December 20 2023 - Idols or Emmanuel

 

Ahaz was king of Israel at a crucial moment in Israel’s history. The Assyrians were sweeping through the region—conquering everyone who would not assimilate and join their empire and worship their gods.  

So King Ahaz had a choice, will he trust in God and the guidance of the prophets or will he bow to Assyria and assimilate. Will he trust in the one true God or bow to the false gods. Knowing how weak Ahaz was, God spoke through Isaiah and told Ahaz: I’ll even give you a sign that I am with you and with Israel: “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

Sadly, Ahaz trusted not in the power of God. He entered into a protection treaty with Assyria. Despite Isaiah’s warnings, an altar was built for the worship of the Assyrian gods in the very Temple of Jerusalem violating Israel’s covenant with the one true God. And it wouldn’t be long before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon a few decades later.

Every year, the world is given the same crucial choice as Ahaz. Emmanuel is born of the virgin, come believe in Him, trust in Him, worship Him, adore Him. God invites all of humanity to trust in the sign. The sign of signs. Will you trust? 

King Ahaz failed to trust in God and that had tragic consequences for the nation. Similarly, the world sinks further and further into depravity and chaos when it rejects the Christ.

So, the Church, in her prophetic mission, urges the world: “do not make the same mistake. The false gods of the world will not protect you, they will not give you the peace and prosperity they promise. There is one God and Him alone shall you worship. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” 

In these final Advent days, let us pray for the world, to believe in the One born for them on Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us, born of the Virgin Mary, as Savior of the World. Let us fast and pray for the church to resist the assimilation to the ways of the world, for increased faith in Emmanuel, hope in Him, and love of Him for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we await with longing the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, we raise up our prayers of petitions.

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her repentant of sin and watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces.

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

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

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

December 18 2023 - King of Kings & Emmanuel

 Yesterday, began “late Advent” the seven days leading up to Christmas.

Where the first part of Advent focused on the coming of Christ and the need to prepare our hearts and lives for his coming, Late Advent focuses on the identify of the Christ Child, particularly as he is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Several promises are contained in our scripture readings today.

Firstly, in the Jeremiah reading, we hear the promise of a righteous king from the line of David. The Davidic kings were not always righteous men, they were sometimes even quite despicable. Some of them were outright idolators, whose false worship brought terrible ruin to Israel. Injustice ran rampant under these immoral, greedy, blood thirsty kings. Yet, Israel possessed a hope in God’s promise of a king who would establish justice, whose kingdom would last forever.

The child born at Christmas is that promised king. The king of kings of who establishes the “eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.” The Church established by the Christ is the beginning of that Kingdom over which Christ our head rules. And the truth, life, holiness, grace, and justice, love, and peace of that kingdom can be seen in the life of the Church.

In the Gospel, we heard how the Christ child would be the fulfillment of another promise, two promises, actually. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” The first promise is that, a virgin would bear a son. The king of kings would be born of a virgin. That’s how you’ll know him. And the second, is that he shall be called Emmanuel—God is with us. 

Now, Israel believe this child would just be a sign that God was with his people. But we know, that he is more than that. He is not just a sign that God is with his people, he is God with us. He is God incarnate. God takes flesh in Christ, and fulfills his promises in a way that is greater than Israel first conceived. 

Over these final Advent days, cultivate a real appreciation for the ways God fulfills his promises in Christ and their relevance for the life of the Church and for the good of mankind. This will help you to deepen your love and gratitude for him, and to share the good news of his birth with others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

As we await with longing the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, we raise up our prayers of petitions.

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her repentant of sin and watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces.

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

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

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

December 23 2022 - O Emmanuel, Desire of the Nations & Savior

 Just two days prior to Christmas, we read from the prophet Malachi. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Malachi foretold how a Savior would come to redeem us and usher in the kingdom of God’s peace.

He also spoke of the events that would occur just prior to the arrival of the Messiah. There would be a forerunner to prepare his way, a messenger to point out to God’s people that the Messiah is coming soon. And in the Gospel, we read about the birth of the forerunner, John, who would preach from the banks of the Jordan, calling Israel to repent, to prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the Savior.

The final O Antiphon today sings of the Messiah as Emmanuel, the awaited Savior of the nations. All the nations of the earth look for him and long for him. Christians in every nation on the planet prepare today for the celebration of the Saviors birth. But also, the antiphon is saying that even those who do not believe in Christ, still long for him. They are looking for him in all the wrong places, worshiping false idols, engaging in immoral actions which are unfulfilling substitutes for right worship. If only they would look to Him, they would find their hearts desires.

