The Feast of the Holy Family

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122814.cfm

Rodney Dangerfield was one of my favorite comedians. His whole career was built around the phrase "I get no respect." He would state this line, then go on with a string of one-liners based on "no respect." He was great at poking fun at himself and his family.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The one liner that could best describe the Holy Family is, "Respect is a trademark of our family." Without respect, there is no love. A hallmark of love is respect.

Joseph respected Mary even when he thought she was carrying another man's child. Scripture says he had decided to "divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:19) to save her from shame - until the angel spoke to him and explained things. Joseph married Mary and respected her unique calling. He protected her and loved her child as his own.

In return, Mary respected Joseph by traveling with him to Bethlehem, even though it was so close to delivery. She trusted him to keep her and her baby safe.

Finally, Jesus respected his parents by coming under their authority (though he was the 2nd person of the Trinity). You will recall that, after Mary and Joseph found him in the temple after three days of not knowing where he was, Jesus "went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them." (Luke 2:51) While on the cross, near to death, Jesus showed respect and concern for his widowed mother by giving her to the care of the beloved disciple. (John 19:26)

The Holy Family was not not what you would call your typical family, but there really is no "typical" family. There are many different combinations of folks living together who call themselves "family". Yet, all families, biological or chosen, are called to holiness.

In the first reading from Sirach, we are advised to respect the authority of parents: fathers and mothers. It doesn't depend on liking or not liking the parent. It doesn't depend on their character or their wisdom. It is their position that merits respect.

Parents are called to respect their children, too. I have heard parents in the grocery store talk to their children. Some scream and yell. Some call their children "stupid" or worse. Children deserve respect because they are children of God, made in His image and likeness (even though they don't act godly at times). There are ways to discipline that address the action, not shame the child. RESPECT.

Further, respect goes beyond family members. It encompasses all those in authority: police, firefighters, doctors, judges, teachers, and more. And in return, those in authority are to respect the people they are called to serve. Mutual respect brings about peace in society.

Finally we are to show respect for ourselves as one created in the image of God. Even if no one respects you, you are to develop that self-respect as one created by God. We can show respect for our bodies by our care for them. We show respect for our minds by what we fill them with. Finally we show respect for ourselves by developing a good relationship with God and with others.

Jesus calls us to be an intimate part of the holiest of families: Father, Son and Spirit. Let us approach Jesus in prayer and say, "Come, Lord Jesus."

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!

The Nativity of the Lord

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122514-night-mass.cfm

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..." (Isaiah 9:1)

What is this great light that people have seen? It is the Lord, Jesus Christ. The moment that we've been waiting for all month finally has come! We're celebrating the Birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ! He is the reason for the season that we are celebrating!

All the beautiful decorations are up: trees, lights, tinsel, Christmas creches, presents under the Christmas trees, Christmas dinners being prepared. We all look forward to these things every year. Among all these things we can loose sight of the infant lying in the manger. He is the great light that we need to see.

With all these exterior decorations that are up, let us not forget the interior decoration that we need to prepare. During the last four weeks of Advent, we were called to prepare the way of the Lord in our Lives. It's easy to be overwhelmed by plans, guests, and the frustrations of this time of year. But we are to remember that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus in our world.

Make full use of Mother Church's Christmas liturgies to take a step away from holiday frustrations and calm yourself. Take refuge in the birth of the Christ Child, and in the real presence of Jesus in the word you hear, in the consecrated bread you will hold in your hands. Allow the peace of Christ to enter once again into your life, calming all your anxieties, filling you with all that is good.

Further, when your guest leave and you're finally at peace at home, remember that the Christmas season continues through January 11th. Continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus beyond December 25th. If you have a Christmas creche set up at home, during this time, take moments to stand before the Christ Child & the Holy Family. Remember the true meaning of Christmas.

During this time alone with the Holy Family, pray for those who find themselves lost in broken heartedness, loneliness, or addictions. The first witnesses to the birth of Christ were the lowly and overlooked. It made the powerful uneasy.

