Holy Family, 2008
Today's feast offers much-needed support to marriage and the family, Even its title, at first hearing, seems less than helpful. A "holy" family can sound like an unreal family, a family that travels through life trouble-free. One which consists of the Son of God and two great saints hardly seems to be the kind we could hope to identify with, let alone imitate. Mary and Joseph probably didn’t have baby sitters while they went out shopping or played bingo, or child care workers when the neighbors complain that their child seemed different.
Today we hear that Jesus lived in a family with trouble and real fears. We have all sorts of understanding when we use or hear the word family. Those are those whose understanding is limited to what has been called the traditional family. The traditional family is becoming less and less traditional. Single-parent families, foster families, and blended families make up a large percentage of the families in today’s society and in the Catholic Church.
Of course Jesus, Mary and Joseph are a unique family. Nonetheless, as today's gospel makes clear, they are a real family, as real as any family in the church today; they lived real lives, just like the people around them. They were Jews, humbly following the normal Jewish religious customs. So they complied with the ancient Jewish law. The law said that every first-born baby son should be presented in the temple as a thanksgiving for the wonderful gift of new life and then "bought back" from the Lord on payment of a few shekels. If you were poor an offering of a couple of birds was made. The offering of the poor was all that Mary and Joseph could afford.
A difficult with many families is a fast paced life that is with you almost 24 hours a day. Students from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburgh, Maryland recently were asked to do a study of what a fast paced life does on spirituality and on a person in general. Seminary students were walking to give a presentation on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Half of the students were told they were running late and must hurry. All the students, whether "late" or not. met someone who was clearly in need of medical help. (In fact, these had been placed there for the sake of the research.) With nobody nearby, what will the seminary students do? Remember they were going to give a talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of those who thought they were on time stopped to help. But an alarming 90% of the seminarians who thought they were running late failed to stop!
Time pressure was the only difference. Researchers have since found that people who live in families with the fastest pace of life are also the least helpful. They are less likely to help a blind person cross the street.
Most young families live a fast paced life. Technology has only made our time more stressful. Cell phones, Blackberries, computers, and unread emails clamor for our attention. We eat more fast food and spend more hours in traffic than previous generations. Heart disease, stroke, and stress-related illnesses abound. Chronic stress reduces our overall health and sense of wellness, makes us susceptible to disease, increases the likelihood of substance abuse, increases risk of heart attack, and creates a host of other bad effects, both psychological and physical.
We think multi-tasking might be the answer, so we try squeezing our calls in while stuck in traffic. Worse, we may be tempted to cut out the spiritual life or charitable works in favor of our personal to-do list.
The Holy Family, has much to teach us about fast paced lives. Their life was equally busy. They may have not had to worry about the pager going off at the wrong time, but they did have to make and do everything by hand. Grain was bought and had to be ground into flour. Flour had to be made into bread. each day. Water for cooking and drinking had to be drawn from the river or lake. Forget the microwave. The Holy Family had to cook every meal over an open fire, what we call a barbecue. We can be over-romanticizing when we picture Joseph teaching Jesus how to be a carpenter, or Mary teaching Jesus how to pray. Certainly, there was love, loyalty, and respect in the Holy Family at Nazareth, but it was a real family,
What made this family holy? We cannot give Jesus all the credit for this. The holiness of this family came from dad and mom’s response to God. Joseph and Mary made their faith, their religion, and their religious practices their highest priority. Luke points out today no less than five times that Joseph and Mary did everything as required by the law of Moses. Luke takes great pain to point out that Jesus came from a family that valued its faith, and thus by imp[implication, it valued itself and its relationship with God.
Jesus was not just a product of nature. His parents create a spiritual environment for him in their home. Must there not have been times when they watched him and wondered? It was only their strong faith that enabled them to hold on to the incredible truth that Jesus was not simply another boy from Nazareth, but the unique, long-awaited Messiah. As we look at our children, we might ask what kind of environment are we giving them. Children do learn what they live. Jesus did, so do ours. Jesus was fully human. He had to learn how to crawl, to walk and to talk. He had to learn who God was and how to pray. He had to learn the Bible and learn to love.
