20230709 Sunday Ordinary 14 A

In today’s Gospel Jesus refers to his Father as ‘Lord of heaven and earth’.  Jesus establishes his father as Creator and ruler of heaven and earth to put everything into perspective.  God’s love is revealed to the lowly ones because the rich and powerful are convinced of their self-righteous positions and unable to acknowledge God’s love and mercy for themselves and others. 

They like to dictate to those who are below them how to live and worship but bend the rules to suit themselves.  Jesus spoke out about these actions in the Pharisees throughout his ministry. 

Father Rolheiser, retired president of Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas, helps put this into perspective when he wrote:

“…  it wasn’t their vices that Jesus was referring to, but their virtues.

What was the virtue of the scribes and pharisees?  In fact, they had a pretty high standard.  The ten commandments, strict justice in all things, compassion for the poor, and the practice of hospitality, these constituted their ideal for virtuous living.  What’s wrong with that?  What’s required beyond these?

This is definitely a different view of the Pharisees.  Father Ron continued:

“Simply put, if I’m living the virtue of the scribes and pharisees, I react this way: if you come to me and say, “I like you! You’re a wonderful person,” my response naturally will be in kind: “I like you too! Obviously you’re a wonderful person!” What I’m doing is simply feeding your own good energy back to you. But that has a nasty underside: If you come to me and say, “I hate you! You’re a charlatan and a hypocrite,” my response will also be in kind: “I hate you too!  Clearly you’re a very petty person!”  This is ultimately what “an eye for an eye” morality, strict justice, comes down to. We end up feeding back the other’s energy, good or bad, and replicating the other’s virtue, good or bad.  That’s the natural way, but it’s not the Christian way. 

It’s precisely here where Jesus’ invites us “beyond,” beyond natural reaction, beyond instinct, beyond giving back in kind, beyond legal rights, beyond strict justice, beyond the need to be right, beyond even the ten commandments, beyond the virtue of the scribes and pharisees.” 

Father Ron helps us to understand that Jesus is calling us to a higher standard than living by the rules and only doing things so we can receive favors in return. 

Father Rolheiser asked a series of questions that get to the heart of the Gospel:

Indeed the litmus-test for Christian orthodoxy is not the creed (Can you believe this set of truths?) but this particular challenge from Jesus: can you love an enemy?  Can you fail to give back in kind?  Can you move beyond your natural reactions and transform the energy that enters you from others, so as to not give back bitterness for bitterness, harsh words for harsh words, curse for curse, hatred for hatred, murder for murder?  Can you rise above your sense of being wronged?  Can you renounce your need to be right?  Can you move beyond the itch to always have what’s due you?  Can you forgive, even when every feeling inside of you rebels at its unfairness?  Can you take in bitterness, curses, hatred, and murder itself, and give back graciousness, blessing, love, understanding, and forgiveness?  That’s the root invitation inside of Christianity and it’s only when we do this that we move beyond “an eye for an eye.” 

These questions are the Gospel that Jesus preached in his ministry.  The leaders of the day were so engrossed with making sure that everyone else was obeying the rules that they failed to live God’s love and mercy for all.  The truth and wisdom was hidden from them due to their blindly enforcing the rules. 

We live in a world that is self-centered and only seeks immediate gratification.  Power over and control of others as we saw during the pandemic satisfies the ego, but it is the same sin that Jesus decried among the Pharisees. 

We live in a nation that worships the idols of ideologies.  These are the idols of “Transgender Rights”, “Gay Rights” and “Women’s Health Care or Abortion” in an attempt to be something other than what God made us to be.  We are longing for something we are not.  We are searching for happiness trying to find it in everything but God.  We are trying to be what we are not and are unable to realize that the Lord of Heaven and Earth is who we desire. 

Our leaders in Congress and our President proudly proclaim that they are Catholic and yet defy Jesus’ and the Church’s teachings.  The truth and wisdom of the Lord of Heaven and Earth is hidden from them because they are seeking the self-gratification of the praise of those around them instead of God’s will.  They have led us on a worship of the idols of ideologies that are as sinful as the molten and wooden idols the Children of Israel worship in the Old Testament. 

The world has become so blinded by it’s worship of self and “me” that they boldly demand that everyone agrees with their position.  It’s easy for us to criticize our leaders while at the same time quietly believing what they proclaim ourselves. 

