Like Other Nations: Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time (1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a; Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19; Mark 2:1-12)

If you have been following the news, you are probably aware of the physician assisted suicide legislature that was was recently signed into law in the State of Illinois.

Going against the Illinois bishops and even the Pope, Illinois is now a haven for physician assisted suicide.  A move that undermines the human dignity of some of the most vulnerable among us and undermines the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

In Canada, where assisted suicide has been the law of the land for several years, 4.7% of deaths result from assisted suicide.  That may seem like a low percentage, but if you apply that to the population of the United States, that would be over 15 million Americans.

The real danger is where does this go from here.  

Remember the abortion argument from 30-40 years ago…remember when Bill Clinton famously stated that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare”, and then contrast that to our current state.

Inch by inch, the culture of death built on that toehold to the point where abortion has not only been normalized and celebrated, but that infanticide has become accepted in many states such as Illinois and Minneasota.  

Procedures are not performed by well equipped physicians, but rather ambulances are called to Planned Parenthood on a regular basis due to complications.  And, everyday, women are coerced into abortions they do not really want.  Not safe.  Not rare.

The culture of death will not rest until death rules the day.  Each victory they win for a “rare” situation, or a “safe” situation, or in the case of assisted suicide, a “terminal” situation, only becomes the fortification for their next campaign.

In Canada, there are proposals to expand assisted suicide to allow those with conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia to request their death before the effects of their illnesses set in.  Provisions are also under discussion to allow assisted suicide for those that suffer from mental illness.

Regardless of its legal status and how normalized it may become, assisted suicide is still, objectively speaking, a mortal sin.  As it says in the Catechism, “Suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the fifth commandment.”

As I lay that truth bomb out there, I acknowledge that many of us have known at least one person (and some of us my have known several people) who have taken their own lives via suicide.  Perhaps some of us have even struggled with suicidal thoughts.  

I do believe Jesus has a special place in His heart for those who were driven to the point where they felt ending their life was the only option.  In many cases culpability for the sin is likely reduced due to mental illness, social pressure, side effects of medication, or perhaps even demonic oppression.  

Ultimately, we need more social empathy and better ways to recognize when people are reaching this dreadful point.  That is a homily for another day.

At the same time, we need to recognize and hold to the serious moral nature of the situation.  We must stand firm in the Gospel Truth which is contrary to any form of suicide.

Yet, many “Christians” support it.  The National Institute of Health conducted a survey among clergy (which included the wide range of protestant denominations).  28% responded that physician assisted suicide is morally acceptable.  The rate increased to 56% among mainstream and evangelical Christianity.

As the non-Catholic ecclesial communities around us and even many of the Orthodox Churches continue to acquiesce to the ways of the world, we are reminded that the Truth of Jesus Christ does not change and that the Catholic Church is the pillar and foundation of that Truth.

Our challenge is similar to the one proposed in the first reading.  Who is our King? Are we part of His Kingdom, which is the Catholic Church?  Or, would we rather be like other nations?  Do we want to be set free by the Truth?  Or do we want to be slaves to human secularism and the culture of death?

In the battle of life versus death, let us for ever sing the goodness of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

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Spirit of Epiphany: Friday after Epiphany (1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Luke 5:12-16)

The season of epiphanies is upon us again.  Last Sunday, we celebrated the epiphany of the three Magi visiting the Child Jesus.   This Sunday, we will celebrate the epiphany of those that witnessed the baptism of the Lord.

As you may recall, this is a time for us to remember that epiphanies occur when people are hungry.  The wise men represent a hunger for a king.  John the Baptist and his disciples represent a hunger for a savior.  In our reading yesterday, the congregation at the synagogue in Nazareth represents a hunger for a prophet.

The man in our Gospel today also experienced an epiphany.  He was hungry.  He was hungry to be cleansed.  He was hungry for a savior.  He surrendered that hunger to the will of the Lord.  The Lord made him clean.  His epiphany made manifest as the report of his healing spread among the people.