And so Christians, like John the Baptist, have this mission, this duty to announce to the nations that the One whom they long for, is Jesus Christ. Our own Christmas celebrations are part of that. The love with which we celebrate, the joy with which we celebrate, the peace in which we gather together, the charity which our celebrations inspire, all these things witness to Christ. 

May we pour our hearts into celebrating Emmanuel—God with Us—the desire of the nations and Savior thereof, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Please respond to each of these petitions, “Come Lord Jesus”

May Christ, the Wisdom which comes from the mouth of God, guide us in knowledge and love.

May Christ, Adonai, leader of the House of Israel, bring deliverance to all of the oppressed.

May Christ, the Root of Jesse, come to the aid of nations and leaders of nations to walk in the ways of peace.

May Christ, Key of David, free all those captive to sin. 

May Christ, the Morning Star, enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death.

May Christ, King of the Nations, reconcile all divisions caused by sin.

May Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, bring comfort to all those who mourn.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

 

4th Sunday of Advent 2022 - A virgin shall conceive

 
We’ve come to the final Sunday of Advent. All four candles of the Advent wreath are lit; we are on the threshold of Christmas. We have been preparing our hearts through prayer, good works, music, decorations. Signs. Signs that God is close. Christmas is near.

In our first reading, King Ahaz was given a sign. A sign that God was near.

For King Ahaz was facing a dilemma: a dreadful one. On one hand, His enemies in northern Israel were attempting to coerce him to join them in a coalition—a collation against the Assyrian superpower. The assyrians were sweeping through the region, conquering everyone with whom they came in contact. And so King the Arameans and the King of Northern Israel thought they’d band together and get Ahaz to join them.

On the other hand, Ahaz has a bit of political cunning. He knows, there’s no way this coalition is going to stand against the Assyrian superpower. So he he’s being tempted to bow down and worship the gods of the Assyrians. 

What is he to do? He’s facing this Giant—Assyria. Reminding us of his great great great grandfather David, who also faced a Giant—named Goliath. Well, the God sends his prophet, Isaiah, to the king. And Isaiah tells Ahaz to have faith in God, like David facing Goliath. God is your protector. And Isaiah, knowing that, Ahaz’s faith is sort of weak at moment says, you want to know God is with you, ask for a sign, any sign, as high as the heavens and deep as the netherworld, a sign that will show you that God is with you. And Ahaz, in a moment of false piety, says, oh no, I couldn’t possibly do that. 

And Isaiah says, fine, God will give you this sign, a sign that you couldn’t come up with on your own:  “The virgin will conceive and bear a son and she shall call him Emmanuel.

It is impossible to say exactly what the fulfillment of this prophecy meant to King Ahaz. Who was the virgin in his day whose child was to signal that God was with him and his people? We do not know who she was. And sadly, chose not to believe. 

Ahaz trusted not in the power of God, but in the power of man. He entered into a protection treaty with Assyria, which on the one hand guaranteed him security and saved his country from destruction, but on the other hand demanded a price: the worship of the protecting power’s national gods. Idolatry. And after Ahaz had concluded the treaty with Assyria, despite Isaiah’s warnings, an altar was built for the worship of the Assyrian gods in the very Temple of Jerusalem. This violated the covenant with God. And it wouldn’t be long before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon a few decades later. 

The Church gives us this powerful passage—a virgin will conceive and bear a son. We like Ahaz are being urged by God to trust him. Will you heed the warnings of the prophets and turn away from sin. Will you heed the invitation of the prophet to trust in God and his promises? Will you stand firm in the face of worldly pressures or bow to earthly gods? 

Sadly we see swaths of people abandoning faith, when faith is needed now more than ever. We are seeing the political consequences of faithlessness play out in our very day. Pagan idols bring us neither protection nor joy. 

Ahaz chose not to believe. So God gave all of humanity the same choice as Ahaz. That the virgin of Ahaz’s day was neither named nor identified points to the fact that the promise reached far beyond the historical moment of King Ahaz. It was a promise that reached far beyond that hour, and continued to shine for Israel as a star of hope pointing to an unknown future.

But that star comes into view again centuries later, when the veil is finally lifted, and the virgin’s identity and the identity of her son are made known. The Virgin who conceives by the power of the Holy Spirit and gives birth to the Son of God—Emmanuel, as we heard in the Gospel today. 

