Open the Eyes of the Blind

January 10, 2010

Baptism of the Lord

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, SJ

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3: 21-22

Piety

Jesus hears the voice from heaven saying. “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you.” What had he been doing, that makes the 30 previous years so important to us? His hidden life is over. He had been obedient to his parents. He had worked in the Carpenter Shop. He had grown in wisdom and knowledge by being obedient. There was the day when he had stayed behind in the temple and had asked and answered questions difficult enough to amaze the listeners to what he was saying. But we do not have any knowledge of what more he had done to give his mother confidence he could change the water into wine. She had a good son who had taken care of her and been present to her loneliness after the death of Joseph. We can assume he ran the carpenter shop well. But there is nothing that we are told of that stands out as the preparation for what would happen in the three years of his public ministry. We know that he went into the water and he was baptized by John. We can only surmise what his prayer life was like. Perhaps the best thing we can say about him is that he did the ordinary in an extraordinary way. The favor of the Father rests on the ordinary in the life of Jesus and it makes the ordinary important in our lives when we do what is expected of us in the best way possible. The one thing that is certain about piety is that if we do our best in each moment we are just like the Christ who surprised his town folks when he came back and spoke with the authority that belongs to always doing one’s best. Wisdom comes from what we learn in facing the difficulties of life with the best we have to offer.

Study

Our study is of Christ. John recognized Christ as more powerful than himself and he did not think he was worthy to undo the strap of his sandals. John teaches us the attitude we must have with Christ. Christ is the Teacher. He was sent by the Father. The words of Christ reveal how we can be god-like in our lives. Christ is the perfect expression of how best to live life. He gives us the way, the truth and his life is there for the taking if we follow in his footsteps. He calls us to be other Christs. Christ is the fullness of our own personal being. We will find ourselves when we make Christ our life. Because we are created in the image and the likeness of God in Christ, rather than lose ourselves by following him, we will find the truth of who we were meant to be.

Action

Our baptism joins us to the Baptism of Christ. He calls us to console his people. We need to atone not only for our sinfulness, but for the sinfulness of our world. Actions are the gifts we bring to the Lord. Giving prime time to the Lord is one action important by itself. Too often leftover time from other things we do leaves the Lord out of the center of our hearts. Giving the Lord the energy from our having rested up shows the importance of our spiritual journey. We bring the Lord in the Now of our lives; it is best not to put off looking for the Lord. It is best to keep him in sight. Each moment can be a special revelation of his presence. Our baptism into the life of Christ must be fulfilled. We need to baptize our world with the presence of Christ in our lives. It is best to keep him in sight. Each moment can be a special revelation of his presence. We need to live the word of God without fear and to say to our world “Here is our God.” All the valleys of our lives need to be filled in and the mountains and hills of our fears need to be leveled. We need to reveal the glory of God in all we do.

Decrease

January 9, 2010

Christmas Weekday

And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 1 John 5:14-15

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” John 3:29-30

Piety

Whenever I am in the company of others,

May I regard myself as inferior to all

And from the depths of my heart,

Cherish others as supreme.

In all my actions may I watch my mind

And as soon as disturbing emotions arise,

May I forcefully stop them at once,

Since they will hurt both me and others.

(Verses from the Tibetan text The Eight Verses for Training the Mind)

Study

During one of the Advent homilies at Mass, the celebrant remarked that John the Baptist could have probably started his own church. People were flocking to the desert to get blessed by him. However, John was a man of great humility. He knew from the time he leapt in his mother’s womb that his place was to make room for Jesus.

Today, we hear in his own voice, John express his humility. He must increase; I must decrease. Jesus must now take center stage and John gracefully exits.

The world does not revolve around John or around us. The world revolves around the Son who is the light of the world. Of all the traits called for by Christianity as well as other religions of the world, humility is chief among them. As Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, titled her book, “Humility Matters.” She writes in the introduction:

“Humility matters. Since God is our heart’s desire, we long for our own direct experience of God. Our world is suffering. Indeed, the root of most of the anguish on earth is the human ego in denial of its true vocation: to renounce our false self and to embrace our baptismal initiation into Christ Jesus.”