We talked about Advent being a season of spiritual reset and preparation for receiving the ultimate Christmas gift.  Advent has passed.  Christmas is here and nearly gone.  However, some of us may still be hanging on to the spiritual leprosy we carried into the Advent season.  Some of us may still hunger for the Christmas gift that we feel like we never received…or if we are being honest, we probably received but never opened.  We hunger for our epiphany.

Meanwhile, the Spirit wants to testify to the Truth in your life.  The Spirit wants to work great signs and wonders in your life.  The Spirit wants to give you the epiphany you are hungry for.

This gives us an opportunity for self reflection.  Have we truly fallen prostrate like the Magi, surrendering our hunger, our life, our will to the Lord, pleading with Him to fulfill our desires?  Forsaking all else that we are tempted to put before Him?  Forsaking all else that may prevent us from experiencing the epiphany?

We must remember the Blood and Water that flows from the side of Jesus Christ on the Cross flows into the sacramental life of the Church and becomes the source of our great epiphany.

When we present ourselves to the priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we surrender our burden of sin and any other sources of pride or selfishness that may blind us to epiphanies.  We are truly made clean.

When we present ourselves to receive the Eucharist at Mass, we receive the medicine of immortality.  We receive the means of our sanctification and our conformity to Christ.  We receive the fulfillment of all our desires.

The Blood and Water that flows from the side of Christ can satisfy any hunger you may have, if you are truly open to and receive the testimony of the Spirit.

What is it that you hunger for today?  Pray for the Spirit to reveal to you where pride, selfishness, or some other human weakness may be interfering with your ability to receive the gift Jesus wants to give you to satisfy that hunger.  Surrender that weakness through the Mass, perhaps even through Reconciliation.  Then allow yourself to be truly bathed by the Blood and Water flowing from the side of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Allow that grace to enter into you through the Eucharist….healing all wounds, cleansing all imperfections, wiping away all tears.

In doing so, we join the great crowds that assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, as we answer the call to “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!”

Thanks be to God!

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Epiphany of Life: Thursday after Epiphany (1 John 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17; Luke 4:14-22)

In his monthly challenge, Archbishop Lori reminds us that the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (which we celebrated last Sunday) recalls the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus. The Magi recognized the newborn king and paid him homage. As you know, this great feast occurs during the liturgical season of Christmas, which begins on Christmas Eve and continues through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  

During the Christmas season, Archbishop Lori hopes we remember and celebrate the reality that God assumed our human nature and became a little child.  He hopes this season also reminds us to recognize the dignity of all children; including unborn children.

Our Gospel reading today also falls under this theme of epiphany.  Jesus returns to Nazareth to reveal that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.  He is the anointed one to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He is the one to proclaim liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.  The Nazoreans experienced this epiphany as they “were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

Comparing the two Gospel readings, we can contrast the potential the Magi recognized in the child to the fulfillment announced by the man.  The continuity of the plan of God made manifest first in the child and then later in the man.

Sometimes the true epiphany is not in what we can see or hear, but rather in what we recognize in how God’s plan is being made manifest in even something like an unplanned pregnancy.  

The questions asked by Archbishop Lori as part of his challenge might help us reflect.  Do you look upon the lives of children (and all people) with respect, recognizing the dignity of human life? What more can you personally do to protect and support life wherever it is threatened or in need? Are there ways you can witness to others (in word or deed) to foster awareness of the sanctity of life?

Archbishop Lori’s challenge is to work toward greater recognition of the sanctity of unborn human life (and really all human life) by participating in a peaceful pro-life demonstration or supporting a pregnancy resource center.

Last month, I briefly mentioned the reimagined Pro-Life ministry that we will initiate later this year.  Through this initiative, we enter into the true Pro-Life battlefield: changing hearts through an epiphany of love and giving life a real opportunity to manifest according to God’s plan.  By providing a Life Mentor to an expectant parent of an unplanned pregnancy and giving them an environment of hope and support they can lean on, we can help create the recognition called for by Archbishop Lori; as well as, the epiphany of new life and its ultimate fulfillment in God’s plan.