The Gospel that Jesus taught was to love God our Father with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.  And yes, that means even the person who is our enemy.  The questions that Father Rolheiser asks are pertinent to us.  Are we willing to take these to heart and seek God before anything else? 

Are we willing to live the truth and wisdom of the Lord of heaven and earth?  In today’s world it truly means taking up our cross and following Jesus.  Speaking out against the evils of these ideologies makes one a target for the extremists who believe in them.  This is evident in the attacks on Catholic Churches and individuals. 

These attacks are increasing and becoming more violent as time goes on.  It may mean that Catholics could be martyred for their faith, for their belief in the Lord of heaven and earth. 

If so, “Am I willing to defend my faith even though I could possibly die for my faith in Christ?” 

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20230611 Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ A

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.  This is a very special day in our church.  Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at the consecration by the priest. 

This is unique to the Catholic Church.  Yet, less than thirty percent of Catholics believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  That is an astounding statistic for one of the core beliefs of our Church. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 

Lack of faith in the Eucharist is nothing new.  As soon as Jesus said it a quarrel started among the Jews who said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  We see that even at the time when Christ made this statement there was controversy surrounding it.  But Jesus went on to say: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” 

This life within us is emphasized a few sentences later when Jesus said: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” 

St. Ambrose wrote: “This bread is bread before the words of the Sacrament.  But when the words of Christ come to it, it is the body of Christ …  Before the words of Christ it is a cup full of wine and water.  When the words of Christ become operative, the blood which has redeemed the people is caused to be there.”  

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila wrote: “The invitation to lift up our hearts at the most important part of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is an invitation by Jesus through the voice of the priest to give our hearts to the Father, as He gave His life for us.  We prepare to make our hearts and lives a total self-gift to the Father as Jesus made Himself a total gift to the Father for us on the Cross.”  And we reply “We lift them up to the Lord.” 

By lifting up our hearts together we become one body in Christ.  We bring the bread and wine to the altar, but we receive the body and blood of Christ.  Through his body and blood, we become one with Christ and one with each other to form the true Body of Christ – the Church. 

In the second reading the Apostle Paul elaborated on this: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”  St Augustine has this to say about Paul’s writing: “If that is so, it is the sacrament of yourselves that is placed on the Lord’s altar, and it is the sacrament of yourselves that you receive.”  

In the fourth century, St Augustine wrote about the concept of many becoming one loaf and many becoming the wine: “Now bear in mind that bread is not made of a single grain, but of many.”  And he continued: “Think how wine is made. Many grapes hang in a cluster, but their juice flows together into an indivisible liquid.” 

When the Deacon or Priest pours the water into the Chalise of wine he prays: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”  This mingling of divinity and humanity is much like many grains becoming one loaf and a cluster of grapes becoming an indivisible liquid. 

So, it is with the Church.  We, though many ,are one body; to love, to share, to serve others as Christ loved and served even the untouchables of his day.; the leper, the tax collector, and the sinner.  When we receive Christ in his Body and Blood, we say “Amen” confirming that we believe and that we are one in Christ.  We must love and serve the untouchables of our day; the immigrant, the prostitute on the street, the homeless on the corner asking for money, the family member whom we hate or just don’t associate with due to the past. 

St Augustine said: “You reply “Amen” to what you are, and thereby agree that such you are. You hear the words “The body of Christ” and you reply “Amen.” Be, then, a member of Christ’s body, so that your “Amen” may accord with the truth.”  We become one Body in Christ. 

Gerald Darring wrote: “This is why the body and blood of Christ signify unity and peace: there is one Christ, and all who eat and drink the body and blood of Christ become one in the one Christ.” 

Jesus spoke and acted with authority.  When we receive the true Body and Blood of Christ, we become one with him and one body together.  As one body with Christ, we are compelled to speak and act as Christ would in the world around us. 

Saint Augustine said: “These things, my friends, are called sacraments, because our eyes see in them one thing, our understanding another.  Our eyes see the material form; our understanding, its spiritual effect.“  

In The Eucharist and the Hungers of the Human Family, the US Bishops wrote:

“The mysterious reality of the Eucharist—“My flesh is real food and my blood real drink” — is a
puzzle to some, a scandal to others. 

