Reflection: Solemnity - Mary Mother of God

NM 6:22-27,  GAL 4:4-7,  LK 2:16-21

Happy New Year and Peace! Today is the 1^st day of the year; and, today’s celebration is so appropriate for new beginnings, new resolutions, and hope. It’s a day to recognize our blessings. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God.

I don’t think you’ll find this celebration in a lot of other Churches in our area. Celebrating Mary, the Mother of God makes some Christians anxious. They’ll say - No woman can be Mother of God.

An infomercial on TV for face cream promises to make women look younger. One woman says, before using this cream, I looked in the mirror and saw my mom - All I could think of was Mom what are you doing in my mirror? 

She couldn’t deny that she was her mother’s child.

To deny Mary is the Mother of God denies Jesus. If Mary isn’t the Mother of God, then God didn’t become man; his humanity would be separate from his divinity. Jesus would be two different persons; God and man. 

Scriptures say that Mary is blessed among women as the mother of Jesus. She gave him life and taught him how to live. Mary gave her body and blood to the child growing in her. By this act, she gave God humanity. She bore the Divine Word in her womb. 

The Word came to dwell among us, to never be separated from humanity. What God has joined, let no man separate” God didn’t just briefly appear as man; but, eternally married himself to our nature.

It was by this marriage to our humanity in Christ that each of us becomes an adopted child of God.

In his letter, Paul says as children of God, we are heirs to the Father's blessings. These blessings are the same one that the Lord gave through Moses. But in order to receive God’s blessing, we must be in God’s presence, take his Name upon us, and remain in the light that issues from his face.

The one they call Emmanuel - God is with us was born of Mary. God became man in Jesus. And from Jesus all blessings come: the blessings from his name - Jesus - God saves and blessed by Christ - we call ourselves Christians. 

The blessings come to us through the human face of Christ that looked upon us. It was a human face that came from his mother, Mary. It was the human face of God incarnate.

We enjoy the blessings the Lord gave Moses; blessings of protection, blessing of grace, and blessings of peace. We enjoy the many blessings Christ brings: love, forgiveness, and salvation. And, we should realize that Mary, the Mother of God has a part in bringing all of these to us.

On this Blessed Day and in this New Year, may we find new beginnings, new resolutions, and hope. 

May the Lord give peace to each of you, your families, and the whole world.  Happy New Year and Peace!

New Year's Resolution for My Catholic Faith

“Train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future.” - 1 Timothy 4:7, 8.

Every year, I make the resolution to loose weight, exercise more, and to eat better.  That usually last until dessert is ready at the New Year's Day celebration meal. 

To diet, exercise, and eat better is a resolution of the human body.  Maybe, we should make resolutions for our devotional life. It is building of the spirit. Through our spiritual self, we receive the promise of eternal life in Christ. 

To grow in your faith, maybe there are some resolutions that we can make and keep. Here are some resolutions to choose from, you may want to pick one or several and work on them in the New Year. You may want to make your own.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

I resolve to improve my Prayer Life - Prayer is our foundation which you learn to die to yourself and the world and are reborn in Christ.

• I will build a foundation of prayer for my life. 
• I will pray daily.
• I will pray for others.
• I will pray with my family, my friends, or with a group.
• I will read the Bible and contemplate what I have read.
• I will pray the Hours.
• I will recite the Rosary and contemplate its mysteries.
• I will sit quietly to ask for God’s forgiveness and direction in my life.

I resolve to truly worship - True worship is done every day.

• I will worship and praise God with every breath.
• Daily, I will praise God and rest in the awareness of God's presence in my life.  It is good to try to attend mass every day.
• I will attend mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. 
• If I travel or work or vacation, I will find local mass times and attend mass when I travel.  
• I will find a rhythm of rest and work that allows for an active worship and spiritual life.
• I will honor the Sacraments.
• I will participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis.
• I will partake in the Sacrament of the Eucharist with a pure heart.
• I will pray for vocations.
• I will attend a retreat offered sponsored by my parish or a retreat house. 

I resolve to recognize God’s Presence - Sometimes we all have questions because be may be unsure or just do not know.

• I will try to continually grow in Christ.
• I will read faith based and spiritual books by Catholic authors to grow in my faith and understanding.
• If I have questions, I will seek answers through studying the Catechism and my faith.
• I will attend a faith based bible study.
• I will find a trained spiritual companion such as a priest, a deacon, or other religious to help guide me. 
• I will seek out a spiritual director I can trust to reflect back to me God's presence in my life and the world.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I resolve to work for God - God is Love and Jesus Christ is that manifestation of God’s love. 