Perhaps involvement in this critical mission of the parish, the new Pro-Life Ministry, is how you will choose to answer the challenge of Archbishop Lori.

Through our efforts like the reimagined Pro-Life ministry, we will bring about the ultimate epiphany where we cry out, “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

Thanks be to God!

What Do I Want?: Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Psalm 23:1b-3a, 4, 5, 6; Matthew 23:8-12)

Saint Basil and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus were life-long friends in the fourth century, both becoming important and influential bishops of the Church.

Saint Basil and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (along with Saint Basil’s brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa) were known as the Cappadocian Fathers which were immensely important in forming early Christianity and monastic tradition, particularly in the East.

Additionally, Saint Basil and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (along with Saint John Chrysostom) are known as the Great Hierarch of the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as many of the Orthodox Churches.  In the West, they are revered as part of the distinguished group of the Doctors of the Church.  These men were instrumental in the development of the liturgy and the combat against heresies, particularly arianism and apollinarianism.

One contribution we do not generally talk about is a contribution of which many in our 21st century society need to be reminded.  I am referring to the social vision espoused by these great men; in particular, Saint Basil.  I’ll warn you, this may be a bit convicting (at least it was challenging for me as I reflected on the life of Saint Basil).

Saint Basil taught the need for spiritual growth through prayer needs to be balanced with engaging with society through charity.  A fruitful life is one of simplicity, prayer, and service.

A proper engagement with society would naturally lead a person to desire to address the tangible needs of others.  Saint Basil spoke often of the challenge Jesus made in the Gospels:  “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Saint Basil did not see this challenge as a problem with attachment to wealth (as we often hear), but rather a failure to love.  Saint Basil did not see the challenge as an individual moral decision, but rather a call for social responsibility.  For Saint Basil, it is about recognizing the human dignity of the other and charitably providing for their care.

Saint Basil routinely critiqued those who spent lavishly, spending well beyond necessity, while their neighbor suffered.

Saint Basil said, “It is evident that you are far from fulfilling the commandment, and that you bear false witness within your own soul that you have loved your neighbor as yourself. For if what you say is true, that you have kept from your youth the commandment of love and have given to everyone the same as to yourself, then how did you come by this abundance of wealth? Care for the needy requires the expenditure of wealth: when all share alike, disbursing their possessions among themselves, they each receive a small portion for their individual needs. Thus, those who love their neighbor as themselves possess nothing more than their neighbor; yet surely, you seem to have great possessions! How else can this be, but that you have preferred your own enjoyment to the consolation of the many? For the more you abound in wealth, the more you lack in love.”

To be clear, Saint Basil is not promoting socialism, which cares nothing for either charity nor human dignity.  But rather, Saint Basil simply reminds us, in perhaps a hyperbolic fashion, that we all have a responsibility in providing for the needs of the suffering…whether that is through supporting organizations like Saint Vincent de Paul and the Saint Patrick Center, or through direct corporal works of mercy.

Ultimately, Saint Basil is warning against the dangers of selfishness.  Selfishness stands in the way of true spiritual growth.  Selfishness prevents us from sharing our wealth with those in need.  Selfishness prevents us from looking at others with compassion.  

For Saint Basil, spiritual piety and social responsibility are inseparable.  He reminds us of the Gospel message to care for and love those in our midst.

Today, let us echo the Cappadocian Fathers: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

Thanks be to God!

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Say "Yes" to the Family of God: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23)

Today’s Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph gives us a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on how, through the Catholic Church, we are one supernatural family.  This feast is a good opportunity for us to reflect on how, through the Catholic Church, we are the family, or household, of God.

When we are baptized, we are born into this family of God.  In the Rite of Baptism, we pray, “This person has been reborn in baptism.  He or she is now called a child of God, for indeed he or she is.  In confirmation, he or she will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit.  In Holy Communion, he or she will share in the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God his or her Father in the midst of the Church.”

