Wednesday, January 4, 2023

 Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

(I John 3:7-10; John 1:35-42)

Vocation promoters often utilize the dialogue between Jesus and John’s disciples in today’s gospel.  They see in it a similar situation to that of their vocation prospects.  These young men and women are interested in following Jesus closely but need to clarify their desires.  Jesus’ question, “’What are you looking for?’”, challenges them to move beyond the indecisiveness of youth and formulate their objectives in life.  Then they will be able to see if religious life or priesthood will facilitate meeting those objectives.

Responding to Jesus’ question, Andrew and John’s other disciple tell Jesus that they want to see where he lives.  They are not interested in his human neighborhood but in his divine one.  They have heard John testify that Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” the one with God’s Spirit to take away the sin of the world.  Now they want to see if it is true.  If Jesus is the Messiah, Andrew and the other disciple will stay with him.

Having just recognized Jesus as the Messiah at Christmas, we too want to stay with him. He will not only teach us how to live so that our lives may be full but also his presence to us will be eternal life.  In this new year we want to endeavor to learn and practice his ways.  Then, meeting him in the sacraments, we will have a sense of the fulness of life that we seek. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

 Christmas Weekday

(I John 2:29-3:6; John1:29-34)

Christians should realize that their actions often contrast to the prevailing norms of society.  Because of this reality, the first reading today says, “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know (Christ).”  Where Christians strive for the good of others, the world seeks self-glory. 

Fr. Richard Conlin of the Archdiocese of Vancouver used to play college golf.  Evidently, he had the talent to pursue a professional career.  However, after going to Confession at the request of his mother for her birthday present, his life changed.  He decided to lay aside his childhood dream in order to to become a priest.  Today, he says, he gets to welcome other prodigal sons and daughters into God’s loving embrace.

For most of us it is not a great sacrifice to be a Christian.  No one will harm us if we don’t abide by worldly norms.  The contrary is usually the case.  Christianity puts us in the company of good people.  The world may even grudgingly admire us for constantly seeking the good of others.

Monday, January 2, 2023

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 Frosty the Snowman, 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 lived during the fourth century when people literally fought over different interpretations of the Incarnation.  They were best of friends when they studied together in Athens.  Basil defended the Church’s Nicene teaching against Arianism, a widespread and deeply rooted heresy claiming that Jesus was not 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 human 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 soul, the human soul cannot 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, January 1, 2023

 Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

(Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4,4-7; Luke 2:16-21)

There is only one passage about Mary that the three evangelists -- Mark, Matthew, and Luke -- report. It is worth comparing how each evangelist treats the situation. In it Jesus is teaching at his house in Capernaum. People are crowding the door to listen when his mother and other relatives arrive. According to Mark, when Jesus finds out that his relatives are looking for him, he almost disowns them. With a gesture of his arm he looks at his disciples inside the house and says that they are his mother and his siblings. He adds, "'Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and my mother"'.

According to Matthew, Jesus does about the same when Mary comes to his house in Capernaum. However, Matthew reports early in his gospel that Mary conceives by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it should be said that Matthew views Mary with more reverence than Mark, who reports nothing of the birth of Jesus.

Luke emphasizes the importance of Mary. In the episode at the house in Capernaum, Jesus does not indicate that only his disciples are his relatives. On the contrary, he says that anyone who attends to the word of God belongs to his family. From the beginning of his gospel, Luke shows Mary doing that. When the angel tells her that Elizabeth is pregnant with her, Mary goes "in haste" to visit her. In today's gospel, although he does not tell of an action, Luke says that Mary meditates in her heart the report of the shepherds.

St. Luke also highlights both the humility and the dauntlessness of the virgin mother. When the angel tells her of God's plan for her to be the mother of His son, she responds with the famous "fiat": "'Here is the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word'". And when she meets Elizabeth, Mary begins to preach how God raises up the poor while he brings down the mighty.

The Gospel of John is also favorable towards Mary although it mentions her only twice. The first time occurs when Mary solicits her son on behalf of the diners at the wedding in Cana. The second time is even more striking. Mary is at the cross of Jesus along with two of Jesus’ closest disciples. She is his faithful disciple to the end.

From this summary of gospel passages dealing with Mary, we can make some resolutions for the new year. First, like Mary we want to be more attentive to the word of God and more ready to put it into practice. We hear the word of God at Sunday Mass, but it would be helpful to read a Bible passage daily. Second, we should pray to Mary to ask her son for our needs. We do this every time we pray "Hail, Mary…" although we can be more focused about our requests. Third, it is increasingly important that we be humble before others. Pride often prevents cooperation and friendship between people. Finally, we want to remain faithful to the Lord, come what may. We know that he will never leave us. Many Ukrainians continue to ask for God's help, even though they have suffered enormous injustice. How is it that some people no longer attend mass because the priest does not preach well? As the mother of Jesus undoubtedly taught her son in her childhood, she has much to teach us today.

Friday, December 30, 2022

 Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

(Ecclesiasticus 3:3-7.14-17; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15.19-23)

Families are vital for the flourishing of people.  For this reason they have been termed the basic unit of society.  Perhaps also because of their importance, the term “family” has been extended to include other kinds of arrangements.  Parishes often label themselves as “family.”  A number of years ago a prominent politician called the Democratic Party a “family.”  Despite the importance of families, the nuclear family – mother, father, and children – is struggling to maintain itself today.

The Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – present an ideal for nuclear families today to emulate.  Like Joseph, the father must take responsibility for the welfare of all.  In the gospel Joseph listens to the Lord’s directive and acts on it.  Mary may be docile, but she is also wise.  She will follow her husband’s lead, but will no doubt tell him if he heads in the wrong direction.  Wives and mothers are almost always the heart of the modern family.  They support everyone, make needed sacrifices, and are ready to take over leadership if required.

A delicate question today is how to consider alternative families.  If the homosexual couple adopts or uses artificial methods to produce a child, how should the resultant family be considered?  Derivative families have always existed.  They are not ideal, but they can accomplish the goal of raising children to be responsible, caring members of society.