• I will see Christ is others.
• I will allow the natural abundance of love that comes from Christ to flow outward in acts service and compassion for justice and healing to humanity and the environment.
• I will remember that love is not about me but what I bring in love to others.
• I will remember living a good life is not about me but all those I touch.
• I will bring Christ’s love to others.

Every year I say I am going to loose weight. Some years I do, some years I don’t. But to be healthy is one of the place to which I am always traveling.  It is the same with God.  I am always traveling towards the mystery that is God. The gift of understanding is always there to try to open a little bit at a time.  I find these resolutions more satisfying and easier to stick too than my diet.

We grow gradually with spurts and stagnation. It is this way in these resolutions.  Do not give up; they are paths to the gift awaiting you. Choose what you can commit to and pray to stay committed.

“The valiant one whose steps are guided by the LORD, who will delight in his way, may stumble, but he will never fall, for the LORD holds his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

Amen and Happy New Year.

Homily Reflection: Feast of the Holy Family - Finding Nazareth

"Finding Nazareth"

The Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer 1 is sometimes a common prayer in the Christmas season. I’d like to start my reflection with parts of that prayer.

Remember, Lord, your servants and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you.

It then continues:

In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your Saints;

Then in the ending of the preface:

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family; order our days in your peace …

It’s all about family: your servants and all that are gathered here; Jesus’ earthly family – Mary and Joseph; the family of apostles - Peter & Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; The fathers of the Church, the first popes who lead the church during persecution Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian; Then there are the family of martyrs. These people are the everyday family of God of whom you may or may not have heard; the deacon Lawrence; soldiers Chrysongonus, John and Paul; and doctors Cosmas and Damian.

And there’s us, God’s whole family. As His adopted children, we pray “Lord order our days in your peace.”

It’s all about family. Like any family, this family lived lives in the world with problems, doubts, and hard times. But these saints surrender all to God in lives of love of God, prayer, faith, and devotion.

All the readings today speak of these things: Love of God, prayer, faith and devotion.

We read of these qualities in Abram. God fulfilled his promise to an old man and his wife giving them a child.

They are abundant in Mary and Joseph, who followed the covenant practices, bringing the infant Jesus to be dedicated at the temple.

We read of the love of God, prayer, faith, and devotion of Simeon and Anna who waited so long to see the Messiah. These two people, who had lived these qualities, recognized the messiah as an infant.

Love of God, prayer, faith and devotion by the Holy Family; Life should have been easy for them. Like every family, the Holy Family had difficulties. 

As modern people we tend to idealize the Holy Family by thinking of them only as the plaster statues in our Churches. But the truth is they were remarkably human. And one of the things that made them so remarkable is they were so unremarkable.

They weren’t rich and for most of their lives, none of them were influential. They lived in the world like us – working, trying to make sure there was food on the table, and dealing with everyday problems. And, this family did have problems; an unwed girl and a possible divorce for a young mother; a family of refugees, fleeing their own country to a foreign land; a family that leaves their young child in the big city, when he disappeared without telling anyone.

It was an unremarkable, mostly normal family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. A carpenter’s family, from a place called Nazareth; Nazareth, a place of everyday life, and everyday problems. Someone said nothing good comes from Nazareth.

But it was a place where a carpenter could offer his trade. It was a place where a mother kept her house and a little boy could grow into a man. It is where a family that heard God’s call lived a normal life; a holy family and, almost certainly, a happy family. It was a family that loved God and prayed with so much faith and devotion that they surrendered all to the will of God. The holy family's days were ordered by God’s peace.

Every saint in our prayer had a Nazareth. Every saint in our prayer had an everyday life and everyday problems and many times so much more. But, they followed the example set by the Holy Family. They loved God and prayed; and had so much faith and devotion to God that they surrendered all to the will of God. The days in their Nazareth were ordered by His peace.

Then there’s us – God’s whole family – His adopted children.

Each day we live in our own Nazareth. We live in the world with problems, doubts, and hard times. The same problems the saints lived with and same ones the Holy Family lived with. We live everyday lives. And someone said, nothing good comes from Nazareth.

Our own Nazareth makes us so unremarkably remarkable. What makes us remarkable is our love of God, prayer, faith and devotion. Our Nazareth (our lives) becomes a place ordered by His peace.

In our Nazareth, we become part of the Holy Family of our Lord; and that's good.