It has always been so. 

But for those who believe in Jesus’ teaching because they believe in Jesus Christ himself, the Eucharist
is, among all his gifts to us, the most cherished and the cause of our deepest gratitude.” 

The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is what sets us apart from the rest of the religions in the world.  Protestants receive communion in remembrance or as a reenactment of the Last Supper so it has little significance to them.  I am a convert, and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, is why I am Catholic. 

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20230123 Monday Ordinary A – Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

In today’s Gospel Jesus talks about division.  When we think about division, fighting is what usually comes to mind.  That is not necessarily the case.  There are many forms of division that we might not classify as physical fighting.  

The little snide remarks to a friend about someone you know or may not even know but dislike what was said or done.  The outright criticism publicly of what a person does or says.  These easily slip into our lives.  In our very polarized and divided society which we live in today, even good causes can divide us. 

Today is a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.  The number of abortions from 1973 to 2020 is over sixty-three and a half million. 

The abortion ratio (the number of abortions per 100 pregnancies) was over 20 percent in 2020.  Abortions in 2020 increased by nearly 8 percent from 2017.  While these numbers numb the mind and are higher than in the past, there are areas for rejoicing which we seldom hear about. 

Total abortions fell below 1 million for the first time in 2013 and have continued downward in the most recent figures by Guttmacher Institute for 2020.  Between 1980 and 2020, the U.S. abortion rate for every 1,000 women of reproductive age has dropped by over 50 percent.  This is significant! 

Especially in view of all the continued additional emphasis on abortion over the years by the government, women’s rights organizations and especially Planned Parenthood, there can only be one explanation for this decline in abortions; prayer.  Yes, the marching and peaceful protesting brought some attention to the issue, but only prayer could bring about these dramatic results. 

Let us keep in mind that more than half of U.S. Catholics (56%) said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while roughly four-in-ten (42%) said it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the 2019 Pew Research Center survey. 

In view of statistics like this, it is easy for the church to become divided, to become polarized like the rest of society.  Due to the diversity of views, the passion of people with those views and the social pressure to accept abortion, we can easily turn on each other within the church.  Satan would love to see that happen.  We must always guard against becoming a house divided against itself that Jesus talked about. 

It’s interesting to note that even though most Catholics said abortion should generally be legal, a majority also said abortion is morally wrong.  In fact, the share who said that abortion is morally wrong (57%), according to data from a 2017 survey, and the share who said it should be legal (56%) are almost identical. 

This is an indication that we are already divided within ourselves as individuals.  The result is the turmoil that exists in our world today.  Depression rates are so high that there are waiting lists over three months to get an appointment with a psychologist. 

The Apostle Paul preached that there is one body one faith in Christ.  And in today’s Gospel, Jesus warned about a house divided against itself. 

We must never forget that Jesus came to save us and gave us a mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.  We do this by the example we live everyday and the time we spend in prayer for God to lead us and unite us in his love.  Prayer works as indicated by the falling abortion rates.  Let us pray for legal protection for the unborn and all those who have experienced the chaos of abortion. 

Looking to our Blessed Mother who we always turn to for protection in times of need, let us pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you,
Blessed are you among women and
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

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20230116 Monday Ordinary A

Today’s Gospel talks about the old and the new.  When Jesus was asked why his disciples didn’t fast like John’s and some of the religious leaders of the synagogue, Jesus said that they would fast after his death even though that was still in the future. 

When we think about fasting, there are several examples that come to mind.  We fast for an hour before mass.  We fast on Fridays in Lent.  We abstain or fast from meat on Fridays in Lent and some people do that year-round.  Jesus used a parable to explain the difference between the old way and the new way.  He talked about things that everyone listening knew were absurd. 

Jesus talked about sewing new cloth into an old garment.  He talked about putting new wine in old wineskins.  Everyone knew that you didn’t do that because of what would happen. 

The same is true for our lives.  When we think about our lives, there were probably many times when life was going along quite happily when suddenly everything changed.  The old and comfortable became new and different.  Sometimes it becomes difficult or even disastrous, a lot like the new cloth in an old garment that tears it when it shrinks or new wine in old wineskins that will burst as the wine ages.  

