A Family Affair - Homily Christmas Vigil 2020

 Praise be Jesus Christ, Forever and ever. Amen

Today’ is a little different from our Christmas vigil masses of the past.  COVID 19 restrictions have limited how many can be here and what we as a community can offer up in celebration today.

As long as I can remember we had a Children’s celebration before mass. Our children and young people would share the good news of Jesus’ birth through a narrative. The younger children would be Mary, Joseph, the Magi, King Herrod, Angels, and shepherds. If their talent was music, we would have songs or they would play something special.

In this short play, the children would teach us the real meaning of Christmas. Children give what they receive.

Yet, if I had went to the mall yesterday and been allowed to ask children and even adults “why we celebrate Christmas?” You’d get a lot of different answers.

“It’s the holiday for giving gifts…” “It’s about family...” “Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,  Frosty the Snowman…”   Less and less is heard, it’s about the birth of Jesus.

For many, the story of Bethlehem is just a fairytale, an old time Disney movie.    

In this time of quarantine and isolation, it’s even more important to this gospel with each other and children especially. Parent or a grandparent watching at home, if your children and grandchildren are not around you, reach out to them to share the good news found in the story of Jesus’ birth. Our first sharing of the Gospel should be fa family affair.

It’s important that this good news is shared by family. Children give what they receive. We are all children.

Tonight’s gospel begins with family. That long list of names is Jesus’s family. It is great-great grandfathers and great-great grandmothers. It is his ancestry from Abraham to Joseph. They are all part of God’s chosen people.

God’s chosen people shared God’s promise that was given to Abraham, given to David, and kept alive in that long list of family. Even in this special relationship, many would tend to forget God’s promise.

Years passed, everyday life happened, and people put worldly things before God. People lived through wars and famine and plagues and bondage.  In those generation and generation of peoples and Kings, God’s chosen people would forget to follow God’s wishes.

People forgot God’s gifts to them and his promise to them. But, God didn’t forget His promise.

Every time history got to the point where it looked upon God’s chosen people as “Forsaken,” or “Desolate,” peoples, God made something happen.  It may have been a great leader or prophet that brought about a revival of faith. It may have even been some trial they had to endure to strengthen their faith.

When needed most, God sent the perfect gift, Jesus. God sent his word, mercy, and forgiveness incarnate into our midst, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

They named him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” They will call him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

Sadly, today just like through all the generations of Jesus’ ancestors, everyday life happens, we experienced wars, famine, bondage, and even plagues in this world. It has led more and more to fall asleep and forget God’s promise.

That is why it is so important to remember the narrative of Jesus birth. It reminds us who we are supposed to be and who we are supposed to place our trust in. Believing the truths of this story can bring change. It changed Mary. It changed Joseph. It changed the world.

When we know the story it changes us.  It gives us hope.

Pope Francis tweeted this week, “Those who fail to view a crisis in the light of the Gospel … see the crisis, but not the hope and the light brought by the Gospel.”

The gospel is the truth that Jesus was born into the world where everyday life happens. It is the truth for all who say they are Christians, a story written a day after day, year after year, generation after generation as we bring Christ to the world.

It is an important part of God’s narrative of us. Share it because both children and adults give what they receive. It begins as a family affair.

Merry Christmas everyone; be good, be holy, and share this good news of Jesus with the world.

Praise be Jesus Christ, Forever and ever. Amen

Camel's Hair - Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent - B

 Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever.  

Friends, today we come together for the 2^nd Sunday of Advent. We light the second candle to contemplate peace and our scripture readings tell the story of a voice crying out in the desert.

Since Advent is a time of contemplation, reflection, preparation, and silence,  I’d like to share a children’s story.

There were three friends who find a treasure map and on that map an “X” marks the spot of the treasure in the middle of the dry dusty desert. So the friends prepare for their journey with plenty of water for their thirst and big floppy shady hats for protection from the sun. They set off on their adventure. Soon, the water is gone. And a storm blows away the big floppy hats.  