Friday Flash Fiction: To Sneeze

Word count: Write a 150-word story 

(10-word leeway on either side) 

based on the photo prompt

To Sneeze

I’m not fierce but look it; because, the tassels tickle the nose. It’s a hard thing to wait with that tickle. But I wait, with a stuck grimace.

My friends sitting beside me look like they need to sneeze, too. I see it in their faces and curled up noses. They hold-in sneezes with wide eyes and open mouths.

Every day, the need grows.  

***

Tonight’s the night. I’m finally able to get on my feet. My friends, I see, are better as well. 

I’ve held this sneeze for so-o-o-o long.

I feel it. My sneeze starts and my back arches, sways and ripples. My tail jumps around with a mind of its own.

It’s a big sneeze. I need room so I run to the crowded streets. 

I can’t hold it back. My sneeze erupts in drums, dance, and fireworks.  I sneeze joy, hope, and good cheer.

Other dragons are sneezing in the streets. And the New Year begins. 

Christmas Midnight Mass: Jesus Comes to Us in a Manger

IS 9:1-6; TI 2:11-14; LK 2:1-14

My Brothers and Sisters, JOY TO THE WORLD for tonight we celebrate the Birth of our Savior!  I am so lucky to be with you tonight. Earlier today, Father called me and said that he was still sick. He asked “Could I deliver the messages at the vigil mass, midnight mass, and the mass on Christmas day.” This request was a Christmas present to me.

Earlier tonight at St. Lawrence, before mass began, we had a special presentation. Our Choir and our young people acted out the nativity story. It was beautiful. It reminded me of a similar performance at a Christmas mass 19 years ago.  

Every year, the children look forward to acting out the nativity story. All the girls want to be Mary but none of the boys want to be Joseph. Nineteen years ago, my oldest daughter was Mary. She was in the first grade and Joseph was in the fifth grade. He was not happy to have to be Joseph; especially with a first grader as Mary. 

The boys didn’t want to be Joseph and have to walk with a girl; they wanted to be shepherds. Shepherds had good costumes and got to carry sticks. They didn’t have to say anything.

My daughter shows up thinking she’s grown up, wearing her purple princess high heel shoes. It made her a little closer to the size of the fifth grade Joseph; so, we let her wear them. 

The nativity story that night began as Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem by walking up the right side aisle of the Church to the back, across the back aisle, down the left side aisle, and then to the sanctuary stairs. As they walk, my daughter’s plastic high heel shoes go clop-clop, clop-clop. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem by going down the right side (clop-clop, clop-clop), across the back (clop-clop, clop-clop), up the left side and then to the steps of the sanctuary. Clop-clop, clop-clop; it sounded like they had brought the donkey with them.

Mary then puts the baby Jesus doll in the manger set at the foot of the sanctuary stairs. All the little girls wanted to be Mary and bring the baby Jesus to the manger. The manger was important.

That manger where Jesus was born is important. When we think of the manger, the place where animals are fed; we see in our mind something polluted by where it's at: dirty, dusty, and chewed up. Why would God come to us in such a humble place; a place were animals are fed?

Let’s look at the angels message. They came to shepherds in the fields.  That’s an interesting thing. They announced the birth of the King, the birth of our savior to uncouth, uneducated, outcasts - shepherds tending their flocks.  Shepherds more at home with animals than with people.

The angels say, “Don’t be afraid, good news and great joy for all people.” Good news and great joy for even you shepherds, who probably don’t know anything about good news or joy.

Good news shepherds, born is a savior for you

§       He's not in a palace – there wasn’t even room for him in the Inn.

§       He doesn't come on a throne – he's born in a manger.

§       He's not in royal robes – he's wrapped in swaddling clothes.

He's savior for even the lowliest of people. He's the savior for those who can’t always be perfect, like shepherds. He's the savior for those like all of us. 

Today, we are like those shepherds of so long ago or maybe we’re like those little boys in that nativity play. We don’t want to have to say much. We don’t feel comfortable. No matter how much we study, how much we pray, how much we try – we never truly understand the mystery of God. We don’t fit in; we just want to be quite and blend into the background.

But our Savior comes to us in a manger. The Savior of the world comes to us: not in a palace; not on a throne; and not in royal robes. He comes to us approachable in a manger; the manger that is our hearts. It can be just like that manger in the animal shed,  polluted by all that's around us: dirty, dusty, and chewed up.

