Thursday, December 29, 2022

The Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

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

A biblical scholar once ignited a holy man’s ire by calling John’s letters, “New Testament baby-talk.”  The scholar meant that John’s letters possess simplicity and directness as if they were written for children.  We see this in today’s first reading.  “Whoever loves his brother remains in the light...,” John writes, “Whoever hates his brother remains in darkness...”

John does not have enemy-love in mind here as if he were challenging Ukrainians to Russian soldiers.  Nor does he mean exactly that Christians have affection for blood brothers and sisters.  He is simply reiterating Jesus’ commandment to his community of disciples at the Last Supper.  He tells them that that they are to love one another.  It may sound easy, but hard feelings can sprout like weeds in a cow pasture when humans get together.  Disputes have originated among Guadalupanas and among Knights of Columbus as if these associations were composed of bands of pirates.  Most everyone feels frustration, envy, and even enmity with his or her associates at times.  John is saying that we must let go of these passions and always treat one another with care.

John would be oversimplifying if he meant that we may limit our love to those with whom we go to church.  Certainly such love for brothers and sisters in the religious or parish community teaches toleration, respect, and compassion so that we in turn may love even those who hate us. 

 

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.