Jesus promised to be where two or three are gathered in his name. We learn the meaning of faith through the meaning of faithfulness we experience in family. We all learn the meaning of forgiveness from our experience of being forgiven with the family. We all learning the meaning of Thank You when we hear others say Thank You within the family. These are done in the ordinary moments of daily family life: at mealtimes, workdays, vacations, expressions of love and intimacy, household chores, caring for a sick child or elderly parent, or the death of a child. and even at times of conflicts over things like how to celebrate holidays, discipline children or spend money.
This does not mean, however, that family life is always easy. It takes courage for one parent raising the children--to create a home, to care for children, to hold down a job, to undertake church and community responsibilities. Or for moms and dads who cannot find work. And those who try to blend two sets of children into one family face special challenges. Families arising from an inter religious marriage give witness to God's love which overcomes all division.
As we reflect upon families today I suggest that you gather your family together for a special time of prayer for the family. There was an old saying that the family who prays together stays together. During this holiday season, pray for a family member who needs your forgiveness and ask Jesus what you might do to bring about reconciliation. Then do it. And if you are not in the habit of praying together, then maybe today is the time to start.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Homily for the Week of December 21, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Advent 2008
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (11B)
Romans 16: 25-27
Luke 1:26-38
The CBS 60 Minutes weekly TV program had an interesting report several weeks ago about the growing size of houses in affluent neighborhoods in our country. What was considered large even 10 years ago is no longer adequate.
The program describes homes in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Residents with perfectly fine homes are disturbed at the new practice of buying homes, tearing them down and building outlandish mansions just to keep up with the even wealthier neighbors.
Those slaves of fashion and too much money might change their minds if they were to listen to this weekend’s first reading. In it God scolds David for trying to build God a house of gold, when for years. God says he is perfectly satisfied to live in a tent.
Through Nathan God tells the king that some few thousand years later, he’ll set His own son on the throne of David. God is evidently uncomfortable with too much luxury in the here and now. If God is uncomfortable, how much more should we be.
Luke’s gospel for today unfolds the mystery of Advent. God has decided to seek a dwelling in a a maidens womb, be born in a stable, die on a cross, and only then find His permanent throne in that heaven from where He came. God is not ashamed of poverty. In fact, he prefers it.
He is never more delighted than to dwell in human hearts that return great love for them. Love is God’s luxury palace. Love is the message which Mary gave to the angel when she was invited to be the mother of Jesus.
Spiritually, Advent has been all about waiting for the birth of a child in Bethlehem by the name of Jesus. And hopefully we know now what the waiting was all about. But there is more to the waiting. It was so that we could live our lives in happiness and hope even when we have a world at war, and because of it, many families this Christmas will not have their l loving sons or daughters at home around the table or the Christmas tree.
Our faith convinces us that God is always with us. He helps to make sense of our suffering and miseries and death of loved ones. He helps us to believe that we are part of a much larger Advent when love will be born for the last time. Each of us can say an unqualified Yes to God and to our life, much as Mary did, or we can decide to spent our time in stress and hopleslessness.
In those days, an unmarried girl in similar circumstances could be stoned to death. Yet Mary, who has made every decision in her life based on what God would do, once again decides to place her trust in God and do things His way. But then what else should we expect, she has placed her life in His hands every moment of her life.
Mary is a remarkable example for us of someone who involves God in all that they do. Do we even bother to involve Him in the big decisions of the day -- or even the small decisions?
At school we are faced with many decisions, some involve pressure that is being put on us by our classmates. It seems easier to neglect God and do what our classmates want us to do, since we have to deal with them every day. We sometimes forget that we have to deal with God every day as well.
At work many of our decisions affect others. Do we always consider the effect that our decisions are going to have on others? Do we ever ask God what we should do?
Do our decisions at home with our family always involve thinking of all of them first and ourselves last? Like Mary, we should involve God in all of our decisions. Let us use Mary's situation in today's gospel as an example. What if those who find themselves facing an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy would think to involve God in their decision of what they should do about it.
In all of our decisions, like Mary, let us also try to say to God: Let it be done to me as you would like.
Let me illustrate: There is a story that Death was walking around the village one morning and a man asked: What are you going to do? Death replied, I’m going to take 100 people. The man expressed his horror but Death said: That’s the way it is. That what I do.
The man hurried ahead to warn everyone he could about Death’s plan, and as evening came, the man met Death again. The man said, You lied. 1000 people died, but told me you were going to take 100. Why did 1000 die? Death responded. I didn’t lie to you. I only took 100 people. Worry took the others. Why do we often worry and Mary did not worry? She had every reason to worry.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Homily for the Week of December 14, 2008
Third Sunday of Advent, 2008
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
In 1835, an Italian psychiatrist had a new patient who was suffering from chronic anxiety and depression. The patient had thought of suicide and was coming to a doctor as a last hope of recovering from his depression. An examination showed that the patient was in excellent physical condition. The doctor decided that what he needed was to learn to laugh again. Performing in the village that evening was a circus clown named Grimaldi. He was known for his ability to make people laugh. The doctor told him to go see Grimaldi. He will surely make you laugh again, the doctor said. The depressed patient replied: No, he cannot cure me. You see, I am Grimaldi. Grimaldi had to pretend he was happy as part of his work. We know that real joy is more than just an external sign.
Music is involved in the Christmas season like no other season. There is hardly a Christian household that does not have several Christmas music albums. Among the very top non-religious seasonal songs is ''Silver Bells,'' It was written by Ray Evans for the 1951 Bob Hope black-and-white movie, The Lemon Drop Kid. It Was recorded by Bing Crosby. The song had sold over 500 million copies.
Today was known in former times as Caudate Sunday as a sign of rejoicing that the Lord would soon be here. If you listened carefully on the words of Isaiah, especially you who are mothers and fathers, might have been able to translate his words into yours as you expected your first child.
In just ten days we we will sing out: JOY TO THE WORLD and will greet each other with a Merry Christmas. Christmas day will have come and gone. If a stranger or one who is not of our religious tradition were to meet us after Mass and ask us about Christmas, what would we answer? Would that person see excitement over a long awaited child, or just the anxiety of last minute shopping, of Christmas cards, and tiredness? How do we tell others of the joy we receive from Christ?
Why do you think that God wanted the baby to born in a stable? Because all the motels were filled up that night. God wanted his Son to be born as an outcast or an outlaw in order to show once and for all that with God there are no outcasts and outlaws. There are sinners, but all sinners can become saints; there may be bad people but they can become good. That is why Christmas is a time of joy.
Spiritual joy is not so much a feeling as a conviction. Happiness is a state of spiritual health. We tend to think that if we feel happy, we are happy. And if we don’t feel happy, we think we are not happy. Just as we may be healthy and feel unhealthy, so also we can feel unhappy and really be happy. Happiness is not the same as pleasure. Pleasure comes and goes. Happiness lasts. In fact, very often happy people have very little pleasure in their life.
Isaiah tells his people that some day they will rejoice. Paul tells us that it is God’s will that we rejoice always. We are told by John the Baptist that we are to Make straight the way of the Lord. John had very little of anything. But he was happy because he knew that the Savior was near.
John the Baptist preached within an equally unjust society in which the rate of taxation was close to 90 percent, the poor were mistreated, widows and orphans had to fend for themselves, and the sick were exiled because sickness or being handicapped was a sign of sinfulness. What John had to announce was not the arrival of Santa. What John announced was that God was coming to speak to this broken world, to heal, to bring justice, and to institute a new kind of Kingdom. Once again we can only imagine the anticipation of the poor who had so little hope and the anxiety of those who had too much to lose if this really were to happen.
But there are no short cuts to happiness. Advent teaches us the importance of waiting and watching. Not simply passing time until something happens, but using time spiritually to prepare ourselves for the Lord who is with us, yet who is to come. And lest we imagine it is all hard work and sacrifice, we are reminded it is about happiness too.
God gives us happiness as a free gift, especially to share it with others. Doing what God want us to do can make us happy. It can also increase our happiness. And one of the sure ways of bringing joy and happiness to our lives is doing something for others. That is why those preparing for confirmation are invited to give of their time and talents in serving others. While this is a requirement for confirmation, it really is seen as a way to begin giving back to others what has been received.
In the Plattsburgh Press Republican there was a photo of two high school students from a local high school who were fixing old bikes so that they might be given to the needy. The bikes were donated to them by the police and others. Others students gave money so that parts could be bought. The students bargained with the parts stores on prices. What these teenage students did went way beyond the bikes that they gave away.
Today's Mass joyfully invites us to open our eyes to recognize a remarkable "secret," the presence of Jesus--but not simply a Jesus who came long ago or who is coming again. Rather, we are invited to look deep into the ordinary lives we live and to the ordinary people with whom we live, there to recognize the "secret," extraordinary presence of the One we call Jesus and Lord.
Today’s message is one of joy. During this week take some time to think of what gives you joy. It might be watching your children or grandchildren. It might be nature or sports or woodworking or needlework. Maybe it is music or art. Perhaps it is just being able to see or to hear.
Whatever it is that gives you joy, stop and think about it. Appreciate it. Than think of the ever faithful God is behind that joy you experience. Be joyful and thank God.
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
In 1835, an Italian psychiatrist had a new patient who was suffering from chronic anxiety and depression. The patient had thought of suicide and was coming to a doctor as a last hope of recovering from his depression. An examination showed that the patient was in excellent physical condition. The doctor decided that what he needed was to learn to laugh again. Performing in the village that evening was a circus clown named Grimaldi. He was known for his ability to make people laugh. The doctor told him to go see Grimaldi. He will surely make you laugh again, the doctor said. The depressed patient replied: No, he cannot cure me. You see, I am Grimaldi. Grimaldi had to pretend he was happy as part of his work. We know that real joy is more than just an external sign.
Music is involved in the Christmas season like no other season. There is hardly a Christian household that does not have several Christmas music albums. Among the very top non-religious seasonal songs is ''Silver Bells,'' It was written by Ray Evans for the 1951 Bob Hope black-and-white movie, The Lemon Drop Kid. It Was recorded by Bing Crosby. The song had sold over 500 million copies.
Today was known in former times as Caudate Sunday as a sign of rejoicing that the Lord would soon be here. If you listened carefully on the words of Isaiah, especially you who are mothers and fathers, might have been able to translate his words into yours as you expected your first child.
In just ten days we we will sing out: JOY TO THE WORLD and will greet each other with a Merry Christmas. Christmas day will have come and gone. If a stranger or one who is not of our religious tradition were to meet us after Mass and ask us about Christmas, what would we answer? Would that person see excitement over a long awaited child, or just the anxiety of last minute shopping, of Christmas cards, and tiredness? How do we tell others of the joy we receive from Christ?
Why do you think that God wanted the baby to born in a stable? Because all the motels were filled up that night. God wanted his Son to be born as an outcast or an outlaw in order to show once and for all that with God there are no outcasts and outlaws. There are sinners, but all sinners can become saints; there may be bad people but they can become good. That is why Christmas is a time of joy.
Spiritual joy is not so much a feeling as a conviction. Happiness is a state of spiritual health. We tend to think that if we feel happy, we are happy. And if we don’t feel happy, we think we are not happy. Just as we may be healthy and feel unhealthy, so also we can feel unhappy and really be happy. Happiness is not the same as pleasure. Pleasure comes and goes. Happiness lasts. In fact, very often happy people have very little pleasure in their life.
Isaiah tells his people that some day they will rejoice. Paul tells us that it is God’s will that we rejoice always. We are told by John the Baptist that we are to Make straight the way of the Lord. John had very little of anything. But he was happy because he knew that the Savior was near.
John the Baptist preached within an equally unjust society in which the rate of taxation was close to 90 percent, the poor were mistreated, widows and orphans had to fend for themselves, and the sick were exiled because sickness or being handicapped was a sign of sinfulness. What John had to announce was not the arrival of Santa. What John announced was that God was coming to speak to this broken world, to heal, to bring justice, and to institute a new kind of Kingdom. Once again we can only imagine the anticipation of the poor who had so little hope and the anxiety of those who had too much to lose if this really were to happen.
But there are no short cuts to happiness. Advent teaches us the importance of waiting and watching. Not simply passing time until something happens, but using time spiritually to prepare ourselves for the Lord who is with us, yet who is to come. And lest we imagine it is all hard work and sacrifice, we are reminded it is about happiness too.
God gives us happiness as a free gift, especially to share it with others. Doing what God want us to do can make us happy. It can also increase our happiness. And one of the sure ways of bringing joy and happiness to our lives is doing something for others. That is why those preparing for confirmation are invited to give of their time and talents in serving others. While this is a requirement for confirmation, it really is seen as a way to begin giving back to others what has been received.
In the Plattsburgh Press Republican there was a photo of two high school students from a local high school who were fixing old bikes so that they might be given to the needy. The bikes were donated to them by the police and others. Others students gave money so that parts could be bought. The students bargained with the parts stores on prices. What these teenage students did went way beyond the bikes that they gave away.
Today's Mass joyfully invites us to open our eyes to recognize a remarkable "secret," the presence of Jesus--but not simply a Jesus who came long ago or who is coming again. Rather, we are invited to look deep into the ordinary lives we live and to the ordinary people with whom we live, there to recognize the "secret," extraordinary presence of the One we call Jesus and Lord.
Today’s message is one of joy. During this week take some time to think of what gives you joy. It might be watching your children or grandchildren. It might be nature or sports or woodworking or needlework. Maybe it is music or art. Perhaps it is just being able to see or to hear.
Whatever it is that gives you joy, stop and think about it. Appreciate it. Than think of the ever faithful God is behind that joy you experience. Be joyful and thank God.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Homily for the Week of December 7, 2008
Second Sunday of Advent, 2008
Is. 40:1–5, 9–11; 2 Pt 3:8–14; Mk 1:1–8
While this weekend is the 2nd week of Advent, we also remember a person who is associated with Christmas. Today is the feast of St. Nicholas. Most Americans know that somehow our Christmas figure Santa Claus is based on ''Good St. Nick.'' The name ''Santa Claus'' is an anglicized version of the Dutch name for St. Nicholas, ''Sinterklaas.'' In the early fourth century, St. Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, a town, now in ruins, in Turkey. He began his life and time as bishop under the persecution of Roman emperors. Many legends grew up around him, all based on his practice of charity and care for the poor.
One legend is of a poor man with three daughters who he could not marry off because he was too poor to provide a dowry. In secret St. Nicholas saw that the father received three bags of gold so that he could provide a dowry for each of his daughters. This in a way began our tradition of giving gifts at Christmas. This weekend we also remember the tragic event of Pearl Harbor, a moment fading from our collective memory, but a moment that is remembered as a turning point in U.S. and world history.
Our Bible reading for today, however is not about St. Nicholas or Pearl Harbor but about John the Baptist and the Jewish world at his time. Judea was an occupied land, and the Romans were ruthless rulers. Many of the Jews that had come to power were seen as slaves of Rome, sinful and corrupt. Into this environment John brought a word of hope. He announced that God was coming. He prepared a road for Jesus. Many of you are familiar with road construction.
The first job in building a new highway is to clear the right of way. There may be trees to cut down and stumps to pull up. Sometimes buildings must be torn down or moved. The right of way then is ready for rough grading. At this stage, earth movers, which can dig up a roomful of dirt in one scoop, are used. They cut into the hills, carry the earth along, and drop it into the valleys to make a road with gentle grades.
Our first reading today gives us a hint of road construction about 4000 years ago. There were no earth movers or Bull dozers, but somehow the valleys were filled in and the mountains were cut down so that "the crooked ways might be made straight and a road for the lord." be built. It seems that John the Baptist is the construction foreman. Who was this John the Baptist?
John the Baptist was the son of Zachary and his wife Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus was his cousin. He was probably born southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel had told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. John left the village and went to the desert of Judea to live as a hermit. Many like him did this to escape what they considered was the sinfulness they saw in their country. When he was thirty he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan River and invited people to be baptized. He attracted large crowds.
John baptized his cousin Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. Jesus left to preach in Galilee. John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. John attracted large crowds. The political authorities were suspicious of John. John got into serious trouble, however, when he criticized Herod for an adulterous relationship with Herodias, the wife of Philip his half brother. Salome, daughter of Herodias, danced at a birthday party for Herod. He was so pleased that he offered to grant Salome any wish. She requested the head of John the Baptist. Herod carried out her wish.
John inspired many of his followers to follow Jesus. Among these were Andrew and his brother John. He became convinced that his cousin Jesus was really the Savior and Son of God, and wanted everyone to prepare the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ messenger. John was announcing a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to prepare for Jesus’ coming. John had a unique and much needed message for the people of his time and for us today.
Some people went to John because they were spiritually bankrupt. They were empty, and they hoped that John could fill the empty place.
Some people went to John because they had it all, but it wasn't enough. They had money and homes, but they wanted more. But then, when they got more, their hunger continued unabated. Nothing made them happy. They went to John hoping that he could pull together the broken pieces of their lives, and make them whole.
These reasons for coming to John sound like some of the reasons that people turn to Jesus today. Each of us or various reasons feel within us a need for change or conversion.
All of us have experienced someone telling us how to change our lives. This call to change our lives may be the only one that some of us have ever heard. John’s announces, discusses, and invites people to think about a new way of life. And that way of life was prepared for us by Jesus.
As Christians, we have the role of preparing the way of the Lord, not only for ourselves but for others. Before we help prepare others, we must acknowledge our own sins and seek forgiveness We must examine our inner sins. Advent is a time for this preparation and for our renewal. John the Baptist came to straighten out the road for Jesus, to prepare his way. We too may need to get the road of our lives straightened and the interstate highways of our hearts ready so that we take the right road or be able to get out of the ruts of our life.
I want to finish these thoughts by a story that my uncle told me years ago. He was a soldier in the First World War. He mentioned that it was Christmas eve in the occupied Netherlands. The military commander of the town lifted the curfew to allow persons to go to Midnight Mass. Just before Mass a group of German soldiers marched into the church to go to Mass with the Americans. No Dutch or Americans would ever associate with the German soldiers, let alone eat with them. Even when these soldiers gave candy to children they would spit in their face. But at this Christmas eve, American, Dutch and German soldiers came to kneel at the communion rail, and no one objected. For a brief moment all was well; enemies talked.
This Advent let us welcome back into our lives someone whom we have not related with for a long time; and on the other hand, let us also welcome into our lives someone who comes to us to renew a relationship. And finally, each one of us in this church today knows of a Catholic who is right now inactive. In kindness reach out to that person, inviting that person to return. If you and I do not prepare the way for the Lord, who will?
Is. 40:1–5, 9–11; 2 Pt 3:8–14; Mk 1:1–8
While this weekend is the 2nd week of Advent, we also remember a person who is associated with Christmas. Today is the feast of St. Nicholas. Most Americans know that somehow our Christmas figure Santa Claus is based on ''Good St. Nick.'' The name ''Santa Claus'' is an anglicized version of the Dutch name for St. Nicholas, ''Sinterklaas.'' In the early fourth century, St. Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, a town, now in ruins, in Turkey. He began his life and time as bishop under the persecution of Roman emperors. Many legends grew up around him, all based on his practice of charity and care for the poor.
One legend is of a poor man with three daughters who he could not marry off because he was too poor to provide a dowry. In secret St. Nicholas saw that the father received three bags of gold so that he could provide a dowry for each of his daughters. This in a way began our tradition of giving gifts at Christmas. This weekend we also remember the tragic event of Pearl Harbor, a moment fading from our collective memory, but a moment that is remembered as a turning point in U.S. and world history.