Do not be afraid, because Jesus Christ still comes to us, approachable. If we sit quite maybe we hear that clop-clop, clop-clop; as Jesus comes to that manger, we call it our hearts. When we make room for him, we praise God -Glory to God in the Highest.

Jesus Christ has come to us my brothers and sisters in a manger- JOY TO THE WORLD! 

Sunday Reflection: 4th Sunday Advent - An Active Faith

An Active Faith

 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16;  Psalm: 89:2-3, 4-5, 27-29; Romans 16:25-27; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Our faith is something special. It is not a faith of passivity but an active faith. It is a faith about things that have happened, things happening now, and things that will happen. It is active in the experienced of particular people, in places like Swartz or Monroe or Bethlehem of Judea, and at different times - December 2014 or the days of King Herod.

Our faith is so special because it’s part of God’s plan. God’s plan is a living plan, designed through our lives, his children. Our faith is active not because of what we do, but what God does with us.

King David wanted to do something for the Lord, he said "I will build a house for God."

God answered through Nathan, “No, I will build your house.” The Lord tells David, “I took you from the pasture; I was with you everywhere you went.”

David did not understand: it is God who does for us, not we who do for God. It is we who are needy. God has no needs. We cannot do God favors.

King David in all his greatness and majesty had the same fault we all have.  Whether it’s from arrogance or pride, we tend to think our generosity is doing God a favor.

In the purity of our faith, we all want to do things for God. Who remembers the bracelets and shirts with the letters WWJD (What would Jesus do)? In our small ways, we want to please God; we want to help God's kingdom to come; we want to do good. We think the little things we do are so great. But, no matter what we do, it is not us.

Since the beginning of time, God has promised one thing to those called. It is our greatest source of strength and encouragement and confidence. It is simple promise but unimaginably great: “I will be with you.”

It is the basis of all our faith.

The angel Gabriel said to Mary: “The Lord is with you.”

Many think that her answer was passive.  “May it be done to me according to your word.” She completely surrendered to God.

It was not passive.

It was active faith. It was an active faith where something happened to a particular person, in a particular place, and in a particular time. It was an active faith that surrendered all she was to become the Mother of God.

In us, our faith is active in the sacraments. Here, it is God that does for us, not we who do for God. A outward sign of our faith that answers the same way as Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Healing Prayer Service Reflection: The White Elephant

Jesus said - Let us go across to the other side – and they took him just as he was, and other boats were with him. (Mk 4:35-41)

Growing up there was one bar I would see as we drove down the highway – The White Elephant. It was fascinating to me as a young child, because of its peculiarities.  It had two front doors about 3 feet apart. Above one door painted on the white cinder block wall in black lettering was "White's" above the other door "Colored." As a 7 year old, I thought the doors were for elephants, if was The White Elephant after all. Sadly, even after segregation had ended, this bar was still segregated.

The owner of the bar saw no color in his customers, only the green of their money. So, The White Elephant had only one bar along the back wall; but it had two entrance doors and a flimsy veneer paneled wall down the center, to keep the customers from mixing and fighting.

But with crowds and drinking there are fights. Most of the fights weren’t racial. The people who went in the door marked “White’s” would drink, get drunk, cuss, fight, cut, and shoot each other. The people who went in the door marked “Colored” would drink, get drunk, cuss, fight, cut, and shoot each other.

On a Friday or Saturday night, when one group would get tired of fighting among themselves, someone mad at the world would wait outside the doors to catch someone leaving from the other side of the wall.  Maybe, they would just shoot through the flimsy paneled wall at people they couldn’t see, they didn’t know, and they didn’t care about. These were an “us and them” thing.

Very few people went to the “other side” of the wall at The White Elephant; mainly, the Sheriff's deputies and the priest. Being over 40 miles from the nearest hospital; the priest was the first call as a person lay dying. Then, they would call the Sheriff.

No matter what side of the wall they were on, all the people who frequented The White Elephant, lived the same lives: suffering in poverty, illiteracy, and dejection. They saw no hope, no joy, and no peace. They looked for relief in alcohol and fighting. Always thinking they were better than the people on the other side of the wall.

Peter stated that God made no distinction between “us and them.” Peter was talking about Gentiles and Jews (Acts 15:7-12); but, God sees no distinction no matter who the “us and them are”: No matter what the affliction, No matter how great the sin; no matter how much we are ashamed; no matter how lowly or poor; or no matter what our troubles.(Ps 72:12-13)

Faith in Jesus Christ purifies our heart. This is the faith that quiets the storm inside us. It is our lack of faith that puts God to the test and swamps our boat. Only Jesus can truly quiet the storms of illness and disease, or the storms of despair and hopelessness. Jesus brings joy and peace when we ask him, He only needs to speak to work wonders - Peace be still.