And even though Jesus is not actually named Emmanuel, Jesus “IS Emmanuel, as the entire history of the Gospel demonstrates. He is true man and at the same time God, God’s true Son, with us.”

“The virginal conception of Jesus is a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and possibility.” This is precisely what Ahaz resisted. He was not open to mystery, he was not open to faith, or the divine work that surpasses understanding and possibility.

God invites all of humanity to trust in the sign. The sign of signs. Will you trust? Two weeks ago, I reflected on how If you were to pick up the bible, and turn to nearly any page of the holy book, God is inviting humanity to trust Him. Sometimes the bible gives us models of trust, and then sometimes we see the consequences of what happens when we don’t trust God.

Adam and Eve are told to trust God. He would feed them, he would take care of them. Don’t eat of the forbidden tree, just trust me. And we know how that worked out. 

Abraham, is called our father in faith, He trusted God to leave his homeland and follow the path that God was showing to Him. Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Isaiah speaks of his own trust in God when he says in chapter 28: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Jeremiah, the grumpier prophet says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

The Lord Jesus in the Gospels teach us to trust when he says: “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Over and over, the injunction to trust God, to trust in his promises, and over and over in Scripture illustrations of the blessings that come in trusting in God, the tragic consequences when we don’t. 

King Ahaz failed to trust in God. And that had tragic consequences for the nation which he ruled. Even though Isaiah pointed out signs that God was with him, he chose not to trust. And, it’s easy to condemn Ahaz, but this is a sin of which we’re all guilty. 

Catechism 397 explains the first sin and every sin, as a failure to trust God. It says, “Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in his goodness.”

And so Advent is needed. We need Advent to help us renew our trust in the promises of God and to resist the inroads the enemy has made in our lives and to repent of our failures to trust.

But then consider, that the sign of the Virgin conceiving and giving birth becomes the very model of trust for us. The Virgin is the perfect example of the "obedience of faith" mentioned by Paul in the second reading.

Lumen Gentium says, “the Blessed Virgin stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him.” Failure to trust was the origin of sin, but the exercise of trust became the origin of salvation. 

“To celebrate Advent means: to become Marian, said Pope Benedict XVI, “to enter into that communion with Mary’s ‘Yes,’ which, ever anew, is room for God’s birth, for the ‘fullness of time,’” In the final Advent days ahead, renew your trust that the Savior is indeed born of the virgin, point out his saving birth for all to see, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

Christmas 2021 - Jesus is God With Us

 Merry Christmas everyone. On this great feast of Christmas, to help us celebrate the wonder and majesty and mystery Our Lord’s birth, the Church celebrates four different masses: the Christmas Eve Vigil mass, midnight mass, mass at dawn, and Christmas mass during the day. These are not just masses at different times, but each of the four masses have a slightly different focus in the prayers said and in the readings that are offered.

At the Vigil Mass we ponder the angel’s words to St. Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary and the Christ Child growing within her into his home. The prayers of the vigil Mass ask God for the grace to help us “joyfully welcome” Jesus as our Redeemer.

At Midnight Mass we contemplate the radiant glory of God as angels to the shepherds the saviors birth. As shepherds kept watch over their flock throughout the night, midnight mass gathers the Church in the midst of night to the light of Christ, and asks God that the whole of our lives may be filled with the light and gladness and joy of Christmas.

At the Mass at Dawn, the Church accompanies the Shepherds as they go in haste to Bethlehem to visit the infant Savior. At the Mass at Dawn, the Church asks God to bathe us with the radiance of the light of faith, that we may live in a manner which reflects the light of faith.

And finally at Christmas Mass during the Day, the scriptures and prayers come to a dramatic conclusion, in one of the bible’s most profound explanations of the meaning of Christmas in the prologue of St. John’s Gospel—that as the Divine Word took on the flesh of our humanity, the Church asks God to give us everything we need that we may share in his Divinity.

Even with four Masses, the majesty and mystery is so great that the Church celebrates Christmas not just on a day, but throughout over the next several weeks. The world goes back to normal, the Church is just getting started to celebrate the reason for the season.

And when we use that phrase, the “reason for the season”, what are we talking about? When Christians seek to keep Christ in Christmas and remember the reason for the season, we are essentially saying that Christmas not just about tinsel-decorated pine trees, colorful wrapping paper, reindeer, sleighs and elves, but that Christmas is centered in Bethlehem—not the North Pole or the mall or the sports arena.