We sometimes ask ourselves “Why?” or resent what happened in the past.  It’s easy to carry frustration and hatred toward someone who hurt us, even though it may have been years or decades ago.  The old hurt is still tearing our hearts apart after all this time. 

The solution is for us to spend some time in prayer.  Not that God will necessarily change that person but pray that God will bless them and help me to become more loving and kinder in my heart.  I know that this is difficult for me at times.  That’s the hard part for most of us; striving to be the Christian that God calls each of us to be regardless of how we feel. 

Then, we must be open to God’s healing touch.  Praying that God will take care of everything is the easy part.  Opening our hearts for God to ease the pain is more difficult to do.  Sometimes it’s easier to hold onto the pain and resentment than it is let God work in our lives.  The result is that our hearts remain broken, and our suffering continues. 

We decide to fast for a couple of meals and instead spend that time in prayer to show God that we are serious in our request to help us change.  Fasting is not something we do very often today.  The Apostles and the Saints spent a lot of time fasting and praying for God’s mercy and direction which is one of the reasons they were so effective in spreading the Gospel. 

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus said, “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined.  Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” 

Through prayer and fasting, we ask God to heal us and make us whole again.  We must also open our hearts to God’s healing, so we are not ruined like the old wineskins by our anger and resentment. 

May our hearts be like new wineskins ready to receive God’s healing power into our hearts.  Then God’s love and mercy will flow to us to draw us closer to him and flow to those around us. 

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20230115 Sunday Ordinary A

John the Baptist said “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.  I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” 

It’s interesting that John did not know who Jesus was to recognize him upon sight.  One would think that they would have been close friends.  After the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced the Incarnation and told Mary that Elizabeth would bear a child, Mary rushed to Elizabeth and stayed three months.  This would indicate a strong bond between the two women. 

However, we must keep in mind that after the children were born, life was very different for both women, but especially Elizabeth because of her age.  The primary means of travel was walking and traveling long distances would be difficult with an infant and even more so with a toddler.  Think about it: “I’m tired.  Can we stop?  My feet hurt.  When are we going to eat?  Are we there yet?” 

After the Magi came, Joseph was told to flee to Egypt to protect the child Jesus.  They had no choice but to travel at night to build a life in a new country.  When the Holy Family returns years later there is no record of the two families meeting, not even at the Temple on Holy Feasts. 

John knows and understands his life’s mission.  He is the person who is to identify Christ to the world.  While he is unsure who that person is in real life, he knows the sign that will reveal him.  John said “’A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”  This was John’s mission in life. 

John the Baptist said that Jesus was the Lamb of God.  Jesus himself said that he was God.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asked the disciples “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 

Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus then said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”  Jesus said that he would build his church upon that Rock of faith which was revealed to Simon by his Father.” 

Peter Kreeft wrote: “Jesus does not give us the option of belonging to one church or another.  For him there is only one, and that is the one he spoke of when he changed Simon Peter’s name to Peter, or the Rock. 

Peter Kreeft continues: “If you are not convinced and convicted that Jesus is right about that, that the church is right about Jesus, that John was right about Jesus, that Jesus was right about Jesus – then you are not a Catholic Christian.  For that is the single essence and center of absolutely everything in our religion.” 

Strong words but it sums up our faith.  Are we convinced that Jesus is the Son of the Living God?  Do we really believe it?  Does the way we live our life show that we believe it? 

Even though Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter based on his conviction that Jesus was the Christ, Peter still struggled to live that faith.  When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Peter, the Rock of Faith that Christ said he would build his church, denied that he even knew Jesus three times.  But Jesus saw something in Peter that he knew that Peter was the right person to lead his Church. 

That gives us hope that even though we sometimes fail and fall, that Jesus loves us and will give us strength to ask forgiveness and get up to follow him and proclaim to the world that Jesus is the Son of God. 

John the Baptist, Peter the Rock, Paul the Apostle, and all the Saints up to this day have testified that Jesus is the Son of God.  It’s one thing to hear it, it’s another to believe it, and still another to live it. 

Both Peter and Paul could be labeled failures because of their actions against Jesus.  Peter’s denial and weakness hiding from the Roman authorities; and Paul’s persecution of the early Church would seem to disqualify them for the positions that God chose for them to serve.  They were changed from failures to devout and passionate witnesses of the Risen Christ. 