They were thirsty and hot when across the desert comes a wandering camel. They ask the camel to help them find something to drink. From look in the camels eyes they know they are to follow him. The friends follow the camel up and down the dunes until at last they come to a beautiful oasis. But, it is no ordinary pool of water. This oasis was filled with ice-cold pink lemonade.

The friends drink their fill and cooled themselves in the shade. After a while, one asks the camel to help them find the spot marked by an “X.”

The camel speaks. “You are here.” He says, “There is no greater treasure in the dry dusty desert than shade and a drink of cool pink lemonade.”

There is a lot of truth in that story. Even though pink lemonade is good on a hot day, realize there is a deeper truth.  Realize the treasure we seek is often right there with us. Understand the importance of being a voice crying out in the wilderness no matter who you are.

Our life is a lot like a treasure hunt. Some know early their destination. Some have been given a map. Some know how to use the map; others do not. Many seek the treasure which is there for everyone to find; but, not everyone easily finds it.

Obstacles make finding the treasure difficult. We traveled the roads of Isaiah, twisting, turning, up, and down. Every day is full of those obstacles, mountains, hills, and deep valleys.

Some may have problems with the treasure map and navigating all the ups and downs and twists and turns. Many will need someone to take them there. Others need someone to proclaim to them the treasure is always there with them. That treasure is the hope of the salvation of God through Jesus Christ.

Going back to that children’s story, more of us need to be like that camel and speak up. Especially when the world tells us: “There is no need for faith or religion.” “Church is boring.” “It’s irrelevant.” “It’s full of hypocrites.”

Being exposed to that, hearts can fall to worldly arguments. It can even cause people of faith to overlook the real treasure.

Let look at the example of those who fight over is the Church to male dominated or is it not manly enough. The world has put this false treasure out there in the midst of believers.

Some say the Church is a patriarchy that needs to be changed. But, if you dive deep into the Christian Church, except for the ordained ministry, almost 90% of all ministry is fulfilled by women. 

These women are the voices crying out in the wilderness. They are working to make straight the paths.

All human ministries of the Christian church began with a woman, a young girl who said “yes” to God; and, she became the mother of God.  God became man through a woman, the blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary and Martha of Bethany ministered to the Jesus; one prayerfully at this feet and the other in service. The woman at the well witnessed to the Samaritans. The adulteress woman witnessed Jesus’ mercy and justice to all. Mary Magdalen witnessed the good news of Jesus’s resurrection to the apostles.

In the opposite corner is those that argue the Christian faith is not manly enough.

Scripture tells us different.  “The LORD GOD comes with power and might.”

Today’s Gospel tells us about John the Baptist, a voice crying out in the desert. ”  

If you think a real man’s man is one who dresses in camouflage and sits in a deer stand instead of coming to mass, compare his to John.  “John wore clothing of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” He probably had wild hair and an unkempt beard. He lived off the land, “His food was locusts and wild honey.”

But there was one more manly than him. One that he said he was unworthy to loosen the straps of his sandals.

That man combined the best traits of both the masculine and feminine. He loved and compassion and forgiveness than any others. He was a man braver than any other man. He stood up for what was right. He sacrificed himself for each of us. He was unjustly hung on the cross by those jealous of him and then Jesus asked God to forgive them..

We fail to recognize the true treasure, instead we look for what the world tells us is treasure. We are so blessed that God is patient with us.

Life in this world can be like a childish treasure hunt. We look for what we think is a treasure. We seek everything the world tells us we need to seek, even in our faith.

Take this advent to reflect and prepare our hearts, we will know that the truth or our true treasure is right here with us. Instead of looking for a mysterious giant “X” that is a promise of riches. Look to the true riches found in that “X” which is the cross of Jesus.

To find it, be true people of faith. Christians should not worry about if the church is too manly or not manly enough. We ought to be conducting ourselves in holiness and devotion waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God….

More of us need to be like John, a voice crying out in the wilderness. Reflecting on the children’s story, more of us need to be like the camel helping others realize the treasure we are given. After all, John the Baptist’s clothes were made of camel’s hair

Be good, be holy and preach the Gospel the treasure of Jesus Christ by the way you live your life and love one another.   

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.