THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH

27 DECEMBER 2015

          At the beginning of his novel, Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy writes, “all happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”  As the novel progresses, Tolstoy makes it clear that it is not peace and tranquility that makes a family, but adversity, struggle, and suffering.  These inevitable challenges are what make families unique, strong, and interesting.  Children learn from these experiences, and we become who we are through our families.

            As we gather today to reflect further on the Mystery of the Lord Jesus taking on human flesh and dwelling in our midst, we are given the example of the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.  There is no way we can compete with that family!  The mother never sinned, the stepfather trusted the angel’s word that the child was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the child is God himself!  But in one very important way, our families can identify with that family in the way all families have to face adversities, struggles, and sufferings.

            The Gospels tell us very little about their family life.  But, the Gospel passages assigned to this Feast every years provide some hints.  In Cycle A, Saint Matthew tells us that they had to escape the murderous plotting of Herod and become immigrants in a foreign land, where their ancestors had been slaves.  In Cycle B, Saint Luke reports the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, with Simeon blessing the child and telling his mother her heart would be pierced by many swords of sorrow.  In this year’s Cycle C, Saint Luke tells the story of Joseph and Mary frantically searching for their son.  Once they become aware that he was not with the other one, they rush back to Jerusalem.  After three frantic days of searching, they finally find him answering questions and teaching in the Temple.  Like so many pre-teens, he must have gotten so caught up that he did not bother to let them know where he is.  How many of you parents have been exasperated because your child did not call you and were mystified by the response:  “I knew where I was!”?  Neither Mary nor Joseph understands what Jesus is talking about.  But they ponder his answer in their hearts.  In time, Mary will connect his place in the Temple with the destruction of his own body and its being raised in three days. In response, Jesus goes home to Nazareth with them, is obedient to them, and grows in age and wisdom.

            All of us can tell stories of the adversities, struggles, and sufferings we have endured as families.  In celebrating our faith that the Lord Jesus truly dwells in the midst of our families, we can take new courage in knowing that these things can actually contribute to making our families holy.  Saint Paul tells us how to improve our families now.  He reminds us that we emerged from the waters of Baptism clothed with the white garment signifying our oneness with Christ.  The patterns of our family structure may not be the same as family structures in Colossae during the first century.  But, we can put on the garments of heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Wearing these garments, we can bear with one another and forgive each other.  We can put on love, knowing that the garment of love is not woven from warm emotions, but from hard and persistent work to put the good of others ahead of our own.

            I have enjoyed a great Christmas with my family.  They love the new rectory and have done everything possible to bring chaos and life to it.  In gathering as a family, we remembered those members of our family who have been called home to God.  We ate and drank and played games and exchanged presents.  We also laughed a lot and expressed a new gratitude for the gift of each other.  Carrying this gift of gratitude with us, we renew our faith that the Light of the Lord Jesus shines in whatever darkness we will encounter next year.  He dwells in our midst.

CHRISTMAS

25 DECEMBER 2015

            Christmas always presents a real challenge to put into words what it means for God to take on human flesh.  The Church understands this dilemma and provides a large selection of words from the Word of God for our reflection.  In fact, there are four different sets for us to use at Christmas – a total of sixteen different readings counting the Old Testament Reading, the Psalm, and the New Testament reading, and the Gospel.  The Gospel for the Vigil Mass is taken from Saint Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, tracing his family back to Abraham.  At the Midnight Mass, Saint Luke tells the familiar story of the holy family turned away from an inn, of Mary giving birth in a stable, and of shepherds coming to worship the infant Christ.  At the Mass at dawn, Saint Luke tells about Mary keeping all these things in her heart after the shepherds have left.  At the Mass during the day, Saint John presents his magnificent Prologue to his Gospel.  We priests have the good fortune of hearing all of these readings. Allow me to give you my take on distilling all these readings into 8 minutes.

            There is a common thread in all these Scripture readings.  That thread has to do with the presence of too much darkness in a world created and loved by God.  The genealogy of Jesus contains some pretty shifty characters guilty of doing evil and selfish deeds.  Mary had to give birth in the darkness of a stable.  The Prologue to the Gospel of Saint John begins with the darkness of the world and its rejection of Christ.  But into all this darkness comes a bright and shining light.  To quote the Gospel of Saint John, the Eternal Word of God took on human flesh and pitched his tent in our midst, dwelling with us in our darkness.  Words cannot describe darkness and light.  But images do.  That is why painters have depicted light coming from the infant Jesus and illuminating those who huddle around the manger.   

            At this time of the year when the time of darkness far outweighs the length of light each day, we do not have to look far to see darkness in our world.  Those whose jobs have been eliminated by a world economy know the darkness of trying to piece together a living for their families.  We see far too often the darkness of murderous terrorists trying to destroy the fabric of our lives.  Those of you who struggled with illness or injury or the challenges of agents know the darkness of being alone and in chronic pain.  Those families torn apart by separation, divorce, addictions, or death know the darkness of loss.   