Reflection 3rd Sunday Advent: Fear Not - You Are Inadequate

Fear Not - You Are Inadequate (Jn 1:6-8,19-28)

Here's a little proverb that I think each of us should live by; “Fear not, you are inadequate.” Don’t get upset, take it as a complement; especially in the light of the reading.

John the Baptist was a great man. Jesus Christ said: "Of all of the men born of women, none was greater than John the Baptist."

And what did John the Baptist say about the Christ? "There is one who is coming after me whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” John the Baptist knew that in comparison to Christ, he was inadequate!

Think about our inadequacies. As a parent, a teacher, a nurse, an advocate for justice, or simply a friend, there are times when you face your own inadequacy. Times we are helpless in the face of all we should be doing.

At these times, it is important to remember that only God is adequate and none of us are God. God is a better parent, teacher, nurse, advocate, and friend than any of us could ever be. God alone is adequate. 

In the roles these titles give us, we are only God’s instruments and tools. Important tools because we bear His mark. But, unlike God, we are not adequate to do anything He asks us on our own.

John the Baptist gives us a clue about being a great instrument of God. Forget our selves and dedicate our lives to the One that transcends selfish interests and human pride. I am a voice crying in the wilderness; make straight the way of the Lord.

Inadequacy is a hard pill for a lot of us to swallow. Many strive for to receive the respect and esteem from others. And, it doesn’t matter really how high or low we may be on the ladder of social importance.

But, think of all the really great people we’ve known. Not the politicians, not the celebrities, but real people; think of the lives of the saints. If we really think about them, we find that they are people who could careless about their own importance.  They really never know they are important. They forget themselves in what is really important for them: continuing God’s work without cynicism or discouragement in difficult tasks.

If honors come to them, they appreciate them; but, they go on about their task. It doesn’t matter to them if they are recognized for what they do, and usually they're surprised when they are recognized.

Maybe, they feel they are inadequate.

Our lives are not an accident. Every one of our lives is given to us by God to accomplish His will. We are the instruments that bring His loving presence to a suffering world; making His kingdom real by how we live our lives and how we treat people.

We need to strive to be inadequate instruments like John the Baptist; crying out in actions and words to make the lives of others a little bit better; clearing the path that brings the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ to those who have none. 

With Christ’s presence in our lives, we are God's instruments. Each day His Presence will reach and touch others through us. This is no small thing to have happened to any man or woman.

That pretty good those of us who live by the proverb “fear not, you are inadequate.”

Reflection from Advent Retreat: The Lights On Now

(Inspired by Fr. Richard Rohr)

1 Corinthians 4:5

Stop passing judgment before the time of the Lord’s return. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts. At that time, everyone will receive his praise from God.

A young boy goes hunting in the woods behind his house. It was getting dark and he had got turned around.  He was afraid he was lost. He thought about where he had bee, and tried to go back; he got more lost. He thought about which way he should go and headed that way; he got even more lost.

 His mother would soon have dinner ready. His father would then come outside, flash the light on the porch and yell for him that it was time to come home. He wanted to hear the comfort of his father’s voice. Sitting down, he got quiet.

Then, a lot closer than he thought it would be, he heard his father’s voice. He followed it. There was the light, comforting, lighting the darkness. He saw his father in the light, concerned. He felt safe as he walked towards home and his father’s hugs.

This is a story about being quiet and listening. This is a story about contemplation.

Thomas Merton, a trappist monk, writer, and mystic, wrote about contemplation. Merton wrote about the virgin point; a place of pure poverty and nothingness in God’s presence; absent of past and the future. A point found in the NOW. A place found by emptying ourselves of past and future so that we can be open to His presence.

This can be hard because most of us live our lives thinking about the past or the future. We try to repeat success or avoid failure. We try to control the path of our future. It’s the way we’re wired. And, Jesus warns us against both.

We are to live in the ever-present, ever-coming Christ. Let’s get ourselves to the virgin point to the presence of the immediate Christ; NOW. That point of total quietness where we can listen for the hope, peace, joy and love of Christ in the right now.  

If we are not in NOW, we will not experience the immediate Christ and we can’t grow in Christ. We can’t grow unless we’re willing to live in the right now, in this moment. Be present to Christ that is always coming to us.

