Friday, December 13, 2019

Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr

(Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19)

In Matthew’s gospel John the Baptist and Jesus preach using the very same words.  They both tell the people, “’Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Nevertheless, they are different kinds of people.  As today’s gospel states, John has a very ascetic life.  He lives in the desert and eats locusts.  Meanwhile, Jesus stays around people.  He enjoys a full meal and a cup of wine in the company of others.

Rather than heed their common message, the people reject it outright.  They say that they do so because John is possessed (i.e., crazy) and Jesus is a drunkard.  But these are just excuses.  The people do not want to repent.  They are comfortable enough living as they do.  Unfortunately, they do not realize what they will be are missing with the loss of the kingdom.

We must not make the same mistake.  Even if we go to church every day, there are still plenty reforms to make.  We may have a temper that can go out of control or a tendency to understate the truth.  We may be given to gossip or even to pornography.  We need to take to heart that something wonderful is coming our way.  Let’s make the reforms necessary to take full advantage of it.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(Zechariah 1:14-17; Luke 1:39-47)

What were Juan Diego’s hopes as he set out the morning of December 9, 1531, for the Franciscan mission?  Perhaps he only hoped to learn more about Christ.  But probably deep down he harbored other, greater hopes.  He might have hoped for the Europeans to leave his land.  They were foreigners telling the native people where they could go and what they could do.  It may be that Juan Diego harbored another hope that morning.  He was a devout man and already a Christian.  Perhaps he hoped to see all the native peoples embrace Jesus.  As the Spaniards occupied more of the land, fewer natives were accepting the faith.  Juan Diego may have regretted that his people were missing the one who could have improved their lives immeasurably.

Hope is more than wishful thinking.  It pervades one’s consciousness causing the person to search for opportunities to realize what is hoped for. Hope overcomes the fear of taking risks.  People today cross seas in small boats and deserts at night in hope of a better future.  Juan Diego’s hope moved him to enter the city as the lovely lady, the Virgin of Guadalupe, told him.  It made him insist that the bishop there hear what the lady wanted.  Hope finally caused Juan Diego to work for the conversion of his people to Christianity.

During Advent Christians become aware of a great hope in our hearts.  We long to see the good prosper and the evil reform.  We try to reform ourselves and pray for others to do so.  Because we know that the mother of God is an especially powerful advocate, we ask her to pray for us.  Today we especially pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe.  We ask her to intercede for us that our hope that our children keep the faith, our elders receive all deserved gratitude, and we may become more just people.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

(Isaiah 4025-31; Matthew 11:28-30)

Spiritual theologian Fr. Ronald Rolheiser recently offered a short reflection on the “hiddenness of God.”  He wrote that the more a person enters into a relationship with God, the greater God’s mystery seems to him or her.  In other words, an intimate relationship with God envelops the believer in a “cloud of unknowing.’” This is “a knowing so deep that it can no longer be conceptualized.”  In today’s first reading, the prophet comments on God’s hiddenness to a similarly positive effect.

The reading comes from the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  God is in the process of delivering His (the Jewish) people from exile.  The people, however, are saying that God does not recognize their plight.  They believe that God has forgotten them.  God responds to their fear by stating that He has strengthened them.  Renewed in heart, the people will see their way back to their homes in Israel.

Sometimes we are tempted to give up pursuing a relationship with God.  Some might resign themselves to whatever benefits they might squeeze from the earth.  With such a strategy, however, they will miss the glory God has in store for them.  It is far better to enter a closer relationship with the Lord by submitting ourselves to Him in prayer and in action.  This is the “yoke” that Jesus exhorts us to shoulder in today’s gospel.  We will find it not only bearable but a joy because Jesus shares it with us.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

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

People who go to college are generally smart.  They use big words when they talk.  They read books which fill their heads with grand ideas.  But other people have difficulty with studies.  Their reading is limited to the sports page or the comics in the newspaper.  They struggle to find work that they can do.  This second group may not seem like people most would enjoy knowing.  However, in both the first reading and the gospel today God shows particular care for them.

In the first reading God makes it known that the exiles in Babylonia have suffered enough.  Although some Jews prospered there, most of the deportees suffered.  They are tired and depressed.  They want to return to their native land but lack the resources.   In the reading God promises His help.  The gospel pictures a simple man who was led astray.  Perhaps he started drinking heavily or believing in money and not the Lord as his savior.  Jesus tells of the need for someone to fetch the simple man and return him to a life of faith.

It can be said that Advent is the time when we concern ourselves with others.  In contrast, during Lent we are concerned about reforming ourselves.  In the current season we multiply our works and prayers on behalf of others as a way to prepare for Christ.  Like a light in the window, our works are seen by Jesus who will come to call us home.

Monday, December 9, 2019

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)

Many think that priests find hearing confessions interesting.  They don’t. They consider time in

the confessional tedious work however necessary it may be.  Very often people confess the same says.  Viewing pornography seems to be the sin most confessed today at least by men.  Today’s fest testifies to one person’s escaping the scourge of sin completely.  As a special favor of God, Mary was conceived without original sin.  In turn she is to play a critical role in God’s plan of overcoming the scourge of sin I the world.

Sin begins, of course, at the beginning, just after creation.  Adam eats the forbidden fruit.  His sin readily gives way to others.  No sooner does God confront the man with his disobedience than Adam denies responsibility for it.  He says that because she gave the fruit to him, he ate it.  The woman, who will be called “Eve,” likewise refuses to accept responsibility for the sinful act.  She blames the serpent.  Fast forward to the gospel for a unique take on humanity. “Full of grace,” Mary obeys God’s word by assenting to His request to bear Jesus, God’s “Son.”  She accepts this responsibility despite the fact that she cannot understand exactly how it will happen. 

We are somewhat like Adam and Eve and somewhat like Mary.  We sin, often enough looking for excuses to justify ourselves.  But we also take advantage of the grace that Mary’s son, Jesus, has won for us.  In the end we confess our sins, accept God’s grace, and resume our moral responsibilities.