Friday, December 29, 2017

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

(I John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35)

One of America’s favorite movies is all about Christmas.  The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” ends with a Christmas scene, but that is almost incidental to its Christmas theme.  More importantly, the movie relates the message of this season.  It reiterates what today’s gospel and certainly the works under the title of “John” teach so clearly.  The Word of God came as light in darkness, as good in the midst of evil.  The darkness tried its best to quench the light, but it was finally chased away.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” tells the story of George Bailey who from childhood cared about others.  Things go well for George through early adulthood.  Then the forces of darkness attack.  They leave George completely disillusioned.  He wants to kill himself and is saved only with help from on high.  George is like us at our best.  We want to do good, but darkness – usually, in our cases, selfishness – blinds our good intentions.  We turn inward thinking exclusively about what seems good for us.  We reject relying on God and continuing to care about others.

Today’s first reading assures us that the light has indeed come to the world.  The gospel passage names Jesus as that light which dispels the darkness.  If he is to defeat the darkness that surrounds us – our selfishness -- we must stay close to him.  We do this by following his commands which are simple and not burdensome.  We must love God above all and love our neighbor like we love ourselves.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

The Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

(I John 1:5-2:2; Matthew 2:13-18)

Gospel analysts easily show that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke have different sources for their accounts of Jesus’ birth.  Where Matthew situates Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem well before Jesus’ birth, Luke has them journeying there from Nazareth.  Where Matthew tells of the magi coming to adore the Lord, Luke pictures shepherds.  And where Matthew writes of the Holy Family in flight to Egypt after the birth, Luke has them going up to the Temple in Jerusalem.  However, these seemingly divergent details should not provoke doubt.  In essential matters the two evangelists coincide.

First and foremost, Jesus is born to Mary, who remains a virgin, and to Joseph, who gives him a name and a lineage.  Secondly, Jesus is born in Bethlehem and then goes to live in Nazareth.  Finally and significantly, both infancy accounts include a reference to the passion that Jesus will eventually endure.  In today’s gospel the reference is more direct and ominous. The Jewish king Herod searches for the infant Jesus in order to kill him.  Jewish leaders will also conspire in the crucifixion. The oblique reference to the passion in Luke comes in the midst of Simeon’s prophecy.  He says that Jesus will be “a sign that will be contradicted.”

The Church takes up this connection between the birth and death of Jesus by celebrating the Feast of the first martyr, St. Stephen, on the day following Christmas.  In conformity to this tradition we should temper our jubilation at Christmas.  We must keep in mind that the mystery of the Incarnation is but the first step in Jesus’ complete sacrifice of himself to deliver us from sin and death. Also, the suffering of the innocent martyrs remembered today should remind us to be ready to suffer with Jesus so that we might rise with him to glory.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Feast of Saint John, apostle and evangelist

(I John 1:1-4; John 20:1a.2-8)

At year’s end people in the United States turn to Time magazine for the unofficial “Person of the Year.”  They believe that history is determined more by distinctive human beings than by ideas or by events.  Whether a political personality, a religious leader or, as the case this year, a group of individuals, the Person of the Year has contributed significantly to positive human development.  Christians have the same intuition as it celebrates Christmas.  We recognize that God has saved the world not by a spiritual force but by sending His Son as a human.  Today’s readings span the extension of the Savior’s earthly sojourn.

The first reading relates that the Son of God had a human body.  People heard his voice, saw his face, and touched his flesh.  He was born, like the rest of us, of a human mother and experienced the same kinds of joy and frustration.  The gospel assumes that he died and also, as a sign of his successful mission, that he triumphed over death with his resurrection.  Now, the readings intimate, we just have to follow in his way to the same resurrected life.

Both readings are said to be written by St. John.  Scholars debate who he was and whether he was one individual.  The arguments are peripheral.  What is essential is his message.  Once again, he proclaimed that the Son of God came to earth as a human being.  His obedience to his Father’s will was so perfect that the Father grants to those who associate with him a share in his eternal glory.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Feast of St. Stephen, Proto-martyr

 

(Acts 6:8-10.7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22)

This year as we celebrate Christmas with the usual flair, we should keep in mind the people of Venezuela.  They are undergoing extremely difficult times.  The poor in the countryside are dying of starvation despite the fact that Venezuela is rich with oil.  In its desire to control all the goods of the country, the Venezuelan government has refused capitalist economic reform.  The result has been disaster.  Many professionals have left the country in droves and the economy has been on a downward spiral for years.  The poor stay behind to suffer.  There is a parallel here with today’s feast.

There is no reason to place the martyrdom of St. Stephen on the day after Christmas other than to remind Christians of the death the new-born savior will endure.  His crucifixion seems like another case of evil crushing virtue.  But his resurrection unleashes the Holy Spirit to enlighten human hearts.  The first reading tells how Stephen spoke the truth to the promoters of Judaism.  Refusing to hear it, they finally murdered its source.  But Stephen’s death starts Paul on a path to conversion and apostleship.  The persecution which Stephen’s martyrdom sparked likewise moves Christians out of Jerusalem to evangelize the world.  Virtue is vindicated and evil is on the run.

Things should turn around in Venezuela soon.  Certainly people of goodwill should not stand idly by while a government allows its nation’s children to die of hunger.  We pray today that reform in Venezuela happens as soon as possible.  We also live attesting to others about Jesus as Stephen, Paul, and all the apostles did.

Monday, December 25, 2017

Nativity of our Lord (mass at dawn)

(Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20)

Nativity of our Lord (mass at dawn)

(Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20)

African-American spiritual singers have taken up where today’s gospel begins.  Like the angels in Bethlehem, they exhort listeners to “go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.” We, like the shepherds after seeing the infant Jesus, are to make known the message that has been told us - salvation in Jesus’ name.

As the Letter to Titus read today expresses, he has saved all of us through the bath of rebirth.  This experience is nothing less than incorporation into his body, the Church.  We are reborn in ever new, ever strong flesh to love the invisible God in our neighbors.  Doing so brings the unimaginable joy of eternal life with our heavenly Father.

Often enough African-Americans who have weathered many years faithful to the Savior demonstrate the spirit of this rebirth.  I remember the elderly women who washed clothes in our house of formation.  They were almost always upbeat and gracious.  More importantly, they were dependable for prayers to see us through the trials of introspection and scrutiny.