So think of the Advent that is Christ immediate as God leaving the porch light on. In this light, we can be open to Christ who always comes to us and is calling us to his presence. In this light, we live in Christ who comes to us now. Maybe if we just sit quietly and listen, we can find our way. If we can do this, we will receive praise from God. 

Reflection: Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Your Permanent Record

GN 3:9-15, 20; EPH 1:3-6, 11-12; LK 1:26-38  (inspired by the poem Truant by Margaret Hasse)

How many of you remember the threat, “this is going to be on your permanent record.”  It was always hung over your head. If you skip school - "It’s going on your permanent record." If you misbehave – "It’s going on your permanent record." Bad grades are put "on your permanent record."

If you get in any trouble, no matter what you did, you would be threatened with, “It’s going on your permanent record.”

That’s what happened in the Garden. The man and the woman started running with the bad crowd. God finds out. He comes and gives them all a good lecture. God tells them, this sin, the original sin is going to be on their permanent record. It has been with humanity ever since. The snake got permanent detention.

But there was one person born who never had to worry about this permanent record of original sin.  It was Mary and it is the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. In the Immaculate Conception sin was taken off the blessed virgin’s permanent record.

Here we have a young woman, born without this original sin. She was so in tune with what God wanted because she didn't all that interference that comes from our faults. Probably everything that Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anne, did was a prayer.

I think this is what Paul means in his letter to the Thessalonians, when he tells them to “pray always.”

There is nothing that says this is what the Blessed Virgin did.  But I believe that one born without original sin, without the temptation of human faults, like the first man and woman your life is a walk with God. A life of constant prayer.

She wasn't walking around saying the Jewish equivalent of the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary.” Her entire life was a prayer. Her life was open to God's presence. She lived the presence of God in a life present in the world. Her prayer was the way in which she was always present to His presence.  

Living in his presence when as a young teenage, she was asked to be the Mother of God, the arc of the new covenant. Living present in His presence as Jesus grew and she became his disciple. She was present to his presence, as a weeping mother, who watched her son suffer and be crucified.

That is something we need to be able to do. Learn to be present to the Divine Presence. When we are able to do this:

• The things that used to defeat us no longer defeat us.
• The things we thought we could never surrender to, we now can.
• Even to accept that we are not ready to accept

All these things are being present to Christ’s presence. Present to God’s presence, whose grace is always with us.

In our humanity, we do not have the immaculate conception.  We can live lives that are present in His presence. If we live this way, think how beautiful our permanent record records will be.

Homily - 2nd Sunday Advent - John the Baptist - Rock Star

(Inspired by Fr. J. Speekman)

Today, we are introduced to a rock star - John the Baptist; a privileged young man, the son a priest of God. He has a successful family business, he’s charismatic, he’s entertaining, he had it all; but, he left it to grow his hair long, dress like a "wild man", and live off the land. He became a rebel that quotes the great prophets and people come by the hundreds to hear him preach.

He is the herald of the Messiah, the precursor of the Advent. His many disciples follow his every word; He had a very promising disciple in young man from Nazareth named Jesus.

John the Baptist was one of the first to celebrate advent, when he jumped in his mother’s womb. Even as an unborn child, he was ready for the coming of the Lord.

That’s what advent is all about, we ask ourselves: “Will I be ready when he comes?”

We live for that future. Tomorrow I’m going to change. Next week, I’ll start studying the bible and the catechism. I'm making a New Year's resolution to go to confession more. Before I die, I start praying the Rosary daily.

That’s not a good question. What’s better is, “Am I ready NOW? – Christ comes to us NOW!!

We live for that future advent; but, that’s not what we should be doing. We all exist NOW, in the immediate time. NOW, the moment wedged between past and future. It is where we live our lives.  When the Lord returns, it will be precisely and only in the present moment.  He will not find us anywhere else.

This is the message of Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Peter.

We find John the Baptist in the waters of the river Jordan. On the banks stand God’s people, the Israelites. John calls them to repent for the forgiveness of their sins:  Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

Some people, hear his words; hear God speak to their hearts and walk into the water to John. They are baptized and confess their sins.

John called ALL to repent; but only some did. Some stayed on the banks and said to themselves, “What’s all this talk about sin?”

• Some said – What sin? I have no sin!
• Some said  - I have too many sins! My sins are too great. God could never forgive me.
• Some said  - I only have little sins! They’re not worth worrying about.

Two thousand years later, the call to repent is still being heard. But instead of John, the message is given by priests, deacons, and God’s ministers. They call people to repent: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

Now instead of hundreds on the banks of the river, billions of people all over the world hear the call to repent.

