The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
In preparing this homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, I have been thinking… What is the meaning of a “holy family?” How do we define a “holy family?” Are there criteria? In other words, “What makes a family, holy?” If there is even one person in the family who is not living an exemplary Christian life, would that family still be a holy family? If there are arguments, misunderstandings, addictions, broken relationships, deep hurts… could that family still be a holy family?
I have to admit that my homily for the Feast of the Holy Family has been influenced by my experiences this week. I have three stories of three different families… and then some practical implications.
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
“Did you forget?” I hear that question sometimes. Maybe I was supposed to ask an important question, or maybe Bess and I are preparing to host a guest. For any number of reasons there is something that needs to happen or is happening, and I need to remember it. I need reminders. I need a google calendar notification, a note on the fridge and a verbal reminder from Bess. We all need constant reminders sometimes and today's first reading has a few for us. I have three quick points to draw from them.
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled” Luke 2:32
Completely caught by surprise, I walked forward to the front of the church from my seat. It was my last weekend attending St. John the Evangelist in East Lansing before moving back to Dayton and the priest had asked me to come forward to receive a blessing of sending forth. I stood in front, facing the Altar and closed my eyes. I don’t recall the words of the prayer, but what I do remember is while I was standing there a tremendous sense of peace came over me.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
I have been reflecting a lot on the person of Joseph throughout this Advent and Christmas season. I am struck by his humanity amidst the divine. He is the only member of the Holy Family who was not immaculate - he was sinful, just as we all are - and therefore so deeply human and in many ways so much more relatable. Joseph to me is a prayerful, faithful man. He listens to God's will and he says yes. But what really connects me to Joseph is that he often seems like the do-er in the family. He sees what has to get done and he makes it happen - and in that there is great love. Joseph loves through his actions because he is meeting the needs of those he loves. And right now in my life, I often feel like this is what I can contribute. I can prayerfully listen to God's will and then live out this will, working to do what needs to be done to take care of the people around me.
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
A few months ago I had a conversation with a patient who was worried about their salvation. They had been married faithfully for decades. They raised five great children all of whom were still practicing Christians as were their children. This person had gone to Mass weekly and often daily. They had lived the ten commandments well, and still they wondered if they were saved. For generations, people might have wondered if they were saved. The prophets came and reminded the people if they would be faithful God would be with them.
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
We read this text on the day after Christmas. God, in God’s infinite mercy, has just entered our broken world. And He did so in a manner utterly consistent with our brokenness—humbly, by way of a woman unknown. And in a manger.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
The author of this story is unknown. All we know is that it is written by a young mother and that it was Christmas day. She writes: “We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat; dirty, greasy and worn. His pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard, and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy,” the man said to Erik. Erik was responding with glee to the man’s comments. My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. We ate in silence; all except for Erik and the man. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man was poised between the door and me. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's. Suddenly, a very old, smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik, in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor -- gently, so gently, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.”
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
There are two stories in today’s scripture readings. The first reading tells us the story of David and gospel reading is the story of the annunciation. I am stepping aside Advent themes to deal with very common questions that people ask: “What is God’s will for me?” “How do I discern whether I am doing God’s will or not?” Discerning God’s will is a complex spiritual exercise. In the stories of David and Mary, we might have some insights.
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
A number of years ago, I visited the Indianapolis Children’s museum. I loved it. Even as an adult I found so much of the museum engaging and educational. One highlight was the arch building. They had big foam blocks that kids (or big kids) could use to start the arch. Each block was more angular than the next. While trying to balance two wavering, teetering pillars you had to complete your arch by putting in the last piece, the keystone. As I read the O’ Antiphon connected to today’s readings I was reminded of that experience and found the title, “keystone of the Church” resonating within me.
Friday of the Third Week of Advent
In this last week of Advent, we hear more about and from Mary. Today’s gospel reading (Luke 1: 46-56) is the beautiful Magnificat, Mary’s prayer (probably sung) in response to Elizabeth’s greeting shortly after learning that she would be the mother of the Messiah. It is a well-known, powerful hymn of praise that is made up of verses taken from the Psalms and Prophets.
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Take a moment to remember the instants of your life that were filled with the joy and glee we see in today’s readings. The potential of a first date, an acceptance letter to college, a team victory, marriage or birth of a child, a promotion or first big assignment at work… It’s good to remember these moments from time to time. Most of them are forward-looking; the potential of what could come is what makes us so excited to be at the beginning. Later, when we’ve received (in part or in full) what we yearned for, it’s not as exciting; but it can be far more satisfying. Isn’t our life of faith the same way?