Allow the loving hand of our creator to embrace you. As the Christ Child was wrapped in swaddling clothes, you are wrapped in God's Grace. You have seen a great light. The light is Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

Mary’s Fiat

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
During the month of December we celebrate the birth of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, into the world for the salvation of mankind. His birth into the world came about thanks to the “Fiat” or “Yes” of Mary. In chapter one of the gospel of St. Luke we hear of the angel Gabriel approaching Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of the Saviour, Mary’s response, at first, was that of surprise, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”*(Luke 1: 34). After Gabriel explains how it was to come about, Mary responds most generously, “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Mary was always open to the Holy Will of God, and as a result she was able to bring forth from her womb the Saviour of the World. Mary is an example of how we are to live out our lives: being always open to the Holy Will of God. She did not hesitate to say yes to God, even though she knew of the difficulties she will face. She was engaged to Joseph, but not yet married. Being pregnant before the wedding opened Mary up to misunderstanding and problems. She could have faced being stoned for committing adultery since she was not yet married to Joseph. We read in Matthew 1:19: “Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.”
The angel intervened and told Joseph of the plan of God for Mary and Jesus. Joseph, being the righteous man that he was, and open to the Holy Will of God, married Mary and took Mary and Jesus into his care.
As we reflect on the gift of salvation that we have from Jesus Christ, let us reflect on how we live out our lives. Are we as open the Holy Will of God as Mary and Joseph was? Or do we complain when things don’t go our way?
Let us always be opened and obedient to the Will of God in our lives, even in difficult times. Merry Christmas!

Rejoice!

The scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121414.cfm

St. Theresa of Avila once said, "From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!" St. Theresa knew what she was talking about, especially on this "Gaudete Sunday", the Third Sunday of Advent. Gaudete is the Latin word for "rejoice". This Third Sunday of Advent, this Gaudete Sunday, invites us during this very busy time of year to stop or pause and to recall why we are so busy. With all this rushing around just two weeks before Christmas creates stress, and makes us "sour-faced" saints. Pope Francis encourages Catholics not to become "sourpusses!" We need to slow down and remember the reason for the season.

In our gospel for today we hear, once again, about John the Baptist, the "voice crying out in the wilderness". (John 1:23) If you look closely at the life of John the Baptist, you can say that he is the patron saint of joy. When Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits Elizabeth, the mother of John, John leaped in Elizabeth's womb, overjoyed at the presence of Jesus so close by (Luke 1:41). We are all urged to emulate John the Baptist's joy at the presence of Christ. Further, you might say that John the Baptist was the first Christian evangelizer! All throughout John's life, from conception to death, he was always pointing towards Jesus. In today's gospel, John refers to Jesus when he says, "...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.” (John 1:26-27)

In our second reading for today, we hear from St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians. We read, "Brothers and sisters:Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.In all circumstances give thanks,for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). In all the hustle and bustle of this time of year, do we take the time to rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ came into the world for us? Do we give thanks to God in ALL circumstances?

As we get closer to Christmas let's try to slow down a bit and remember that Jesus is the reason why we are celebrating this time of year. We are to share our faith in Christ with others and show that our faith in Christ is the center of all we do.

Pope Francis writes, "The joy of evangelizing always arises from grateful remembrance: It is a grace which we constantly need to implore." Pope Francis adds, "God asks everything of us, yet at the same time he offers everything to us!"

Be joyful that Jesus Christ came into the world! And share that good news with others throughout this Advent Season! Gaudete!

Prepare the Way of the Lord!

Scripture readings for today's reflections on the 2nd Sunday of Advent can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120714.cfm

Our readings for this 2nd Sunday of Advent teaches us about our need for God and our relationship with Him. In the gospel for today, we hear of John the Baptist, probably one of the most famous prophets in scripture. His calling (or vocation) was to prepare the way of the Lord and to encourage the people of his time to repent and turn towards God in a spirit of true repentance. In the gospel, we read that John appeared in the desert, "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Mark 1:4) People were flocking to him and seeking the forgiveness of God. They were thirsty for that peace that can only come from relationship with God. John, being the forerunner of the Lord, Jesus Christ, pointed out that “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7)

John must have been a captivating figure out there in the desert, dressed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. What was it about John that attracted so many people to him? John's strength came from the fact that he wasn't afraid to speak the truth about the fact that God needs to be first and foremost in our lives. We need to live honestly with God, to know, love and serve Him, and to love those in our lives that God has placed around us. In living this way, we can be "found without spot or blemish before him, at peace." (2 Peter 3:14)

John knew that people were troubled by what they had done or maybe what they had failed to do in their relationships with God and with others, and so he invited them to get closer to God by seeking the forgiveness of God. He knew Jesus was coming and pointed towards Jesus to receive that forgiveness and peace that can only come from God.

Because Jesus did come as a human being, God knows from the inside all the temptations we face and that they do not have to ruin our lives. Overcoming temptations sometimes means that we need to change. We know what it is to be in trouble, and we can know what it is to be safe. As Isaiah said of God, "Like a shepherd, he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom." (Isaiah 40:11) This is the good news that Jesus brings us.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!