Some begin to move. Prostitutes and tax collectors, rich and poor, come forward, confess their sins and are forgiven.

ALL are called to repent. But, some remain standing on the bank and say, “What’s all this talk about sin?”

• Some say –What sin? I have no sin.
• Some say - I have too many sins. My sins are too great. God will never forgive me.
• Some say - I only have little sins. They’re not worth worrying about.

We Catholics say the same things in a different way. “I don’t need to confess my sins to a priest!” It' s like throwing the sacrament of Reconciliation back into the face of Jesus.

The message to repent does not stop. And all of our hearts hear that call, because:

• Hearts are ready to listen; but our heads talk us out of it.
• Hearts don’t make excuses; but inside our minds we can find plenty.
• Hearts see the need, but our minds tell us we have none.

Peter writes:  

"…  people will be scornful, living according to their own desire, saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation.”  ...The Lord is not slow to carry out his promises, as others might be called slow; but he is patient with you,, wanting nobody to be lost …The Day of the Lord will come like a thief … you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come… What we are waiting for is what he promised…"

Are we ready for Advent? Are we ready for Christ who comes to us NOW. We don’t know when He will come. No matter when the promise of Christ’s return is fulfilled; He will find us as we are in our immediate moment. Hopefully, we are not standing on the bank.

Are we preparing the way for the Lord in our lives?

Reflection Advent Candles: From Darkness to Light

(Allegory of Cave taken from sermon - Pastor Don Getty)

You need light. Without light there is nothing but darkness. With Jesus as your light, you will never be in darkness.

Let me tell a story that shows how true this is:

A long time ago, there was a cave that lived under the ground, where most caves live and like most caves had spent its entire lifetime in darkness. One day the cave heard a voice coming from the opening and the voice said, come up into the light, and the cave said, I don't know what you mean. What is light? There isn't anything but darkness. 

Finally, the cave being overly curious went towards the opening and the voice. The cave was surprised to see light everywhere because it did not know anything at all about light. Looking up at the sun, Cave was astounded and said, come with me to see the darkness. The sun answered, what is darkness?  The cave said, come and see, I will show you. So the sun entered the cave and said, now show me your darkness; but there was none. 

Light is stronger than darkness. In fact, darkness is just the absence of light. (Turn out the lights & Light Advent Candles)

“I have come as light to the world so that those who believe in Me may not remain in darkness.” (Jn 12:46)

How many people do you know that is living in the darkness of that cave? Sadly, many like living in the dark. They feel safe. It’s all they know. It’s where they grew up.

They don’t know about the light. They’re may be too afraid or too proud to believe there is a better place; a place in the light of Christ’s love that is warmer, healthier, brighter and more wonderful.

Some have escaped the darkness. They dance in the light with hope, peace, joy and love. (Turn lights back on)

What about those still back in the darkness of the cave? Maybe they would like to know what it like to be in the light. Perhaps they would like to quit being scared and proud. 

They will know what it’s like in the light of Christ if those of us who have escaped the cave to bring the light of Christ to them.

With our lives and our works we need to bring a candle into the darkness and tell them:  "It's okay to leave the darkness of the cave. The Light of Christ is so good.”  (Light the Christ Candle)

Reflection 1st Sunday Advent: Patience

 Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

This is the first Sunday of Advent. The readings are about waiting with the emphasis: patience. That's a hard thing to have, patience.

Before we start, I’d like to give you my unofficial definition of what patience is: “deliberate humble kindness.” 

• The word, deliberate, because patience is something you have to work at having.  
• The word humble because with patience we must put ourselves in the shoes of others. 
• The word, kindness, because kindness is truly what having patience is all about.

Have you ever been stuck in a line at a store? The person in front of you watches the cashier like a hawk. They argue over every price. The cashier makes a little mistake. The manager is called and you can see the manager just over there and they're just chewing the fat, or talking on their phone. The manager is not in a hurry. .

Finally, the manager shows up, clears the mistake, and leaves. Then the customer decides they don’t want something and asks that it be taken off their total. The manager is called again and now the manager is helping someone else or paged from another part of the store. When it is time to pay, they pull out their debit card and don't remember their pin number. 

This can try your patience. It can get on your nerves and real easy you can lose your patience. You find it kind of hard to love that person and you get agitated with even the cashier. You don't love as a Christian should love. 

