Christmas, 2011
Is 9:1-6 - Ps 96: 1-2,2-3,11-12,13 - Titus 2: 11-14 -Luke 2:1-14
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. These lyrics from the Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” capture well the paradox of our times. Technological advances in the fields of medicine and communication open up whole areas of hope-filled possibilities. Yet, for many persons the fears about what tomorrow holds are real and unnerving. The economic distress that our families continue to endure, the unending violence suffered by the innocent, and the moral decline unravelling the very fabric of our families are sobering realities that make it difficult to be hopeful about what tomorrow may bring.
In the midst of our fragile human condition, God became flesh in the person of Jesus of Bethlehem. God gave Jesus to us as a human person like us and telling us through Jesus: I love you. God has come and illuminated the cruel night of our fears with the light of His undying love.
So, light the candles! They have more right to be here than darkness. Christ brought us someone who was not of this world, yet a who is capable of changing this world, for Jesus has the power to change our hearts, to enlighten our minds and to strengthen our wills. By taking on our flesh, with all its weaknesses, and transfiguring it by the power of His Spirit, Christian hope is not a mere pipe dream, but a Promise enfleshed in the Child lying in a manger.
In the Bible passage which I just finished reading we heard a story about an unusual birth. Mary, who is about to have a baby, and her husband Joseph had travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem by donkey, a distance of about 90 miles. As they arrive in Bethlehem they could not find a room for the night. This is not only because the rooms were filled but because they had no money. The only place they could find is a stable with a few shepherds who had brought in their sheep for the night.
Many of your homes may have a Christmas manger and nativity scene -- maybe not as big as this one, but one that represents what we just heard of the birth of Jesus. When we stand or sit in front of the manger scene we get our first clue to the Christmas mystery.
Each of the figures in the manger scene are there for a purpose. We can easily do without one of the sheep, and we may not be upset if one of the shepherds feel asleep. But certainly we could not imagine a Christmas nativity scene without the centrepiece, the birthday boy himself: the Baby Jesus in the manger.
But how sad it is if we add Jesus to the Nativity scene in our homes or even here in church and then do not place him in the centre of our lives today and all year long. We who place Jesus in his crib at Christmas must place him at the centre of our lives every day. If we don't, we fail to honor Jesus who lives in and through you and me and all persons. Wouldn't be sad if Jesus found no place in our lives day by day.
To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to repeat the song of the angels: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, PEACE ON EARTH TO THOSE ON WHOM GOD'S FAVOR RESTS.
To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is for us to live as he would want us to live. We must be eager to do what is right and true and good just as Jesus did. It is also important for us to help others to know him and to come to him whenever they have a need of any kind.
To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to hear, really hear God speaking to us in the beloved son, offering hope to everyone.
To place Jesus at the centre of our lives means that we try our best to live as children of God.
To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to find ourselves at the centre of God's love, at Christmas and forever.
Our job in this Christmas celebration is to find how we fit into the manger scene with the shepherds, and with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. If God is not part of our lives, we are homeless. If God is not part of our lives we are nobodies.
At Christmas we celebrate the fact that Jesus came among us at a particular moment in history and continues to come to us today. Because of this we have reason for hope. We have a future. Jesus is
Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the new-born who fulfils our deepest yearnings for peace and happiness.
May you enjoy a most blessed and merry Christmas, and know throughout the Christmas season the love of God present in your lives, and that Jesus came to love us without conditions. It is my prayer for you that God will give you this peace and joy, now and throughout the coming year.
May the Christ Child come to you and your loved ones this Christmas with the Gift of Love, the Blessing of Hope, and the Promise of Peace. A blessed Christmas to all of you!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Homily for the Week of December 18, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Advent 2011
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (11B)
Romans 16: 25-27
Luke 1:26-38
So very frequently the stories or the information that are described to us in our Bible readings each weekend may seem to many of you far from the real world of our daily lives. But at times it can be easy for us to make the jump of two or three thousand years when we apply the events of the Bible to our lives. Such is the story of the angel Gabriel who came to a young teen age girl of the village of Nazareth named Mary and said Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you. She became afraid. To help her with her anxiety Gabriel, Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor from God.
Over the years I have often heard the same story from those preparing for a Catholic wedding. One of their greatest fears is being good parents and knowing what to do as parents with their first child. This is especially a concern when one of the couple is from a small family. But when the child is born their fear gives way to love. They quickly realize that the newly born baby they hold in their arms is the closest is a gift from God. Their child is a living example of God’s love for them and God’s presence in their lives. Love becomes their teacher.
In a similar way Mary at first was troubled. Gabriel does not give her details. In fact he told her very little, except that nothing is impossible when God is part of the picture. He only tells her that God has chosen her, and because of that God would protect her. She consented to God’s offer. Through her God gave us the gift of Jesus.
Luke’s gospel for today unfolds the mystery of Advent. God has decided to send someone like us to free us from sin and to show us how we can love others as ourselves. 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, the last three weeks of Advent have 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 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.
At the time today’s Gospel story was written, 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. 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?
Like with Mary God also calls us day by day. He may not send and angel Gabriel to us, but instead he talks to us when we are alone and talk to ourselves out loud or in silence. God talks to us through the miracles and blessings that fill our daily lives. They are much like the blessings he gave to so many who came to him: to those who were anxious, to those who had smothered their life through bad things; to those who needed comfort after the sickness or death of a loved one. But sometimes God’s invitation to us is so muffled that we cannot hear it. Or we may be afraid that we are not worthy of God, or ashamed of ourselves. But we must trust that God is always part of the package. God always talks to us in love.
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.
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? As we await the joyful birth of our Lord Jesus next weekend let us pray for perseverance: for the grace to be faithful in good times and in bad, in season and out of season. Like Mary, let us involve God in all of our decisions. And 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.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (11B)
Romans 16: 25-27
Luke 1:26-38
So very frequently the stories or the information that are described to us in our Bible readings each weekend may seem to many of you far from the real world of our daily lives. But at times it can be easy for us to make the jump of two or three thousand years when we apply the events of the Bible to our lives. Such is the story of the angel Gabriel who came to a young teen age girl of the village of Nazareth named Mary and said Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you. She became afraid. To help her with her anxiety Gabriel, Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor from God.
Over the years I have often heard the same story from those preparing for a Catholic wedding. One of their greatest fears is being good parents and knowing what to do as parents with their first child. This is especially a concern when one of the couple is from a small family. But when the child is born their fear gives way to love. They quickly realize that the newly born baby they hold in their arms is the closest is a gift from God. Their child is a living example of God’s love for them and God’s presence in their lives. Love becomes their teacher.
In a similar way Mary at first was troubled. Gabriel does not give her details. In fact he told her very little, except that nothing is impossible when God is part of the picture. He only tells her that God has chosen her, and because of that God would protect her. She consented to God’s offer. Through her God gave us the gift of Jesus.
Luke’s gospel for today unfolds the mystery of Advent. God has decided to send someone like us to free us from sin and to show us how we can love others as ourselves. 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, the last three weeks of Advent have 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 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.
At the time today’s Gospel story was written, 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. 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?
Like with Mary God also calls us day by day. He may not send and angel Gabriel to us, but instead he talks to us when we are alone and talk to ourselves out loud or in silence. God talks to us through the miracles and blessings that fill our daily lives. They are much like the blessings he gave to so many who came to him: to those who were anxious, to those who had smothered their life through bad things; to those who needed comfort after the sickness or death of a loved one. But sometimes God’s invitation to us is so muffled that we cannot hear it. Or we may be afraid that we are not worthy of God, or ashamed of ourselves. But we must trust that God is always part of the package. God always talks to us in love.
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.