            In every one of these forms of darkness, the light of Christ’s birth shines brightly and clearly.  In fact, we are seeing more light each day since the Winter Solstice on Monday.  As the light increases, so does the light of Christ.  This light, heard in Word and seen in the Eucharist, cannot be dimmed.  It cannot be extinguished.  It touches our hearts and souls at such a deep level that we cannot express it.  However, we can exchange with one another the light of Christ’s peace and bring that light home with us to our Christmas celebrations.  Jesus Christ actually took on our human flesh, enabling us to trust that our family gatherings, our meals, and all those particular Christmas customs somehow express the reality of the Light of Christ shining in darkness.  Aware of the blessings we take for granted so often, we can express a new gratitude for those many good things which we often take for granted.

            May that Light warm the depths of your hearts.  May that light sustain your faith and give you renewed courage and love to face whatever darkness this New Year may bring.  May you find the Mystery expressed in Word and Sacrament dwelling in your families and homes.  The Lord has taken on human flesh.  He dwells in our midst.  He is the light shining in darkness. 

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

20 DECEMBER 2015

          Saint Luke tells us that Mary traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah.  We might wonder why Mary is in such a hurry to undertake this long journey from Galilee in the north to Judah in the south.  Is she eager to get out of a small town to avoid the gossip about her becoming pregnant before marriage?  Is she anxious to provide support for a cousin who had never been able to conceive a child?  Or does she need to receive much needed support from her more mature and much older cousin?  Once they spend time together, what do they talk about?  Does Mary discuss how she always looked up to Elizabeth?  Does Elizabeth point out that she had always seen something special in her younger cousin?

            We will never know the answers to these questions.  However, we do know the theological message.  Mary has heard the message of the Angel, as did her cousin’s husband in the temple.  Unlike Zechariah who could not bring himself to respond in faith, Mary responded to the Angel’s message and obeys with fervor and zeal.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Incarnate Word of God has taken flesh in her womb.  Now she acts on that Word.  Becoming the first disciple, she goes in haste to spread the Good News of Salvation.  That is what disciples do:  unable to contain their joy at hearing the Good News, they go in haste to spread it.

            Elizabeth is the recipient of the Good News which Mary brings her.  Centuries before, King David had danced before the Ark of the Covenant carried through this same hill country into his new capital of Jerusalem.  Now, the infant in her wombs dances for joy, because Mary, the living Ark of the Covenant, brings the Son of God in her womb.  Centuries before David, Esau and Jacob had wrestled with each other in Rebecca’s womb, foreshadowing their eventual fighting as twin brothers.  Now, John the Baptist foreshadows his role as the one who points to the Messiah.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth says the words of the Hail Mary:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”  She praises, not because of anything Mary has done, but because of her relationship with Christ.  She praises Mary, because she had the courage to believe that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.

            On this last Sunday before Christmas, we too gather as disciples.  At this Mass, we can learn a great deal from Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother.  Like Mary, we have listened to the Word of God and will respond by praising and thanking God in the Eucharistic Prayer.  Fed by the Bread come down from Heaven, we too are strengthened to act on that Word.  Carrying the Lord in our bodies as Mary had done, we will be sent forth from this Mass to go in haste to prepare for Christmas. 

            If anyone can teach us how to go in haste joyfully toward Christmas, the children in our midst provide powerful examples.  They cannot wait for Christmas!  They cannot hide their joy!  Once we reflect on the ways in which Mary and Elizabeth became instruments of God’s will, we too hurry toward Christmas to deliver the long awaited news that the darkness which envelopes this world will not last.  As the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, once Christ had accepted the body prepared for him, he followed the will of the Father and brought peace and reconciliation to the world.  His one time and perfect sacrifice of himself accomplished what countless sacrifices in the temple could never accomplish.  Like Mary and Elizabeth, we too can learn to know God’s will and make present the miracle of Christmas peace.  Imitating Christ’s example of doing the Father’s will, we can be instruments of God’s peace and joy.  Then God can use us, little though we are, like the little town of Bethlehem.  This is our Christmas gift to the Babe.  Do not wait.  Do it now.  Using the words of “What Child is this,” we sing “Haste, haste, to bring him laud.”

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

13 DECEMBER 2015

          Both the Prophet Zephaniah and the Apostle Paul seem to be full of “Holiday Cheer.”  Zephaniah tells Jerusalem to shout for joy, to be glad, and to exalt.  Saint Paul is not content with telling people to rejoice once.  He says it again:  rejoice!  But, both the prophet and the apostle are in very difficult situations.  Zephaniah does not write from a corner office in Jerusalem.  There is no Jerusalem, because the Babylonians had destroyed it and dragged the remaining citizens into exile.  Saint Paul is not sipping cocktails at a nice resort.  He is in prison, waiting to be executed.  And he is writing to a community which has been torn apart by gossip and backbiting between two factions.

            Their difficult situations do not keep them from their message of joy.  Zephaniah tells his people in Babylon to rejoice, because the Lord is about to free them from captivity.  He has released them from their infidelities which had caused their downfall in the first place.  Saint Paul encourages the Philippians to rejoice, because the Lord is near.  They need to put their petty concerns aside and open themselves to that peace of God which surpasses all understanding.