Perhaps such a noble sentiment is easier said than done. All around us, culture is screaming for us to put ourselves ahead of others.

Have it your way. – Burger King

You deserve a break today. – McDonalds

Where do you want to go today? – Microsoft

Because you’re worth it. -- L'Oreal

We can eat the “Breakfast of Champions” while we are putting on the Ritz.

Action

How to practice humility it is the central concern of Christianity. And the journey is one which will take a lifetime. We might want to “just do it” but until then, we have to learn step by little step through our piety, study and action.

For your piety, meditate on the core of today’s Gospel: He must increase; I must decrease. Discuss this with your group reunion.

For your study, consider buying or borrowing a copy of Sr. Meg’s book Humility Matters (yes, you can get it from Amazon) or Thomas a Kempis classic Imitation of Christ. Sr. Meg actually has a meditation on her web site about this book running now. They are only up to chapter 5 so you can jump right in at any time. The introduction starts here. http://megfunk.com/entry.php?id=323

Thomas á Kempis believed that “all problems could be solved by retiring into Christ.” For your action, the next time you face a conflict with another person, instead of holding your ground to win at all costs, try to retire into Christ.

Whoever Believes … Has This Testimony Within Himself

January 8, 2010

Christmas Weekday

By Melanie Rigney

If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. (1 John 5:9-10)

Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God, Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your children within you, brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat. (Psalms 147:12-14)

(After curing the man with leprosy, Jesus) ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed: that will be proof for them.” (Luke 5:14)

Piety
Lord, the blessings You have bestowed upon me have enriched me beyond compare. That is all I need. I pledge to praise you by living the testimony You have given me, not merely talking or writing about it.

Study
A rousing oral or written witness or testimony can bring us to tears, cause us to shake our heads in wonder, and perhaps make us grateful that we didn’t have to live through all that.

Consider:

• Immaculée Ilibagiza, the Rwandan who spent ninety-one days with seven other women in a small bathroom during the 1994 genocide and who lost most of her family members to the violence
• Corrie ten Boom, who spent ten months in Nazi concentration camps and prisons because she and her family had harbored Jewish refugees
• A friend born, raised, and married in the Diocese of Arlington, who wandered away from regular Mass attendance for years until divorce and illness within her network caused her to wonder about life and its purpose and to reconcile with Christ and share her story with others contemplating a return to the Catholic Church

All meaningful real-life stories, each with challenges writ large or small that many are grateful they’ve never been asked to replicate.

But at the end of the day, they’re words. Powerful words, but words. And actions speak louder than words. That’s perhaps one of the reason Jesus told the man with leprosy not to broadcast that Jesus had cured him, but rather to present himself to the priest as a living testimony.

But what inspires us and changes our lives is the testimony people live in our midst every day, often without fanfare or public acclaim:
• Immaculée later was able to say, “I forgive you” when she encountered the man who had killed her mother and brother
• After the war, Corrie returned to the Netherlands to set up rehabilitation centers for those who suffered in the Holocaust
• The woman who lives nearby is undergoing chemotherapy and inspiring a broad community of family, neighbors, friends, and former coworkers and classmates with her gracious, loving acceptance of meals, rides, and other gifts even though she traditionally is more comfortable being on the giving end

Words, spoken or written, can be moving. But true testimony comes in the way we live our lives when we are put to the test. That’s where we can truly prove our Christian beliefs, without guarantee of applause or compliments or admiring glances.

Action
Where do you see human testimony in action? Rather than saying thank you or writing a note of thanks to that person or people, pass it on by living your own testimony today.

He Has Anointed Me

January 7, 2010

Christmas Weekday

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19-21

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:18-22

Piety

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage. You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Study

God is not up in heaven looking down on us like a mystical Santa Claus. God is right here, living among us. Jesus will often say he seeks not sacrifices and holocausts. Instead, he wants us to live with each other and to love each other as if that is how we are treating him.

The image of Jesus getting anointed metaphysically in today’s Gospel story from Luke parallels the story of Jesus getting anointed with perfumed oil by Mary when he was in Bethany after the resurrection of Lazarus.

Whether at the beginning of his ministry (as in Luke) or near the end, Jesus is anointed to symbolize the introduction of the divine influence on his life or to call down God’s protection and favor upon him while he carries out God mission.

This passage from Luke in today’s gospel clearly calls us “to bring glad tidings to the poor,” “proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Action

Are we ready to treat the poor with the same love that Mary showed to Jesus, pouring out the perfumed oil on his feet?

The Church also anoints us at baptism and confirmation. When we celebrate these sacraments, we are called to go out into the world and profess the Good News. We do that as much by our actions as by our words.

What have you been anointed to do and to proclaim? The New Year is a time for resolutions. Many times such resolutions are centered on self-improvement. However, have you made any externally directed resolutions? Have you included increasing your charity and volunteer work in the resolutions you are considering for the year?

Alone on Shore

January 6, 2010

Christmas Weekday (Twelfth Night)

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the Day of Judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. 1 John 4:16-18

When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" Mark 6:47-50

Piety
Psalm 139:1-15

O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach. Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too. If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast. If I say, "Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light" -- Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one. You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.

Study

We go off and do our own thing. No matter what we do, when Jesus sees we are in trouble or afraid, he will come to us no matter what the obstacle.

Today is the traditional day for Epiphany and Christmas in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches which follow the Julian calendar. For them, their Advent period of fasting is now just ending. It also is known as Three Kings Day celebrating when we celebrate the revelation of God made man in the person of Jesus Christ.

One of the big things about Jesus that makes his humanity different from us is that he never got a chance to go off and do his own thing. From his boyhood, he was sent to dwell with us and walk with us for one purpose…to save us from our sins.

We might go off in a boat and leave him alone on the shore but he never leaves us alone on the shore. This scene in Mark’s gospel has certain parallels with the “last breakfast” scene in John’s Gospel. The disciples were out in the boat doing their own thing. But Jesus, in both cases, came to the shore alone and came to their aid.

Action

The boats of the Men’s 120th Cursillo team and the Women’s 130th Cursillo team are about to set sail. Climb aboard with your team Palanca to support them in the ten weeks of preparation so that they realize that they are not alone on the shore.

Take and Eat

January 5, 2010

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

By Beth DeCristofaro

In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

Piety

Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; … As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours also. (From the diary of John Henry Neumann)

Study

A few weeks ago, at daily Mass, the words of the Consecration struck me in a renewed and forceful way: “The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: ‘Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.’ (He then took the cup and said) ‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.’”

Not only was Jesus inviting me to partake in his sacrifice through the holy Eucharist but he continually invites me – invites all who seek God – to partake in his sacrifice through giving our own bodies and blood. By giving of ourselves, our bodies, our minds, our talents we join Jesus at the table. I do this as when I practice my vocation of visiting the sick. We do this as we accept the challenge of caring for children and for disabled or mentally challenged family or friends. We do so when we carry out the tasks of our jobs to the best of our ability and for the glory of God rather than ourselves. St. John Neumann did this as he left family and home for America in his desire to serve God as a priest. It is what we do as we schlep materials and write talks for our Cursillo weekends. “Do this in memory of me,” Jesus says. Use your God-given self in memory of me. Be me to those who live around you, Jesus requests.

Of course, I cannot give my body and blood in the fullness and in the perfection that Jesus did for me. After all, I have only five loves and two fish. In my imperfections I often grow tired, crabby, make silly or even hurtful mistakes, put myself first and choose temptations. I struggle with pride, fear and self-righteousness. But I am created and loved by God. In order to be renewed, nourished and guided I must follow Jesus rather deliberately even as the vast crowd did in Mark’s gospel. Jesus taught them and he fed them. Even today he teaches us and feeds us. In using myself as Jesus would have me do, through him, with him and in him, I can be courageous, humble, compassionate and generous. We live our lives in memory of him and can be, on a small and very human level, love in the world. And multitudes can be fed.

Action

John Henry Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia, wrote that previously unperceived meanings of Christian tradition, rooted in the eternal unchanging Christ event, come to light in each historical period. In what ways are you participating in the Eucharistic banquet? In what ways might Jesus be calling you to share your body and blood in order to build his kingdom? For what do you need to ask Jesus in order to fulfill his call to you?

