Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

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

If Rachel lived in our generation, she may not be crying for her children.  The reason for her lack of tears would not, for the most part, be insensitivity.  Rather Rachel would not be weeping because it is quite possible that she, like many women today, would not have any children.  The birthrate throughout most of the world has steadily declined over the last generation, much below what is required for replacement.  African and some Muslim countries are generally exceptions to this rule.

The situation is as tragic as it is dire.  The dearth of children jeopardizes families, faith traditions, and cultures.  When couples have children, they make sacrifices which serve as a binding force keeping families together.  Also, pursuing material success and enjoyment rather than raising a family, people are less likely to turn to God regularly.  Not only religion but other aspects of culture like national customs will erode as populations shift.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of a child.  Jesus was as special a child as one can be.  Among so much else, he embodies God’s affirmation of humanity as well human hope for the future.  His birth relays a message of joy and love that should resound in the births of many children to committed couples.

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

 Feast of Saint John, apostle and evangelist

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

How shall we define “love”?  Let’s say it is more than the classical definition of desiring the good of another.  It seems to be more like a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good of others. Such love is seen in parents who give up copious amounts of time and energy to care for a child with Downes Syndrome.  It is also found in a spouse who waits faithfully for years for her imprisoned husband (or his imprisoned wife).

Love propels “the disciple whom Jesus loved” to reach his tomb first ready to believe that he has risen from the dead.  Love also moves the disciple, whom tradition names “John” and who is often and probably wrongly equated with John, the son of Zebedee, to reject common sense that says death is final.  He doesn’t care that people will think him crazy.  He looks at the scant evidence of an empty tomb and a rolled up burial head covering and believes Jesus risen.

Christmas engenders such love.  it tells us of God’s infinite love for the world that He sent His Son to redeem it.  It also speaks of the Son’s love so great that he gave his life to fulfill the Father’s will.  The first reading tells of the wonder of knowing the one whom the writer knew in an intimate way but whom we may know only in a spiritual way.  Nonetheless, he graces us with the power to make sacrifices for the good of others.

Monday, December 26, 2022

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

(Acts 6:8-10.7:54-59; Matthew10:17-22)

Celebrating Christmas, we walk in the light of Christ.  Today’s Feast of St. Stephen reminds us that those who walk in light are bound to cast shadows.  In these shadows lurk evil spirits who would kill before being exposed to the light, especially the brilliant light of Christ.

The reading from Acts relates Stephen’s martyrdom but skips over his speech which provoked the wrath of his assassins.  In that discourse Stephen revisits the sins of Israel from the selling of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, to the crucifixion of Christ.  The people who hear Stephen, not wanting to be enlightened about the sins of their ancestors and even less of their own sins, stone Stephen.  He dies begging forgiveness for his persecutors.

In proclaiming the whole truth of Jesus, we will find opposition.  Those who oppose us will not kill us, but they may criticize us unjustly.  Because we follow Christ, we are to respond to the criticisms like St. Stephen.  That is, we are not to condemn but to pray for our persecutors.

Monday, January 2, 2022

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and Doctors of the Church

(I John 2:22-28; John 1:19-280

The Church celebrates the Incarnation -- Christ becoming human – on Christmas.  It is, despite Santa Claus and snowmen, a holy and glorious day.  But there is little time to reflect on how the Incarnation might happen during Christmas week.  On January 2, the day following the Christmas octave, such reflection is indicated with the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen.

The two bishops and theologians were best of friends when they studied together in Athens.  They lived during the fourth century when people literally fought over different interpretations of the Incarnation.  Basil defended the Church’s Nicene teaching against Arianism, a widespread and deeply rooted heresy.  To protect divine majesty, Arianism claimed that Jesus was not fully God.  Gregory engaged in the controversy against the more sophisticated heresy of Apollinarianism.  Apollinaris, the bishop who formulated the heresy, taught that Jesus was a divine spirit inhabiting a foreign body.  Gregory claimed the contrary when he taught that “what is not assumed is not redeemed.”  In other words, if the Son did not have a human body, no human body can be redeemed.

We believe that Jesus is our redeemer because of the testimony of writers like John in today’s first reading.  He tells us of how people experienced Jesus’ saving power.  We also accept the Church’s teaching on the Incarnation because it follows quite logically from the teachings of thinkers like Basil and Gregory.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

 The Nativity of the Lord, Midnight Mass

(Isaiah 9:1-3.5-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14)

The birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Saint Luke begins by mentioning the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. He is not the typical emperor but the one who credited with ensuring world peace. Saint Luke is suggesting a comparison between this emperor of peace and Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace. Augustus has his armies to pacify uprisings across the world. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to calm the human heart. Instead of desiring gold, the heart that gives admission to the Spirit longs for the joy of love.

However, the world today needs a peacemaker like Caesar Augustus. Two weeks ago. Pope Francis was seen crying in public over the war in Ukraine. There millions of people suffer not only the cold of winter without electricity but also the anxiety of not having an end to the war in sight. Who can bring peace to today's world? Are they not the men and women whose hearts have been opened to sacrifice by the grace of the Spirit?

Mary also draws our attention in this portrait of the birth of Jesus. She has the courage to accompany Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem while she is about to give birth. It seems that she doesn't care that there is no place for her family in the inn. Instead of worrying about it, she focuses on the well-being of her son. She has prepared strips of cloth to keep him warm in loving anticipation. When he is born, she lays him in a manger. She and Joseph give him something more substantial than a crib for support. They adore him.

Today's world often lacks this kind of personal commitment. Because they look for careers, luxuries, and the independence to do what they like, many young people do not want children. Or if they want them, they plan on one or, at most, two. It is worrisome because who knows what will happen in forty or fifty years? Many of them will experience loneliness. They are also likely to be disconcerted to see their communities fall apart and be replaced by people from other cultures.

The angels and their message form one last thing to consider here. An angel announces the good news of the birth of the Savior. Then he is joined by a multitude of heavenly creatures to proclaim glory to God and "peace to men of good will." For centuries people have wondered who these men and women "of good will" are. Are they all the women and men in the world? Or can they be a special group chosen by God?

The best answer to the question is associated with what Saint Luke writes in his narrative of the baptism of Jesus. There the voice of God says from heaven: “You are my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.” Men and women “of good will” are those who please God like Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have reason to be at peace when we strive to do the will of God the Father.

Luke's story ends with the angels in heaven singing: “Glory to God…” How could God not have glory when his creatures on earth are seen opening their hearts to the Holy Spirit? How could He not have glory when women and men give their families priority over their own independence? And how could He not have glory when we try with all our might to please Him? However, the glory belongs to God not because of our efforts but because of his love for us. He has sent us his own Son so that we may know his love.