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Messengers and their messages are not always as straight forward as we would expect. Often the busyness of our day and the clutter of lives can obscure profound messages. This seems more true in this season of Advent. The to-do-list for Christmas often gets higher priority than Advent. The contrast is striking. On one level, we are shopping, decorating, cooking, cleaning and preparing for the important celebration that is Christmas. On another level we are being called to empty ourselves to make room for the Lord in our lives.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
I love the idea of paper calendars, and I even have one. But the truth is, I completely rely on my electronic calendar. Because it’s on my phone and because I have my phone with me all the time, I never fail to enter a new appointment or event. And I love it that it rings a delightfully cheerful “bell” ten minutes before I need to be somewhere like a meeting or class.
Monday of the Third Week of Advent
I have always been fascinated by dreams…particularly my own. Dreams can be so comforting and weird and terrifying—all at the same time. Most often, I forget my dreams upon awakening. Still, at times there are emotions or feelings that linger and I know it is because of the dreams I had the night before. Scripture relates the dreams of many prophets and ordinary people including Moses, Abraham, Gideon, Samuel, Daniel, the Magi, and Peter to name a few. Today's Gospel passage about St. Joseph reminds me that Emmanuel—'God with us'—works in unconventional ways in my life. Dreams, emotions, intellect, memory, etc. are God given gifts through which God reveals Godself to me. Joseph was a humble, unknown, working man making a life changing decision based upon a dream. A dream! But Joseph's story is a perfect example of how I can see God expressing God's will through the innumerable gifts given me.
Third Sunday of Advent
For Advent this year, my focus has been almost entirely on the first readings of the last three weeks, more specifically, the Babylonian exile. In the first week of Advent, I focused on the people of God desperately yearning God’s redeeming intervention. In the second week of Advent, I reflected on Isaiah’s announcement the exile was coming to an end. I remember preaching that while the exile could be attributed to God’s justice, the people newfound freedom was an act of God’s mercy. This week, we continue with our reflection on the exile. Only thing is that today’s first reading is directed toward the people who are finally back in their homeland.
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Let me paint a picture for you. It is a Friday, so my wife is at work and I’m at home with the kids. Our two girls, Avila and Hosanna are playing well, when our son, Ignatius, looks up with wide eyes and declares. "I have to go potty!" Playing the part of cool, calm, collected Dad, I say, “OK, head upstairs, I’ll be up to check on you in a minute. Ready, set, go, go, go” (because everything is more fun as a race). As I finish ensuring that all choking hazards are as far from Avila as possible, I start to head toward the stairs when Iggy announces that he’s had an accident. He made it to the potty, but while he as going potty… he made a poop in his pants. Immediately, I feel the cool, calm, and collected side of me evaporating as all I can think about is “How did he manage to do that?” I think this makes Sirach's words about fathers turning their hearts toward their sons timely.
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
A story is told about one of my favorite saints, Teresa of Avila. In order to comprehend the story, you need to know that she is the founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, a very strict order in which people do a lot of fasting and other ascetic acts. The word “discalced” means “unshod,” and these Carmelites walk around barefoot or in sandals, again as an ascetic practice, and also as a witness to the fact that Jesus himself was poor and did not have shoes in the way that we do. Teresa advocated lots of time for prayer and contemplation, a very difficult thing to do. So, imagine the surprise of her nuns when they encountered her in the kitchen one day eating partridge, and clearly enjoying it. The nuns exclaimed that she wasn’t fasting, but Teresa said, “When I fast, I fast, and when I partridge, I partridge.”
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Today is the feast day of St. John of the cross, a holy man who worked closely with Teresa of Avila, was deeply contemplative and at one point escaped from prison by prying the doors from his cell. St. John of the Cross is the patron saint of contemplatives and mystics. I believe that many similarities can be drawn between St. John of the Cross and St. John the Baptist, most pointedly in their self-discipline and physical acts of penitence. Both me n were solely focused on proclaiming the coming of Christ. Both men also harken back even further to another man of penitence and proclamation - the prophet Elijah.
Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Advent may be the season of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity, yet it’s focus often seems like season of getting stuff done for Christmas. Of course, these four weeks include both. Yet, it is tempting to focus so much on our temporal Christmas checklist, that our exhaustion can obscure the possible spiritual growth of an Advent season well celebrated. Today’s readings address our weariness and speak of the strengthening that is offered to those who place their hope in the Lord.
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
For a young woman of Mary’s day, it would not be good news to learn that she would become pregnant soon and not by the man that she was engaged to marry. More than likely, that news would be the harbinger of endless rumors, scandal, the end of her engagement. In short, her demise as a “good” woman.