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? As we await the joyful birth of our Lord Jesus next weekend let us pray for perseverance: for the grace to be faithful in good times and in bad, in season and out of season. Like Mary, let us involve God in all of our decisions. And 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.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Homily for the Week of December 11, 2011
December 11, 2011, Third Sunday of Advent
Mass readings: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/ 1 Thes 5:16-24 / Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
As you prepare for Christmas many of you may have either heard or even sung the traditional Christmas carol “Little Drummer Boy.” While it was first sung by Bing Crosby over 50 years ago it is a simple song which consists of no less than 21 pa rum pum pum pums. The song became the basis for several shows and plays and a children’s book. The simple song is the story of a little boy who wanted to give baby Jesus a special gift. He was a poor boy and so had no gift to bring Jesus. So he goes to the stable and he offered the baby Jesus all that he had to give — his music --the pa rum pum pum pum on his drum. Jesus’ mother nodded, the ox and lamb kept time. It was a humble gift that came from the heart.
On this weekend we again have the story of John the Baptist who, like the little drummer boy came to prepare a way for Jesus and bring joy to the world. John the Baptist set out to change the world. He came to bring us a message of hope. Because of John many were brought to their faith. During this Advent season you and I have also been encouraged to witness our faith, especially when we witness to the connection of Christmas to Christ.
Our Gospel today is written by St. John. St. John never calls John “the Baptist.” The people kept asking John: Who are you? All John offered was who he was not: “I am not the Messiah, not Elijah, and not the prophet.” When pressed, John still did not say who he was; he only offered his role: “I am the one crying out in the wilderness.”
John the Baptist does tell us that he is not Jesus but he is a witness to Jesus. The word witness comes from the Greek word for martyr. We use martyr to mean someone who has died for their faith. In a real sense, John has given up his life in this passage. Although he has not been killed, by offering no clue to his personal identity John makes clear that his sole focus and purpose is to make an announcement: “One is coming after me.” John also urges us to be prepared.
Like with John the Baptist we are often asked: Who are you? This is a question each of us must answer. It can be an uncomfortable question. It is a question asked of us individually. It is a question rightfully asked by anyone who would come and be with us. It requires a personal answer. But when asked, “Who are you?” the usual response is to give our name and maybe a little bit about ourselves. Most of us do not spend much time giving ourselves an answer to who we are. And when we do we often tell ourselves what others say about us rather than what we truthfully know ourselves to be. We usually use the labels that first pop into our mind such as our job, our relationships, our hobbies. And very often they shape our personality, and the way that we feel and the way that others feel about us. But today’s question is asking more. It asks for the essence of who we are. It asks us to reveal the foundation of our identity. One of which ought to be joy or happiness.
On this third weekend of Advent we Catholics are invited to have joy - to rejoice. 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.
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. It is a way to give back to others what has been given us.
Happiness also does not mean that we impose our views on others, but it means to serve those around us with love. We are not called by Jesus to make revolutionary changes, but to be messengers of God. The voice of God and the voice of love must be our voice. Whatever plans we have and whatever we do must testify to the light which is Jesus.
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.
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. Then think of the ever faithful God who provided you with that joy or experience. Be joyful and thank God. Let us have the courage to do what the Little Drummer Boy and John the Baptist did in the name of Jesus.
Mass readings: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/ 1 Thes 5:16-24 / Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
As you prepare for Christmas many of you may have either heard or even sung the traditional Christmas carol “Little Drummer Boy.” While it was first sung by Bing Crosby over 50 years ago it is a simple song which consists of no less than 21 pa rum pum pum pums. The song became the basis for several shows and plays and a children’s book. The simple song is the story of a little boy who wanted to give baby Jesus a special gift. He was a poor boy and so had no gift to bring Jesus. So he goes to the stable and he offered the baby Jesus all that he had to give — his music --the pa rum pum pum pum on his drum. Jesus’ mother nodded, the ox and lamb kept time. It was a humble gift that came from the heart.
On this weekend we again have the story of John the Baptist who, like the little drummer boy came to prepare a way for Jesus and bring joy to the world. John the Baptist set out to change the world. He came to bring us a message of hope. Because of John many were brought to their faith. During this Advent season you and I have also been encouraged to witness our faith, especially when we witness to the connection of Christmas to Christ.
Our Gospel today is written by St. John. St. John never calls John “the Baptist.” The people kept asking John: Who are you? All John offered was who he was not: “I am not the Messiah, not Elijah, and not the prophet.” When pressed, John still did not say who he was; he only offered his role: “I am the one crying out in the wilderness.”
John the Baptist does tell us that he is not Jesus but he is a witness to Jesus. The word witness comes from the Greek word for martyr. We use martyr to mean someone who has died for their faith. In a real sense, John has given up his life in this passage. Although he has not been killed, by offering no clue to his personal identity John makes clear that his sole focus and purpose is to make an announcement: “One is coming after me.” John also urges us to be prepared.
Like with John the Baptist we are often asked: Who are you? This is a question each of us must answer. It can be an uncomfortable question. It is a question asked of us individually. It is a question rightfully asked by anyone who would come and be with us. It requires a personal answer. But when asked, “Who are you?” the usual response is to give our name and maybe a little bit about ourselves. Most of us do not spend much time giving ourselves an answer to who we are. And when we do we often tell ourselves what others say about us rather than what we truthfully know ourselves to be. We usually use the labels that first pop into our mind such as our job, our relationships, our hobbies. And very often they shape our personality, and the way that we feel and the way that others feel about us. But today’s question is asking more. It asks for the essence of who we are. It asks us to reveal the foundation of our identity. One of which ought to be joy or happiness.
On this third weekend of Advent we Catholics are invited to have joy - to rejoice. 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.
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. It is a way to give back to others what has been given us.
Happiness also does not mean that we impose our views on others, but it means to serve those around us with love. We are not called by Jesus to make revolutionary changes, but to be messengers of God. The voice of God and the voice of love must be our voice. Whatever plans we have and whatever we do must testify to the light which is Jesus.
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.
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. Then think of the ever faithful God who provided you with that joy or experience. Be joyful and thank God. Let us have the courage to do what the Little Drummer Boy and John the Baptist did in the name of Jesus.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Homily for the Week of December 4, 2011
Second Sunday of Advent, 2011
Is. 40:1–5, 9–11; 2 Pt 3:8–14; Mk 1:1–8
A man used to go down to the river every day to put in a fishing line, but at the end of the line was not a fishing hook but a straight pin. Many who saw him at the river were puzzled. They would ask him what kind of fish does you think you will catch with this straight pin? The man turned around and said: I thought I might catch you.
Our Gospel reading for today is about a man whom many Jewish persons thought had lost his fishing hook. He is John the Baptism. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and he, too, wanted to catch people. John left the village and went to the desert of Judea to live as a hermit. John was dressed in loud clothes, and ate strange food, John the Baptist was the son of Zachary and his wife Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus which made Jesus his cousin. When John was thirty he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan River and invited people to be baptized. He attracted large crowds. In fact many thought that John the Baptist was Jesus.
John baptized his cousin Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. John attracted large crowds. The political authorities were suspicious of John. John got into serious trouble, however, when he criticized King Herod of adultery. Herod was annoyed and had John the Baptist killed.
But many, including Jesus, came to talk with John the Baptist and get some help from him. John lived a time when the Jewish people were slaves of the corrupt Roman rulers. Into this environment John brought a word of hope. He announced that God was coming. He said we must prepare a road for God who is coming in a person named Jesus.
The first job in building a new road 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. 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.
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.
Some people went to John because they were spiritually bankrupt. They were empty, and they hoped that John could fill the empty place. Others 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, they still felt that they did not have enough. 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 for 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. Like with John the Baptist we may have been invited to think about a new way of life, or to return to a time in our life when we were happier. I recently read an interesting fact that the today the largest number of American Christians are those who no longer practice their Catholic religion. Like the people talked about in our first reading, these persons are in exile. In a sense they have left home and are wandering.
But Advent is a time for each of us to experience our restlessness and emptiness. 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 be conscious as to how we experience our exile, our own sins and seek forgiveness. Bad habits can make us a person we do not want to be, or they can make us blind to ourselves and to others. Advent is a time 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.
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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