Then, as the rite continues, as a group, we proceed to pray the Lord’s prayer.  However, you will notice that when Jesus gave the Apostles this prayer, He did not say, “My Father.”  He said, “Our Father”.  Jesus knew that when He gave the keys to the Kingdom to Peter and began to build His Church, that He was extending the family of God into the world….first the Apostles, and then to those the Apostles brought to Him through the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.

Ultimately, through the Mass, we are the Covenant Family of God.  We cannot accept Jesus, without accepting His family, the Catholic Church.

Covenants form family bonds.  Think of it this way, when a couple enters into Holy Matrimony, they are entering into a sacramental covenant where the two become one and the domestic family is created.  Each person becomes a total gift of self to the other.  

Similarly, at the Last Supper (which is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb), Jesus established the new and everlasting covenant between Him and His Bride, the Catholic Church.  Through this covenant, God is making His family.  Through the Mass, which is the consummation of this covenant, He is a total gift of self to us, and we give ourselves in total gift of self to Him.

How does this correlate to the Holy Family?

When time had come for Jesus to come into this world, God selected an ordinary man to care for Him, to provide for Him, to teach Him, and to protect Him.  This man God selected was of course Saint Joseph.  Saint Joseph became the visible father figure for the Holy Family.

Jesus did the same when He started the Catholic Church.  By giving the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, He made Peter (and the successors of Peter) the visible father figure of the Family of God.  Just as God had said about Eliakim through the prophet Isaiah in reference to the keys of the kingdom, “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.”  You can see the Pope is a visible father figure to the household of God, which of course we know is the Church, as stated by Saint Paul in his first letter to Timothy.

Mary was chosen by God to be the Theotokos, the God bearer.  She is indeed the mother of God as the blessed fruit of her womb was conceived of by the Holy Spirit.  

Not only is she the mother figure in the Holy Family, but she is also truly our mother as it says in the book of Revelation that her offspring are “those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus”. 

Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The plan of salvation which orders the prefigurations of the Old Testament to fulfillment in the New Covenant likewise determines that Mary would live in a perfect way what was later to be fulfilled in the Church.”

Holy Mother Church, then, is our spiritual mother who sacramentally conceives us through baptism, nourishes us with the Eucharist, and guides us throughout our mortal lives.  The end of our mortal life on earth (which is in the womb of the Catholic Church), is our birth into eternity.

Of course, the Child Jesus is our Lord, our Savior, and our King.  However, He is also our brother.  As Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister.”

The Child Jesus was obedient to Mary and Joseph, just as we need to be obedient to the Church and the Pope.  Through obedience, Jesus “advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man,” as it says in the Gospel of Luke.  Through obedience to the Church and the Pope, and by diligently living the sacramental life, we too can grow in virtue (including wisdom).  Through obedience we can be more open to grace which will enable us to exploit the full favor God has for each of us.

Every family shares a meal.  Unfortuntately, we do not have any recorded meals of the Holy Family.  At the same time, we recall the many depictions of the Holy Family with Jesus in the manger.  

The early Church fathers were quick to compare the manger of Bethlehem to the altar at Mass.  Saint John Chrysostom, for example, said, “You no longer see him in the manger but rather on the altar; you do not see a woman holding him in her arms, but rather the priest.  The priest who is standing with the Holy Spirit who flies with great liberality over the offerings placed on the altar”.  

But, the reality of all of this lies in the word “manger” itself.  The word “manger” simply means “to eat”. But, the context is not ”to eat” in the sense we might picture a civilized person eating.  But rather, the word “manger” is far more bestial in nature.  In fact, the Gospel of John, which was originally written in Greek, uses the Greek word “trogo” for the verb “to eat”.  The word “trogo” is a decidedly more gruesome term that literally means “to chew on” or “to gnaw on,” similar to when an animal is ripping apart its prey.

And so it is then, when we come to Mass, we participate in our family meal.  We come together as God’s family to share in the Flesh of the Son of Man to the delight of God the Father.

