Christ Child at Christmas were of course, His blessed Mother, who received the Lord into her loving arms, St. Joseph, who received the Christ Child as a foster son—who vowed to guard, protect, rear, and teach the boy as if he was his own; the shepherds received the Christ Child in adoration, and the magi received the child with wonder and awe and worship.

Today, we heard of how King Herod did not receive the child with love and faith. In fact, he plotted to have the child murdered. And when his original plot failed, Herod ordered the massacre of all the young boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity, in an attempt to eradicate the Christ.

Through the Gospels, each of the evangelists describe the many ways that Jesus was either received in faith or rejected and hated. All those encountering Him had to make a choice to receive or to reject.
The day after Christmas, we celebrated the Feast of Stephen, the first martyr, who made the choice to receive the Lord and to remain faithful unto death for Him. Yesterday, was the feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, who, as well, received the Lord with faith and love, and although he was not martyred, he suffered greatly, and served the Lord as a faithful apostle. The Church honors the Holy Innocents massacred by Herod as martyrs, who received the Lord in a baptism by blood—they died for Christ, and God received them into his Kingdom.

In every age there will be Herod’s who reject the Christ, who will not stop at any extreme to safeguard their own personal kingdoms. Many even who attended Mass this Christmas, who heard the Gospel preached, will reject the call to conversion, to receive the Lord with Love and Faith and Worship. Many will not allow themselves to detach from their worldly ways to receive the Lord.

But there are Herod’s and hard-hearts that can be reached, that can be softened to receive the Christ Child through the witness, prayers, and sacrifices of the Church. So we pray for them, and for ourselves, that we may receive the Lord ever more deeply, lovingly, and faithfully, and reject everything that does not come from or lead us to Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice and honesty, and for the reversal of any law which permits or leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and that God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord