Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | USCCB

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, and we hear in today’s gospel of the strength and love Joseph had for Mary and for Jesus. Further we hear of the obedience Joseph had in doing the Holy Will of God. Throughout the New Testament we do not hear Joseph utter one word, but instead, we see how, after receiving a message from God in a dream, he would just get up and do what was asked of him by God. He is what I would call the Strong and Silent type, or a “Man of Action.” He received instructions from God, but he never questioned the reason why God would ask him to do such difficult things. He just gets up and does as the Lord tells him to do in his dreams.

Further, the feast of the Holy Family encourages us to imagine the setting in which Jesus spent His childhood. Once the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, Jesus would grow and learn how to pray and how to worship God. The Gospels tell us of only one episode from those early years of Jesus, when, at the age of twelve, he remained behind in Jerusalem, after the family finished celebrating the Feast of Passover. When they realized he was missing, they backtracked to Jerusalem, and spent three days in search of him. Eventually Mary and Joseph found him in the synagogue with the teachers of the law. Once the anxious parents found him, all Jesus would say was, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” He then returned home, and scripture tells us that he “was obedient to them. (Luke 2:51)

All throughout his young life, before embarking on his ministry, he was at home, being obedient to Mary and Joseph, learning how to be a carpenter, and was studying scripture to be ready to complete his call to bring salvation to the world. The Holy Family is an example of what it means to be a God centered family. They prayed weekly in the synagogue, and they worked in order to support themselves financially.

Let us live out our lives like the Holy Family: loving each one in our family as God loves them; praying always, remembering that God is always present to us, and to work towards making a society a better place to live with God as our loving Father.

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) | USCCB

Merry Christmas! On this most joyful day we reflect on the gospel from St. Luke. Mary gives birth to the Lord, and then the choir of angels appear to the shepherds to announce the good news that the Lord has been born. They were at first struck with great fear, but once the angels announced the good news of the birth of Jesus to them, the fear left them, and they went to see the newborn savior. "For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord."(Luke 2:10)

I can imagine their looks of fear changing to looks of joy once they came upon the newborn Savior. The Shepherds would go in search of the savior and their lives were never the same after that. Each year as we celebrate the Birth of our Savior, we are reminded that we, too, are to search for the Lord. Not in a stable in Bethlehem. Jesus is waiting there in our hearts in order for us to turn our lives over to Him and to gain eternal happiness. We are to be God centered by turning to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

During this Christmas time as we celebrate the Birth of the Lord, let us remember that it's not about exchanging gifts and parties, but rather exchanging love and forgiveness towards all in our lives. We are to give the gift of love to all in our lives. The best gift we can give to others is to bring Christ into their lives.

In St. Paul's letter to Titus we read, "who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, 

eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:14). Let us be eager to do what is good by bringing the love of God to all we meet throughout the New Year. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

“John is his name”

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent | USCCB

In our gospel for today we hear of the nativity of John the Baptist, the pre-curser to the Lord. We hear of the people surrounding John and his parents with the question, “What, then, will this child be?” Further, the gospel concludes with “For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

John had a prominent role in our salvation history. He was always the one that recognized that Jesus was Lord and Savior. During Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth, we hear of John moving with joy in Elizabeth’s womb once Mary, now carrying Jesus in her womb, approached Elizabeth. On the banks of the Jordan, when John sees Jesus’ approach, he says the words that we hear at every mass as the priest holds up the consecrated Host, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.”

John’s whole life and ministry was that of humble service to God and pointing out that Jesus is the savior of the world. Further, John was always willing to speak the truth in how people should live out their lives according to the commandments of God. He was even willing to die for the truth when he spoke to Herod against the sin of adultery that Herod was committing with his brother’s wife. As a result, Herod had John beheaded.

We are all called to live out our lives as Christians in the same way that John lived out his life: always pointing towards the truth and that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. As Catholic Christians we are called to live out the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church in a way that is reflective of our faith in Jesus Christ.  We are to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation, and we are called to make regular use of the Sacrament of Confession in order to be cleansed of any sinfulness we may have on our souls. By living out our lives in this way, in true obedience to Jesus Christ, we will be pointing others towards Him and be an example of what it means to be a Child of God. It will not always be easy, but it’s what we are called to do.

During this Christmas season and throughout the New Year, let us always be willing to point others to Jesus by saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.”

Will You Live for Him?

Gaudete Sunday

 

Today we have a recurring guest blogger:  Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, administrator of PRESENTATION OF THE B.V.M CHURCH, PORT EWEN AND SACRED HEART CHURCH, ESOPUS. For more information on this parish, check out their website at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sacred Heart Churches - Port Ewen - Esopus, NY (presentationsacredheart.org) 

Submission to the blog of Dcn. Thomas Tortorella for Gaudete Sunday

by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas © All Rights Reserved © Dec. 8, 2022

“And blessed is the one who takes no offense at Me.” (Matthew 11:6, from the Gospel reading in the Ordinary Form). Reiterating what was published at our website (www.presentationsacredheart.org) and by our press release, I thank Almighty God, then Our Lady of the Hudson, and then the primary cooperation of the Knights of Columbus (Council #275, Kingston) and the help of our Women’s Society and generous volunteers from our parish and elsewhere for the splendid St. Nicholas celebration on the night of December 7th at St. Leo’s Hall. Almost 100 people, including R.C.I.C./Religious Education students and staff, other local children and families and local Knights of Columbus, enjoyed a prayerful and joyful celebration of the REAL Santa Claus: St. Nicholas of Myra. We aimed to form the imagination of our children and youths towards a Christian sense of who and what to celebrate, when we celebrate, and how we celebrate. A Blessed Advent to you as we all prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas!

“Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” – James 5:10 (from the second reading in the Ordinary Form). As the House of Representatives at Washington, D.C. passed on Dec. 8th the so-called Respect for Marriage Act (R.M.A.), from an article in Business Insider I learned that in the debate preceding the vote, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (Missouri) shed tears as she urged her colleagues to reject the proposal to further entrench “same-sex unions” as a legal equivalent to marriage in our country. Now, Mrs. Hartzler is an evangelical Christian and not a Catholic. However, I suspect that as an evangelical Christian, she reads the 66 books in her Bible (ours has 73). I dare surmise that the Congresswoman knew what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah when those cities exalted lewdness (read Genesis 19). As she warned about the R.M.A.’s further danger to the religious freedom of groups and individuals who do not go along with the ongoing legal and cultural perversion of marriage, notwithstanding its doubtful provisions regarding religious liberty, perhaps an angel’s words to Lot at Sodom, “…the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord…” (Gen 19:13) might have moved Rep. Hartzler to tears for our country as we turn further away from God and His ways. The passage of this bill on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception galls me too, especially when thinking of any Catholic representative who voted for R.M.A. and then presented himself or herself for Holy Communion at Mass today. To know that a Catholic president of the United States is eager to sign this bill into Federal law and public policy! Truly, “Lord, come and save us” (cf. Ps 146, from today’s Responsorial Psalm). May we persevere in prayer and our choices to live and share the truth of God’s plan for man and woman of life and love as well as to support each other to steadfast fidelity to Christ at a time when it would be much easier to go with the foul flow. For Christ comes not only at Christmas but also at the end of our lives and at the end of time itself. How are we preparing?

SILENT NIGHT

 

We have a guest blogger today. Arlene B. Muller (Arlene Clare Muller, OFS) is a lector and EM at St. Pancras Church in Glendale, NY, a singer in the choir at St. Margaret's Church in Middle Village, NY, a professed Secular Franciscan & newly elected Formation Director at St. Adalbert's Secular Franciscan fraternity in Elmhurst, NY & an itinerant speech/language therapist who works with preschool children with delayed language development. In addition to her ministries & work she seeks to promote the GOSPEL & the GOSPEL OF LIFE, especially in writing & frequently on FACEBOOK.

This morning as I was listening to SILENT NIGHT on the radio I thought of the paradoxical contrast between the external circumstances of "no room in the inn" & a cave or stable, a manger with straw surrounded by animals that would seem like the exact opposite of what Mary & Joseph would have wanted as the place for the Son of GOD to be born vs the overwhelming LIGHT, LOVE & PEACE that entered when JESUS CHRIST was born.

Despite the seeming total contradiction of the physical appearances, Mary & Joseph's hearts were ready to receive the coming of the Son of GOD into the world. Their hearts were FULL OF LOVE & the LOVE they had for GOD, the LOVE OF GOD that extended out from their hearts was sufficient, and GOD INCARNATE, WHO IS LOVE INCARNATE was BORN, FILLING WHAT ORDINARILY WOULD SEEM LIKE A PHYSICALLY UNLIKELY ENVIRONMENT WITH LIGHT, LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, HOPE, PEACE & JOY!

As the LORD told Samuel, human beings look at the outward appearances, but GOD looks upon the heart.  In our human thinking, the INCARNATE SON OF GOD deserved to be born in some immaculate ivory palace, but He chose to be born in a cave.

For GOD a CAVE WITH LOVE is EQUIVALENT to a PALACE & a PALACE WITHOUT LOVE IS EQUIVALENT TO A CAVE!

Most of the time anticipating what needs to be done for CHRISTMAS seems so stressful & overwhelming, but most of the time, when CHRISTMAS actually comes, there is somehow a sense that we can settle down & everything is OK, or as Julian of Norwich would say "ALL IS WELL." In fact, the word "NOEL" associated with CHRISTMAS means "NOW ALL IS WELL". We can experience the acceptance & peace because the LOVE OF GOD transcends outward circumstances and our LOVING GOD is EMMANUEL: GOD IS WITH US.

As we go about doing whatever we have to do to get ready for CHRISTMAS, let us take a deep breath & keep remembering the words from Sacred Scripture: "LET EVERYTHNG YOU DO BE DONE IN LOVE". In the end it is the LOVE FOR GOD & the LOVE FROM GOD poured out into our hearts that extends outward that matters most & is what we celebrate at CHRISTMAS.

Let it be done for you according to your faith

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the First Week of Advent | USCCB

In our gospel for today from Matthew we hear of one of the many healings that Jesus performs. The two blind men, in all humility, approach Jesus and say, “Son of David, have pity on us!” They weren’t demanding to be healed, but rather approached Jesus to help them in their suffering. They probably didn’t expect anything to really be done, but with all they have heard about Jesus, they had the faith that he would be able to do something for them.

Jesus goes on to ask them if they believe he could do this for them. Their response was, “Yes, Lord.” Then, touching their eyes, and with the words, “Let it be done for you according to your faith” they were healed. They did indeed have faith for this to happen to them.

The sense of touch is important, so Jesus touched their eyes and healed them. Jesus, being God, could have simply given the command to be healed, and it would have happened. But Jesus felt it important enough to touch them in order to give them the healing they requested.

Central in this passage is two things: the faith of the two blind men, and the fact that Jesus touched them to grant them healing. We can turn to Jesus in the same way each time we approach the altar to receive Holy Communion. There are many concerns on our minds that we may need help with from the Lord Jesus. When we approach Jesus during Holy Communion with these concerns, Jesus is asking us, like he asked the blind men, “Do you believe I can do this?” Our response should always be, “Yes, Lord!” Then, when we receive our Lord in Holy Communion, he will be touching us with His healing power in the same way he touched the blind men 2,000 years ago. We just need to have faith that Jesus will respond to our prayers in a way that is most beneficial to us and for those we are praying for.

Let us always bring our cares and concerns to Jesus and place them into His loving hands. He will always respond with love, care and concern for us and for all who we pray for.

Son of David, have pity on us! Amen