When we come to Mass, we approach the House of Bread (which is Bethlehem) as we are sacramentally present to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at the manger.

When we come to Mass, we approach Mount Zion as we are sacramentally present to the actual crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We are there, with Mary and John, standing at the foot of the cross.  

When we come to Mass, we approach the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. We are sacramentally present to countless angels in festal gathering. We are in the presence of the assembly of the martyrs, the virgins, and all the other saints that have gone before us in humbly living the sacramental life.

This is the sacramental Family of God.  This is the fullness of the covenant relationship Christ calls us to.  We cannot say yes to Jesus without saying yes to His family.  We cannot say yes to Jesus without saying yes to his Holy Catholic Church.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways, together as the family of God!

Thanks be to God!

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Stephen and the Two-Edged Sword: Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17; Matthew 10:17-22)

Celebrating the martyrdom of Saint Stephen on the second day of the Christmas octave serves as a reminder that the Christmas message is like a two-edged sword.  On the one side is consolation and liberation.  On the other side is challenge and conviction.

To truly receive the ultimate Christmas gift, the true gift of Jesus Christ, we have to surrender our entire life and our entire will to both edges of the Christmas message.

Saint Stephen did this.  As a result, the Lord was able to perform great wonders and signs among the people through him.

Saint Stephen received the joy of Christmas because he did not seek to just receive the grace of Jesus Christ but instead sought to allow the grace of Jesus Christ to flow through him to the community around him…as Jesus willed it, not as he willed it.

Saint Stephen sought to serve the community and to make God’s love visible in that service.  He spread the joy of the Christmas message out into the community around him.  He was a source of consolation and liberation to those he served.

But with that joy, also came challenge and conviction.  He upheld the Truth of Jesus Christ, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of who would be angry, and regardless of what society wanted to believe was true.

I love what Saint Fulgentius said in a homily called “The Armament of Love”:   “Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier. Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.  And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown signified by his name. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment. Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven. In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition.”

Brothers and sisters, Christ is born!  Alleluia! Alleluia!  Embrace both edges of the Christmas message.   Be the Love of Christ to the world around you.  Be the Love that dissipates the darkness of the world with its brightness of Truth.  Be the Love that heals others with the warmth of grace.  Allow the Love of Jesus Christ to initiate every motive and animate every action, just as Saint Stephen did.  For you too are called to do great wonders and signs among the people for the glory of God.

Today, and always, into your hands, O Lord, we commend our spirits through the Mass.

Thanks be to God!

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A Joseph Christmas: Fourth Sunday of Advent (Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24)

There are two very powerful prophetical moments presented to us in our readings today.

First is Ahaz. His statement, “I will not tempt the Lord!” seems so humble and righteous at first glance. However, if we look through the entire context of the story of Ahaz, we quickly see his statement was not humble at all. In fact, his statement is one of pride as he intended to do what he wanted without regard to the will of God.

In contrast to Ahaz is Joseph.  Joseph humbly did what the Lord commanded as opposed to what he wanted to do. Joseph surrendered his life and his will to the will of God.

Both men received messages that the Virgin Mary would give birth to Emmanuel. What each man did with that message is drastically different.

As we continue through these final days of Advent, preparing for the coming of Emmanuel at Christmas, we have to decide if we are going to be an Ahaz or a Joseph.

One of the great opportunities of the Advent season is to reflect on those parts of our lives that Jesus is not currently Lord over. 

Oftentimes, these are the parts of our lives that are marked with hurts and pains. Oftentimes, these are the parts of our lives that are marked with remorse and regret. Oftentimes, these are the parts of our lives that are marked with anger, resentment, and perhaps unforgiveness. Oftentimes, these are the parts of our lives that we do not let anyone see.

On top of that, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness and chaos of consumerism and all the other distractions that seem to take over during this time of the year. 

As a result, we do not give ourselves the proper time and space that is the ultimate purpose of Advent. We do not give ourselves the proper time and space to prepare ourselves for the ultimate gift of grace that God wants to give to us on Christmas day.

In fact, most of us have likely already had several secular Christmas celebrations. It is no wonder that, for many of us, Christmas day has lost its joy and charisma considering we have already been secularly celebrating Christmas for a month or more.

It becomes easy to focus solely on these celebrations as they can temporarily anesthetize us of the hurts and pains in our lives....the very hurts and pains that the Child Jesus seeks to be born into this Christmas season...the very hurts and pains that can be transformed by the Christmas message.

For those of you who follow my homilies on Facebook, you may recall what I said at the beginning of Advent: Advent is a time for us to join Isaiah as we mystically enter into the Davidic expectancy of the coming Messiah, and in the process, allow ourselves to spiritually reset.  Advent is a time to reflect on the fact that the Child Jesus wants to be born anew in each one of us.  Advent is a time of preparation for us to make sure we have room in the inn of our hearts when He comes this Christmas.

At the same time,  we must realize that all of us have a little bit of Ahaz and a little bit of Joseph in each of us.   We must also remember that the Christmas message is like a two-edged sword.  On the one side is consolation and liberation.  On the other side is challenge and conviction.

Ahaz wanted to embrace just the one side.  Joseph surrendered himself to both sides.

That is our invitation today, to make a conscious effort to approach Christmas like Joseph as opposed to Ahaz. 

Take time to reflect on those hurts and pains that we continue to carry around and are in need of spiritual reset.  

Take time to ask the Child Jesus to be born anew in those situations.

Take time for peace, reflection, and expectant silence during these waning days of the Advent season. 

Our own healing can occur when we prepare for, surrender to, and embrace both edges of the Christmas message. 

Our own healing can occur when we surrender whatever it is in our heart and instead trust in Divine Providence. 

Our own healing can occur when we embrace humility and vulnerability, and allow ourselves to be truly open to Divine Love. 

Our own healing can occur when we allow our hearts to be the empty manger on which the Child Jesus will lay His head.

We can also be a source of healing for others.  Just as Jesus was physically born into the world through Mary, we can allow the Lord to be spiritually born into the life of another person through us.  Consider how we have been a source of hurt and pain to someone else in our lives.   Regardless of fault or motive, how can we help bring the Child Jesus into another person's life through those hurts and pains.  What amends can we make now to open the stable door for the Christmas message.

In these waning days of Advent, the challenge is to ignore the distractions of the world around us, just enough to focus instead on where the Child Jesus needs to be born anew in your life and the lives of those around you.  Whatever aspects of your life you are holding back from the Lord, surrender those aspects of your life to Him now. Offer it up to Him through the Mass. Surrender your entire life and your entire will over to His care.

The true gift this Christmas is Jesus Christ, and He comes to you through, with, and in the Eucharist….if you will let Him.

This Christmas, let the Lord enter; Emmanuel, truly present with us in the Eucharist, is king of glory.

Thanks be to God!

The Life of Zachariah: Friday of the Third Week of Advent (Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Psalm 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Luke 1:5-25)

It has become a popular trend in the entertainment industry to create stories to fill the gaps between (or perhaps prior to) previous successful installments of their franchise.  We’ve seen it with Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, Yellowstone, and even Lord of the Rings.  

Even though we know how the story ends, we often jump on these offerings to engage more fully in the story line.  The overall story arc hasn’t changed, but our anticipation, preparation, and appreciation for moments that we already know and love can often be enhanced by these stories.

In a not so dissimilar sense, there is a silent period of time between the Old Testament scripture and the New Testament scripture where the plan of salvation continued to move forward.  During this silent period between the Old Testament and the New Testament, time continued to march forward to the birth of the Messiah.  This period of time where anticipation and preparation continued to build.

If God were to provide another story during this silent period of time through a modern-day visionary, I cannot help but think the life of Zachariah would be an incredible gift.   Imagine the glimpse we would get in terms of the spiritual life of the Jewish people around the time of our Savior’s birth and the continuity we could see between Judaism and its fulfillment in Catholicism.