At the end of today’s Gospel, John the Baptist said, “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”  Peter and Paul spread the same testimony throughout the world.  We are commissioned to do the same. 

I have often wondered how different my life would be if I truly believed that Jesus is the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world and was as passionate about Christ in my life like Peter and Paul after their encounter with the Risen Lord. 

We must each ask ourselves, “Do I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God?”  If we answer “Yes”, then we must examine our lives to determine if our life reveals it to the world.  We have the same mission as John the Baptist.  We must reveal Jesus to the world with the same passion and testimony as John the Baptist, Peter and Paul. 

Jesus sees something in each of us just like he did in Peter.  Jesus is asking us today, “Who do you say that I am?” 

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20230109 Monday Baptism of the Lord A

Jesus’ baptism is an important event because it is noted in all four Gospels.  It is also important because it signals the start of his ministry. 

After his baptism, Jesus goes into the wilderness and fasts for forty days.  At the end of that time, Jesus is tempted by Satan.  While Jesus was divine, he was also human.  Therefore, he had the ability to yield to temptation just as we do.  The fact that he was able to successfully resist similar temptations from Satan that we experience is an example for us to follow. 

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he went to live in Capernaum and started calling the disciples.  He began to teach the people and preach “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  All of this started after his baptism. 

Scholars and theologians have written volumes on the Baptism of the Lord with many views on it.  One of the struggles is “Why did the Son of God who was sinless need the baptism of repentance?” 

Bishop Barron wrote: “John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the prophets, correctly discerns that Jesus is the Son of God, but what he finds disconcerting is that this God-man comes to him for baptism: “I should rather be baptized by you.”  This reversal – still stunning 2000 years later – is indicative of the Incarnation’s purpose: God’s desire to enter into the state and condition of the sinner out of love.” 

Jesus was a unique blending of humanity and divinity into One Being.  God, the divine coming to earth to live like us so he could truly understand the trials and temptations that we experience. 

The divine side was the great love with which he loved us, even in all our sinfulness.  The human side gave Jesus the free will to submit to temptation.  Jesus’ love for his Father and his desire to do his Father’s will enabled him to resist the temptations of Satan and overcome them. 

What great love God has for us; that he would have his very own son, who was just like him, come to earth and become like one of us in all things including temptation, suffering and death. 

The essence of God is love.  The love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit from the beginning of time which still flows out to us even today.  There is no greater love than the love that God has for each of us.  Sometimes we forget how much God loves each person. 

God loves the person that we can’t stand to be around.  God loves the homeless person on the corner asking for money.  We may think that they should go get a job and provide for themselves, but God still loves them, and he loves us too even though we think less of that person in need.  Maybe we should share a fast-food gift card with them so they can get a hot meal. 

God loves the starving person in Africa whom we don’t even know.  God loves the worst criminal on death row whom we want to get the death penalty for their crimes.  Our ProLife response is to pray for the person and fight for the end of the death penalty just as much as we fight for the end of abortion. 

If God loves all these people, some I can’t stand or wish would go away, and I profess to be a Christian, why can’t I at least pray for them and help them in their journey of life? 

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20230102 Monday Christmas Weekday A

The Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to John the Baptist to ask him “Who are you?” 

This is the burning question for John the Baptist “Who are you?” 

Why did the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, want to know who John the Baptist was?  Let’s look at the questions the delegation asked John. 

“Who are you?” 

He said, “I am not the Christ.” 

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” 

And he said, “I am not.” 

“Are you the Prophet?” 

He answered, “No.” 

“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself?” 

John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 

John understood his role in the plan of salvation, he was the messenger that Isaiah prophesied about who would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. 

The Jewish leaders were not satisfied with the answers that the delegation gave them, so they sent some Pharisees to get better answers.  They asked John “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 

What they really wanted to know was “If you are not the Messiah or a prophet, then by what authority do you baptize people?”  John told them: “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 

After the end of today’s Gospel, John the Evangelist continues:

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,* who takes away the sin of the world.”  He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’  I did not know him,* but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”  John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.  I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’  Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” 

John the Baptist understood his role in salvation even though he did not know him before.  That too is our role.  We did not know Christ before he was revealed to us, and we each confessed our belief in him. 