Wanting to keep Christ in Christmas, prioritizing faith over the material aspects of Christmas, that’s a pretty good start. But who is he? Who are we celebrating? And why?

The eternal Son of God entered the world and was born of a virgin at Bethlehem not simply to establish a major feast day for his church, or to give a gentle nudge to get many of us to return to Church, not simply to provide an opportunity for extended families to get together, not even to initiate an annual season of generosity and giving.

A few years ago, Pope Francis gave a Christmas meditation on this topic at his Christmas morning audience at St. Peter’s in Rome. He said, At Christmas we celebrate that “God is with us… He comes to abide with mankind, he chooses earth as his dwelling place to remain with people and to be found where man passes his days in joy or in sorrow. Therefore, earth is no longer only ‘a valley of tears’; rather, it is the place where God himself has pitched his tent, it is the meeting place of God with man, of God’s solidarity with men.”

“God,” he went on, “willed to share in our human condition to the point of becoming one with us in the Person of Jesus, who is true Man and true God. There is something, however, even more surprising. The presence of God among men did not take place in a perfect, idyllic world but rather in this real world, which is marked by so many things both good and bad, by division, wickedness, poverty, arrogance and war. He chose to live in our history as it is, with all the weight of its limitations and of its tragedies. In doing so, he has demonstrated in an unequalled manner his merciful and truly loving disposition toward the human creature. He is God-with-us. Jesus is God-with-us.”

Then Pope Francis stopped his audience, as he frequently does, to make sure that what he was saying wouldn’t remain just words. “Credete questo, voi?,” he asked in italian. “Do you believe this?”

There was a smattering of “Si’s,” or “yes.” He so he asked again more boldly, “Credete questo, voi?” And you can imagine, there was a much louder response. But that’s a question Pope Francis wants to reverberate around the Christian world, including to all of us here. “Do you believe that Jesus is here with you, in all of your joys and sadness, in your triumphs and disappointments? Do you believe that he has come to meet you in your valleys to raise you up to life eternal?” 

After he asked the crowd whether they believed, Pope Francis led them in a simple act of faith. “Together let us profess,” he said, “Gesù è Dio con noi. Gesù è Dio con noi!” “Jesus is God with us! Jesus is God with us always and forever—with us in history’s suffering and sorrow.” Yes, indeed, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. In a world where there are so many reasons to forget that God is with us, we need Christmas, the Church needs to boldly proclaim Christmas—that God is with us.

Now, God is with us in many ways. We are able to see his fingerprints in the beauty and intelligent design of creation. We are able to sense him when he gives us strength to do what is right amidst temptations and fears. We are able to experience his closeness and his plan for our lives when we meditate on the Sacred Scriptures. We are able to sense his goodness when we engage in holy acts of charity, when we gather for reverent worship, when we keep the hours of the day holy through prayer. 

But there is one way above all others by which Christ remains with us. Jesus is truly and substantially present for us in his body and blood in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist that he may be with us, not just in our minds or the sentiments of our hearts, but truly, really, substantially present with his Church for all ages.

The Eucharist is Emmanuel, God-with-us. He is here in every tabernacle of every Catholic church and chapel in the world. And he is made present wherever Holy Mass is celebrated by a validly ordained Catholic priest.  The same God who was in Mary’s womb we receive in our bodies at Holy Communion. The same Jesus whom the wise men traveled such great distances over several months to adore we have the same privilege to worship — and all we have to do is hop in our cars and drive short distances. 

Being able to be with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the greatest privilege this side of heaven, when we have the chance to do something that even those present in Bethlehem couldn’t even dream of. They were able to adore the God-man from the outside. But, the Catholic faithful, who have confessed their sins and are in a state of grace are able to receive and adore him on the inside, when we receive Him in Holy Communion.

Holy Communion enables us to know Jesus’ presence with us “in the joys and sorrows” as Holy Father Pope Francis said—throughout all of the challenges of our lives—in dealing with disease, and poverty, and family division. We begin to become sharers in His Divinity, through the Eucharist—and the Divine goodness and strength that flows from Him.

Let every heart prepare him room, we sing, in that great Christmas song, Joy to the World. The heart that has prepared room for him, and worthily receives him in the Eucharist is able to be filled with joy even in the darkest of nights, in prison cells, in hospital rooms, in funeral parlors, on cold and dingy sidewalks. 