Our Bible reading for today, however is not about St. Nicholas or Pearl Harbor but about John the Baptist and the Jewish world at his time. Judea was an occupied land, and the Romans were ruthless rulers. Many of the Jews that had come to power were seen as slaves of Rome, sinful and corrupt. Into this environment John brought a word of hope. He announced that God was coming. He prepared a road for Jesus. Many of you are familiar with road construction.
The first job in building a new highway is to clear the right of way. There may be trees to cut down and stumps to pull up. Sometimes buildings must be torn down or moved. The right of way then is ready for rough grading. At this stage, earth movers, which can dig up a roomful of dirt in one scoop, are used. They cut into the hills, carry the earth along, and drop it into the valleys to make a road with gentle grades.
Our first reading today gives us a hint of road construction about 4000 years ago. There were no earth movers or Bull dozers, but somehow the valleys were filled in and the mountains were cut down so that "the crooked ways might be made straight and a road for the lord." be built. It seems that John the Baptist is the construction foreman. Who was this John the Baptist?
John the Baptist was the son of Zachary and his wife Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus was his cousin. He was probably born southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel had told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. John left the village and went to the desert of Judea to live as a hermit. Many like him did this to escape what they considered was the sinfulness they saw in their country. When he was thirty he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan River and invited people to be baptized. He attracted large crowds.
John baptized his cousin Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. Jesus left to preach in Galilee. John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. John attracted large crowds. The political authorities were suspicious of John. John got into serious trouble, however, when he criticized Herod for an adulterous relationship with Herodias, the wife of Philip his half brother. Salome, daughter of Herodias, danced at a birthday party for Herod. He was so pleased that he offered to grant Salome any wish. She requested the head of John the Baptist. Herod carried out her wish.
John inspired many of his followers to follow Jesus. Among these were Andrew and his brother John. He became convinced that his cousin Jesus was really the Savior and Son of God, and wanted everyone to prepare the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ messenger. John was announcing a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to prepare for Jesus’ coming. John had a unique and much needed message for the people of his time and for us today.
Some people went to John because they were spiritually bankrupt. They were empty, and they hoped that John could fill the empty place.
Some people went to John because they had it all, but it wasn't enough. They had money and homes, but they wanted more. But then, when they got more, their hunger continued unabated. Nothing made them happy. They went to John hoping that he could pull together the broken pieces of their lives, and make them whole.
These reasons for coming to John sound like some of the reasons that people turn to Jesus today. Each of us or various reasons feel within us a need for change or conversion.
All of us have experienced someone telling us how to change our lives. This call to change our lives may be the only one that some of us have ever heard. John’s announces, discusses, and invites people to think about a new way of life. And that way of life was prepared for us by Jesus.
As Christians, we have the role of preparing the way of the Lord, not only for ourselves but for others. Before we help prepare others, we must acknowledge our own sins and seek forgiveness We must examine our inner sins. Advent is a time for this preparation and for our renewal. John the Baptist came to straighten out the road for Jesus, to prepare his way. We too may need to get the road of our lives straightened and the interstate highways of our hearts ready so that we take the right road or be able to get out of the ruts of our life.
I want to finish these thoughts by a story that my uncle told me years ago. He was a soldier in the First World War. He mentioned that it was Christmas eve in the occupied Netherlands. The military commander of the town lifted the curfew to allow persons to go to Midnight Mass. Just before Mass a group of German soldiers marched into the church to go to Mass with the Americans. No Dutch or Americans would ever associate with the German soldiers, let alone eat with them. Even when these soldiers gave candy to children they would spit in their face. But at this Christmas eve, American, Dutch and German soldiers came to kneel at the communion rail, and no one objected. For a brief moment all was well; enemies talked.
This Advent let us welcome back into our lives someone whom we have not related with for a long time; and on the other hand, let us also welcome into our lives someone who comes to us to renew a relationship. And finally, each one of us in this church today knows of a Catholic who is right now inactive. In kindness reach out to that person, inviting that person to return. If you and I do not prepare the way for the Lord, who will?
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