We, like John the Baptist, must point the world to Jesus.  It’s not about us, more importantly, it’s not about ME.  It’s about Jesus, the Son of Mary, the Son of God. 

The question now turns to us.  Who are you?  I am not the Christ.  Are you a prophet?  No.  Are you a witness for Jesus?  Yes.  I can profess Christ with my lips but, does my life reflect it?  The world knew that there was something different about John the Baptist.  That’s why they came asking “Who are you?” 

Does the world know that there is something different about us?  Do they want to know why we are different?  Does the Spirit live in us? 

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20221231 Octave Day of Christmas, Holy Mother of God

There’s a song that’s popular at Christmas time each year “Mary Did You Know?” 

The song is a Christmas song addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991.  Michael English originally recorded it in 1991.  It has become a Christmas classic recorded by hundreds of artists and all of you could probably sing the lyrics from memory.  The group Pentatonix has helped make it popular. 

It starts with the question “Mary did you know that your baby boy would” and goes on to list the many miracles and attributes of Jesus her son. 

Did Mary know that her son would walk on water?  Did Mary know that the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, the dumb will speak, and the dead will live again?

I’m not sure that Mary knew any of these small details.  But Mary knew that her child was the Son of God.  In Luke, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”  

Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.  Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.  Mary trusted what the angel told her. 

Mary, growing up in her Jewish faith, understood what she was saying.  She knew that she could be stoned to death as punishment for adultery which would be the only way she could become pregnant while betrothed to Joseph.  And yet she trusted in God to take care of her when she committed to God’s will in her life.  Mary knew that her baby was the Son of God. 

We frequently forget the great faith Mary had in the God of the people Israel.  This tremendous faith is why she found favor with God to bear his Son so how could we forget her purity and faith? 

When the shepherds saw the baby in the manger, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.  And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.  Mary knew – she understood that her baby was the Son of God. 

When the time was completed and Joseph and Mary took the baby to the Temple, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce)* so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  And again, Mary knew that her baby was the Son of God. 

After Joseph died, Mary followed her son in his ministry throughout the region.  Mary knew that her baby Jesus was the Son of God and she nudged him to start his ministry at the wedding in Cana when the water was turned into wine. 

She saw the miracles of the blind being able to see, the deaf being able to hear, the lame being able to leap, the dumb being able to speak, and the dead being raised to life again. 

And Mary knew, keeping all these things that she saw and felt reflecting on them in her heart.  

When Jesus was arrested and taken into custody, Mary was horrified by what she was seeing.  There is a beautiful Stations of the Cross from Mary’s point of view titled “Mary’s Way of the Cross” that was written by Fr. Richard Furey.    It describes the horror and agony of what our Holy Mother saw and felt as her Son was beaten, mocked, spit on, and eventually crucified. 

One phrase in particular stands out in the Fourth Station when Mary said: “I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son.  I called to him through the shouting voices.  He stopped.  Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion.  I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.”  As he stumbled on, I knew he was right.  So I followed and prayed silently.” 

Yes, Mary knew.  The sword that Simeon had prophesied was piercing her heart and the agony was overwhelming, but when her eyes met her Son’s, she knew.  At the Fifteenth Station at the tomb, Mary feels the agony “I could only be most grateful for the sacrifice of my son for us.  Yet, what emptiness I felt trying to live without him whom I loved so!” 

A few days later, Mary’s agony and pain was overcome with joy when she learned of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.  This was the purpose for which he came, this was the purpose for which he was born and died!  

The Station concludes with “But, only two days later that emptiness was filled beyond belief — he had risen!  Our savior had opened the doors to a new life.  That is the way it had to be — because his undying love for you would not stop at anything less.  I could rejoice forever, but not in silence.” 

The song, “Mary, did you know?” ends with the question “Did you know that your baby boy, … This sleeping child you’re holding is the great ‘I Am’?” 

Yes, Mary knew!!! 

Do we know?  Do we know the amount of faith that Mary had in God to trust completely him? Do wwe know that Mary’s baby boy, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Great I AM in our lives? Do we hold Christ in our hearts and share him with others by the way we live our lives? 

Now the question becomes more personal “Do I know that Mary’s baby boy is the Great I AM in my life?” 