If you’ve been away from Church for some time, let tonight be a new beginning. Make a good confession, that you may know again the joy of receiving him. And may all of us profoundly celebrate the true reason for the season, God with us. Lift up your heads, raise and widen the gates of your hearts, that the King of glory may enter, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 20 2021 - An Advent Paradox

We hear the annunciation story three or four times throughout Advent each year: once on the Immaculate Conception, again on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, depending on the year we might hear it on the 4th Sunday of Advent, and now, in late Advent every year on December 20th. 

The Church celebrated the feast of the Annunciation nine months ago; nine months, the term of a pregnancy. That Holy pregnancy is coming to term in just five days.

Many times throughout Advent we hear in our first reading a prophecy of the Messiah, and then in the Gospel, we hear how that prophecy is fulfilled. Well, today our first reading contained one of the greatest well-known prophecies, that the virgin shall conceive and bear a son. 

How could this be? This paradox. For a virgin to conceive, she wouldn’t be a virgin any more, right? Well…in our Gospel this paradox is unlocked, the mystery is illuminated. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the virgin of Nazareth conceives, and not just any child, but one whose human nature is hypostatically united to his divine nature—so that he can truly be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us. God in the flesh—God in the midst of mankind—God making his dwelling among us. And his first dwelling, is the most pure virgin womb.

As we approach Christmas, on one hand, we have this powerful reminder of God’s activity. Apart from God’s action, the miraculous conception could not have occurred. God initiated this encounter, he intervened in history to bring about our salvation. God desires our salvation. He works for our salvation. He arranges the events of history to bring about our salvation. He enters into this harsh reality and will suffer for our salvation.

On the other hand, we have the virgin’s beautiful response to God’s invitation. She submits—she trustingly puts her life in the hands of God—I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to thy word. God is at work for our salvation, but he calls us to cooperate with Him, to trust Him.

We contemplate God’s marvelous action, his love, his ability to do what previously seemed impossible, and we contemplate the virgin’s response, her trust, her humility.

Return to these scripture readings sometime today. Enter into the quiet and drink deeply of these power scriptures, the working of God and the cooperation of the Virgin. When you do, no doubt, something will be unlocked in your heart, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

  We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

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, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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 23 2020 - E-R-O C-R-A-S

 

Just two days prior to Christmas, we read from the prophet Malachi. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Malachi foretold how a Savior would come to redeem us and usher in the kingdom of God’s peace.

He also spoke of the events that would occur just prior to the arrival of the Messiah. There would be a forerunner to prepare his way, a messenger to point out to God’s people that the Messiah is coming soon. And in the Gospel, we read about the birth of the forerunner, John, who would preach from the banks of the Jordan, calling Israel to repent, to prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the Savior.

The final O Antiphon today sings of the Messiah as Emmanuel, the awaited Savior of the nations. All the nations of the earth look for him and long for him. Christians among every nation on the planet prepares today for the celebration of the Saviors birth. But also, the antiphon is saying that even those who do not believe in Christ, still long for him—they are looking for him in all the wrong places, worshiping false idols, engaging in immoral actions which are unfulfilling substitutes for right worship. And so Christians, like John the Baptist, have this mission, this duty to announce to the nations that the One whom they long for, his Christ. And judging how hard headed and obstinate the current generation seems—we need to be clear and persevering and also subtle and creative in this mission.

That’s why I love singing those O Antiphons, they are clear of who the Messiah is and what he comes to do. But there is also a subtle hidden meaning inside the O Antiphons. If you take the first letter of each of those latin titles for the Messiah – S for Sapientia, the wisdom of God, A for Adonai, R for Radix, the Root of Jesse, C for Clavis, the Key of David, O for Oriens, the rising star, R for Rex, the King of the Nations, and E for Emmanuel, and then you reverse the order, the letters spell out the words Ero Cras—which means—I will be here tomorrow. Creative and Clear at the same time, just like we are supposed to be, in announcing the coming of the Messiah, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Please respond to each of these petitions, “Come Lord Jesus”

May Christ, the Wisdom which comes from the mouth of God, guide us in knowledge and love.

May Christ, Adonai, leader of the House of Israel, bring deliverance to all of the oppressed.

May Christ, the Root of Jesse, come to the aid of nations and leaders of nations to walk in the ways of peace.

May Christ, Key of David, free all those captive to sin. 

May Christ, the Morning Star, enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death.

May Christ, King of the Nations, reconcile all divisions caused by sin.

May Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, bring comfort to all those who mourn, and salvation to N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Christmas 2018 - Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

There’s a story about a New York City Police Detective who traveled to Los Angeles one Christmas in the hope of reconciling with his estranged wife. While he was attending her office Christmas party, the office was taken over by terrorists looking to steal $640 million in bonds from the company vault. The terrorists did not anticipate the competence or commitment of Police Detective Lieutenant John McClane, who foils there plans. On Christmas Eve, on a night just like this, John McClane defeated the terrorists, and saved the hostages including his wife, Holly.

Does the plot of this story sound familiar? It’s from the 1988 action film Die Hard starring Bruce Willis. And there has been a debate on the internet these past few years, of whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, a Christmas story or not.

Well what makes a Christmas story? Compare Die Hard, perhaps, to Christmas Classics like “it’s a Wonderful Life” or Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol.” In A Christmas Carol, the cold, miserly heart of Ebeneezer Scrooge is softened as God intervenes in his life in a surprising way. Through the 3 ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Scrooge comes to discover the true meaning of Christmas: humility, generosity, empathy for Bob Cratchet and his crippled son Tiny Tim, and a deepened empathy for all mankind.

And In “It’s a Wonderful Life”, George Bailey, depressed and suicidal over his failure to save his community from the machinations of the corrupt local millionaire, comes to rediscover the light of love which makes life worth living, when God intervenes in his life through the Angel Clarence. Through God’s intervention, George Bailey rekindles his commitment to those enduring Christmas values: family, friends, caring for others, seeking the welfare of one’s community.

A Christmas Carol and “It’s a Wonderful Life” are perennial Christmas classics because they echo the original Christmas story so well: God breaking-in to human history 2000 years ago in an unprecedented way, urging us to welcome the Christ-Child to break in to our lives, that we may live a fully human life, reconciled to God and one another. Christmas is the story of God breaking in to the hearts of the Scrooges of our world, to teach them how to love, that will bring about actual human flourishing. And Christmas is the story of God breaking in to the lives of the George Baileys of the world, those who are weighed down by sorrow and injustice and darkness, to teach them that they are loved, to be filled with light once again.

So, is Die Hard a Christmas movie or is it an action movie that takes place on Christmas? Whatever you decide, the question raises a very pertinent truth. There’s a big difference between a true Christmas story, and a story that happens to take place on Christmas. A true Christmas story involves transformation, a handing of one’s life over to something bigger than yourself, allowing God to be your savior.

Now, what about your story? What about the story of your life, which has brought you here tonight, to this beautiful place. Is your life part of the Christmas story of God breaking in to human history in the person of Jesus Christ or does your story just happen to take place on Christmas? For it is entirely possible to have Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas food, Christmas gatherings, without allowing Christ to be in one’s heart.

I can promise you that God doesn’t want to stay on peripheries of your life, he doesn’t just want you to nod in his direction every once in a while. Jesus doesn’t want to be a Christmas decoration, or a relic mentioned in some old Christmas hymn. He wants to live in your heart. He wants the transformation for you, that we see in Ebeneezer Scrooge, in George Bailey, in the dark of night of a Bethlehem stable.

The Christmas gift that God wants for each one of you is the gift of deeper Christian faith: faith that what happened 2000 years ago in Bethlehem can happen in your heart if you allow it. He will fill your mind with knowledge of His Truth, he will fill your eyes and ears with the glory of his Humble Beauty, and he will fill your hearts with the experience of His Goodness, if you allow it. He will break into your life, if you allow it.

On Christmas Eve a few years ago, Pope Benedict wrote, “God is so great that he can become small. God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenseless child, so that we can love him. God is so good that he can give up his divine splendor and come down to a stable, so that we might find him, so that his goodness might touch us, give itself to us and continue to work through us.” So love Him. Allow yourself to Love Christ more deeply, that you may follow Him more faithfully.

[5:00pm Christmas Eve] In the powerful Gospel reading for Christmas Eve Mass, we hear that the one to be born of Mary is called, Emmanuel which means “God is With Us”. I pray that this Christmas each of you comes to a deeper understanding of what that means. What it means that God wants to be with you, and urges you to take the journey of humility, the journey of self-emptying, that you may be filled with His Life. I hope that tonight is the beginning for all of you of a new story, of allowing Jesus Christ, Savior, to transform your lives, to be more like His, humble and obedient.