            The nearness of the Lord is the basis for the words of Saint John the Baptist.  He knows that the expectations of people are high, looking for the joy that will come with the Christ, the Messiah.  So, he tells that his coming is near.  For that reason, they need to repent, to change, and to prepare for his coming.  He is not vague about the need to change.  The crowds should be more conscious of the needs of the poor and the needy and share a portion of God’s gifts with them.  Even the hated tax collectors can change.  They need to be fair in collecting the taxes they hand over to the Romans and not extort their own people.  He tells the soldiers not to bully people and to use their power to serve others and not their own interests.

            The Prophet, the Apostle, and the Baptist speak directly to us today.  They tell us to rejoice and be joyful.  Speaking from an exile in Babylon, from a stinking prison, and from a barren desert, they tell us that joy does not depend on being cheerful.  There is no need to deny that we live in a dark and dangerous world.  To make matters worse, we increase the darkness of our world by making bad choices.  In order to experience true joy, they encourage us to take an honest look at those choices.  An honest look reveals that we do not always share our blessings.  We ignore the advice of Saint Basil the Great who tells us that “the bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it.”  We can easily focus all our energies on our own needs and forget the needs of others. For those of us in positions of authority and power, it is always easier to serve ourselves, rather than others. 

            The words of these three Biblical figures point us in the right direction.  They invite us to rejoice in the nearness of the living Word Made Flesh, who has the power to transform our lives.  The Lord is near to us when things are going well and when Christmas preparations might bring cheer and happiness.  The Lord is also near to us, when things are not going well, when we are in the darkness of grief or loss or illness or disaster.  He is present in our darkness. 

            If you got up early enough on Thursday morning, you saw the color of rose in the east.  The sun would not bring the bright light of day for another half hour.  But that rose color, which became more brilliant in the passing of time, provided hope. The light of the sun was coming. We wear rose today, because the Lord is near in the darkness of our world and in the darkness of our lives.  In the midst of preparations for Christmas, come to the Advent Penance Service at 7:00 on Tuesday evening.  18 priests will be here to be sacramental instruments of the light of God’s mercy, giving God’s peace which surpasses all understanding.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

6 DECEMBER 2015

          Saint Luke was a student of history.  In reading the Hebrew Scriptures, he understands the ways in which God worked through Israel for 1,500 years.  In writing his Gospel, he unveils the story God taking human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.  In writing the Acts of the Apostles, he records the earliest period of the Church and how the Holy Spirit worked so powerfully.  As a historian, he has a keen sense of facts.  He approaches history from a different perspective than I did in college.  In studying for a history test, I crammed into my head all the important dates, persons, and places.  Then I took the test and promptly forgot them all. 

            Not so with Saint Luke!  He tells us exactly when the Word of God was announced to human beings.  It happened during the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee.  He even mentions that Herod’s brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and that Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.  As if this were not enough historical context, he also throws in the fact that Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests at the time.

            Luke gives all these facts, not to impress us with his historical test scores, but to make a very definite point:  Christianity did not have its origins in some mythological imagination that portrays life going around in circles.  Its origins are rooted in history, just as God had freed Israel from their exile in Babylon, as Baruch tells us in the first reading.  Luke may use important people to give us a proper context.  But the word of salvation is not delivered to Caesar.  Nor is it delivered to Pilate in Jerusalem, nor to Herod and his brothers in their three regions.  It is not delivered to the important religious leaders of the people.  The Word of salvation is delivered to John, an insignificant son of a priest serving in Jerusalem.  Neither is it delivered to Caesar’s Imperial Palace in Rome, nor in the Praetorium where Pilate delivers his judgments, nor in the plush residences of Herod and his brothers, nor in the Temple, the most sacred place of ancient Judaism.  It is delivered in the remote desert area populated by wild animals. More importantly, this insignificant son of a Jerusalem priest takes himself completely out of the picture and points to the One who is coming, the One who will fulfill the promises of Isaiah and all the prophets.  He insists that God is entering into human history in a unique and unexpected way. 

            Luke helps us to understand that we are not walking around in circles.  Our pilgrimage of faith began with the first coming of God in the person of Jesus Christ.  It will eventually end with the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of time.  In reminding us of these two comings and telling us to be watchful and alert, the Season of Advent invites us to be more attentive to the ways in which God comes to us now.  The Lord comes in a real way through the Sacraments.  He speaks to us in his Word.  He feeds us with his Body and Blood.  He forgives our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and heals us in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  He strengthens us who are living permanent Sacraments with the grace of those Sacraments.

            Nourished by his presence in the Sacramental life of the Church, we become more watchful for the ways he comes to us in our daily lives.  We do not need to look for him in the important people and places of our world.  We look for him in the ordinary deserts of our lives – in our homes, in our families, in our schools, in the places where we work, and in the activities of this parish community.  God is not a distant being that looks down on us as we walk in circles.  He is the God of love, who took flesh in time, and who is deeply involved in our pilgrimage of faith.  With Saint Paul, we are confident that the one who began the good work in us will bring it to completion.