Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

(Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30)

In the 1960s Malcolm Boyd, an Episcopalian priest, wrote a popular prayer book entitled Are You Running with Me, Jesus?  Evidently Fr. Boyd felt more pressured by the demands Jesus seems to make on him than relieved by the rest Jesus offers in the gospel today.  Therefore, he had to ask Jesus’ assistance in his ministry.

Of course, we can count on Jesus to help us and should go to him in need.  However, it is possible that fail to take advantage of the comfort Jesus offers.  Often others are capable and willing to assist us if we only let them.  Also, we might consider retreating in prayer for a regular period every day.  It is said that Pope Francis prays a couple of hours each day.

In his book on Jesus, Pope Benedict underscores this truth by claiming that in inviting others to find rest in himself, Jesus is proclaiming himself to be the Sabbath.  But his Sabbath goes far beyond the relief we experience on Sunday.  Trusting him provides not only a temporary respite from pressure but a permanent release from anxiety. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauahatlatoatzin

(Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14)

The indigenous people of Mexico had long experienced war and persecution.  Their defeat at the hands of the Spanish was one more in a line of humiliations.  In a definite sense they were a lost race when an extraordinary event took place.  The Virgin Mary appeared to the indigenous convert Juan Diego Cuauahtlatoatzin on a mountain outside the city of Mexico. She sent him to the Spanish bishop in the city with the petition to build a shrine at the place of her appearance.  At first the bishop resisted the request, but Juan Diego returned with a cloak full of roses improbably found on the mountain in December.  When the flowers were allowed to fall to the ground revealing the image of the Virgin with indigenous features, the bishop could not help but build the church.  Not long afterwards the people accepted the faith in droves.  They had a new attitude toward life – proud of their racial lineage and committed to the Lord for their new-found religion.  Both readings today echo this story.

In the reading from Isaiah el Segundo the prophet urges calling out from a high mountain that God comes to relieve the sufferings of the people.  In the gospel Jesus reveals that the time has arrived.  God is here to rescue the lost sheep.  Just as the indigenous of Mexico experienced new life by accepting faith in Christ, all people experience deliverance from sin and death in the work of the same Jesus Christ.

Just as surely as the attitude of the people changed with the Virgin’s appearance, we live with an altered disposition.  Our faith in Jesus assures us that fullness of life does not consist in pleasures, acquisitions, and accomplishments, but in loving service to him.  Performing such service, we are taken into his arms safe for all eternity.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12; Luke 1:26-38)

A recent article on sexting recently appeared in a leading national magazine.  Sexting is the sending of nude pictures of oneself via cellular telephones.  The article explained the prominence of the practice among American high schoolers.  Curiously, it showed no particular worry that it would lead to promiscuity, addiction, frustration, and divorce.  Rather the article mostly campaigned that sexting be decriminalized so that juveniles not be stigmatized the rest of their lives.  However, the article may provide some benefit to Catholic readers by giving them more reason to celebrate the Immaculate Conception.

Today’s feast highlights Jesus’ coming to free humanity of sin.  The first reading shows how sin began and continues to happen.  The second speaks of God’s plan to liberate humans from sin’s curse, and the gospel begins the drama of Jesus’ victory over sin.  Jesus eventually saves humans from their folly by his death on the cross which wins the grace to live temperate lives.  By virtue of her crucial role in the story, Mary herself was conceived without any proclivity to sin.

We should see Mary as more than the instrumental cause of bringing Jesus to birth.  She dared to do God’s will at considerable cost to herself.  Modelling what it means to act on the word of God, she raised Jesus religiously along with St. Joseph.  Finally, she shared the pain of Jesus’ death by experiencing what every parent hopes to avoid – seeing their children die before them.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24, Matthew 9:27-31)

In explaining why random evolution cannot account for the complexity of human life, intelligent design advocates often point to the eye.  They say that such an intricate organ is not likely to come about by chance, no matter if it had a zillion years to develop.  The eye’s sight is not only wonderful, it is of course imminently useful.  For this reason the blind men in today’s gospel ask Jesus for mercy.

The two men lack physical sight, but they possess something more valuable -- faith which is a deeper way of seeing.  The men may have heard that Jesus is of David’s lineage.  But this is nothing especially original.  More significantly, they believe that he is the son of David who will restore the glory of Israel.  As Isaiah foretold, he is the one who will open the ears of the deaf, the eyes of the blind, and the cells of prisoners.  Jesus rewards their faith with a better kind of twenty-twenty vision.  They can now see as well with their eyes as they have all along with their souls.

This Advent those of us who see well enough with our eyes might ask Jesus for the enhanced vision which faith gives.  We want to see him as the one to save us from all that threatens us.  Also, we need faith to never lose sight of everyone's dignity, no matter the person's disability or condition. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21.24-27)

The motorists were complaining about the sand that was put over the ice.  They said it didn’t melt the ice or give them more traction.  According to these travelers, the sand only messed up their cars.  They needed rock salt to give their wheels something to move on.  In both readings today we see references to rock and in the gospel a lesson about sand.

Isaiah writes, “…the Lord is an eternal rock.”  He means that one can trust God like a motorist a rock hard road.  In the gospel Jesus says that acting on the word of God is like building a house on rock.  The person who does so will never slide into the pitfalls of guilt.  But the one who does whatever she wants is like a builder who lays a foundation on sand.  In time she will find her house shaking.

During Advent we are to prepare for judgment.  If we find ourselves firmly established on the word of God, we can rest assured.  If, on the other hand, we find ourselves swaying in doubt and guilt, we better start rebuilding our lives on firmer ground.