 [Midnight Mass] In the powerful Gospel reading for Midnight Mass we hear of the angel challenging the shepherds not to be afraid of God’s intervention in their lives. “Do not Be Afraid” to make the one who is wrapped in swaddling clothes as the Lord of Your Life, that his favor may rest upon you always. “Do not be Afraid” to take the journey of humility, the journey of self-emptying, that you may be filled with His Life. “Do not be afraid” to begin a new chapter tonight, a new story of allowing Jesus Christ, Savior, to transform your lives, to be more like His, humble and obedient.

[Mass in the morning] In the powerful Gospel reading for Christmas morning, we read from the beginning, the Prologue of John’s Gospel in which we hear of the Eternal Word taking on flesh, God breaking in to human history to become man. No doubt, Christmas can be a new beginning for each of you, if you allow that Eternal Word to make his dwelling in your heart more deeply, to manifest the power of the Eternal taking on flesh to save us from our sins.

We gather to celebrate the greatest story ever told: the story of the Eternal and All-powerful God’s humble self-emptying to become a child, in order to save us from our sins and our darkness, when we were completely incapable of saving ourselves.

St. Paul of the Cross said, “Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit”. Being a Christian is rooted in loving this Child not just once a year, but every minute of every day: worshiping him, surrendering our life to him. 

May we allow God to transform our lives, to deepen our faith, to illuminate our darkness, that our lives may give evidence of His incarnation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 21 2017 - Winter is past!

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, we hear a surprising message from the Song of Songs: “winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  Those of us who live in Northeastern Ohio know that the snows are just beginning, the flowers won’t be seen for several months. Yet, the Church proclaims that because the Lord is near, it is a day of spiritual springtime, a time of new growth, a time where light begins to appear again.

The Gospel reading as well is full of life and vibrancy: the pregnant Virgin Mother going in haste to visit her once barren cousin Elizabeth, the baby John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s. There is singing, there is the joyful expectancy of the two mothers, there is praising of God.

These readings remind us of the importance of walking by faith. Naturally, it may be cold and the darkest day of the year.
Supernaturally, however, our hearts can be burning, on fire with love for God  as the light of Advent shines ever more brightly. Some people experience a deep depression this time of year, as the sun is seen less and less. Christians, though are called to rejoice in spite of the darkness of the world. We turn our faces to the light of the true sun. The O Antiphon speaks of Jesus as the Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal life, and Sun of Justice.. Christ is our light precisely because he saves us from the cause of our most crippling depression, sin, which brought darkness to our minds, and separation from God.

Today, may we bask in the light of our coming savior through our prayer and charity towards those in need, may we bring his light into the dark corners of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

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.

Monday - 2nd Week of Advent 2017 - What does love look like?

Inside our school entrance is a lovely advent wreath, and written on the wall behind the Advent wreath are the words: “Advent is a time for hope, love, joy, and peace”. Hope, love, joy, and peace, as I mentioned last week are the four Advent themes symbolized by the four advent candles.

The candle for love now has been lit as we have entered the second week of Advent. So, this week we meditate on the love infusing this beautiful season—the love of God which transforms us to love others.

The scriptures, songs, and prayers of Advent aid us in recognizing God’s love. How does the old Advent hymn go?  “O Come, O Come Emmanuel to ransom captive Israel.” God comes in the flesh to set us free from the captivity of sin because he loves us.

From love we were made, by love we were made, for love we were made, and Advent helps us to open our hearts to a God who longs to set us free from sin and selfishness.

God wants to see the deserts and parched lands of our souls bloom and flourish, as we heard from the prophet Isaiah. He wants “the eyes of the blind opened, the ears of the deaf cleared; the lame leaping like a stag, the tongues of the mute singing.” In the Gospel, Jesus causes a paralyzed man to walk and pronounces his sins forgiven. Jesus is born in Bethlehem to put an end to the reign of paralysis, the imprisonment of sin. Why? Because he loves us, and made us, not for the misery and paralysis and imprisonment of sin, but for the freedom and fullness of selfless love.

Recognizing God’s love, we in turn are compelled to spread that love. As St. John writes, “since God loved us, we ought to love one another.”

In the fourth century, Saint Augustine wrote, “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.”

May our Advent devotions open our hearts ever more deeply to the love of God that we may love others in return for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

For an increase in charity among the Christian people, that we may be cleansed of every vain and selfish desire, in order to become instruments of the love of God.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For Pope Francis prayer intention for the month of December, “That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations.”