A Great Light

January 4, 2010

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

Piety

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage. You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Study

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Jesus takes up the exact mantra of John the Baptist as his ministry begins in earnest. Although the words are the same as in Matthew 2:3, there is a subtle difference in meaning. For John was preaching that the kingdom was near and coming and we needed to reach for it. Jesus, though, is preaching that is the kingdom is here and we can touch it in all of his humanity. Through the real experience of Jesus, we can begin to experience the real kingdom of God.

In the notes to this passage from the New American Bible, we learn that the expression "the kingdom of heaven" occurs only in the gospel of Matthew and refers to the rule of God over his people. “In its fullness it includes not only human obedience to God's word, but the triumph of God over physical evils, supremely over death. In the expectation found in Jewish apocalyptic, the kingdom was to be ushered in by a judgment in which sinners would be condemned and perish, an expectation shared by the Baptist. This was modified in Christian understanding where the kingdom was seen as being established in stages, culminating with the parousia (second coming) of Jesus.”

However, to get this experience, we have to turn toward the great light. If we are in a dark room, and someone turns on a great light, we might shield our eyes, but will we not eventually turn to see what is being illuminated? How can we not? If a plant is set on a window ledge, the leaves will turn toward the warmth of the sun. If we rotate that plant or more it to another location in the room, its growth will change and bend back toward the direction of the light from that window.

In our first reading, we are being shown why we need to turn toward the light. Too often, we look for happiness in the world, not in God. All John the Evangelist is saying is give God a chance to show you real happiness. He echoes the spirit of John the Baptist who was asking the people in his day for “a change of heart and conduct,” a turning of one's life from rebellion to obedience towards God.

Yet when we make the Lord our shepherd, we will be provided everything we need. There is nothing the world can give to match his goodness and kindness. His light will guide us along the right path rather than turning in other directions.

Action

Fr. Thomas Keating writes: “The first thing Jesus did in his preaching career is to say, ‘Repent,’ a word that means not do penance in some external practice but change the direction in which you are looking for happiness implying that where we are looking for happiness is not the place where it is to be found, and, still less, where God is to be found.”

In his book Open Mind, Open Heart, Fr. Keating describes the inner changes that occur during the process of prayer, including the letting go of the false self (a self-image that impedes one's relationship with God) in favor of expressing one's true self (our "basic core of goodness"). Keating is so convinced that a spiritual life involves ever-deepening levels of growth and awareness that he often startles those raised in a traditional Catholic setting with his definition of sin as “the refusal to grow, to choose to stay as we are.” Instead of relying upon happiness and security as defined by the world, he suggests that we look to rest in God as the place for that happiness.

As we start this New Year of 2010, what change are you planning to make in the direction where you pursue happiness? How has that question helped you formulate any plans or resolutions for this New Year?

The Lord Shines Upon You

January 3, 2010

The Epiphany of the Lord

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, S.J.

Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Isaiah 60:1-3

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11

Piety

Piety is like the Epiphany of the Lord. Piety is he opening of our hearts to the coming of the Lord in our own lives. It lets our Lord show forth in the ways we do things out of love of the Lord in each other. Wherever there is love, the Lord is there. Piety showcases the Lord to our world. It not only shows the Lord to each other. It searches out he Lord in each other.

Study

We need to learn where the Lord is to be found in our world. Spiritual Reading shows us the Lord and where he can be found. It also creates a hunger for the Lord that reading about goodness brings us. We all need a Spiritual Director, a companion of the road. A good Director is a star to be followed. When the star is no longer visible, we need the help of those who know the road to sanctity. A Spiritual Director points out the dead ends and shows where the pot holes are.

Action

Actions are the gifts we bring to the Lord. Giving prime time to the Lord is one action important by itself. Too often leftover time from other things we do leaves the Lord out of the center of our hearts. Giving the Lord the energy from our having rested up shows the importance of our spiritual journey. We find the Lord in the Now of our lives; it is best not to put off looking for the Lord. It is best to keep him in sight. Each moment can be a special revelation of his presence if we are willing to look.