We know Zachariah was a priest in the Temple.  In fact, tradition (small “t” tradition) tells us he was one of the two priests I mentioned a few weeks ago that received Mary into the Temple when she dedicated her life to the Lord at her Presentation.

We know he was no stranger to encounters with God.  He worked in the threshold of the Holy of Holies where the expectation to encounter the presence of God was the norm.

We know he and his wife were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

We know he was no stranger to miracle pregnancies.  Certainly he was very familiar with the stories of the Old Testament, like the one about Samson in our first reading.  More than that, his wife’s mother was likely sister to Saint Anne, the mother of Mary.  Anne, according to tradition, was childless for many, many years before an angel announced she would become pregnant with Mary. Just as Mary was familiar with the miraculous pregnancy experienced by Elizabeth, Zachariah would have been familiar with the miraculous pregnancy experienced by Anne.

Even with all this, Zachariah still struggled to believe God would work miracles in his life.  Perhaps some of us have that same struggle.  There is much we can learn from Zachariah.

The life of Zachariah reminds us that simply being religious is no guarantee of having a personal relationship with God; however, diligently living the sacramental life in sincere faith conditions us to be open to the presence of God when the opportunity avails itself.

The life of Zachariah reminds us that busyness and distractions can prevent us from having a true encounter with Jesus Christ.  This is a good time of the year to identify and eliminate these things in our lives and in turn, be more diligent about seeking Him out in adoration, prayer, and works of mercy.

The life of Zachariah reminds us that God has a story for each and every one of us ...a story of love and mercy.  The only question is whether we will hold on to our own story, or will we let go and let God.

The life of Zachariah reminds us that every day is an opportunity to be in awe of God.  Every day is an opportunity to recognize how He is at work in our lives and to give Him thanks.  Every day is a day to be joyful of those gifts and to spread that joy to the world around us.

Today, and always, allow your mouth to be filled with His praise, and sing of His glory!

Thanks be to God!

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The Vision of John: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Judith 13:18bcde, 19; Luke 1:26-38)

I love that the Church has prescribed our reading from the Book of Revelation to be our first reading on this feast day.  This vision John the Apostle had seems to have been a vision of none other than Our Lady of Guadalupe.  A woman that appears clothed with the sun.  A woman with the moon under her feet.  A woman with a crown of twelve stars.  A women with child.  When we begin to understand the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we understand how all of these elements from the Book of Revelation are present in the apparition.  I’ll highlight just a few important aspects of the apparition.

First the cloth of the tilma itself.  It is cloth made from the agave plant, which typically has a very short shelf life.  Replica tilmas created for an 18th century scientific study only lasted 10 years.  Somehow the tilma of Juan Diego has survived nearly 500 years and counting.

The image itself contains no brushstrokes. There is no evidence of any artistic process to create the image.   Scientists and artists have been unable to duplicate it.  Further, the origin of the coloration has never been determined.

The image is not on the tilma (as you might expect if it were painted on), but rather actually impregnated into the agave fiber.

Our Lady’s hair is parted in the middle and is hanging loosely, which is how the Aztec women wore their hair when they were virgin maidens.

At the same time, the dark ribbon above her womb, indicated to the Aztec people that she is pregnant.

Over the womb, there is a unique four peddle flower that marks an X indicating the importance of her child.  To the Aztec people, the symbol would have indicated divinity.  It would have also indicated that the prophesied fifth-age (the Age of Peace) had begun.  Fitting considering our Lord and Savior is the Prince of Peace.

An interesting fact of the human cornea of the eye is that it is always reflecting the image it is observing.  Microscopic photos of Our Lady’s eyes on the tilma both reflect the same image.  The image in Our Lady’s eyes contains the people that were witness to the miracle, including the bishop.

Next time you see the image, notice the blue-green color of our Lady’s mantel.  The Aztec people would have seen her as royalty since in their culture, only emperors were allowed to wear cloaks of that color.