It's a shame but we are just poor humans. We are born in time and space and it tries our patience when some one is taking away from our limited time and space. The problem with our lack of patience is that it applies to everything even our faith.  . 

The parable states that the master has left  and we are to watch. In reality what are we left to watch? Watch for his coming. but, we are also left to watch our selves. We are to watch how we act and how we treat others and how we live our lives as Christians. We are to be patient.

The chosen people described in Isaiah. The got tired of waiting and started to wander away from God. Even though the prophet says the people know the true God who created them, they worship other gods, carved idols, and take on the customs of other peoples. You see what happened - they lost their watch. They lost their patience waiting for God.

Paul tells the Corinthians that only with faith in Christ can we stand firm. This is how we keep our watch. This is why we don’t wander. This is the source of our patience.

So here we are standing in the checkout line. We  finally get to the register, do we sulk, do we explode, or do we greet the person with a smile, hello, and I hope your have a good day. The question is do we wander from the love of Christ? Do we lose our watch that Jesus gave us to be true to him?

We are asked to have patience and patience is a "deliberate humble kindness." God gives us this in his lovingkindness; the lovingkindness made man in Jesus Christ. Given to us in Jesus birth, given to us in our immediate intimate relationship with Christ Jesus, and will be given to us when Christ comes again in glory. All that is asked of us is that we are to keep watch, do not wander, and have patience.  

Remain true to Jesus, who is the way we learn deliberate humble kindness. 

Jesus calls it love. 

Reflection - Christ the King Sunday

All in All - King of the Universe

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Matthew 25:31-46

I originally wrote this by hand while at a Jesuit retreat so maybe I’ll sound smart. I also read some Thomas Merton, Trappist Monk, mystic and theologian whom I'll quote:

“Our true self has been concealed under the ‘disguise’ of a false self, the ego, whom we tend to worship in place of God.”

The readings tend to point to the problems of our ego.

• The sleek and the strong ...,
• The sheep from the goats...,
• Death comes through man.

Sadly, humanity tends to make God into an idol of our own ego. Yet, Paul tells us God is all in all.  

Several years ago, I travel to my company’s regional office. As I sat waiting for the meeting to start, I fingered my rosary. One of the ladies who worked in the office said, “What are those?  Isn’t that the way you Catholics pray to Mary?”

It’s a rosary. It is for prayers that contemplate the Christian faith and the life of Christ.

You start with the “Sign of the Cross, The Apostle’s Creed and then the Hail Mary…” I didn’t get to finish.

So, l you are worshiping Mary. I said “No, It is a meditation on the life of Christ; let me tell you the prayers.”

I explained the sign of the cross. She had no problem with that prayer.  But, when I began the creed and said, “… crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.” 

“Jesus did not go to hell!  I can’t believe you said that.”

I tried to explain that “hell” was simply the place of the dead.  Until Jesus Christ was resurrected, there was no “heaven and hell” as we know it. Before Christ, no person went to heaven or eternal damnation. Everyone who died went to the place of the dead.

She couldn't hear me. She wouldn't hear me.   

A year later, I sat in Deacon Formation and our instructor asked us this question. “Is God in Hell?”

It was a question that one of his instructors in seminary had asked his class many years before. We didn’t know how to answer that question. The instructor said his class didn’t know the answer either. 

The instructor explained that the wise old priest and theology professor answered his own question. – “Of course He is - God’s everywhere! But, what's God doing in hell?”

Another hard question, but his answer, “God is there loving all the poor souls lost there.”

God the Father is all in all. Jesus Christ is the fullness of the universe and the all in all. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the love that God has for all creation. 

Even though that good Christian lady who didn't want to hear that Jesus descended into hell, she was not trying to make God into an idol in her own image. Maybe she could not comprehend what it means that God is all in all, the universe and its fullness.

If we are to see God in the poor, the naked, the sick, the hungry, and the prisoner and love them would God not love them as well? Why then would God not love the poor souls in hell?  

God forgives us and loves us unconditionally, even those who are lost and even those who do not love him.

Now, we are back at the beginning. Rethinking Merton’s quote it seems we live our life in denial of our true self. We see our own ego, denying the reality that God created us. Humanity sees the self it creates. Our true reality of self is found in the image of God in which we are created.

God is all in all and in the saints in heaven. God is all in all; even in those lost souls that exist in the self they created. This self pushes God away. The self that separates self from God and being separated from God’s love is the definition of hell. Creation can become separated from God but God never stops loving it.

Christ the King, God who is all in all and in all of us.