Whose Sandal Strap I Am Not Worthy to Untie

January 2, 2010

Memorial of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church

By Jack Finnerty

If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. (1 John 2:22-28)

I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. John 1:26-27

Piety

Loving Jesus, as we enter the New Year, fill us with your saving grace. We offer ourselves to you, and strive to know you better and draw ever closer to you. May every breath of 2010 be a breath of the Holy Spirit, joyfully received and joyfully returned, beginning with this one right now. Amen.

Study

To me the song “Little Drummer Boy” is one of the most beautiful songs played during the Christmas season, if not the entire year. To be sure, the twenty-one repetitions of pa rum pum pum pum may be boring for the singer, but the rest of the lyrics are among the most meaningful of all our popular carols and far from boring. Here we have a boy, a poor boy, who wants to join others in honoring their new born king (who also is a brother poor boy just like the drummer.) He was not like the other visitors; he did not possess the fine gifts that they did. He had little, perhaps nothing, except one thing - he had a drum. It was probably a very inexpensive drum, a drum made of wood and lamb skin – no fancy brass or stainless steel trim, no fancy tuning knobs. A poor boy with a poor drum. He worried that his playing of that simple drum would not be a fit gift for the king. But it was the only gift he had to offer.

I can picture the little boy standing before the Holy Family, offering to the new mother to play for her son, our new king. Mary nodded and the boy played. Pa rum pum pum pum, pa rum pum pum pum. The ox and the lamb kept time and the boy played his best for Him.

The lyrics don’t suggest any other history or story with this gift. Perhaps the boy was from neighboring homes, or maybe the son of a nearby shepherd. I like to imagine that this simple offering was the first gift the newborn king had received many days before the Magi arrived with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It doesn’t matter, though, if it was not the first gift or when that gift was offered. What really matters is that the gift was all the little boy had. He offered everything he possessed. He played his music, he offered his love, and with that he offered himself – the very finest gift anyone can give. Jesus then gave the little boy one of His first gifts – he smiled His approval of the boy’s gift and offered in return His own love to the boy.

The totality of the little drummer boy’s gift mirrors the public gift that Jesus would offer up at the other end of his life. Jesus offered up everything he possessed when he was stripped and nailed to the cross. Jesus, too, offered his love, the very finest gift he could give.

Both of today’s readings were written by John the Apostle, addressing the same central point, proclaiming the sureness and the certainty of Christ’s coming and his message. Like the little drummer boy, none of us thinks our gifts or ourselves are any more worthy than John the Baptist thought of his own life. The Baptist knew with profound certainty who he was and who Jesus was, and with that same certainty he answered the priests and Levites of the worthiness of the one coming after him.

The apostle John confidently tells us that “whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well,” and then relates this to the Son’s promise of eternal life. May we accept this promise of life, understand our role, and carry it out with the same generosity and humility of John the Baptist and of that little drummer boy.

Action

Ask yourself: What is my gift to Him? Is this gift the finest gift I have to offer? Is this gift all I have, the gift of my love, the gift of me, all I am? What would I offer for His finest gift – His smile of approval for me?

The Lord Let His Face Shine Upon You

The Octave Day of Christmas

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

January 1, 2010

By Melanie Rigney

“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!” (Numbers 6:24-26)

May God be gracious to us and bless us; may God’s face shine upon us. (Psalms 67-2)

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. (Luke 2:16-19)

Piety

From the depths of my heart I thank You, Dear Lord, for Your infinite kindness in coming to me. How good You are to me! With Your most holy Mother and all the angels, I praise Your mercy and generosity toward me, a poor sinner. I thank You for nourishing my soul with Your Sacred Body and Precious Blood. I will try to show my gratitude to You in the Sacrament of Your love, by obedience to Your holy commandments, by fidelity to my duties, by kindness to my neighbor and by an earnest endeavor to become more like You in my daily conduct. (Found at Catholic Online.)

Study

Ever wonder why the Bible is so repetitive? It can seem mindnumbingly so at times. Chronicles in the main summarizes Samuel and Kings. Many of the Gospels tell the same stories and parables. In today’s readings, we see an almost verbatim restating of Numbers in Psalms 67.