The stars on the mantel are in the exact arrangement of how the actual constellations appeared in the sky before dawn on the morning of December 12, 1531.

Based on the arrangement of the stars on the mantle, we notice some amazing things regarding constellations that are not visible on the mantle.  We can extrapolate from the constellations on the mantel to look for constellations that were not on the mantle.  Here are some examples:

The constellation coronea borealis (which means northern crown) would appear exactly where Our Lady would wear a crown…the crown of stars from our reading.  Virgo (or the virgin) would appear right where Our Lady’s heart is.  

Leo the Lion appears right where Jesus (the Lion of Judah) would be in Our Lady’s womb.  The brightest star of the constellation Leo is called Regulus, which means king.

Our Lady of Guadalupe stands on the moon, which was considered one of the Aztec gods.  This would have been a clear sign that she conquered him.

She is also standing in front of the rising Sun, which gives the appearance that she is clothed with the Sun….she is eclipsing the Sun.  The Aztec people offered human sacrifice to appease the gods, particularlty the sun-god.  She is heralding in the true worship of the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist in order to eclipse their pagan sacrifice.

The apparition occurred on the exact day of the great Aztec feast that was essentially as important to the Aztec faith as Easter is to the Catholic faith. 

The Lord used Our Lady of Guadalupe to defeat a culture of death with a culture of life, replacing the Aztec faith with the Catholic faith.  The Lord continues to call to us through Our Lady of Guadalupe as she reminds us of enduring hope, enduring faith, and enduring love.  Through her cooperation with grace, millions have been converted to Jesus Christ and the sacramental life of His Church.  Today, we can renew our consecration to the Lord through her and inspire others to do the same.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, you are the highest honor of our race.

Thanks be to God!

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Faithful and Fruitful: Thursday of the Second Week of Advent (Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab; Matthew 11:11-15)

This month, Archbishop Lori reminds us of the importance of our faith bearing fruit in good works.   Particularly during Advent, when we reflect not only on Christ coming in the incarnation, but also his second coming in judgment at the end of the world. He asks that we pray and work to ensure we lead truly faithful and fruitful lives as disciples of Jesus.

Our first reading at Mass today reminds us that we are not alone in this effort to lead faithful and fruitful lives.  The Lord says, “I will help you.”  

If we truly surrender to Him, He will work through us to make His will manifest in the world around us.

This is good news as we reflect on our lives through the lens of Advent, and in particular, His second coming in judgement.  

When we meet Jesus on the judgement seat, will there be ample evidence to show that we indeed led faithful and fruitful lives filled with the good works that God has prepared for us in advance of our lives.  Or, will the evidence lean toward the contrary?

When we meet Jesus on the judgement seat, which statement will we hear:  “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Or will we hear, “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angel.”

This month, Archbishop Lori challenges us to spend some time reflecting on the four last things — death, judgment, heaven and hell — to better prepare ourselves for eternity.  In doing so, he asks the following questions.  Do I live with my sights set on heaven? Am I aware of the reality of hell? Do I live my life so as to be prepared for my death and judgment?

In some ways, there should be some similarities between preparing for Christmas and preparing for our death and judgement.  We should root out those areas in our lives where we are self-centered and self-obsorbed as opposed to living a Christ-centric life.  In those areas where we cannot find Christ, invite the Lord in.  Allow Him to do the works of God through us.

When we do our own thing, concerned only with self, we have a pitiful existence.  Only through the Lord can our existence become glorious.

Through our choices and actions, we will determine if we will be celebrating Christmas or simply the secular holidays.  Through our choices and actions, we will determine if we will welcome the Christ of Christmas into the manger of our hearts, or if we will simply miss the true Christ of Christmas.  Missing the Christ of Christmas is truly tragic.  However, not nearly as tragic as that cold judgment, “Depart from me!”

Use this Advent to deepen your relationship with Christ through the sacramental life of the Catholic Church and through practicing the works of mercy.

Through our participation in grace, the Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Thanks be to God!