Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

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

In a perceptive article about binge-drinking on campus, a journalist came to a startling conclusion.  She wrote that alcohol abuse results from the excessive expectations of permissive parents.  The parents will tolerate the alcohol abuse of their children as a pressure release from the demanding university courses they take in order to land highly compensated jobs.  In the gospel Jesus offers a much more salubrious way to deal with social pressure.

Jesus is responding to the difficulty that Jews of his day had in fulfilling all the precepts of the Mosaic Law.  He begs the people to allow him to impose on them his way of carrying out the Law.  It is not that he will diminish the Law.  Rather, he will give its practitioners a new motive.  Instead of fretting over the execution of every deed, they will act out of love for the Father.  In this way Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading. “They that hope in the Lord,” the prophet says, “will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings…”

We celebrate St. Ambrose today as one of the great Church Fathers.  He recognized the need to let go of our proud ambitions to achieve fame and fortune.  Rather, he would say, we will find happiness – in this life as well as hereafter – from living for the Lord.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Memorial of St. Nicholas, bishop

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

St. Nicholas, the fourth century bishop of Myra in southwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey), was legendary for his pastoral care.  In one story he throws bags of gold into the home of three impoverished girls to save them from prostitution.  The money was used for dowries, and the three girls were happily married.  Because of tales like this St. Nicholas morphed into Santa Claus, the most famous gift-giver of all, except, of course, for God himself. 

Although charming, the stories about St. Nicholas pale in comparison to the generosity shown by God.  In today’s first reading the prophet Isaiah envisions God liberating His people from captivity in Babylon.  Liberation occurs in the sixth century B.C., and, again, in the life of Jesus.  As today’s gospel indicates, Jesus becomes the Good Shepherd who rescues sinners from perdition.

Although children are too often indulged with candy, a little treat along with a hearty catechesis is in order today.  We want to teach our young of Jesus’ gift of himself which is far more ingratiating.  His love brings us eternal happiness.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Monday of the Second Week of Advent

(Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26)

Many people will be taking a flight home for Christmas.  Most of the travelers will feel peace penetrating their souls as their plane approaches their city.  They will experience a shadow of the salvation which the prophet Isaiah describes in today’s first reading.

The passage does not identify either the starting or the terminal point of the journey.  From what is known of the Old Testament, however, the journey probably ends in Jerusalem, the heavenly home.  In the Temple there people make peace with God.  They not only experience relief from the burden of their sins but also consolation from being surrounded by others who believe as they do.  The passage exhorts the strengthening of the weak so that they might complete the journey.  In the gospel Jesus is shown to do just that.  But he doesn’t just heal the paralytic; he forgives his sins so that the man may feel God’s peace instantly.

Advent should be a busy time.  However, we must take care not to busy ourselves with vain pursuits. We should be preparing for the coming of the Lord by strengthening one another’s faith.  Perhaps this may be done by finding a suitable gift for family members and friends.   But it is surely done when we assist those in great need.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Friday of the First Week of Advent

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

The Feast of St. Cajetan is celebrated with grand fanfare in Argentina.  In a video message three years ago Pope Francis expressed his longing to be there on the occasion.  He also encouraged the people to assist the poor like St. Cajetan did.  He told them that when they give alms, they should not just toss the coin to the poor person but put the coin in the poor person’s hand.  In today’s gospel Jesus restores the sight of the blind with a similar physical touch.

In curing the blind men Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. The visionary speaks of the time when the tyrant will be overcome and the deprived will be made whole.  He probably has in mind the king of Assyria who was threatening the kingdom of Judah.  But the image can be universalized to mean all rulers who terrorize people.  The prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus who has conquered death to become the just sovereign of all.  Jesus also restores fullness to those with defects.  Very often in the gospels he works such wonders through physical contact.

We are now preparing for the truly awesome feast of Christmas.  If we do it well, we will take time to contemplate why God took on human flesh.  Was it not to show His love by becoming one of us?  Did he not wish to share the frustration we often have at home, at work, and even among friends?  More than feeling our pain, however, Jesus has come to relieve it as we hear today.  He is doing it for each of us as we lift a hand to help one another.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

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

Although we think of Advent as a time of waiting, it is an active period.  We should be more like parents waiting for their first child to be born than like commuters queuing for a bus.  We want to be busy preparing ourselves for Christ’s coming at the end of time.  We should avoid complaining about what is taking him so long to arrive.

The readings today give a sense of what we are to do.  Isaiah speaks of a nation that is just.  We are to make laws and build up communities to assure that the rights of all are fulfilled.  In the gospel Jesus admonishes his followers to base their lives on the Sermon on the Mount which concludes with this passage.  We are to carry out his righteousness by conforming our hearts to his selfless will.

One obstacle to the Advent project is Christmas itself.  Rather than concerning ourselves with improving society, we too often get caught up in vain pursuits.  Shopping that overindulges, partying that is done to excess, fantasizing about superfluous “needs” may all prevent us from being ready for Christ when he arrives as savior and judge.