Logically, much of the repetition comes from people writing at different times for different audiences. But I like to think much of it also comes from God knowing we need to hear things more than once, and sometimes in different forms. The more we hear the concept, the more likely we are to absorb it. The more we absorb the concept, the more likely we are to incorporate it into our lives.

It’s the same thing with all those resolutions that we made starting today to exercise more, eat less, pray more, gossip less, give more, argue less. In some cases, we’ve made the same resolutions for years. But hopefully, But maybe each year we get a little closer to the goal, a little closer to being freed of our slavery, self-imposed or otherwise. If we don’t give into despair, practice can make perfect.

So what’s God trying to tell us with all that repetition? Maybe it’s as simple as today’s readings: We’ve been ransomed. We are adopted children of God, who loves us beyond our understanding, who wants nothing more than to shine His face upon us and bless us.

And maybe, this year, we can all come a little closer to being freed of self-doubt and suspicion and accept the Good News. Practice can make perfect.

Action

Show someone it is difficult for you to love just how God’s face can shine upon him or her.

In the Beginning…

December 31, 2009

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one, and you all have knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

Piety

Father, you have been present with us throughout this year as we have attempted to walk with you in piety, study and action. When we have been unable to keep pace with you, we know that your Son has picked us up and carried us along just like He saved St. Peter from the crashing waves of the sea and Peter’s crashing waves of doubt and denial. We welcome your Holy Spirit to continue dwelling with us in the coming year so that we may overcome any antichrist of unbelieving and darkness that descends upon our lives. Amen.

Study

Here on the last day of the year, we reflect on the beginning. Not just the beginning of the Gospel according to St. John, but also the beginning of time. John’s prose mirrors the opening passages of Genesis and also sets for some of the principal themes of the Bible -- the Word, the presence of God in our lives, creation, life, light and darkness.

Unlike Matthew and Luke, St. John does not begin his Good News by dwelling on the Christmas narrative of how Jesus literally came into the world. Instead, after a short and beautiful introduction on the being and presence of Jesus, he jumps to the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus’ initiation as a minister in adulthood, John the Evangelizer focuses on John the Baptizer and as the precursor and announcer of the coming of the Lord to dwell among us.

Now, seven days into our season celebrating the incarnation of the Lord, we have a chance to reflect back on the beginning of our salvation history – the first hour and the role that the Lord’s presence has always had in the lives of the faithful and those who are called to be faithful.

With this special pairing of readings on this last day of the year and the last day of the first decade of the century, we are reminded that the goodness created by God does not exist in a vacuum. We are reminded in the first reading that we are now in the last hour, awaiting Jesus’ second coming. We have to live as if we are fully aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and also the conflicting forces posed by the antichrist.

“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared.” 1 John 2:18

Action

What is the antichrist or what are the antichrists in your life? Sometimes, bad can happen in our lives when we least expect it. One antichrist – disease – may sneak up on us and ambush us when we least expect it.

Our Cursillo sister Mary Smart is in such a fight right now. Some of you have already been contacted, for those who are hearing this news via email or the website, we appreciate your forbearance. Marty has a true gift for making and nurturing friends, too numerous to notify by phone.

Marty has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, a glioblastoma (GBM), which is incurable. She was demonstrating some confusion, had headaches and memory problems in the past couple of weeks and was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Christmas Eve. MRIs and a biopsy confirmed a very large tumor that spans both the right and left frontal lobes and is likely spread throughout the brain.

Clearly this news is a shock and many will have questions. Marty’s friends have put together a website that you can register for that will provide updates and let you leave messages for Marty and her family at: http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/621107/.

Please register and in the notes section state how you know Marty. Future e-mail updates on her condition will be sent from the website so if you want to stay in the loop, please register.

Marty will be at Walter Reed for at least another week to ten days and may be visited. Although there are no limits on how long you stay or how many people are there, we trust that you will help conserve her strength, yet liven her day with your visit. She's not allowed flowers on this ward, so if you want to do something for her, donate to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.
As we find things that the family needs help with, we will post them on the website listed above. Cards may be sent to Marty at 2917-D S. Woodstock Dr., Arlington VA 22206.

The Favor of God

December 30, 2009

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. 1 John 2:15-17

And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:38-40

Piety

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me.
Mold me.
Fill me.
Use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Study

The Gospel as we have been reading in daily Mass has skipped around a bit putting the story of Jesus teaching in the temple ahead of the presentation in the temple where Mary and Joseph encounter the holy pair Anna and Simeon.

Anna and Simeon represent the kind of people described in the letter that makes up the first reading today. After becoming a widow, Anna devoted her life to the temple. She was not enticed by the world but by doing the will of God.

After her encounter with Jesus, Anna is another in the list of humble people who had the initial contact with infant and were immediately moved to take her obedience to another level by sharing the experience through her witness to “all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”

What makes it so hard for us to act like this…immediate and constant obedience and life long humility? Were these attributes as rare then as they are today? Are the few great examples all concentrated in the Gospel stories? Or has the world gotten so pervasive and permissive, so tempting and tantalizing with almost constant overt references to sexuality. We don’t even resort to the “hidden persuaders” any longer. There is nothing subliminal about the kind of advertising that seduces us today.

Is there an obedience gene that guides behavior? Is this trait nurtured in people or is it there by nature? Jesus had it because the “favor of God” was vested in his life. How can and do we earn the favor of God?

We all are born with it. However, to help it grow, the power of our individual and collective experience of the encounter with Jesus nurtures this in us. We all have the capacity for such behavior but recognizing the experience of our encounter triggers a life of faithful obedience and humility in some people while it lays dormant in others who do not leave themselves open to this encounter.

Action

The more examples that we can study in sacred scripture along with those whom we experience and get to know in the world today will help nurture the seed of our obedience and humility.

Who are the real-life examples of such faith in your life? Who are Simeon and Anna to you? Who are Elizabeth and Zachary to you? Who are Mary and Joseph to you?

Can you nurture your faith through the power of your encounter with Jesus to become Simeon or Anna and witness the life of Christ in the world to others?

Your Word Has Been Fulfilled

December 29, 2009

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

By Beth DeCristofaro

The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. … But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. (1 John 2:3, 5)

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel. ... and you yourself a sword will pierce.” (Luke 2:29-32, 35)

Piety

Lord, help your servant to walk in peace. May I see the light of your salvation and serve you as I build your kingdom each and every day. Whether I experience the sadness of human frailty, the challenge of human limitation, the horror of human wickedness, or the poignancy of human kindness, fill my soul with your light which infuses the universe with love beyond measuring. Amen

Study

What mother or father – or for that matter what doting aunt or uncle - has not had that moment described by Simeon as he says to Mary: “and you yourself a sword will pierce.” (Luke 2:35). After all, a mother, rapt in the survey of her baby girl’s perfect toes, might experience a pang as she realizes that one day this little girl will break away from her hand and run toward danger. Or a father, proud of his son leaving to drive to his first job might tremble with the thought that a cop or drunk driver might encounter his careful and peaceable son tonight – particularly if the family is African-American or other ethnic member.

But the sword that Simeon mentions, at the end of his beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving, is even more than what most families know. The footnote to the NAB states that “…Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus. Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it.” Mary not only has the pang of anticipation but the confirmation that her son is only temporarily hers as is each child. Every child, every adult, belongs to God before her family, before himself.

Simeon’s prayer confirms that Mary’s baby is so much more than son yet he is also fully her son to nurture, love and worry over. The call to be faithful calls for steadfastness, courage and dependence on God’s overwhelming love which knows far greater than we do what is good, what is right for us as God’s beloved children. The arrows of misfortune and sin which pierce our hearts in our lives have already pierced the hearts of God himself and his holy Mother. As John said in the reading from yesterday: we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2) We are brought closer to God who will never forsake us, just as Mary did not forsake her Son even at the cross, in tragedy or joy. In Jesus the Word is fulfilled and ours for the taking.

Action

In this Christmas season, spend some time with a child enjoying and encouraging the wonder and love of youth. Consider donating time to a child in need.