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

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant tha the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: 4th Sunday of Advent 2016 - "He shall be named Jesus"

One of the important and moving moments in parenting is choosing a name for their newborn. Now there are baby naming books and websites to help parents make that monumental choice of naming their children; for no doubt want the name to mean something, to signify how important this new life is to them.

It may be a name that honors a family member. My middle name, Edward, has been in my family since 1842.  Parents may also desire to give a child a special bond with a particular patron saint; I’d tried everything in my power to convince my sister to name her second child after the great saint Athanasius. But names are important: as the child grows, their name will help them develop their identity, others will come to know them by their name.

Well, God the Father was also careful about naming his Son.  He didn’t leave it up to chance or to Mary and Joseph’s creativity.  The Angel Gabriel told Mary that her child was to be named Jesus. As we heard in the Gospel today, the angel appears to Joseph in a dream, and delivers the same message.
The Name of Jesus is repeated almost a thousand times in the New Testament.  It is the name given to the Christ child, the incarnate Son of God.  St. Paul says, so great is this name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We even have a special feast day in the Church celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus, on the 3rd of January, while we are still in the Christmas season.  Also, we are directed by the Church’s liturgical documents to bow our heads slightly at the name of Jesus when it is pronounced in the liturgical prayers.

Psalm 8 proclaims: “O Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”  And something we take very seriously is keeping the name of the Lord Holy.  After all, it’s the second commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” So we reverence His name, we refrain from the grave sin of blasphemy, we don’t just throw it around and treating it like it doesn’t mean anything.

We bow our heads, we reverence the Holy name for the name of Jesus not only identifies a person, but his mission.  The name of Jesus, in Hebrew, literally means, “God saves”.  The name of Jesus reveals his mission.  Jesus isn’t merely an Old Testament prophet come to earth to announce God’s plan of saving mankind from sin and evil.  He comes in order to enact that plan; Jesus is God who saves us.  He fulfills the Divine mission, sent by God the Father to save us from our sins.

To know someone by name, to call someone by name is to begin to grow in intimacy with that person. I think the name of Jesus is repeated so frequently in Scripture is because we are meant to use his name often, to call upon him in prayer to save us from our temptations and earthly trials.

St. Bernard wrote, the name of Jesus is the cure for all diseases of the soul. Are you troubled? speak but the Name of Jesus, the clouds will disperse and peace will descend anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin? so that you fear death? invoke the Name of Jesus, and you will soon feel life returning. No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness of heart can resist this holy Name; there is no heart which will not soften and open in tears at this holy name. Are you surrounded by sorrow and danger? invoke the Name of Jesus, and your fears will vanish.

The Catechism says, the invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying.  Christians throughout the centuries have adopted the practice quieting down and simply contemplating the Holy Name of Jesus.  I began this practice while in seminary, I particularly employ it when I’m waiting in line, or in a doctor’s office…simply repeating while I wait, over and over the name of Jesus. You will find your feelings of impatience quickly disperse.

We encounter in the readings this weekend a second name.  In the first reading from Isaiah, and in the Gospel, we hear that the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.  Emmanuel.  Emmanuel in Hebrew means, “God is with us” or “God is among us”.  If the name “Jesus” referred to Christ’s mission, what he came to do.  “Emmanuel” refers to his identity, to who he is.

And the two names are closely related.  The only reason that Jesus is capable of winning salvation for the human race is because he is both truly man and truly God.  Jesus isn’t just another special holy person, like Mohammed, or Buddha, or the Dali Lama.

He alone was able to reestablish our right relationship with God from whom we were cut off because of original sin.  We needed God to save us; salvation was not something we could achieve on our own.

Finally, in the Second reading, we hear still a third name.  As Saint Paul summarizes to the Romans Christ's amazing mission he refers to Jesus as our "Lord."  We call Jesus, “Lord” to acknowledging that he is much more than just one of history’s great religious leaders.  By calling him “Lord” we express our conviction that he is the ruler of our life; that we owe him our deepest loyalty. When we call Jesus lord, we freely choose to submit to his authority, to be he followers, to be Christians in this world, 2010 years after his birth.

Today, Jesus, Emmanuel will come to us once again in Holy Communion.  As he is lifted up by the priest for all to see, may we repeat in our hearts as centuries of Christians have done, “Jesus, you are my lord and my God.”

The fourth week of Advent is characterized by peace. Remember in the business of the week ahead, that Jesus alone can bring peace to our trouble world. Jesus alone can bring peace to our anxious hearts. Come Lord Jesus Come, Bring Divine peace to our world and hearts. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.