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20221226 Monday Christmas A

Today is the Feast of Stephen, the first martyr for the faith. 

Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel that those who follow him will be handed over to courts for prosecution, taken before government officials to be a witness to them and the pagans, and hated because of his name. 

It seems to be all gloom and doom, but there is hope and a cause for joy at the end the Gospel when Jesus said “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” 

At the beginning of this chapter of Acts, the Apostles were getting overwhelmed taking care of the widows, orphans and distributing food to the poor.  Their solution was to find upright and reputable men to take care of these tasks so they could proclaim the Word to the people. 

The community presented seven reputable men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them to serve the people.  Stephen was first in the list of reputable men who were presented to be the first Deacons.  Shortly after that, Stephen was martyred for his faith, becoming the first Deacon and the first martyr for the faith. 

There are several characteristics about St Stephen for us to consider. 

First, St Stephen was selected because he was upright and reputable.  He was a living example of a Christian to the community around him. 

In the Gospel, Jesus said that those who live and witness to his name will be put to death.  “Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.”  Those who are evil and filled with hatred for the church will cause the followers of Christ to be put to death. 

Second, St Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He accomplished this not on his own but by spending time in prayer and seeking God’s will in his life.  St Stephen placed God above everything else in this world.  It was evident by the way the Holy Spirit worked in him. 

St Stephen trusted in God completely.  Jesus said that we should not worry about what to say when we are persecuted.  Jesus continued, “You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  St Stephen let the Holy Spirit give him what to say when he was falsely accused.  I would encourage you to read Chapter 6 & 7 of Acts for the details. 

Third, St Stephen was a person who was filled with forgiveness.  Our natural tendency is to hold a grudge against those who mistreat us, to hate them and even seek revenge against them.  As St Stephen was being stoned he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” 

How do we measure up to the standard that St Stephen lived?  Do people know that we are Christian by the way we live our lives?  Do others sense that we are different, that we are filled with the Holy Spirit by our kindness toward all people? 

Is it evident that we don’t harbor ill feelings and seek revenge?  Do we forgive others even before they ask? 

Do we trust in God to the point that we too can say ““Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”?  Will we endure to the end and be saved? 

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20221219 Monday Advent 4 A

There are many parallels between yesterday’ Gospel from Matthew and today’s Gospel from Luke. 

In yesterday’s Gospel of Matthew, the annunciation of Jesus’ conception is given to Joseph rather than to Mary.  In today’s Gospel of Luke, the annunciation of John the Baptist’s conception is given to Zechariah instead of Elizabeth. 

The major difference is the age of the couples.  Joseph and Mary are young and ready to raise a family.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are old and beyond the age of bearing children. 

Even though they are old they prayed for a child.  The Gospel tells us “Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.”  Observing the commandments was a moral obligation and observing the ordinances was a ceremonial or liturgical obligation. 

Zechariah was serving in the Temple and was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.  An angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.”  Zechariah had obviously been praying for a child because the angel tell him that his prayer was heard and proceeds to tell him that Elizabeth will bear a son and they will name him John. 

The angel continues to tell Zechariah “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”  The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible explains that this last phrase means that the baby will be greater than all the prophets of the Old Testament before him. 

In the Gospel of Mathew Jesus confirms this when he said “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” 

The angel also tells Zechariah that John will “drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.  The commentary explains that means he shall be a Nazarite, or “a separated one”. …. the Nazarite was a symbol of holiness; nothing inflaming was to cross his lips; no razor to come on his head; no ceremonial defilement to be contracted. Thus was he to be “holy to the Lord [ceremonially] all the days of his separation.” This separation was in ordinary cases temporary and voluntary: only Samson, Samuel, and John Baptist were Nazarites from the womb. 

Zechariah doesn’t believe the angel because of their age when he asks ““How shall I know this?   For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”  It’s so like our mortal nature that we pray for a miracle and then question it when it happens.  Zechariah prayed for a child even though they were past the age of bearing children and then doubts that the miracle he prayed for can happen. 

But God did provide the miracle in spite of Zechariah’s unbelief and John the Baptist was born to point all of us to the One who is to come.  John said “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” 

John was a messenger who pointed others to Christ.  Do we do the same in our lives?  Do we point others to Christ by the way we live our lives? 

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